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Bush Thanks Denmark for Troops, Pledges Iraq's Sovereignty By Gene HarperAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 28, 2004 – President Bush thanked Denmark for its troop support to Operation Iraqi Freedom during Danish Prime Minister Anders Rasmussen's visit to the White House today. "The moms and dads of those troops need to know they're performing brilliantly," Bush said. "They're good, strong soldiers who bring great credit to your country." Rasmussen confirmed Denmark's commitment in Iraq. "We will stay and finish our job," he said. "Our common goal is to assist the Iraqi people in building a new, modern and...

  Italian Troops Continue Humanitarian Aid Projects AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq - Despite attacks by anti-Coalition insurgents, Italian soldiers in Iraq continue humanitarian aid projects throughout the Dhi Gar province. A recently-completed project restructured the electrical network at the An Nasiriyah railway station, granting more dependable power to local railways. A newly-begun project aims to drain swamps, pave dirt roads and bring clean drinking water to Iraqi homes in the province. In addition, thanks to $15,000 raised by an Italian humanitarian association, Italian soldiers are now ready to renovate a nurse's school in An Nasiriyah. Release Italians Provide Water Purification System,...

<p>Warsaw , Apr. 22 (UPI) -- Poland's Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said Thursday Polish forces would remain in Iraq at least until free elections can be held next year.</p> <p>Poland, a staunch ally of the United States, heads a multi-national force of some 9,500 troops, including around 2,500 of its own soldiers.</p>

  Singapore Reaffirms Commitment to War on Terror By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 21, 2004 — Singapore's deputy prime minister reaffirmed his county's commitment to the war on terror and vowed to continue working closely with the United States "to uproot this menace to modern society" after a meeting today at the Pentagon. "Singapore supports the war on terror led by the U.S.," Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan said after meeting with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. "The war on terror is taking place on many dimensions and many views and in many countries," Tan said....

  U.S., British Leaders Say They Won't Abandon Iraq By Gerry J. GilmoreAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 16, 2004 – The top U.S. and British leaders today pledged their nations' continued support for a free and democratic Iraq despite all obstacles. President George Bush, accompanied by British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a White House press conference, told reporters he and Blair are resolved to stand fast with Iraqis and will not "abandon them in their hour of need." "The prime minister and I have made our choice," Bush declared. "Iraq will be free. Iraq will be independent....

MULTINATIONAL DIVISIONCentral-SouthPublic Information Office Camp Babylon, Iraq 16 APRIL 200409:00 HRSPRESS RELEASEQuadisiyah ProvinceAt approx. 03.00 Hrs LT the Spanish patrol discovered a mortar firing position. Terrorists tried to escape from the spot and opened fire. Patrol responded. The terrorist’ car was damaged, one wounded person was detained.At 01.20 Hrs LT the Coalition Forces base in Ad Diwaniyah was attacked by mortar fire. No one was injured, no damages reported.An Najaf ProvinceYesterday at 22.00 Hrs LT Coalition Forces base in An Najaf was attacked by mortar fire. No one was injured, no damages reported.Babil ProvinceAt 01.15 the police station in...

<p>WASHINGTON — President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will show a united front on Iraq on Friday as the coalition continues to face violent resistance from some Iraqi factions.</p> <p>The two world leaders will hold a joint news conference at 10:30 a.m. EDT in the White House and are hope to boost public support for the mission in Iraq amid rising casualty numbers there.</p>

Myers Visits Italian Coalition Members in Iraq By Jim GaramoneAmerican Forces Press Service TALLIL, Iraq, April 14, 2004 – A visit with foreign members of the coalition force in Iraq was the first stop for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff here today. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers visited with Italian members of the Multinational Division Southeast. Italian Brig. Gen. Gian Marco Chiarini, the commander of the 132nd "Ariete" Brigade briefed the American officer and his staff. The brigade, which is a mix of regular army and police, patrols the area in and around Nasiriyah. There...

  Homeward-Bound Medics BidFarewell to Egyptian, Korean Partners By U.S. Army Spc. Kelly Hunt4th Public Affairs Detachment BAGRAM, Afghanistan, April 2, 2004 — Medical Task Force-44 soldiers said good-bye to their coalition partners-in-medicine during a celebration at the Egyptian Forces compound Mar. 23.The gathering gave soldiers the opportunity to end their 10-month tour in Afghanistan with friends and offered the Egyptian and Korean medical troops the chance to meet the incoming American soldiers who are replacing Task Force-44 troops.Task Force-44 is being replaced by the Army Reserve’s 325th Field Hospital out of Independance, Mo. “This is a good thing...

Soldiers of the Republic of Korea Army joined by U.S. Army representatives and Afghan interpreters spread seeds in the “Garden of Peace” as part of the ceremony commenorating 90,000 patients treated at the Korean Hospital. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Johnny A. Thompson Korean Army Medics Mark Milestone With 90,000 Afghan Patients Treated By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Johnny A. Thompson / 4th Public Affairs Detachment BAGRAM, Afghanistan, March 26, 2004 — Coalition Forces here are adamant in their efforts to help Afghanistan become a healthy and vigorous nation, and that resolve helped the Republic of Korea Army’s...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 March 18, 2004Release Number: 04-03-41 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FROM OIF: THE FIRST YEARTAMPA, Fla. – Operation Iraqi Freedom Coalition Forces have successfully liberated 25 million Iraqis from the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. These highlights provide information regarding the accomplishments of the Coalition throughout the past year. The OIF Coalition is comprised of 34 countries, including 11 NATO countries, and they have provided over 22,000 troops to support the efforts in Iraq. There are two multi-national divisions in...

<p>President Bush yesterday said terrorists will "never shake the will of the United States," and the prime minister of the Netherlands said his country stands "shoulder to shoulder" with the United States to fight global terrorism.</p> <p>In the wake of Spain's planned withdrawal of troops in Iraq after a suspected al Qaeda attack in Madrid last week, Mr. Bush used the Dutch leader's visit as an opportunity to rally the rest of his global allies in the war on terrorism.</p>

JASDF flies first humanitarian mission into Iraq TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq -- Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Halpin kicks a pallet lock into place to secure humanitarian supplies being unloaded from a Japanese C-130. Airmen from the United States and Japan unloaded more than 5,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies here March 3. Sergeant Halpin is the base's aerial port flight superintendent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bob Oldham) Download HiRes by Maj. Dave HonchulU.S. Central Command Air Forces-Forward Public Affairs 3/4/2004 - AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AFPN) -- The Japan air self-defense force flew its first humanitarian mission into Iraq as...

Feb 25, 11:23 AM ESTQueen Gives Awards to U.K. Iraq Veterans By SUE LEEMANAssociated Press WriterLONDON (AP) -- A 19-year-old soldier who rescued a colleague from U.S. "friendly fire" in Iraq received the George Cross on Wednesday, the youngest person honored with Britain's second-highest award for gallantry."I'm overwhelmed. I don't know what was more nerve-racking, receiving this medal or when we were under fire," Trooper Christopher Finney said after receiving his award from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.Finney had been a member of British army's Blues and Royals regiment for less than a year when he rescued a...

  International Partners Members of the Spanish Civilian and Military Cooperation Team prepare to present two wheelchairs to Iraqi civilians at Camp Andaluz in An Najaf, Iraq, earlier this month. The Spanish team, part of the Multi-National Division Central South, has hired local Iraqis to assemble more than 200 donated wheelchairs. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John M. Foster  llllllllllllll Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers practice restraining techniques while receiving training from soldiers with the Cuscatian Battalion of the El Salvador Army, in An Najaf, Iraq. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John M. Fosterllllllllllllll  ...

Feb 21, 8:41 AM ESTJapanese Troops Leave for Middle East TOKYO (AP) -- About 150 troops left northern Japan for Kuwait on Saturday to join Japanese forces already engaged in a humanitarian mission to help rebuild Iraq.The departing troops were the largest ground contingent yet mobilized for a controversial operation that will involve 1,000 Japanese military personnel, including air and naval forces.Also Saturday, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Japan for a five-day visit that will include meetings with Japanese leaders on the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.Annan will hold talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi,...

Feb 8, 10:43 AM ESTRumsfeld Praises Croatian Govt. BackingBy ROBERT BURNSAP Military Writer Rumsfeld says gathering intelligence in uncooperative countries is a difficult task. (Audio) ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld praised the leaders of Croatia's new government Sunday and encouraged their pursuit of defense reforms designed to make the Balkan nation eligible for NATO membership.In a three-hour visit, Rumsfeld also thanked President Stipe Mesic and other government officials for supporting the U.S.-led fight against terrorism. Croatia has a small contingent of military police in Afghanistan but it has not yet asked the Parliament to approve troops...

Feb 8, 8:47 AM ESTJapan Troops Cross Into Iraq From KuwaitBy DIANA ELIASAssociated Press Writer KUWAIT CITY (AP) -- A contingent of Japanese troops crossed Sunday into Iraq from Kuwait as part of the country's first deployment to a combat zone since 1945.The troops, most of them engineers, are part of a deployment slated to total about 800 troops in a humanitarian mission in southern Iraq. Another 200 are to remain in Kuwait.The troops who crossed the border Sunday traveled in a 25-vehicle convoy from the U.S. Camp Virginia in the Kuwaiti.The convoy included armored vehicles, trucks, personnel carriers, and...

Feb 2, 10:25 PM ESTAustralia Doesn't Plan Weapons InquirySYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Australia has no need for a special inquiry into its intelligence on Iraq because it is sure Saddam Hussein had illicit weapons, Defense Minister Robert Hill said Tuesday.Australia received its intelligence from Britain and the United States, whose leaders both plan to name special panels to investigate the intelligence they used for going to war in Iraq.But Hill said he had confidence in the intelligence Australia received and there was no doubt Saddam had weapons of mass destruction."There were weapons. That is not in dispute," Hill told...

Japanese forces arrive to help by Senior Airman James C. Dillard386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs 1/30/2004 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Three Japanese air self-defense force C-130Hs arrived here Jan. 30, bringing to fruition an initial deployment plan Japanese forces thought would never happen. This is the first time since World War II Japanese troops have deployed supporting humanitarian activities in a hostile area. The JASDF joins the coalition as they begin deploying troops to Southwest Asia supporting humanitarian projects such as rebuilding schools, offering medical assistance and aiding in mending Iraq's infrastructure. The approval for the deployment of the JASDF came...