Free Republic

BAGHDAD, March 15, 2006 – A battalion task force from the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division -- part of U.S. Central Command's "call forward force" in Kuwait -- has deployed to the Baghdad area, Multinational Force Iraq officials announced today. Military officials said the deployment is part of a broader plan, known as "Scales of Justice," that includes repositioning Iraqi security forces and coalition forces in the run-up to the Shiia Muslim observance of Arbaeen and over the vulnerable period of the formation of the new Iraqi government. Arbaeen commemorates a religious leader's martyrdom. "I have discussed this with...

KIRKUK, Iraq (Army News Service, March 14, 2006) -- With a modified ballistic vest, a Screaming Eagle combat patch and a Combat Action Badge, Zeko still may not look like the average Soldier, but he has become a valuable asset to the troops of Forward Operating Base McHenry. The explosive detection dog has found improvised bombs buried several feet in the hard desert ground. Zeko has brought new meaning to the phrase “man’s best friend,” said Bastogne Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, stationed at FOB McHenry. “He’s got a good rapport with the Soldiers,” said...

On Saturday March 18th anti-war protesters are going to be taking to the streets to give aid and comfort to our enemies, undermine our troops and spread anti-American propaganda. Join Eternal Vigilance Society For A Counter-Demonstration To Challenge The Anti-War Left’s Agenda of Lies that Undermine Our Troops and Embolden Terrorists. Saturday March 18th 1:00 PM Meet at the American Legion Hall at 57 Mitchell Place White Plains, NY

OPERATION PROUD BANNER WHO: Anyone who supports our country, our military, and their mission (sponsored by San Diego Protest Warrior). WHAT: A peaceful demonstration of support and gratitude for our armed forces. WHEN: Saturday, March 18, 2006, 12 to 4pm. WHERE: San Diego, west end of Balboa Park, near Sixth Avenue and Maple St. (map)WHY: To bear witness to the heated rhetoric of the so-called 'peace movement,' and to provide a calm rebuttal to their anti-American message. HOW: Bring American flags (or flags of our allies) of any size. Signs expressing support or gratitude for our military are also welcome....

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2006 – The Defense Department acted as rapidly as law would allow in providing assistance to civil authorities coping with Hurricane Katrina, which hit the Gulf Coast late last August, a senior DoD official told a Senate Armed Services subcommittee March 10. Army Sgt. Daniel Loeffler, a team leader with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, and his team tread their way through the flooded streets of New Orleans Sept. 9 during a patrol of the French Quarter. Photo by Sgt. Michael J. Carden, USA    "Our department provides military support...

Hamas seeks support from Saudis Hamas is on a fundraising tour across the Middle East A delegation of Hamas leaders has arrived in Riyadh in a bid to win Saudi financial and political support for the Palestinian government it is forming. It is Hamas's first official visit since 1998 and the five-strong delegation is led by Khaled Meshaal, one of the group's exiled leaders. Saudi Arabia has been one of the biggest financial backers of the Palestinian Authority. It has rejected US calls to isolate Hamas because of its attacks on Israel. "Hamas appreciates the Saudi position that always supported...

3/10/2006 - MOSUL, Iraq (AFPN) -- Air Force engineers from the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron are supporting Bastogne Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry near Hawijah, Iraq, by increasing the quality of living on forward operating base McHenry. “It’s a mission worth supporting,” said 2nd Lt. Tim Brodman, the officer in charge of the Red Horse detachment. “Working with the people here has been tremendous.” Air Force engineers arrived at the small FOB in January, and have been working nonstop since. After completing a new medical aid station, three sea huts (wooden multipurpose buildings), a military dog training course,...

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Mar. 9, 2006) -- In what has become a familiar routine, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, passed responsibility for casualty evacuation and general aviation support missions in Iraq Feb. 25 to HMM-268, MAG-16, 3rd MAW, ending another successful deployment to the newly democratic nation. "I was amazed at how smoothly things had gone here considering the extra flights and maintenance required for the mission. We had no aircraft suffer a mechanical breakdown and saved over 400 lives," said Lt. Col. Robert M. Brassaw, commanding officer, HMM-161. "Not only did...

    Hi everyone. I like Bob the Builder, so mom says I should tell you about him. He is fun. I have the game and I get to build stuff. Bob the builder has a website. Mom says you can have fun there. Visit bob the builder online US store Visit the official bobthebuilder US website Parents information Online Games Online Activities About Bob the builder     This is Bob. He is my favorite. I want to be a builder when I grow up. Wendy helps Bob. She is nice, but I'm not a girl so I...

The Army's new Theater Support Vessel (TSV) is a rapidly developed response to the transformational operational maneuver and sustainment demands of force-projection operations. The TSV is a fast-moving, shallow-draft vessel that can simultaneously move troops and their equipment together as combat-ready units within theater and deploy them with little or no reception, staging, onward movement, and integration (RSOI) activities at undeveloped ports. The TSV also provides follow-on sustainment through joint logistics over-the-shore (JLOTS) operations. Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom highlighted the need for maneuver-force and logistics transformation. To respond quickly to threats around the world, the U.S. Army must...

Here is a post that was just deleted on the American Idol message boards. Notice that it refers to a DIFFERENT thread that was ALSO deleted: "User "armywife" put up a thread a couple of days ago that described how some troops in Iraq felt about the contestants' performances. She brought a unique perspective to the table since the troops had heard the contestants sing, but NOT seen what they looked like. The troops were from armywife's husband's unit, so NATURALLY many posts were added to the thread saying "God bless," wishing them a safe return, and being generally supportive...

YELLOW RIBBON 2 in New Jersey Around the world, March 19th has come to mean several things. For the members of the Coalition of the Willing, it is a date in which the free world finally to their credit enforced 17 ignored U.N. resolutions and over a decade of Status Quo diplomacy to topple Saddam Hussein and his murderous regime. For the Iraqi people, it is a date for celebrating and embracing the very freedom they were so long denied and so rightly deserved. After three successful elections, a growing economy, and a yearning for self determination the mission in...

OTTAWA -- Canadians are more inclined than people in most other countries to back the continued presence of American-led troops in Iraq, according to a new global survey. And they're likelier to endorse the 2003 decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein as well. But like people almost everywhere, Canadians also believe the war in Iraq has increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks around the world. A 35-nation BBC poll released Tuesday found 46 per cent of Canadians think the United States, Great Britain and their allies were right to topple Saddam. A total of 40 per cent say that was a...

Friends: We are working very hard to put together a wonderful, patriotic, pro-American rally to honor our troops and support their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please, help us ensure that we have a GIANT pro-troop crowd this Friday, March 3rd in Balboa Park in San Diego from 4:00 - 6:30 PM.We'll be gathering at the corner of Presidents Way and Park Boulevard across from the Veterans Memorial Center Museum. Tell your friends about this. Bring family members with you. We need a strong contingent of people from Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties to make the trip!...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Former WBA heavyweight champion Greg Page, who sustained brain damage during a 2001 fight, remained on life support Saturday. The 47-year-old boxer was in the intensive care unit at Jewish Hospital. He has acute respiratory failure, sepsis, hypothermia and seizures. "His fever has gone down a bit, but he's still on the ventilator," hospital spokeswoman Angie Rose said. Page was left with brain injuries from his fight five years ago against Dale Crowe. He slipped into a coma, then had a stroke during post-fight surgery. He is paralyzed on his left side and uses a wheelchair. Last...

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney is scheduled to visit Norfolk on Monday to speak at a fundraiser for Republican U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, who is seeking re-election in November. Invitations to the 6 p.m. hotel reception went out the week before Cheney accidentally shot a hunting partner on Feb. 11, Tom Gordy, Drake's chief of staff, said Friday. The event sold out this week, and about 400 people are expected to attend, Gordy said. Guests want to show Cheney "that people in America still care for him," Gordy said. "Most people that we talk to are more...

Good morning Troops! Honoring and Thanking our Military for the fabulous rescue efforts in New Orleans. You're covering us on the Homefront and in the arena. We watched your heroic rescues during Katrina. We watch you in the theater of Iraq. We see you in the air. We see you digging out human lives from under acres of mud. We see you deployed and we see you come home. To the Best Armed Forces in the World, THANK YOU TROOPS.

I had the good fortune, to participate in my second rally in support of Free Speech in front of the Danish Embassy, in less than a week. This one, organized by writer Christopher Hitchens, was all pro-freedom, with none of the hate-filled rhetoric that spewed forth from the mouth of New Black Panther Party leader Malik Zulu Shabazz, at last week’s Anti-Free Speech Rally. Those who arrived early today (the event was from 1-2pm) were treated with the offer of a free Danish pasty. Many of us who received one, choose to hoist these aloft, along with the signs and...

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is losing the support of Republicans, according to a new poll released on the eve of the state Republican convention in San Jose at which conservative activists are expected to challenge his more moderate direction. The governor's popularity appeared to be growing last month, following a conciliatory State of the State address in which he announced an ambitious plan to upgrade the state's aging infrastructure. But this month his numbers have reversed, mostly due to erosion of his Republican base. Schwarzenegger's approval rating fell to 35 percent among adults in the Public Policy Institute of...

  USO 1942 Our hope is that we can enjoy some fun, friendship, and dancing. If you have suggestions for music, please let us know.   Canteen Mission Statement: Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.   Ms. B and Lady T will be your hosts for today's thread.   Canteen Deejays       ~Acad 1228~AZAmericonnie~beachn4fun~ ~bentfeather~Colonel Flagg~Diva Betsy Ross~ ~Drumbo~El Gran Salseron~EsmeraldaA~ ~God Bless USA~Gold Star Brother~Gucho~ ~HiJinx~hotstreak~Kathy In Alaska~ ~laurenmarlowe~MoJo2001~mylife~ ~StarCMC~tomkow6~trussell~ ~West Virginia Rebel~     Support...