***Operation Iraqi Freedom***
Situation Room - Week 18
Posted on 07/14/2003 9:06:57 PM PDT by null and void
By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 14, 2003 – Any large-scale deployment of American troops to Liberia would not be under U.N. control, President George W. Bush said at the White House today.
"We would not be blue-helmeted," he said after meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Instead, Bush continued, "we would be there to facilitate (an international force's entry) and then to leave."
Bush said American involvement would be in the form of assistance to the Economic Community of West African States. "It may require troops, but we don't know how many yet," he said.
The U.S. European Command deployed a Humanitarian Assistance Support Team of 35 military members to Liberia July 7 to assess military and humanitarian support requirements. A Pentagon spokesman explained this team is comprised of experts in civil affairs, medical treatment, preventive medicine, contracting, civil engineering, public affairs, logistics and water purification. The HAST also includes 15 Marines for security.
Most of the team's members came from U.S. Naval Forces Europe, headquartered in London.
Bush said he'd make a decision on additional military support once he has a report of this team's assessment, but he didn't give any timeline.
He did note that the United States would take no further action until Liberian President Charles Taylor leaves the country. Taylor has agreed to step down, but has made no move in that direction. Press reports indicate that Nigeria has offered him asylum.
Speaking with Bush, Annan indicated an initial peacekeeping force sent to Liberia by ECOWAS would be comprised of 1,000 to 2,500 international troops.
"After that, … President Taylor will leave Liberia, and then the force will be strengthened, hopefully with U.S. participation and additional troops from the West African region," he said. "And eventually U.N. blue helmets will be set up to stabilize the situation. … And once the situation is calmer and (more stable), the U.S. would leave and the U.N. peacekeepers will carry on the operation."
The United States upped its military contingency in Africa over the weekend. On July 13, roughly 100 service members and four military aircraft deployed to West Africa to support the HAST team should emergency evacuation become necessary.
Three HH-60 Pavehawk helicopters and the personnel needed to support them were sent to Sierra Leone from Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland. An MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft was sent to Senegal from its Air Force base in Mildenhall, England.
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cpt. Paul J. Cassidy, 36, of Laingsburg, Mich., died July 13 in Camp Babylon, Iraq. Cassidy died as a result of non-combat injuries. This incident is under investigation. Cassidy was assigned to the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion in Wis.
Sgt. Michael T. Crockett, 27, of Soperton, Ga., was killed on July 14 in Baghdad, Iraq. Crockett was on patrol when he came under RPG attack. Crockett was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga.
Spc. Joshua M. Neusche, 20, of Montreal, Mo., died July 12 in Homburg Hospital, Germany. Neusche died from a non-combat cause. Neusche was assigned to the 203rd Engineer Battalion, in Joplin, Mo.
Spc. Christian C. Schulz, 20, of Colleyville, Texas, died July 11 in Baqubah, Iraq. Schulz died as a result of non-combat injuries. This incident is under investigation. Schulz was assigned to the 3rd Troop, 67th Armor Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.
Marne Soldiers Will Be Home by September, DoD Official Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2003 - Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division will be home "by September," DoD officials said.
The 3rd Brigade of the Rock of the Marne division is already on its way back to Fort Benning, Ga., Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita said today.
For the unit's remainder, the intention is still to have them back to their Fort Stewart, Ga., home station by the fall. "Right now, the thinking remains that this division will be coming home by September," Di Rita said.
Details of the redeployment of the division are being worked through, he said. He said that U.S. Central Command chief Army Gen. John Abizaid "still believes that ... the general timeline to have people home by September makes sense."
Di Rita said no one can give specific dates for the return of specific division units. Central Command and service officials are working hard to devise a fair rotation policy that will give CENTCOM the necessary number of troops and not overextend the military contingent.
Di Rita said the number of coalition troops in Iraq should remain constant - at about 160,000. The number of U.S. troops in Iraq now is around 145,000, said DoD officials. That number may rise or fall depending on the situation on the ground, they said.
If operations pick up and there are more attacks on U.S. forces, then the number may increase. But if coalition countries come through with more troops - two coalition divisions are expected in August and September - or more power can be turned over to Iraqi officials, then the number of U.S. troops required in the country may drop.
Di Rita said 19 countries have forces on the ground in Iraq and the United States is talking with 19 others to provide forces. He stressed that these numbers will change.
Di Rita said that there is some uncertainty and that the 3rd Infantry Division's commander Maj. Gen. Buford Blount does not want expectations in the division and for families back home to "get too elevated beyond the broad point, which is we'll have these folks home by the fall." Di Rita said DoD, the Army and the division will do everything possible to keep the families informed.
Di Rita also noted Marine forces will probably stay in Iraq in some capacity. There are currently 24,000 Marines in the country, Marine Corps officials said. Gen. Michael W. Hagee, Marine Corps commandant, said in congressional testimony he expected the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force to leave the country in September. Officials would not comment on whether other Marine units might replace that unit.
Di Rita said commanders are also thinking of rest and relaxation areas for the troops. "I know that the commanders feel strongly that it's important ... to keep their eyes closely on quality of life for the troops in Iraq, and R&R is an element of quality of life," he said.
The redeploying brigade has several units already moved to Kuwait. These include the 3rd Brigade Combat Team; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Division Artillery; 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery; Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 4th Bde. (Aviation); 1st Bn., 3rd Aviation; Co. K, 159th Aviation; Co. D, 1st Bn., 58th Aviation; 11th Engineer Bn.; and 92nd Chemical Co.
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