Free Republic

  Lancer Troops Work to Make Streets Safe for Iraqis After three improvised explosive devices detonated, patrols make villagers feel safer. By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Divison KHAN DARI, Iraq, March 29, 2007 — Making the streets safer for Iraqi civilians in their area of operations has been one of the main goals for troopers from the 2nd "Lancer" Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment. After three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated, including one that injured two children near a school here March 25, soldiers were out gathering information March 26 to help catch those...

Visiting local villages and farms is a key part of the Queen’s Royal Lancers’ mission in Maysaan. Photo by Cpl Ian Forsyth RLC. MAYSAAN -- While patrolling the Iraq and Iran border as a reconnaissance unit, the Queen’s Royal Lancers (QRL), have also been engaging with local Iraqi farmers and villagers in an attempt to build bonds and win hearts and minds. It seems they are getting a warm welcome. Along the 175 kilometre stretch of the Iran/Iraq border that the QRL carry out their reconnaissance missions, they meet plenty of local people, many of whom are farmers or simple Bedouin folk, nomads...

A Scimitar Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) of the Queen's Royal Lancers (QRL) on patrol in Maysaan Province BASRA -- Iraq’s border with Iran is a safer place, thanks to the Queen’s Royal Lancers. The Battlegroup began operating recently in Maysaan province, southern Iraq. The Lancers deployed as part of 19 Light Brigade, which took over as the main British Army force in the Multi-National Division in south-eastern Iraq. The QRL are equipped with Scimitar armored reconnaissance vehicles and ‘WMIK’ landrovers which are ideally suited to the mostly flat terrain, with large areas of marshland. The Battlegroup mounts regular patrols...

ZHUKOVSKY, Russia, Aug. 18, 2005 – As far as security forces troops are concerned, protecting aircraft in one location is like protecting aircraft in another. The scenery may change, but the procedures don't - unless, of course, the aircraft are in the former Soviet Union. For the 17 members of the 48th Security Forces Squadron from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, protocol in protecting U.S. aircraft at the Moscow International Air Show and Space Salon at Ramenskoye Airfield here is a bit different from what they're used to following. The security forces members here are not armed, as part of...

NEW YORK The New York Times angered hundreds of freelance photographers last week when it distributed a contract some are calling "outrageous," "insulting" and just plain "sad." The contract asks freelance photographers to assign joint copyright ownership to the Times (Click for QuikCap), giving the newspaper the absolute right to exploit the photographs for the life of the copyright and collect all licensing fees, without payment to the photographer. The Times had no previous written agreement with freelancers. Photographers, copyright lawyers and industry trade groups have objected to the new contract, saying it puts the freelancer at a distinct disadvantage....