Free Republic

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest surge in U.S. coronavirus cases appears to be much larger than the two previous ones, and it is all but certain to get worse — a lot worse. But experts say there are also reasons to think the nation is better able to deal with the virus this time. “We’re definitely in a better place” when it comes to improved medical tools and knowledge, said William Hanage, a Harvard University infectious-disease researcher. To be sure, the alarming wave of cases across the U.S. looks bigger and is more widespread than the surges that happened...

BESMAYA — A graduation ceremony filled with music, marching and speeches marked a tremendous step for Iraq when the Iraqi Army’s 3rd Brigade, 14th Division graduated here, Feb. 13. The importance of the graduation ceremony is the fact that the Iraqi Army is armed with the equipment and training necessary to provide security to the citizens of Basra. Iraqi Army Soldiers participating in the three-week Unit Set Fielding training could not have trained to the level of providing security if not for the support of the Iraqi Minister of Defense (MOD) and the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq, joint...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2007 – The Army and Marine Corps units that will make up the 21,500-troop surge to Iraq will meet the same standards of training as every unit that deploys and have all the equipment they need to accomplish the mission, leaders from the two services said here today. The Army is deploying five brigade combat teams and a division headquarters to Iraq, in addition to extending one National Guard BCT already in theater. None of the five BCTs will deploy with less than a year between deployments, and each will meet the Army’s pre-deployment training regimen,...

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Interior Ministry forces have reached 92 percent of a planned strength of 188,000 troops, the commander of the Coalition's Civilian Police Assistance Training Team said Monday in the capital. The Iraqi police are 90 percent trained and 83 percent equipped, according to Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Peterson, speaking to reporters from Baghdad Monday with Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, spokesman for Multi-National Force – Iraq. Members of the Iraqi National Police, formerly called special police, are 98 percent trained and equipped, the general said. The Interior Ministry also controls the Department of Border Enforcement. Its...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2006 – As current recruiting successes continue, the Army will ensure the reserve-component force gets the full funding it requires, Army leaders told Pentagon reporters today. "To be clear, we have no intention of cutting the number of Guard or Reserve brigades, reducing the number of Guard or Reserve soldiers or cutting the level of Guard or Reserve funding," Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, Army chief of staff, said. Rather, Schoomaker said, the Army is intent on building reserve-component units that, like their active-duty counterparts, are fully manned, trained, equipped and led for the missions they'll face in...

Dutch Sending Jets to Find Missing Teen By PETER PRENGAMAN, Associated Press Writer 11 minutes ago Aruba's Attorney General Karin Janssen speaks to the Associated Press in her office in Oranjestad, Aruba, Friday, July 1, 2005, regarding the case of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway. (AP Photo/Leslie Mazoch) ORANJESTAD, Aruba - Holland will send three F-16 warplanes rigged with search equipment to find Natalee Holloway, Aruban authorities said Saturday, as U.S. lawmakers increased pressure on the Aruban government to do more to find the Alabama teenager nearly five weeks since she disappeared. The three planes, equipped with infrared and sonar-scanning...