April 22, 2009

Petraeus discusses differences in Afghanistan, Iraq strategies

WASHINGTON (April 22, 2009) – Predicting some “tough months ahead” as more U.S. troops deploy into Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. central Command said yesterday he believes success there is achievable, but not using the exact strategies that sparked a turnaround in Iraq.

April 21, 2009

Afghan women find support in Wardak province

WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan (April 21, 2009) – The Afghan National Police worked with U.S. soldiers serving in Task Force Spartan recently to provide 25 women and their families here with humanitarian aid packages. The police, working with the 10th Mountain Division’s 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, distributed the packages, containing food and stuffed animals, at the Wardak Women’s Center.

April 20, 2009

$2.8 mil project doubles irrigation capability

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, April 20, 2009 – Joined by government and local leaders, the provincial reconstruction team here celebrated the completion of the Grand Canal repair project during an April 12 ribbon-cutting ceremony in Jalalabad.

April 19, 2009

Coalition, Afghan troops aid earthquake victims

KABUL, Afghanistan (April 18) – Afghan National Security Forces in conjunction with International Security Assistance Force soldiers provided aid to earthquake victims in Sherzad District, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan Friday.

April 19, 2009

Gates says U.S. must apply lessons from past drawdowns

NEWPORT, R.I. (April 17, 2009) – As the U.S. military winds down from Iraq and Afghanistan in the future, leaders must learn the lessons of past drawdowns, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Friday.

April 16, 2009

Troops train Iraqis in forensic techniques

WASHINGTON (April 16, 2009) – Coalition forces in Iraq increasingly are working to develop the country’s nonmilitary capabilities, such as its criminal justice and medical systems. In recent weeks, that has meant training the Iraqis in forensic science and medical practices.

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.