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WASHINGTON, March 13, 2009 – U.S. forces in Iraq increasingly are working on civil affairs projects to develop the country, while continuing to provide security so that progress can happen throughout, military officials report. U.S. Army Capt. Eric Currence, commander of the 641st Civil Affairs Team, shakes hands with Jameel Bashar, the village sheikh's brother, after the ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new water filtration facility in Kalamat Village March 9, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Soldiers assigned to the Army’s 641st Civil Affairs Team helped bring a water filtration system...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2007 – As coalition troops work among the people of Baghdad to improve security, they also are training Iraqi forces, who in turn are securing their own neighborhoods and taking more responsibility, the U.S. general in charge of coalition forces in the city said today. “This is tough work; it would be challenging even if we weren’t fighting a brutal enemy at the same time,” Army Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil, commander of Multinational Division Baghdad, told civilian defense experts in a conference call. “But there is progress, and I see steady progress both in terms of...

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jason Jones, with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment performs a retinal scan of a resident during a mission on Baghdad’s Haifa Street, May 8, 2007. Troops are conducting a census there, and recording the availability of essential services like water, trash removal and electricity. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Robert Yde New Unit Starts Work to Secure Baghdad’s Haifa Street National week of recognition spurs Anaconda even By Sgt. Robert Yde 2nd Brigade Combat Team 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs FORWARD OPERATING BASE UNION III, Iraq, May 14, 2007 — After spending the...

Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Multi-National Forces-Iraq spokesman, holds an operational update briefing at the Combined Press Information Center in the International Zone Wednesday. Photo by Army Sgt. Matthew Roe, 10th Public Affairs Operations Center. BAGHDAD -- The Multi-National Force – Iraq spokesman held an operational update briefing at the Combined Press Information Center in the International Zone Wednesday to discuss Baghdad security and other issues. “Militarily, the first additional Iraqi forces and the first of five additional U.S. brigades have arrived in Baghdad and are conducting operations,” said Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, MNF-I spokesman.Caldwell also said...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2007 – In spite of understandable skepticism over the fate of ongoing stabilization efforts in Iraq, a top U.S. military official said yesterday, the potential exists for success. Speaking on programs and logistics related to the latest Baghdad security plan, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told bloggers in a conference call from Baghdad that this time through, the necessary factors are aligned to set the conditions that will enable reconciliation and growth in the Iraqi capital and beyond. “We do see the skepticism out there that exists, because you know some feel...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Nov. 24, 2006 -- Bringing stability to provinces in Afghanistan and bringing areas under control of the national government is a two-step process that’s progressing steadily in small steps. U.S. forces operating under NATO’s International Security Assistance Force at nine forward operating bases in Regional Command East and two in Regional Command South fall into two main categories: provincial reconstruction teams and maneuver units. “Maneuver will go in, and we’ll take an area controlled by the Taliban or insurgent forces,” Army Sgt. Maj. Bryan Gran, the operations sergeant major for Task Force Iron Graze...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2006 – The ongoing effort to secure Baghdad is an evolution, and solutions must be long-term, the spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq told reporters in Baghdad today. “Abating the extremists in the capital will neither be easy nor rapid,” Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said of progress in Operation Together Forward. “Challenges will ensue, but efforts will march forward block by block.” A variety of activities are occurring in Baghdad, with Iraqi and coalition forces working together to help quell violence and build stability, Caldwell said. Caldwell cited some of the statistics that reflect Operation Together Forward’s...

(PRWEB) July 8, 2006 -- As Independence weekend celebrations spread throughout the United States, V.I.P. Promotions Founder/CEO Tommy Nero interviewed U.S. Army Captain James Van Thach while he was spending his July 4th, weekend deployed to Baghdad, Iraq on his first overseas tour of duty. "It's so unusual these days, Captain Thach, to find young people even thinking about devoting their lives to something greater than themselves May I ask why you volunteered to join the Infantry after finishing Touro Law School?" "Mr. Nero, there are higher callings in life than just focusing on building a very comfortable lifestyle for...

FORT TARIK, Iraq, May 7, 2006 – No country can seal off its borders, nor does it make sense to do so in the 21st century. A border patrol car's rear view mirror reflects the activity at the Tarik border fort on Iraq's border with Iran. The fort is nearly fully operational. Photo by Jim Garamone  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. But secure borders are necessary, and the Iraqi border police and other members of the Iraqi security forces are working to secure the new democracy's frontiers. "One of the greatest advantages of secure borders is the ability...

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryMarch 25, 2006 President's Radio Address       Audio      In Focus: Immigration      THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. On Monday, I will attend a naturalization ceremony here in Washington. It's always inspiring to watch a group of immigrants raise their hands and swear an oath to become citizens of the United States of America. These men and women follow in the footsteps of millions who've come to our shores seeking liberty and opportunity, and America is better off for their hard work and love of freedom.  Radio Address 200620052004200320022001  Radio Interviews 20052004 America is a nation...

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq, Jan. 1, 2006 – Securing gains made and training local police are keys to victory over terrorists here in Anbar province, the commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Forward said today. In the past few months, U.S. Marines and soldiers have aggressively attacked insurgents throughout the province, Marine Maj. Gen. Stephen Johnson, who is also commander of Multinational Force West, said. Coalition forces went into known insurgent areas and remained in those areas to ensure insurgents did not come back, Johnson said. "We are able to do this now because we have trained Iraqi...

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Oct. 13, 2005) -- As Iraqi citizens vote in the Oct. 15 Constitutional Referendum, they’ll do so with a better sense of security, thanks to 48th Brigade Combat Team Soldiers. One of the brigade’s top priorities is to assist Iraqi security forces in securing the polling sites in the neighborhoods of southwest Baghdad. Brigade Soldiers have been busy placing concrete barriers around those sites. The focus of the barrier movement plan is to limit the disruption to daily activities of the local population, so the major effort of emplacing the barriers is done during non-peak hours...

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4, 2005 – The 25-foot-long vessel bounced over the whitecaps on San Francisco Bay, propelled by 450 horsepower of thrust as it approached the majestic span that's become this city's internationally known symbol. There, below the Golden Gate Bridge, Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Gale and Seaman Marcel Gradvohl began inspecting the bridge's piers, abutments, fenders and pilings for signs of tampering or intrusion, and ensuring that no people or watercraft had violated the 25-yard security zone around the structures. Gale and Gradvohl, both assigned to Coast Guard Station Golden Gate, are on the front...

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