Free Republic

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2006 – With a stroke of Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson's pen here today, all 15 U.S. Cabinet secretaries have now signed a joint statement in support of the Defense Department's Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve organization. Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson (right) became the last of the 15 U.S. Cabinet secretaries to sign a joint Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve statement of support. Thomas F. Hall (left), assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, delivered remarks during the April 14 ceremony. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution...

An Iraqi soldier from the 1st Motorized Transportation Regiment waves to onlookers as his unit returns to Camp Taji, Iraq, from a supply mission, March 23, 2006. The mission was the unit's first operation executed independently from coalition forces. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Salmons Iraqi Unit Completes Independent Mission The operation, a supply-delivery mission to the 6th Iraqi army division, was theculmination of months of efforts from the 4th Sustainment Brigade’s Taji-based battalions. By U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Salmons 4th Sustainment Brigade CAMP TAJI, Iraq, March 27, 2006 — Like parents waiting for their children to return...

ARLINGTON DEPOT, Iraq (Army News Service, March 16, 2006) – After almost three years of hard and dangerous work, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrated the last major demolition under the Coalition Munitions Clearance Program in Iraq. Col. John Rivenburgh, commander of the Huntsville Engineering and Support Center, Dr. John Potter, chief of the Ordnance and Explosives Directorate and Bill Sargent, program manager of the Coalition Munitions Clearance Program recently traveled to Iraq to witness the last major demolition and initiate the next phase of the ordnance destruction work. “The last demo consisted of over 248 tons of stockpiled...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The fast-attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) successfully demonstrated homing and docking of an Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) system during at-sea testing in January 2006. The two UUVs used in the testing are a part of the AN/BLQ-11 Long Term Mine Reconnaissance System (LMRS), which was designed to enable submarines to conduct clandestine undersea surveys to locate mines. “The testing demonstrated several important capabilities of a submarine-launched UUV system,” said Capt. Paul D. Ims Jr., program manager for UUVs in the Program Executive Office for Littoral and Mine Warfare. “These included the ability of the submarine...

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and associated strike group units completed their support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) when the carrier and USS San Jacinto (CG 56) transited the Suez Canal Feb. 15 as they continue their return trip home. However, detachments from Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 and Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87, and VFA 15, remain in the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and will rejoin the carrier and its associated air wing, Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), later this month. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group...

Gore, climate hero, completes seduction of Hollywood By Philip Sherwell in Washington (Filed: 29/01/2006) Al Gore, the failed Democrat presidential candidate better known for his wooden demeanour than showbiz appeal, is revelling in an unlikely new incarnation as a Hollywood leading man. His high-profile appearance at the trendy Sundance Film Festival in Utah last week renewed speculation that he could be persuaded to run for the White House, challenging Senator Hillary Clinton. Opinion-poll figures showing less support for his former boss's wife than expected fuelled the rumours. Mr Gore, who narrowly lost the 2000 presidential race to George W Bush,...

MALIBU, Calif. - Nick Nolte has successfully completed probation ordered after his 2002 no contest plea to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs, a judge ruled Wednesday. Nolte was present at the hearing before Judge Lawrence Mira. "I'm about to do `Pride and Glory,' a film in New York with Colin Farrell, and he'll just be coming out of rehab so he'll have a lot of support (from me)," the 64-year-old actor told syndicated TV show "The Insider" outside court. Farrell was being treated for exhaustion and dependency on medication prescribed after a back injury, his...

KUBAYSAH, Iraq (Jan. 4, 2006) -- As their families and friends were preparing to celebrate the New Year, the Marines and sailors of the Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marine Regiment were recuperating after a long, hard day of patrolling the streets in Kubaysah, Iraq during Operation Moon River. The goal of the one-day operation, undertaken by elements of the 22nd MEU (SOC) and the Iraqi army, was to assess the status of essential civil services in the city and show a coalition presence in a city that has seen very little conventional military in recent months. “We wanted...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) successfully completed Sea Trials Oct. 20, marking another milestone in the warship’s long and storied career. Following her four-year, mid-life Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) and four-month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA), Ike is now operational and beginning the journey toward becoming surge ready. “The ship is in much better material condition than it was four months ago,” said Capt. Dan Cloyd, Ike’s commanding officer. “The crew has performed magnificently. To be able to get through RCOH successfully and then to taste the operational side earlier this year and then go back...

ABOARD USS NORMANDY (NNS) -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) began its journey home to Naval Station Norfolk Aug. 12 as it concludes a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of maritime security operations (MSO). According to Capt. Steve Hampton, commanding officer of Normandy, the mission has been successful due to the coalition effort. With the coalition’s presence, terrorists are being denied the use of the seas, both as transportation and a moneymaking venue. Hampton credits the coalition’s success to the Iraqi government taking charge of its own destiny. “At sea, this is evident with the...

ELK GROVE, Calif. (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the completion Thursday of a petition drive to change how legislative districts are drawn - the second of three measures he wants to put before voters in a proposed special election this fall. Supporters turned in about 215,000 signatures to county officials in Los Angeles Thursday, the first of nearly 1 million they expect to deliver to election offices statewide by Monday. The measure requires 600,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. Speaking at a press conference in an upscale neighborhood, Schwarzenegger advocated for the redistricting measure that would put...