Free Republic

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service, April 27, 2004) -- A few hundred Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers, who are preparing to serve in Afghanistan, would like to set the record straight. They are getting more equipment than they know what to do with. They are getting the best equipment that the Army can buy. They are getting the time and the opportunity to train with it. They do not consider themselves second-class Soldiers. In short, the 550 or so Soldiers in the 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry at Fort Bragg, N.C., are convinced they will look just like every other...

RECRUITING SUBSTATION BRADENTON, Fla., April 27, 2004 — The United States has been called “the Great Melting Pot,” referring to the vast wealth of cultures and people that have been called to America by its promises of freedom and liberty. For one Recruiting Station Orlando Marine, his family answered the call and escaped from a hostile country to settle in the land of the free. Staff Sgt. Edmond Ahkteebo, a recruiter at Recruiting Substation Bradenton, Fla., was born in Baghdad, Iraq. With his fair skin, light green eyes and Mid-western accent, a person would guess he was from any number...

Politics: 26 April 2004, Monday. Apparent kidnappers have vowed to kill three Italian hostages in Arab TV footage. A videotape aired by news broadcaster Al Arabiya showed the militants, calling itself the Green Brigades, who claimed the hostages' release in five days if the Italian people protest against their military presence in Iraq. Thousands of Italians took to the streets across the country on Sunday, celebrating the Liberation Day and urging the government to withdraw Italian forces from Iraq. The country has deployed nearly 3,000 soldiers in the Arab country. Two weeks ago an Italian civilian was the first foreign...