Military News: 08 July 2007 - 14 July 2007

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08 July 2007  --  Operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq have seen recent success.  A compound in the Chaparhar district of Afghan's Nangarhar province was raided.  Six suspected anti-coalition militants were detained for questioning; no shots were fired.  Near the village of Danjabad, in the Afghan province of Farah, Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police defeated an attempted ambush by heavily-armed Taliban insurgents.  In two coordinated raids on Baghdad’s west side today, coalition forces were able to detain 7 suspected terrorists associated with al Qaeda.  Meanwhile, several more individuals were detained in southwestern Baghdad, suspected of being responsible for several car bombings targeting coalition forces.  Finally, a series of weapons caches have been discovered in areas around Baghdad.  These recent discoveries lead to greater hope that U. S. and Iraqi coalition forces will be safer as they patrol.

09 July 2007  --   A four-country tour through Central and South America was postponed today for Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.  Gates delayed the trip in order that he could be in attendence at important meetings being held in Washington for the purpose of discussing Iraq-related issues and policies.  These meetings were set in order that the administration's interim report to Congress regarding progress in Iraq, due July 15, could be finalized.  The report is the first of two required by Congress as part of the emergency war-spending supplemental spending measure.   Bryan Whitman, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters that recent surge forces have given General David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, the full capability he's requested to conduct operations in Iraq.  He also pointed out that while it is "still too early to tell," most military commanders on the ground in Iraq say U. S. strategies in Iraq seem to be making a difference.

10 July 2007  --  The AFPS reported on recruitment issues in two of their press releases today.  June active-duty recruitment numbers for most of the U.S.' military branches met or exceeded their goals.  Only the Army fell short of its goal.  Of the six reserve components, only the Air National Guard missed its goal.  One of the greatest challenges to the all-volunteer force is being able to recruit during a period of protracted conflict,” stated Bryan Whitman, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs.  Maj. Anne Edgecomb, an Army spokeswoman, expressed confidence that the Army recruitment numbers will rise.  She pointed out the strong retention percentage for active and reserve forces and noted the Army's increased advertising budget, its referral bonus program and the hiring of more contract recruiters as methods by which Army hopes to continue to recruit more top-quality men and women into the Army ranks.  In a related article, Edgecomb brings to light one hindrance to steady recruitment numbers: "Army officials are concerned that “influencers” – parents, teachers, coaches and other adults who influence young people’s decisions about military service – are increasingly less likely to encourage them to serve."  She draws the connection that "[This] trend is likely to reflect the protracted war and its declining popularity among the American public, she acknowledged. “Support for the war directly impacts parental support for their children entering the military,” she said. “There’s a direct correlation."  In answer to this, Army officials are increasing their efforts to recognize and reach out to adult "influencers," such as parents, teachers and coaches, as well as potential recruits.  Wish to comment on this issue?  Check out the MyMilitaryYears Forum page and post your comments.  (click here to be taken to the Forum page)

11 July 2007  --  National Guard troops receive attention today for affairs closer to home.   3,000 of the 6,000 reservists directed by President Bush last year to patrol the 2,000-mile length of border between the southwestern U. S. and Mexico, are being reassigned.  Originally appointed to assist the U. S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, these reservists are being redeployed due to the success of border protection measures.  National Guard troops in Utah, California and South Dakota are helping fight several wildfires that have already destroyed tens-of-thousands of acres.

12 July 2007  --  The long-awaited Initial Benchmark Assessment Report was released today.  The report was compiled in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Defense; Commander, Multi-National Forces-Iraq; the United States Ambassador to Iraq; and the Commander of United States Central Command and presented to Congress in compliance with Section 1314 of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (Public Law 110-28).  President Bush gave a public statement summarizing the report's findings.  According to the American Forces Press Service, the President remarked that "Iraqis are showing good progress toward meeting eight of 18 benchmarks set by Congress and mixed progress toward two other benchmarks."  Many of these benchmarks fall within the area of security and in the establishment of committees within the political, media and economic forums that support the overall plan for Iraq.  The political process itself, as in the establishment of local election procedures and the passing of a law to share oil revenues, is lagging.  However, the President pointed out that the political process will improve as the benchmarks in security are successfully met.  Gains in security, he feels, are strong cause for optimism.

13 July 2007  --  U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon said today that the recent U. S. troop surge in Iraq has shown such "definitive progress" that the number of forces currently serving in Iraq’s Multinational Division North could be halved by summer 2009.  In a statement to the Armed Forces Press Service, the General said: “Over time, in a very methodical and well thought out way, [Multinational Division North could be drawn down to] a minimum force that would continue to work with the Iraqi forces in a training and assistance mode, have the capability to react and assist the Iraqi if required, and provide them those capabilities that they don’t have, like attack aviation, Air Force fixed-wing support, and medical support."  He also noted the increasing cooperation of local leaders, tribal sheikhs and citizens with combined U. S. and Iraqi forces in order to close down operations supporting al Qaeda and other insurgent forces.  Overall, as security in the northern Iraq region increases, so does the likelihood that U. S. operations there can be diminished.

14 July 2007  --  In a follow up to the news clip provided on 12 July, the position of Iraqi infrastructure was reported on yesterday by Army Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division commander.   Walsh detailed the status of numerous relief and developmental projects, targeting vital Iraqi services, like electricity, water and health care.  "It will take time and considerable resources to rebuild Iraq following more than 25 years of neglect under Saddam Hussein’s rule," he told online journalists.  "However, U.S. assistance is only part of a broader effort -- from both Iraqi and other donor nations -- that will have a lasting effect on the country’s infrastructure."   The White House’s Initial Benchmark Assessment Report, released July 12th, cited the ability of the Iraqi government to execute only 22 percent of its capital budget is due to fact that the government wasn’t set up until mid-2006.  Walsh emphasized the importance of establishing "transparent" expenditure and procurement processes in order to avoid corruption, and reiterated that such processes take time and patience.