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KUWAIT CITY (AFP) - A firebrand Shiite cleric who has "incited violence and sparked unrest" in Iraq (news - web sites) "must be brought to justice," General Richard Myers, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, said. "The Iraqi court system wants Sadr ... He has to be brought to justice ... The coalition will help bring him to justice," Myers told a press conference in Kuwait after talks with the emirate's leaders. But the top US military official declined to say if the threat to kill Sadr was still an option for the US-led coalition, saying that...

  Wolfowitz Testifies Before 9/11 Commission By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USAAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 24, 2004 -- Striking al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan earlier in the year would not have prevented the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told a special commission here March 23. Wolfowitz, along with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, appeared before the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Killing a few relatively low-level al Qaeda operatives might...

One year after combat operations began against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, now more than ever is the time for the international community to pull together against terrorism, said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said on CNN's "American Morning," ABC's "Good Morning America" and "Fox News Morning" that America should pay tribute to the members of the armed forces on duty around the globe. "They are the reason that we're being successful," he said on CNN. Myers advised a wait-and-see approach to the military actions under way in Pakistan. The Pakistani armed forces...

History has shown that appeasement doesn't work, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said here today. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke at the Foreign Press Center and gave his assessment of the coalition in Iraq a year after the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "The mission was to liberate the Iraqi people from one of the world's most brutal and dangerous dictators, and to begin laying the foundation for a free and prosperous Iraq," Myers said. "We have done that." The chairman said that if history has shown anything, it is that appeasement just hasn't worked....

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer warned Europeans on Wednesday that they must reject appeasement in the face of terrorism, as Washington battled skepticism over U.S. foreign policy and the invasion of Iraq. Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, speaking days after Spain's incoming Socialist leader signaled his intention to pull 1,300 Spanish troops out of the U.S.-led occupation force in Iraq, said that backing away from terrorism did not work. "As you look back through history, and you look at situations that required people to stand up for principle, to stand up and lead and be counted against...

The United States is doing "pretty well" in the war on terror, but more needs to be done and more progress is necessary to transform American military capabilities, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said Feb. 18. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke at a "Space at the Crossroads" conference co-sponsored by the Space Foundation and Space News. The audience came mostly from industry, and Myers seemed to relish the chance to speak on military transformation and what it means for civilian partners. But first, he gave a report on progress in the war on terror. In...

Striving to do one's best is at the core of the military, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers told members of the World Military Games gold-medal modern pentathlon team here Feb. 17. "There's a correlation between what you do on your field, and how (the military) works in other fields," the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman told the three members of the team. "We all want to be world-class. We think we are world-class in what we do." The team took the gold at the 3rd Military World Games in Catania, Italy, in December. The members of the team are...

  Myers Salutes Troops, All Who Serve the Nation By Linda D. KozarynAmerican Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2004 –Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accepted the Intrepid Foundation 2004 Freedom Award in New York City Feb. 11 on behalf of America's men and women in uniform. The nation's service members "serve tirelessly and with great courage and great dedication," Myers said. "They're the ones out there doing the really hard work." Launched in 1943, the USS Intrepid served the U.S. Navy for 31 years. During World War II, the Intrepid suffered...

Intelligence is not a perfect art or science, the nation's top military leader said here today. Still, he said, he remains confident that members of the intelligence community are "trying to do the best work they can for this country of ours." Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a Pentagon briefing that the nation's policy makers learn a lot from both intelligence successes and failures. "(Intelligence agencies) have had great success, and they have sometimes missed the mark; that's the nature of their business," Myers said. "You will never make the...

  U.S. Committed to Asian-Pacific region, Chairman Says By Jim Garamone American Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2004 – Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers' trip to Japan, Mongolia, China and Australia reemphasized to leaders in the region that the United States is interested and committed to progress in the region, said senior defense officials. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spent about 60 hours aboard a C-17 transport plane getting around the region. In Japan, he met with senior military and government officials. The island nation is the economic power in the region, and the...

  Myers Says World Must Think of Terror Like Slavery By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service TOWNSVILLE, Australia, Jan. 19, 2004 – The war on terrorism seems light years away from this beautiful tropical city on the Coral Sea, but what happens in New York, Riyadh, Bali or Istanbul has a direct affect on the people here. That was the message Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered to the people of Townsville during a Jan. 18 stop to end his nine-day, four-country visit to the Asia-Pacific region. Myers said the...

The United States and China are making progress on security issues, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said today following meetings with senior Chinese leaders. The Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman said there is a "positive momentum" in the security relationship. "The U.S. seeks a constructive and stable military relationship with China," Myers said during a press roundtable at the American embassy here. "We will both benefit from expanding our military education exchanges, especially between our academies and war colleges." The push forward comes after some rocky times. In April 2001, a Chinese F-8 fighter collided with a U.S. Navy...

The top American uniformed officer delivered the American military's thanks to one of its most steadfast allies here today. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thanked his counterpart, Army Gen. Peter Cosgrove, chief of the Australian Defense Force, for his nation's help in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the global war on terrorism. Myers is finishing a trip through the Asia-Pacific region with a stop in Australia. He met here with Cosgrove and Defense Minister Robert Hill, and earlier in the day with Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Sydney. Myers met with...

BEIJING -- It may look like Mission Control in Houston, but this space complex had been hidden from the world until Wednesday -- when U.S. officials got their first look at the command center that recently sent China's first manned flight into orbit and back. "Congratulations. You've had a great success," Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Chinese space program officials during his 40-

US General Myers given red carpet welcome in Chinese capital BEIJING, (AFP) - China's military rolled out the red carpet for visiting US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers, the highest level military officer to visit since ties became strained three years ago. AFP Photo Myers was given an honor guard welcome as he met his counterpart General Liang Guanglie, chief of general staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). A 40-piece military band performed the two national athems in front of the Defense Ministry. "General Myers, respected American guest, today I'm very pleased to have...

Mongolia is a small country with a powerful warrior tradition. But today, the country consciously is tying its reputation to peacekeeping, and Mongolia's latest area of operations is Iraq. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Mongolia today to speak with national and defense leaders and to meet with soldiers who are getting ready to go to Iraq. He thanked the Mongolian leaders for their support in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he said the Mongolian people "should be very proud of the professionalism and discipline of their forces in Iraq." The last time...

American service men and women are stepping forward to re-enlist, "as I would expect," said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers. "We are a nation at war. This is the time for our military to rise to the occasion and serve the nation at a time like no other." Myers said in an interview with the Pacific Stars and Stripes newspaper that all services are making their retention and recruiting goals. The chairman said service members realize that if the United States loses the war on terrorism, the results would be catastrophic. The...

Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers arrived in Japan today on the first leg of a nine-day, four-country trip. Visits will include China, where the chairman will continue constructive military-to-military contacts. He will also journey to Mongolia and Australia. In talks with Japanese military and defense leaders, Myers will thank Japanese allies for their support in the global war on terrorism and for sending personnel and money to help rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan. He will also consult with Japanese leaders about their participation in missile-defense efforts. Myers, who once commanded U.S. Forces Japan, is familiar with the...

Top U.S. General Making Highest-Level Military Visit to China During Bush Administration WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. military ties with China have been slow to recover from the forced landing of a Navy spy plane on a Chinese island more than two years ago. But the prospect of closer military relations as well as Washington's push to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear program are among the chief reasons for a trip to Asia by the top U.S. general. Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, left Saturday for a tour that will take him...

Rumsfeld, Myers Salute Success in Iraq, Warn Terror Threat Remains By Staff Sgt. Michelle L. Thomas, USAFSpecial to American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2003 — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld today lauded the accomplishments of those who willingly put their lives at risk so that all Americans can live in peace and freedom. During a Pentagon briefing, Rumsfeld, along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, credited military men and women for the strides made during the past year in the global war on terror. Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers...