April 15, 2009

Troops could stay in Mosul past June

{mosimage}WASHINGTON (April 14, 2009) – U.S. soldiers could remain in Mosul, Iraq, past June 30, when Iraqi forces are scheduled to assume full security responsibilities for the entire country, a senior U.S. military commander in the area said Tuesday.

April 13, 2009

Gates: Rescue was 'textbook,' but piracy looms

QUANTICO, Va., (April 13, 2009) — The U.S. military's rescue of a kidnapped American ship captain yesterday was "textbook," but the issue of piracy is likely to worsen in the absence of a systemic solution, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said April 13.

April 9, 2009

Back from Baghdad, Obama pledges more troop, family support

WASHINGTON (April 9, 2009) – Fresh back from visiting troops deployed to Iraq, President Barack Obama said he was “inspired all over again by the men and women in our armed forces,” and vowed to ensure the programs that support them receive proper funding.

April 9, 2009

U.S. continues to transfer responsibility to Iraqi government

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2009 – American forces in Iraq continue to transfer more responsibilities to the Iraqi government and their security forces as part of the security agreement that went into effect on Jan. 1, a Multi-National Force - Iraq general said Wednesday.

April 8, 2009

U.S., Lebanon mull expansion of bilateral relationship

WASHINGTON (April 8, 2009) – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates hosted Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr Wednesday at the Pentagon as the two leaders assessed the way ahead in the two countries’ military-to-military relationship and U.S. support to the democratically elected Lebanese government.

April 8, 2009

Mullen, Holbrooke work to build trust in Pakistan

WASHINGTON (April 8, 2009) – Building trust between the United States and Pakistan tops the agenda as the two countries and Afghanistan move forward, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said following meetings in Pakistan’s capital city Wednesday.

April 7, 2009

President praises troops during surprise Baghdad visit

WASHINGTON (April 7, 2009) – In a surprise visit to Iraq Tuesday, President Barack Obama declared to troops in Baghdad that now is the time for Iraqis “to take responsibility for their country.”

April 7, 2009

Gates supports reaching out to Islamic world

WASHINGTON (April 8, 2009) – A comprehensive American outreach effort to the Islamic world will pay dividends, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Tues day.

April 6, 2009

'Reconciliation' offers new start for nonviolent fugitives

FORWARD OPERATING BASE BERNSTEIN, Iraq, April 6, 2009 – The Iraqi army, aided by U.S. soldiers, helped more than 30 people here in Salahuddin province, north of Baghdad, on March 30 to clear their names of criminal charges against them.

April 6, 2009

Troops kill 52, capture 17 in Afghanistan fighting

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2009 – Coalition and Afghan forces have killed at least 52 insurgents and captured 17 others in four days of fighting in Afghanistan, military officials reported.