Free Republic

An aid convoy carrying humanitarian supplies for 50,000 displaced people has arrived in Afrin in Syria, a spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Thursday, as Turkey wages an offensive in the area. The spokeswoman, Iolanda Jaquemet, said it was the first time this year that the ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent had got the agreement of the warring sides for such a convoy. The ICRC is concerned that the fighting between Turkish forces and the Kurdish YPG militia is moving closer to a dam and water treatment facility that are vital for water...

AGADEZ, Niger — A large military convoy from Libya arrived in the northern Niger city of Agadez late Monday, a military source told AFP. "I saw an exceptionally large and rare convoy of several dozen vehicles enter Agadez from Arlit... and go towards Niamey," the source said, amid speculation that toppled leader Moamer Kadhafi may be in it. "There are persistent rumours that Kadhafi or one of his sons are travelling in the convoy," the source said. A journalist from a private radio station in Agadez said he saw "a convoy of several dozen vehicles crossing the city and heading...

FORT HUACHUCA — Christian is home. Sunday, slightly after the noon hour, a plane carrying Spc. Christian Michael Adams landed at Libby Army Airfield. Waiting for him were family members and an honor guard of soldiers. The homecoming was sad, somber and sorrowful, as his family watched from just inside one of Libby’s hangars as the 26-year-old soldier’s body was taken from the plane to be returned to his family, by members of his extended family — fellow members of the Army. As the honor guard stood on one side of a red line on the tarmac, the bright sun...

NEW YORK - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in New York to protests Sunday and said in a television interview that Iran was neither building a nuclear bomb nor headed to war with the United States. The president's motorcade pulled up to the midtown hotel where he will be staying while he appears at a series of events including the U.N. General Assembly and a forum at Columbia University, where about 40 elected officials and civic leaders decried his visit. Ahmadinejad's public-relations push appears aimed at presenting his views directly to a U.S. audience amid rising strains and talk of...

BAGHDAD — Patrolling the streets of the Iraqi capital is common to just about any cavalry squadron, infantry battalion, troop or company. Now add in regular rotations through a Coalition outpost, where you live next door to the local populous, and you have what many leaders call a "projection of force" to deter would-be terrorists from inhabiting quiet neighborhoods. Company I, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment from Vilseck, Germany, is only about a month into their tour, but have already been tasked with running Combat Outpost "Remagen" and patrolling the streets of the Karkh District in central Baghdad. The...

11/30/2006 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFPN) -- The A-10C Thunderbolt II made its official roll-out debut here Nov. 29, revealing its transformation and its enhanced capabilities under the Precision Engagement program. The Precision Engagement program will offer the A-10 the most significant modifications it has ever received in its 30-year history, making it a more capable and survivable attack fighter, according to Maj. Dan Walls, 355th Training Squadron director of conversion training unit operations. "Precision Engagement increases the lethality, survivability and standoff of one of the most respected and recognized attack aircraft in the world and ushers in...

BAGHDAD — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Baghdad Oct. 5 to discuss progress being made and challenges ahead and to reaffirm that the United States remains “a committed friend for Iraq.” Rice praised Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for his “excellent leadership” during a critical period in his country’s history. “This is an important time and a challenge for the Iraqi people, but they are a strong people, they are a committed people and we know that they will overcome these challenges,” Rice said. Maliki said he looks forward to discussions about issues important to both the United States...

Bush Arrives in Utah to Reaffirm Resolve in Terror WarBy Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2006 – Nearly five years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States, America still has enemies determined to harm it because of what it stands for, President Bush will tell the American Legion’s annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, today. Bush arrived in Salt Lake City last night, telling Utah National Guardsmen who met him he’s looking forward to telling the veterans how much he and the nation appreciate their service. “And I’m going to thank...

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Stefanie Holzeisen-mullen and Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Brian Seymour, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Family and friends gathered at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek July 6, to greet the arrival of the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). Originally homeported at Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, Fort McHenry was part of a “hull swap” in April with the dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46). The vessels “swapped” homeports while the crews remained assigned to their original locations. The hull swap was part of...

PORT MAURA, Brunei (NNS) -- Sasebo, Japan-based USS Patriot (MCM 7) arrived in Brunei for a scheduled port visit June 25, meant to enhance the relationship between the U.S. and Brunei. The visit will be highlighted by a number of social and goodwill opportunities between Patriot Sailors and the people of Brunei, including top dignitaries, members of the Royal Brunei Navy and special-needs kids. “Our primary mission here is to interact with the people of Brunei so that we can work to create a stronger mutual relationship between the United States and Brunei,” said Lt. Cmdr. Richard D. Brawley, Patriot...

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2006 – President Bush arrived in Baghdad today on a surprise visit to new Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Bush had been meeting at Camp David, Md., with his national security team to discuss the way forward in Iraq. He was to have met with Maliki and other Iraqi leaders via teleconference today, but traveled to Baghdad in secret overnight. He shook hands with a surprised looking Maliki in front of television cameras at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad this evening local time. Speaking at Camp David yesterday evening, Bush said the United States is resolved to...

NEW DELHI, June 4, 2006 – The highest-ranking U.S. military officer arrived here today to discuss regional security issues in this strategic nation that, with its 1.1 billion population, represents the world's largest democracy. Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will meet with India's military leaders and defense minister during a visit that also includes stops at the headquarters of India's Training Command at Shimla. The visit, Pace's first to India as chairman, will build on discussions during a bilateral meeting he participated in yesterday in Singapore with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and...

/9/2006 - DAYTON, Ohio (AFPN) -- The first aircraft to return Vietnam prisoners of war to the United States arrived at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at 9:30 a.m. May 6. The C-141 "Hanoi Taxi" was the first aircraft to arrive in Hanoi in February 1973 to pick up POWs returning to the United States. The "Hanoi Taxi" was one of several aircraft involved in repatriating more than 500 American POWs held by the North Vietnamese. The Hanoi Taxi -- the last C-141 Starlifter still serving in the Air Force -- made two of its final...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- U.S Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived here May 2, making its first stop during a humanitarian assistance mission to the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia. This deployment to the region exemplifies the U.S. commitment to South and Southeast Asia and the Pacific island nations while building upon relationships established during Operation Unified Assistance in 2005. Meeting the arriving ship at the pier, Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, told members of the media and Mercy crew members that accomplishing the mission will be all about teamwork. “This is about a partnership,”...

RAMADI, Iraq, March 28, 2006 – “We are the soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division Iraqi Army. Our mission is to save the innocent citizens of Ramadi from the black hands of the insurgents that are shedding their blood,” said the 1st Brigade, 1st Division commander. ”We promise the innocent Iraqi citizens that we will be the sons who will be responsible to protect the families that live in the Al Anbar Province.” "The addition of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division Iraqi Army is a huge combat multiplier. Their ability to gain factual information is paramount to fighting the...

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2006 – In the past three days, U.S. soldiers and coalition forces have detained insurgents, seized a weapons cache and rescued hostages in Iraq, military officials said. Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, detained six insurgents in a raid near Samarra yesterday. The detainees were held for further questioning. The raid also uncovered a weapons cache including AK-47 assault rifles, a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, a machine gun, machetes, bayonets, and a mortar sight. The cache was taken to a secure location for disposal. While conducting operations near Tarmiya on March 25, coalition forces rescued two...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Family and friends greeted the arrival of the Navy’s newest ship, the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17), as it arrived to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Jan. 25. San Antonio was commissioned Jan. 14 at Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, and will be permanently homeported in Norfolk. “After a magnificent commissioning in Ingleside (Texas), it will feel good for the Sailors on San Antonio to get home,” said San Antonio’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Bradley Lee. The San Antonio-class will functionally replace more than 41 ships (LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113, and LST...

NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived here Sept. 28 at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services and Louisiana government state officials. The ship, one of the largest trauma facilities in the nation, is preparing to act as an emergency trauma center for New Orleans as its citizens begin to repopulate the Crescent City. During this mission, Comfort will be under the operational control of Joint Task Force Rita. “We are looking forward to helping the city of New Orleans get back on its feet and...

NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Three Canadian ships carrying approximately 1,000 Canadian military personnel and pallets of supplies and heavy equipment arrived at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Sept. 12. The Canadian ships’ arrival came after an adventurous transit from Canada, around a hurricane in the north Atlantic, to the tip of Florida’s southern coast and then north to Pensacola. Canada joins five other countries, including Mexico, the Netherlands, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, in ongoing support of relief efforts to the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. The ship’s weeklong journey to assist began long before the...

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) -- Hurricane Katrina’s awesome power could not keep a baby from making her debut at the medical center here during a cesarean section illuminated by a ring of flashlights. “Our team delivered a healthy, robust baby girl -- definitely not a shrinking violet,” said Maj. Betsy Majma, a nurse anesthetist. “She came into the world screaming, even before she was fully delivered. Except for the venue and circumstances, it ended up being a routine C-section -- 23 minutes, skin to skin.” The Aug. 29 birth was coordinated by a team of about 50 medics...