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WASHINGTON, July 13, 2007 – Now at full strength, the U.S. troop surge in Iraq is showing “definitive progress” and the number of forces serving in Iraq’s Multinational Division North could be halved by summer 2009, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon said today. A reduction of U.S. forces under the general’s command could begin as early as January 2008, he told Pentagon reporters via videoconference. Mixon, commander of both Multinational Division North and the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division, is responsible for six Iraqi provinces in northern Iraq, including the city of Baqubah -- site of the ongoing...

Hey, soldier, sailor, marine or airman! You’ve got a friend in Rains County. U.S. service men and women returning or on leave from active duty can find some laid-back country peace and quiet, a little fishing and a few days of rest at Axton’s Bass City on Lake Fork and its “on the house.”

BRUSSELS, Belgium, June 14, 2007 – Immense progress has been made in providing international assistance to the people and government of Afghanistan, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said today in his opening statement during the two-day session of the North Atlantic Council here. “As we meet today, we must first of all pay tribute to the men and women who take part in the NATO-led operations and missions from the Balkans to Afghanistan,” said Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. “We mourn those whose lives have been lost and offer our condolences to their loved ones.” The secretary...

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2007 – Higher troops levels are a major contributor to the success of operations in Iraq, especially in cities like Fallujah, a U.S. commander of troops in the western city said during a news conference today. Building on the successes of the combat teams before his, Marine Col. Richard Simcock, commander of Regimental Combat Team 6, said the biggest advantage he has over his predecessors is the number of troops available to secure and stabilize the city. “We can do more because we have more,” Simcock said. “Troop levels have allowed us to go places our...

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2007 – Defense Department officials today announced the next 10 Army brigade combat teams to deploy to Iraq to replace units currently operating there. The announcement affects about 35,000 active-duty troops, who all will deploy between August and the year’s end to serve as replacement forces for those returning home, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters. The units will deploy for up to 15 months. Whitman emphasized that the announcement is unrelated to the troop surge under way to increase security in and around Baghdad. “Let me be real clear about this,” he said. “This deployment...

DALLAS, May 3, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today expressed thanks to Americans who support the troops and urged people to check out the Defense Department’s America Supports You program. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates delivers a luncheon speech to the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, May 3, 2007. U.S. Air Force photo by Michael Tolzmann   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Gates told several hundred members of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce here that he’s grateful for the support many are providing their employees serving in the National Guard and reserves. “You value these...

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2007 – From its drivers to its millions of fans, NASCAR has long been associated with patriotism, and the tradition has continued as troops serve in the global war on terrorism. NASCAR has been a corporate supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and abroad, since 2005. “We, like all of our country, certainly enjoy the benefits of the history of America’s military,” Mike Hilton, the president of NASCAR, said. “NASCAR’s role is personal to all of us. It’s...

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 24, 2007 – A senior Navy leader lauded Louisville for its “America Supports You” spirit as hundreds of sailors participated in Louisville Navy Week, April 16-21. America Supports You is a Defense Department program that spotlights and facilitates support for the nation’s servicemembers by the American public and the corporate sector. “The Navy and Louisville enjoyed a busy six days, culminating in Thunder Over Louisville,” a six-hour air show capped by the largest annual fireworks show in America, said Navy Rear Adm. Michael C. Vitale, who commands Strike Group Two aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. “Louisville...

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2007 – The Military Officers Association of America recognized actor Gary Sinise, the DuPont company and six other people for their support of the military, during the association’s 10th annual awards ceremony here last night. MOAA is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families. “It’s a great opportunity to say thanks to people who are very dedicated and patriotic, and whose goal is to make the country better,” said retired Air Force Col. Marvin Harris, MOAA’s director of public relations. Harris...

PHOENIX, April 13, 2007 – The Defense Department recognized the city of Peoria, Ariz., yesterday for its stalwart support of the military. Mayor Bob Barrett of Peoria, Ariz., right, accepts the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award from Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public liaison and internal communications, April 12. The city received the award for its support of servicemembers. Defense Dept. photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Peoria Mayor Bob Barrett accepted the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award on behalf of...

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2007 ? An early withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq would be a catastrophic mistake, Iraq?s Ambassador to the United States said here today. ?If we set out a date now for a complete withdrawal [of U.S. forces from Iraq}, you can bet your bottom dollar that the terrorists will be waiting for that date and attacking and launching their biggest attacks? on Iraqi civilians and government institutions, Samir Sumaidaie told CNN Late Edition television news show host Wolf Blitzer today. The Defense Department?s emergency fiscal 2007 supplemental requests includes $93.4 billion to help fund U.S....

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2007 – The Defense Department recognized a troop-support group and a corporation here today for their teamwork in supporting the nation’s servicemembers. Jeanette Cram, founder of Treat the Troops, an America Supports You home-front group, and DuPont Teflon received the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service in a ceremony at the Pentagon. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Dorrance Smith presented both a medal and a copy of the citation describing their accomplishments. America Supports You is a DoD program that highlights and facilitates support for the nation’s men and...

Mr Bush plans to send 21,500 additional US troops to Iraq No-one is declaring victory, but the first few days of the new security operation in Baghdad have seen a significant fall in violence.The commander of the US side of the operation, Maj Gen Joseph Fil, said: "There's an air of suspense throughout the city... Many of these extremists are laying low and watching us to see what we do and how we do it." The Americans are working to a much more aggressive military doctrine than before. The frequent presence of a B1 "Lancer" bomber - making a...

Like John Kerry, who "voted for the 47 million dollars in Iraq", before he voted against it, Hillary and other democrats are donning their flips flops by changing their position on troop levels in Iraq. They were for more troop levels in Iraq, before they were against it. A Newsweek interview with House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rep. Silvestre Reyes: "In a surprise twist in the debate over Iraq," ... Mr. Reyes "said he wants to see an increase of 20,000 to 30,000 U.S. troops as part of a 'stepped up effort to dismantle the militias.' " "We...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2007 – President Bush’s pick for command of Multinational Force Iraq today supported the new strategy for Iraq, emphasizing that additional U.S. forces are essential in accomplishing the mission there. “If we are to carry out the Multinational Force Iraq mission in accordance with the new strategy, the additional forces that have been directed to move to Iraq will be essential, as will greatly increased support by our government’s other agencies, additional resources for reconstruction and economic initiatives, and a number of other actions critical to what must be a broad, comprehensive, multifaceted approach to the...

Petraeus Sees Tough Time for Troop Surge Tuesday January 23, 2007 3:46 PM By ANNE FLAHERTY Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army general who would carry out President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq urged patience Tuesday and predicted ``tough days'' ahead. ``None of this will be rapid,'' Lt. Gen. David Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee. ``The way ahead will be neither quick nor easy.'' Many in Congress, including some Republicans, oppose Bush's plan, which would send an extra 21,500 U.S. troops to Iraq as part of a revised strategy for quelling sectarian violence in Baghdad and...

Do you agree with President Bush's plan to add 21,500 troops to those now in Iraq? * 339061 responses Yes. The United States can still win this thing militarily; a sizable increase in troop strength, and help from the Iraqis, will turn the tide No. Define "win." After nearly four years, neither our country nor Iraq is better off. More troops going out means more body bags coming back.

WASHINGTON (KCBS) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hinted that the new Congress could deny funds for the proposed 20,000 troop surge in Iraq. President Bush is expected to announce his plans to send an influx of troops overseas on Wednesday. In an interview in her new office at the capitol, Pelosi told reporters, including KCBS’ Doug Sovern, that a troop surge translates to an escalation of the war in Iraq. She said sending more forces is the exact opposite of what most Americans want and the White House can’t expect the new Congress to approve money for the action. "They...

What ‘supporting the troops’ really means By Jim Meek E.E. CUMMINGS wrote the world’s wittiest war poem – and called it "my sweet old etcetera." The narrator’s mother hoped he "would die etcetera bravely of course." His father would go "hoarse talking about how it was a privilege and if only he could …" And his "sweet old etcetera aunt lucy … could tell you just what everybody was fighting for." Unfortunately, no one on the Christmas chattering circuit seems to know exactly what Canada is fighting for in Afghanistan. Thus we hear the same sloppy sentiment again and again:...

WASHINGTON — After years of playing a marginal role in the Iraq war, congressional Democrats plan to move quickly next month to assert more control and undercut any White House effort to increase troop levels. As President Bush prepares to outline his plan for Iraq in a major speech in the next few weeks, Democratic leaders will counter with weeks of oversight hearings, summoning military officers, administration officials and foreign policy experts to Capitol Hill. The Democratic plans put Congress on a collision course with Bush over the direction of the nearly 4-year-old war. And they signal a new phase...