Operation Phantom Fury--Day 142 - Now Operation River Blitz--Day 37

Meanwhile - a little whacko news.......

Koran scholar: US will cease to exist in 2007 <--BS Warning

JPost.com » Middle East » Article-By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Mar. 29, 2005 3:22 | Updated Mar. 29, 2005 6:54

A thorough analysis of the Koran reveals that the US will cease to exist in the year 2007, according to research published by Palestinian scholar Ziad Silwadi.

The study, which has caught the attention of millions of Muslims worldwide, is based on in-depth interpretations of various verses in the Koran. It predicts that the US will be hit by a tsunami larger than that which recently struck southeast Asia.

"The tsunami waves are a minor rehearsal in comparison with what awaits the US in 2007," the researcher concluded in his study. "The Holy Koran warns against the Omnipotent Allah's force. A great sin will cause a huge flood in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans."

Silwadi, who is from the village of Silwad near Ramallah – the home of Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal – is not a world-renowned scholar. He said he decided to publish the findings of his research "out of a sense of responsibility because what is about to happen is extremely shocking and frightening."

His fear, he said, is that the world economy, which relies heavily on the US dollar, would be deeply affected by the collapse of the US.

"It would be fair to say that the world would be better off with a US that is not a superpower and that does not take advantage of weak nations than a world where this country does not exist at all," he added."The world will certainly lose a lot if and when this disaster occurs because of the great services that American society has rendered to the economy, industry and science."

Silwadi said his study of the Koran showed that the US would perish mainly because of its great sins against mankind, including the Native Americans and blacks.

"As soon as the Europeans started arriving in the new world discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, they declared a war on the so-called Red Indians, the legitimate owners of the land," he wrote. "Then they began enslaving and humiliating Africans after kidnapping them from their countries and bringing them to America. Millions of blacks were brought to the US and treated with unprecedented harshness. Those who became ill during the journey were thrown overboard to feed the fish."

Silwadi pointed out that the US continued to commit war crimes and "ethnic cleansing" against humanity by becoming the first country to use nuclear weapons during World War II.

"International law penalizes such crimes," he said. "If these laws were not applied then, they are certainly implemented in heaven. If no one on earth is capable of punishing [the US], Allah was and remains able to do so. All these actions have been documented by Allah in a big archive called the Koran."

Silwadi said he reached the conclusion that several suras (chapters) in the Koran that talk about punishment for those who perpetrate heinous sins actually refer to the US.

As an example, he quotes in his study verse 40 of the Spider Sura, which states: "So each We [God] punished for his sin; of them was he on whom We sent down a violent storm, and of them was he whom the rumbling overtook, and of them was he whom We made to be swallowed up by the earth, and of them he whom We drowned; and it did not beseem Allah that He should be unjust to them, but they were unjust to their own souls."

Drawing parallels between Pharaoh and the US, who share the same "sin" of arrogance and excessive pride, Silwadi noted that the Koran mentions at least 12 times the fact that Pharaoh was punished by drowning for his evil deeds.

The Narrative Sura, he noted, clearly suggests that the US will drown in the sea: "And Firon [Pharaoh] said: O chiefs! I do not know of any god for you besides myself; therefore kindle a fire for me And he was unjustly proud in the land, he and his hosts, and they deemed that they would not be brought back to Us. So We caught hold of him and his hosts, then We cast them into the sea, and see how was the end of the unjust [verses 38-40]."

Explaining his theory about the approaching extinction of the US, the scholar went on to analyze many numbers and letters mentioned in the Koran. He said a careful reading and analysis of words appearing in the Opening and Yusuf suras show that the US will exist for only 231 years.

How did he reach that number? Silwadi said that by combing a number of suras hinting at US sins he reached the numbers 1776 (the year the US achieved independence) and 231. He added the two numbers and the result was 2007, the year when the US is expected to disappear.

In his lengthy study, which is being circulated in many Muslim countries, Silwadi noted that the US has often been compared to a tree that grows very quickly and bears fruit, but has no roots.

In an attempt to find a reference to this metaphor in the Koran, Silwadi said he counted 1776 verses from the beginning of the Koran until he reached verse 26 of the Ibrahim Sura, which states: "And the parable of an evil word is as an evil tree pulled up from the earth's surface; it has no stability."

Eight Kassam makers caught in West Bank

Members of Hamas preparing to launch a Kassam rocket into Israel.

Updated Mar. 29, 2005 4:29

By MARGOT DUDKEVITCH

In predawn raids conducted in and around Jenin on Monday morning, soldiers arrested eight Islamic Jihad fugitives, who were involved in attempts to build homemade Kassam-like rockets to fire into Israel.

It is the second raid in less than one month in which terrorists were caught attempting to build such rockets.

During Monday's raids conducted by the Maglan and Golani Egoz units, a soldier was lightly wounded when a bomb was detonated near troops. He was taken to Ha'emek Hospital in Afula.

According to security officials, the cell members had conducted several failed attempts to launch the rockets. The fugitives' arrests do not necessarily signify an increase in attempts by terror groups in Samaria to arm themselves with rockets, a security official said. "We are aware of their existence just as we are aware of the rockets in Gaza," an official said.

The officials were unable to confirm Palestinian reports that among the eight arrested were two family members, one of whom was freed in the recent release of 500 Palestinian security prisoners.

The other was said to have been part of a group of Palestinians permitted to return to the West Bank last month from the Gaza Strip, where they had been banished several years ago because of their involvement in terror activities.

In the previous raid, on March 5, security forces raided a bomb factory in Al-Yamun, west of Jenin, where Hamas members were building Kassam rockets. During the raid, soldiers discovered at least one completed Kassam rocket and estimated that two others had been test-fired. Security officials said at the time that Hamas cells were intensifying efforts to manufacture the rockets to threaten nearby communities like Afula, which is located 10 kilometers away.

Elsewhere on Monday, a Palestinian was lightly wounded when he did not stop to be inspected and was shot by a security guard, near the security fence close to Shekef, west of Hebron. He was taken to hospital in Hebron and Judea and Samaria police detained the guard for questioning.

At the Hawara checkpoint outside of Nablus, a Palestinian man was arrested after he refused to submit his identity papers for inspection and attempted to snatch a soldier's weapon. The IDF officer fired warning shots in the air and the suspect was arrested.

Earlier in the day, a firebomb was thrown at an Israeli bus near Ofra; no one was wounded in the attack.

In the Gaza Strip, shots were fired at an IDF post near Gadid; no one was wounded and no damage was reported.

On Monday evening, soldiers arrested an unarmed Palestinian who was spotted attempting to cross the Gaza security fence, north of the Kissufim crossing. He was handed over to security officials for questioning.

HUMVEE MAINTENANCE — U.S. Army Sgt. Danny D. Root, a Texas Army National Guardsman assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 112th Armor Regiment, 56th Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, welds a steel armor plate onto a Humvee in southern Iraq. Wells is one of a small team of mechanics responsible for ensuring the vehicles are in top condition for convoy escort missions. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Lek Mateo

U.S. President George W. Bush stands beside Iraqi national Ilham al-Jawahiri after he spoke about freedom and democracy in the Rose Garden of the White House, March 29, 2005. Bush predicted today that Iraq's parliament will choose a new government soon, despite the acrimony that erupted between Iraqi lawmakers trying to reach agreement in Baghdad. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Pentagon seeks to create robotic battlefield surgeon

Tue, Mar 29, 2005:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Before the Terminator, the US military is looking to hire the Operator, a top-notch battlefield surgeon. But those made of flesh and blood need not apply.

A contract awarded by the Pentagon to a consortium of universities and high-tech firms on Monday calls for creating a versatile robot able to perform life-saving surgery on wounded soldiers right on the battlefield.

"The result will be a major step forward in saving lives on the battlefield," said Scott Seaton, an executive director with SRI International, a company that will be the lead contractor on the 12-million-dollar, two-year project.

He said his Silicon Valley-based firm has a long history of meeting America's defense needs, "and this program continues in that tradition."

The request comes amid mounting military casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, where US troops are trying to hunt down Islamic militants.

The two wars have already claimed the lives of 1,686 US servicemen and left a total 11,877 others wounded, according to the latest Defense Department figures.

The wounds of more than half of those hurt turn out to be serious enough that they require extended treatment.

If everything works according to plan, the "trauma pod," as the robotic surgical system is called, will be able to stabilize injured soldiers within minutes and administer medical and surgical care prior to or during evacuation.

The concept is a step up from the Da Vinci surgical system approved by the US government five years ago and already used in dozens of hospitals, officials said.

When using it, the surgeon is seated comfortably at a console away from the operating table.

Viewing a three-dimensional image of his target, the doctor relies on master controls to operate robotic arms that respond to every movement of his hands, wrists and fingers and wield surgical instruments inside the patient according to his wishes.

The Da Vinci system has proven to be successful for some of the most complicated types of surgery because it often allows doctors to minimize incisions, reducing post-operative trauma.

Scientists believe this surgery by remote control could now be transferred to the battlefield.

When fully developed, the "trauma pod" will dramatically reduce the need for human medical personnel on the battlefield, officials said.

It will be small enough to be carried by most army vehicles or a helicopter. A doctor will use a system of surgical manipulators to operate from a remote location via video link.

One of the major challenges, according to scientists, will be to make these video links stable and reliable enough and to teach the robot to change instruments without the help of a nurse.

The contractors on the project also include General Dynamics, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Universities of Texas, Maryland and Washington.

Thank you all

Fear of insurgents waning in Iraq

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM

Tuesday, March 29, 2005:

BAGHDAD – Iraq has expanded its security responsibility to the worst areas of the Sunni Triangle as successful coalition raids have devastated insurgency bases and dispelled the atmosphere of fear that stymied cooperation by the local population.

So far, about 100 insurgents have been captured in Samara in March, officials said. They said many of them were arrested based on tips from Samara residents.

"The people of Samara used to be afraid of the anti-Iraqi forces," Iraqi Gen. Rashid Adnan, commander of the 1st Brigade police commandos, said. "They couldn't tell us any information. Now their fear is gone."

Iraqi officials said army and police forces have been given a larger role in operations in the Anbar province near the Syrian border. Al Anbar has been deemed the largest stronghold of the Sunni insurgency, Middle East Newsline reported.

"Hopefully, within 18 months at the most we will be capable of securing Iraq," Iraqi Interior Minister Falah Naqib said on Monday. "We hope that next summer, there will be a huge reduction in the numbers of multinational patrols. In some cities, there will be no foreign troops at all."

Over the last week, Iraqi and U.S. forces have captured two Sunni insurgency bases around Baghdad. More than 85 insurgents were killed and about 100 others were captured. At the same time, Iraqi forces have launched operations in Samara, which has resisted stabilization efforts for nearly two years. More than 1,500 members of the Iraqi police, including special operations forces and commandos, have been conducting search operations for insurgents.

The United States has been encouraging Iraqi forces to assume greater responsibility for security to prepare for a series of major political events over the next few months. They included the holding of a constitutional referendum as well as elections -- both regarded as potential insurgency targets.

"By the end of 2005, provided the political process continues to be successful, you will see the Iraqis more and more in charge, and in some areas completely in charge," U.S. Central Command chief Gen. John Abizaid said.

The Iraqi forces have not operated on their own in Samara. U.S. Army troops maintain perimeter security for Iraqi raids against suspected insurgency strongholds.

Much of the information provided by Samara residents to Iraqi authorities has been helpful in capturing insurgents. Officials said more than 40 percent of the suspects arrested were identified as insurgents aligned with the former Saddam Hussein regime.

Three of the suspects were identified as leaders of an insurgency cell in Samara responsible for the killing of 11 Iraqi police officers, seven Iraqi soldiers, three interpreters and two contractors, officials said. Two other insurgents were said to have assembled bombs in attacks on U.S. main battle tanks and other armored vehicles.

Officials said Samara could be used as a model for other cities in Al Anbar. They said the U.S.-led coalition has been trying to improve the performance of Iraqi police, which has lagged behind that of the military.

"This process is already begun, even in the toughest areas in Baghdad and the Sunni Triangle," Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, commander of Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq, said. "Iraqi forces are conducting operations and hanging tough in the face of difficult challenges."

Sailors stand at ease as the U.S. and Vietnamese national flags fly together aboard the Navy frigate USS Gary at the port of Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Tuesday March 29, 2005. The USS Gary is paying a goodwill visit to it's former foe, one month before Vietnam celebrates the 30th anniversary of reunification. (AP Photo/Andy Eames)

Vietnamese police look on as the U.S. Navy frigate USS Gary arrives at Saigon port, Ho Chi Minh City, Tuesday March 29, 2005. The USS Gary is paying a goodwill visit to its former foe, one month before Vietnam celebrates the 30th anniversary of reunification. (AP Photo/Andy Eames)

The USS Gary sails on the Saigon river toward Ho Chi Minh City. A US Navy warship docked at Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City in only the second visit by an American military vessel to the city formerly known as Saigon since the end of the Vietnam War(AFP/Str)

An American sailor looks on as the Navy frigate USS Gary is tied up alongside the port of Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Tuesday March 29, 2005. The USS Gary is paying a goodwill visit to its former foe, one month before Vietnam celebrates the 30th anniversary of re-unification. (AP Photo/Andy Eames)

Vietnamese tows a food cart sitting backwards on a motorcycle through the busy evening traffic in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Monday March 28, 2005. Vietnam's second city pays host to a visit from the United States Navy ship USS Gary tomorrow. (AP Photo/Andy Eames)

U.S. Navy Ship Makes Port Call in Former Saigon Just Before 30th Anniversary of Vietnam War's End:

By Margie Mason Associated Press Writer

Published: Mar 29, 2005:

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (AP) - An American warship made a rare visit to Vietnam on Tuesday, a sign the two countries are looking to improve military ties 30 years after the Vietnam War.
Sailors dressed in white lined the decks of the USS Gary as the frigate docked in Saigon Port, where it is to remain for five days. The warship was just the third Navy vessel to make a port call in the communist country since the war ended on April 30, 1975.

The Stars and Stripes flew alongside the Vietnamese flag as the ship eased up the muddy Saigon River. Many of the more than 200 sailors aboard snapped pictures or videotaped its arrival.

Most were too young to remember when Ho Chi Minh City was called Saigon, but U.S. Lt. Cmdr. Quoc Bao Tran remembers fleeing the country by boat when he was 7, just before South Vietnam fell to the communist North. This was his first trip back.

"I'm overwhelmed, overjoyed and of course excited," he said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the place where I was born."

The visit marked the 10th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations. More importantly, it signaled a warmup in military relations between the former foes, officials in both countries said.

The two sides signed a landmark bilateral trade agreement in 2001, and business has exploded in recent years. But work in the sensitive area of military cooperation has only just begun.

As the United States and Vietnam find common ground on issues of counterterrorism and regional stability, future military ties will likely include more ship visits and high-level exchanges such as Vietnamese Defense Minister Pham Van Tra's historic trip to Washington in 2003.

"The most important thing for both of our nations and peoples to do is to continue to look forward, not backward," U.S. Ambassador Michael Marine said.

Some in Vietnam believe the U.S. military may be looking to their country as a future strategic area to establish a base to counter growing Chinese influence in Southeast Asia. But Marine said that was not the case.

A Vietnamese military official said the visit showed how far the two countries have come in the past 30 years. Col. Bui Van Nga, the highest-ranking Vietnamese navy officer to greet the ship, said he remembers when the two countries were enemies. "Now we must put aside the past, and I think we should look forward to the future."

The USS Gary is attached to the Seventh Fleet based in Japan. Two other ships in the fleet, the USS Vandegrift and USS Curtis Wilbur, made port calls to Ho Chi Minh City and Danang in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=3c37ab7224e45fd7&cat=187cf2a69985adcf

U.S. Soldier Is Killed in Iraq

Tue, Mar 29, 2005:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. soldier was killed in a non-hostile incident in Iraq, the military said Tuesday.

The soldier, assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, died March 28 in a "non-hostile incident," the military said in a statement from Camp Fallujah.

The statement said the soldier died "in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom."

The name of the soldier was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

As of Tuesday, at least 1,527 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Rumsfeld shies away from projecting quick, significant drawdown in U-S troops

March 29, 2005:

PENTAGON While some Iraqi government officials are predicting that their own forces will be able to take over security duties within a year and a half, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is shying away from making any such predictions.

Rumsfeld says he "likes to deliver rather than promise" -- and he says that any discussion about the draw-down of U-S troops has to be "conditions-based."

Rumsfeld says American troops will remain in Iraq while they're needed, and not any longer.

General Peter Pace, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says he's "cautiously optimistic" about conditions on the ground in Iraq -- and he believes they will continue to improve.

Pilgrims gather around the Imam Hussein Shrine in Karbala, Iraq, Tuesday, March 29, 2005, for evening prayers in advance of al-Arbaeen ceremonies, which culminate Thursday. Al-Arbaeen is one the holiest days of their religious calendar, commemorating the end of a 40-day mourning period after the anniversary of the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, one of Shiism's top saints.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Black Hawk up and away: Reporter achieves liftoff as Guard brings Army helicopter to Benton:

Thursday, March 24, 2005 4:31 PM CST:

By Jillian Fry

"You won't feel anything; you'll be in the air and then won't know when you land either," said Sgt. 1st Class Robin James of the local Army National Guard, convincing a reporter that flying in a UH-60 Black Hawk from Camp Robinson in North Little Rock to Benton would "be a chance of a lifetime."

He was right. However, he failed to mention the limited shakiness you feel or the slight rocking back and forth the 64-foot helicopter imposes on its passengers. But despite my stomach doing somersaults and having sweaty palms - common ailments when I become nervous - before take-off, the flight brought a new meaning to how our nation's armed forces work in unison to serve its residents.

Flying from Camp Robinson to Benton was not a mock flight to make sure the Black Hawk was operating properly nor was it part of a top-secret mission. Members of the Guard gathered Saturday to allow locals who happened to be on Military Road near Military Plaza, in Hastings Books Music and Video or the post office access to the Black Hawk and offer their insights on being a part of the military.

James called it a "static display," and in addition to the Black Hawk, two Humvees with communication equipment were shown. Information about how to earn extra cash and how the Guard can pay your way through college also was available. The University of Central Arkansas recently became one of 11 schools in Arkansas that allow students in the Guard to have their education completely paid, James noted.

The day began at 7 a.m. when I met James and Sgt. 1st Class Steve Griffin in the parking lot of the shopping center. We drove to Camp Robinson, which was a surprisingly beautiful military base complete with tailored lawns and historical displays of old planes and tanks. James and Griffin helped to ease my nerves en route to the camp with their friendly and, at times, sarcastic banter.

After a brief tour of the aviation center, where I saw where mechanics repair aircraft, I met Chief Warrant Officer Randy Hoffman, who works in the flight operations room. He explained that the camp has three aviation units: Medical evacuation, air assault and the 35th aviation brigade. He said the units have been busy lately taking troops and cargo to nearby bases.

Hoffman also explained the risk assessment sheet each crew must fill out before flying a Black Hawk. Things considered in such an assessment are weather, heat and types of training the pilots and crews have received.

For Saturday, pilot and Chief Warrant Officer Bill Harris said the risk level for our flight was a little above moderate because of pedestrians and vehicles that would be present in the landing spot. As far as the crew, I wasn't worried because Harris has been flying for 36 years and co-pilot Maj. John Payne has 16 years of experience. The crew chief, Staff Sgt. David Callahan, began his military life in the Air Force in 1973 and joined the Guard a few years ago.

Before our flight, Hoffman told me some basic facts about Black Hawks:

€ They can cover about 250 miles without refueling.

€ They achieve a maximum speed of 140 mph.

€ They can reach 12,000 feet above the ground.

But Saturday, we went only about 1,000 feet in the air and traveled about 115 mph. That was high enough and fast enough for me. Included in the Black Hawk trivia I learned was the aircraft can carry up to 12 passengers and have three crew members on board.

As we prepared for the flight, Hoffman showed us how to buckle our seat belts - about as confusing as airplane seat belts are for first-time passengers, but with shoulder straps - and said that in case of an emergency we should follow the crew. "If they start running, run with them," he said.

After our passenger briefing, we watched as Harris, Payne and Callahan prepared the Black Hawk for flight. Harris, who was in Vietnam and the first Gulf War, checked the fuel for contaminants, while Callahan checked the operational parts of the craft.

Callahan gave me a radio head set so I could hear everything he and the pilots said during the flight, and, in turn, I could communicate with them.

James, Griffin and I were strapped in ready to lift off. I was seated in a seat designated for the crew chief. Such a seat is on either side of the aircraft directly behind the pilot seats - like the setup in a car, only instead of facing forward, you face the window.

It was an honor to hear the pilots communicating, checking all the controls and switches until a few unmentionable exchanges were heard. I looked over at James in confusion, wondering what the crew was worried about. James was listening in on a phone apparatus that allowed passengers to hear the pilots but without the capability of talking to them. He shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Griffin was napping before take off. He later said he gets sleepy right before taking off in a helicopter or plane.

Harris, Payne and Callahan were talking about something they couldn't test, which I learned after landing was that the generator switch wasn't on so they couldn't test the warning lights in case of an emergency. A member of the flight operations center ran out on the runway, helped Harris and Payne determine the problem. Finally, we were set to go. Payne, who is a Benton resident and an attorney in a Little Rock firm, said to me later: "There was no need to worry; we wouldn't have flown if there was anything wrong. Not only do we care about our passengers; we care enough about ourselves."

We rode out a little bit, where they checked the temperatures and some other levels that give the "OK" to fly, and all I noticed - aside from the noise - was a puddle of water spreading out from the force of the blades on top turning unbelievably fast. The puddle began to look like a spider's body and spread out like a spider's legs.

We lifted in the air - James was right in that you're high in the air before you know it. It took me probably two minutes to get my bearings, convince myself that it was just like being in a plane (in which I've flown in countless times) and to persuade myself to concentrate on the view. And the view was beautiful.

Flying over the Arkansas River with the Little Rock skyline in the mist was captivating. I had seen familiar landscapes from an airplane, but this was different. The invigoration of wind blowing furiously in my face and having the view placed right in front of me rather than leaning over seats to see through a tiny window made being in the earth's atmosphere in a helicopter more real than the feeling I get from an airplane.

As we approached Saline County, I became excited when I was able to find my house. Seeing Interstate 30 from on high wasn't so bad, I remember thinking.

The ride was smooth until we approached the parking lot off of Military Road. The pilots turned left, which made me feel like I was falling forward and would plop out at any moment. My fears subsided when I held my head back with my eyes closed. After the third circle of our landing spot, (because grounded Guard members had trouble clearing people from our site), I became accustomed to the forward feeling, and before I knew it we had landed.

People from every direction were looking inquisitively at us and fortunately stayed out of the way because as Hoffman warned, the blades can cause injury if you get in their way.

James told me a few days before our flight, when I asked how people will show up to see the aircraft: "They'll come; the Black Hawk will bring enough attention." The people came and kept coming until our noon departure.

Children enjoyed sitting in the pilots' seats, pretending to fly. Parents stood by ready to capture their kids on camera. Griffin oversaw activity in the tent in which people could learn about the National Guard. Items such as pencils, brochures and information videos were available for those interested.

Encouragement was heard from a woman who told soldiers how much she appreciated their dedication to the people of the United States by serving and sacrificing I in such places as Iraq.

Harris and Payne put the control settings back in place after they had been maneuvered my many little fingers, and the crowd waved as we lifted for our return flight. Knowing what to expect, I felt more at ease looking onto the landscapes of trees, hills and bodies of water that makeup "the Natural State." Being in the protective custody of four highly-qualified members of the Army National Guard helped calm my nerves, too.

http://www.bentoncourier.com/articles/2005/03/29/news/43cnews.txt

Thanks for the daily, TexKat. And good afternoon to you.

Bump!

Apache Copter Crews Provide Crucial Support

U.S. Army Capt. Beau Rollie, an Apache pilot, inspects the tail rotor of his UH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter before flying a mission. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jerome Bishop More Photos..

Apache Longbows crews serve as an airborne quick reaction force, supporting infantry units, searching for improvised explosive devices and returning fire on insurgents.

By U.S. Army Pfc. Jerome Bishop - 1st Corps Support Command Public Affairs Office

LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, Balad, Iraq, March 29, 2005 — As the only aerial quick reaction force here, UH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter crews find themselves conducting a variety of missions.

The missions include aerial support for infantry units, armed reconnaissance looking for improvised explosive devices and returning fire on insurgents that attack the post, said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Thad Menold, an Apache helicopter pilot from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment.

“[The insurgents] are really afraid of the Apache. It’s a tough bird. I wouldn’t fly anything else,” U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Thad Menold

“[The insurgents] are really afraid of the Apache,” Menold said. “It’s a tough bird. I wouldn’t fly anything else.”

The unit also performs convoy escort missions and provides air support for raids conducted on insurgent homes and hideouts, he said.

Several steps are followed for success from the moment the Apache crew gathers to begin a mission. Following numerous mission briefings, the small crew takes to the flight line where the process of pre-flight checks begins.

“[The crew chiefs] look for anything out of tolerance and anything that might be unsafe for the pilots,” said Sgt. Jeremy Young, crew chief.

The pilot must first determine when the aircraft is due for routine maintenance and whether all deficiencies have been corrected, Menold said.

Upon completion of the equipment checks, the soldiers suit up in their flight gear and body armor before settling in the helicopter and taking off.

Once in the sky each member focuses on the job at hand because the Apache crew’s success is determined not only by whether it protects infantry soldiers or defeats insurgents, but also whether the helicopter comes back in one piece. This is daily duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and soldiers like Menold say they are proud to be part of it.

After required pre-flight checks, a 101st Aviation Regiment UH-64D Apache Longbow takes off on a routine patrol mission near Logistics Support Area Anaconda. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jerome Bishop)

Bush Acknowledges Turmoil In Iraq

Written by The Associated Press

Last Updated:3/29/2005 5:45:36 PM:

President Bush, on a day of political turmoil in Baghdad, acknowledged Tuesday that Iraqis are divided over the future of their country but said the differences "will be resolved through debate and persuasion instead of force and intimidation."

"The free people of Iraq are now doing what Saddam Hussein never could: making Iraq a positive example for the entire Middle East," Bush said in remarks in the Rose Garden. He spoke to an audience of Iraqi law students, members of the religious community and others.

In Baghdad, the fledgling parliament failed to agree on who would be its speaker in a chaotic session that exposed deep divides among the National Assembly's Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish members who were elected Jan. 30.

Bush called Tuesday's session "another step on the road to a free society" and said the United States looks forward to working with the government that emerges.

"Iraq's new leaders are determined that the government of a free Iraq will be representative of their country's diverse population," Bush said

The president said the National Assembly "includes people and parties with differing visions for the future of their country. In a democratic Iraq these differences will be resolved through debate and persuasion instead of force and intimidation."

As of Monday, 1,527 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. Bush said Iraqi security forces were taking on greater responsibility in the fight against insurgents and terrorists.

He said 145,000 Iraqis "have been trained and are serving courageously across Iraq" and in recent weeks had taken the lead in offensive operations in places like Baghdad, Mosul and Samarra.

"We will continue to train Iraqis so they can take responsibility for the security of their country," Bush said.

"And then our forces will come home with the honor they've earned.

Bump!!

Defense Department Briefing Tuesday, March 29, 2005 1:17 p.m. EST

Presenter: Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; General Peter Pace, USMC, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

DoD Identifies Army Casualties -

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died March 26 in Kabul, Afghanistan, when a mine detonated near their military vehicle. The soldiers were assigned to the Army National Guard’s 76th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Indianapolis, Ind.

Killed were:

Capt. Michael T. Fiscus, 36, of Milford, Ind.

Master Sgt. Michael T. Hiester, 33, of Bluffton, Ind.

Spc. Brett M. Hershey, 23, of State College, Penn.

Spc. Norman K. Snyder, 21, of Carlisle, Ind.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

DoD Identifies Army Casualties March 28, 2005

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died March 26 in Baghdad, Iraq, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV while they were on patrol.

Killed were:

Sgt. Lee M. Godbolt, 23, of New Orleans, La. Godbolt was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment, New Orleans, La.

Sgt. Isiah J. Sinclair, 31, of Natchitoches, La. Sinclair was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 156th Armored Regiment, Shreveport, La.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

DoD Identifies Army Casualties March 28, 2005

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died March 26 in Baghdad, Iraq, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV while they were on patrol.

Killed were:

Sgt. Lee M. Godbolt, 23, of New Orleans, La. Godbolt was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment, New Orleans, La.

Sgt. Isiah J. Sinclair, 31, of Natchitoches, La. Sinclair was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 156th Armored Regiment, Shreveport, La.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty March 28, 2005

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cpl. Bryan J. Richardson, 23, of Summersville, W.Va., died March 25 as a result of hostile action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Moundsville, W.Va.

Media with questions about this Marine can call the Marine Forces Reserve Public Affairs Office at (504) 678-4178.

Defense Department Special Briefing on Combatant Status Review Tribunals Tuesday, March 29, 2005 3:33 p.m. EST

Defense Department Special Briefing on Combatant Status Review Tribunals