THE TENSION

USS New York Officially Commissioned

2009-11-07T17:12:00.002-05:00

USS New York is commissioned in New York, Nov. 7, 2009. The Navy ship was named in honor of the courage displayed by New York City's residents during and after 9/11. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Dan Meaney.)

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2009 -- A new Navy ship named in honor of the courage displayed by New York City’s residents during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks received its official commission today.

The USS New York recalls “the searing memories of Sept. 11” as well as “the bravery of the rescuers, the resolve of the survivors, the compassion of this city and the patriotism of this great country,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said during the ship’s commissioning ceremony at New York City harbor. Clinton was a member of the U.S. Senate representing New York state during 9/11.

Part of the bow, or front, of the new ship, Clinton said, is constructed of 7.5 tons of melted-down steel taken from the wreckage of the World Trade Center’s twin towers that were destroyed during the terrorist attacks.

The motto of the USS New York, Clinton said, is “Strength Forged through Sacrifice: Never Forget.”

No one “will ever forget the image of twisted girders and shattered beams looming above the smoldering pile” of wreckage, Clinton said.

The USS New York is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship. It was christened March 1 in a New Orleans’ shipyard by Dotty England, the ship’s sponsor and wife of former Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England.

The USS New York and its crew, Clinton said, will join in the fight against terrorism and extremism and also perform humanitarian missions worldwide.

The new ship’s first commander is Navy Cmdr. F. Curtis Jones, a native of Binghamton, N.Y. The vessel has a crew of more than 350 sailors and can transport a landing force of 800 Marines and their equipment.

Clinton was accompanied at the ceremony by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus; Navy Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations; Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway; and other senior officials.

Mabus hailed the USS New York as “a visible testament to our resilience, to the character of this city, to the strength of this country.”

The 9/11 attacks, Mabus said, failed to destroy neither America’s spirit nor its resolve to defeat worldwide extremism.

“And, that’s what this ship represents,” he said.

Mabus saluted the men and women who comprise the New York’s crew.

“The nation and our Navy are incredibly proud of you and all that you have done to prepare the New York for her operational life,” Mabus said of the ship’s crew. “You have begun to shape the spirit and the soul of this ship, just as surely as the builders laid the keel, placed the engines, [and] installed the weapons.”

The New York and her sailors and Marines are now “ready to sail in harm’s way, on any point on any of the world’s oceans, to prevent conflict, when possible, and to win decisively, when necessary,” Roughead said.

The U.S. flag that waves above the New York’s decks, Roughead said, serves “as a symbol and a message of freedom, of commitment and of resolve.”

As the New York embarks on her maiden voyage, Conway said, the warship “will carry the spirit, the determination, and the defiance that has always been America.”

And, though terrorists attacked the American homeland eight years ago, they “will not change who we are or what we believe,” Conway vowed.

(Report by Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service.)

OEF Update, Nov. 7, 2009: Forces Interdict Taliban IED Facilitator in Zabul, Nab Militants in Khowst, Logar Provinces

2009-11-07T09:41:00.003-05:00

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 7, 2009 -- Afghan-international security forces killed an enemy militant and detained a few suspected militants in Zabul Province, one of which was a Taliban IED facilitator operating out of Qalat City. This facilitator was responsible for financial support of militant activities and the transport of IED materials and weapons into the area.

The joint security force targeted a compound on the west side of Qalat City which credible intelligence reported as a location known historically to be used by Taliban commanders.

Since the compound was close to an ANP station, the joint force coordinated with the police chief to accompany and assist with the operation. When the police chief called for occupants to exit the compound, the joint force received hostile fire and returned fire, killing one militant.

The joint force searched the compound and detained the suspected militants, one of whom surrendered and identified himself as the Taliban IED facilitator. He was discovered hiding in a building later discovered to be a Red Cross office on the compound. Further questioning of the Taliban facilitator revealed that he is relative of a local Red Cross employee.

In a separate operation, another joint force detained several suspected militants in Khowst Province, one of which was a sought-after Haqqani facilitator responsible for the financial and logistical support of militant activities in the area.

The joint force targeted the compounds near Now Deh village in the Sabari District after intelligence indicated militant activity. The joint force searched the compounds without incident and detained six suspected militants. The force later identified one of the six as the Haqqani facilitator. No shots were fired and no one was injured.

In a third operation, a joint security force detained a few suspected militants in Logar Province after searching a compound known to be used by a Haqqani financier with numerous ties to militant elements in the area.

The joint security force targeted the compound in the Baraki Barak District after intelligence indicated militant activity. The joint force searched the compound without incident and detained the suspected militants. No shots were fire and no one was injured.

(Compiled from NATO International Security Assistance Force news releases.)

Wire: Friendly Fire May Have Wounded 25 NATO Troops in Afghanistan

2009-11-07T09:32:00.002-05:00

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that NATO officials in Afghanistan say 25 international troops wounded during a recent operation may have been hit by friendly fire.

NATO initially blamed "insurgent activity" for the casualties. But officials Saturday said they do not rule out the possibility the troops were mistakenly wounded during an attack by their own forces, according to a VOA News report.

The troops were wounded Friday while looking for two missing U.S. soldiers who are believed to have drowned in a river in the western province of Badghis.

The province's deputy police chief, Abdul Jabar, says the two soldiers were swept away Wednesday while trying to save supply boxes that fell into the water after being air-dropped.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Wire: At Least 25 Wounded in US Troop Search in Afghanistan

2009-11-06T20:44:00.003-05:00

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Newswire services this evening reported that more than 25 NATO and Afghan troops were wounded during a search Friday for two missing U.S. paratroopers in western Afghanistan, the NATO-led force said.

The Taliban claimed the two missing soldiers were dead and it had recovered their bodies.

A statement from ISAF in Afghanistan said more than 25 troops were wounded during a search and rescue mission.

NATO spokesman Lieutenant Darin Russell said the troops were wounded "by insurgent activity." He declined to give further details of the incident, which he said was under investigation.

He did not say how many of the wounded were NATO troops and how many were Afghans, or whether any of them had been killed.

The Reuters news service reported that the chief of police in Badghis province in western Afghanistan, Abdul Jabar, said NATO aircraft had struck their own troops during the search and that several Americans had died in the "friendly fire" air strike.

NATO announced earlier Friday that two U.S. paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division had gone missing Wednesday.

Reports of missing troops in Afghanistan would automatically trigger a large-scale military response.

The Taliban said the two missing U.S. soldiers had drowned.

A U.S. soldier has been missing in the southeast since late June. Insurgents say they are holding him, and U.S. forces in the area launched a massive manhunt, Reuters said.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Pentagon Identifies Army Casualty (OIF)

2009-11-06T20:33:00.001-05:00

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 -- The following news release made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:

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

Staff Sgt. Amy C. Tirador, 29, of Albany, N.Y., died Nov. 4 in Kirkush, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 209th Military Intelligence Company, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

Pentagon Identifies Army Casualty (OEF)

2009-11-06T20:29:00.001-05:00

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 -- The following news release made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spc. Julian L. Berisford, 25, of Benwood, W.V., died Nov. 4 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

Video: Army Photojournalist Talks to Military Reporter About Fort Hood Shootings

2009-11-06T14:02:00.004-05:00

NOTE: News readers click here to watch the video.

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Embedded above is a video of Sgt. Elliot Valdez talking to a military reporter about the mass shooting at Fort Hood Texas and his position as a photojournalist. Sgt. Valdez captured Fort Hood crime scene imagery published earlier on the blog. (Courtesy Video, III Corps. Length: 00:10:09.)

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Pentagon: Army Sends Support Teams to Aid Fort Hood Soldiers, Families

2009-11-06T12:59:00.002-05:00

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Resources to help those affected by the tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas, are flowing to the post, Army officials said today.

Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan killed 13 Fort Hood personnel and wounded another 30 during a shooting spree at the post’s Soldier-Family Readiness Center yesterday. Hassan was wounded and is in custody.

Army Secretary John M. McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. are at the post conferring with officials to determine the best way forward, said Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, chief of Army public affairs.

Army Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, the commander of 3rd Corps and Fort Hood, has requested additional capabilities to help post personnel get through this tragedy. “We are already generating capabilities to deal with the consequences of the situation at Fort Hood,” Bergner told reporters this morning.

The service is sending 13 unit ministry teams to the post. Each team has chaplains and chaplain assistants who can support the spiritual needs of soldiers, families and civilians at Fort Hood, Bergner said.

The Army also is sending 35 family life consultants to the base. “These are folks who specifically are trained and equipped to deal with the stress that military families confront – from the children to the spouses,” the general explained.

The service also is sending 13 behavioral health specialists from to Fort Hood from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio to help with grief counseling.

Four Operation Homecoming counselors, 20 more behavioral health specialists and 17 critical-incident stress-management personnel will deploy to Fort Hood soon, Bergner said, and five combat stress teams are moving to the post to augment teams already at the base.

Some of the additional teams will arrive today and tomorrow, and others will flow in later, the general said. “If more is needed, we will provide it,” he added.

(Report by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service.)

OIF Summary, Nov. 6, 2009: Forces in Iraq Nab 5 Suspected Terrorists

2009-11-06T11:41:00.001-05:00

Dispatches from the Front:

BAGHDAD, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Iraqi security forces arrested five suspected terrorists today in two security operations.

In northeastern Baghdad, the Iraqi soldiers, with U.S. advisors, searched two buildings looking for a Promise Day Brigade terrorist group leader who allegedly coordinates attacks against security forces in Iraq.

The Iraqi soldiers questioned and then arrested three people suspected of being Promise Day Brigade associates without incident.

Near Sharqat, about 50 miles northwest of Kirkuk, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors searched two buildings for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member who has ties to senior leaders of the terrorist group.

Based on evidence at the scene, two suspects were arrested without incident.

(From a Multinational Force Iraq news release.)

NATO Reports 2 ISAF Servicemembers Missing in Afghanistan

2009-11-06T09:48:00.003-05:00

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Two International Security Assistance Force servicemembers were reported missing Nov. 4 from a routine resupply mission in western Afghanistan. Afghan and coalition forces are currently involved in an extensive search for the servicemembers.

"We continue exhaustive search and rescue operations to locate our missing servicemembers. We are doing everything we can to find them," said ISAF Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jane Campbell. "The families of these servicemembers have been notified about their loved ones' status, and we will continue to keep them informed as information becomes available."

It is ISAF policy to not release the nationality of any missing servicemember before the relevant national authority does so.

Further information is being withheld while the search and rescue operations continue and while the incident is investigated.

(From a NATO International Security Assistance Force news release.)

OEF Update, Nov. 6, 2009: Forces Nab Taliban Facilitator in Kandahar; 2 US Casualties

2009-11-06T09:30:00.004-05:00

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 6, 2009 -- An Afghan-international security force detained a group of suspected militants in Kandahar Province, including a senior Taliban facilitator, Thursday.

The senior Taliban facilitator detained is believed to be responsible for financing and placing suicide bombers and IEDs in the area. This facilitator is also linked to Taliban leadership outside of the country.

The joint security force targeted a compound near the village of Spin Kalacheh, southwest of Kandahar City, after intelligence indicated militant activity. The joint force searched the compound without incident and detained five suspected militants, one of which surrendered and identified himself as the Taliban facilitator. No shots were fired, and no one was injured.

Afghan and international security forces constantly partner personnel and resources to prevent attacks against civilians and eliminate the Taliban threat by constant pursuit and the promotion of reconciliation.

ISAF Casualties:

Two International Security Assistance Force servicemembers were killed and another servicemember died of wounds in two separate IED strikes in southern Afghanistan yesterday.

It is ISAF policy to defer identification procedures of casualties to the relevant national authorities. The two servicemembers killed were from the United States.

(Compiled from NATO International Security Assistance Force news releases.)

Video: Fort Hood Crime Scene B-Roll

2009-11-06T09:12:00.003-05:00

NOTE: News readers click here to watch the video.

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Embedded above is a b-roll video of the aftermath of a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. Scenes include police and SWAT team members walking alongside a building, police cars driving on a road, soldiers unloading equipment off a military vehicle, various views of police and EMS vehicles with lights flashing and soldiers walking near police tape with weapons out. (Produced by Ron Morse and SPC Eliot Valdez, Fort Hood Public Affairs Office. Length: 00:05:36.)

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Combat Camera: Firefight in the Waterpur Valley (OEF)

2009-11-06T08:09:00.003-05:00

U.S. Army Cpl. Casey Liffrig, of Pinehurst, N.C., scans the hills surrounding the Waterpur valley, as insurgent fighters rain down bullets on his position, during a three-hour firefight with militant forces in Afghanistan's Kunar province, Nov. 3. Liffrig, and fellow members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, have been battling militant fighters since arriving in Afghanistan last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, fire machine guns at insurgent forces during a three-hour gun-battle in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur valley, Nov. 3. The 4th Infantry Division soldiers have been providing security and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people since arriving last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army Pfc. Chris Johnson watches as U.S. Army helicopters fire rockets at insurgent fighters in the hills surrounding the Waterpur Valley, in Afghanistan's Kunar province, Nov. 3.Johnson, and fellow members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, have been battling anti-Afghan fighters since arriving in Afghanistan last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army Sgt. Stephen Wise, a native of Ames, Iowa, watches for insurgent forces as bullets streak overhead, during a three-hour gun-battle in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur valley, Nov. 3. Wise, and fellow members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, have been providing security and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people since arriving last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army Cpl. Casey Liffrig, of Pinehurst, N.C., watches for insurgent forces as heavy sniper fire rains down on his position, during a three-hour firefight with militants in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur valley, Nov. 3. Liffrig, and fellow members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, have been battling militant forces since arriving in Afghanistan last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

A U.S. Army UH-61 Black Hawk helicopter drops ammunition and water to U.S. Army soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, following a three hour gun battle in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur valley, Nov. 3. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class. Henriques Ventura, of Colorado Springs, Colo., races across an open field as sniper fire rains down around him, during a three-hour firefight with insurgent forces in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur Valley, Nov. 3. Ventura is a platoon sergeant with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. The Fort Carson, Colo., deployed to Afghanistan last June, and has been providing security and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

A U.S. Army soldier from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, fires at insurgent fighters during a three-hour gun battle in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur valley, Nov. 3. The 4th Infantry Division soldiers have been battling anti-Afghan fighters in area since arriving in Afghanistan last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

A U.S. Army soldier with of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, watches as bombs explode on insurgent fighting positions in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur valley, Nov. 3. The 4th Infantry Division soldiers have been battling militant fighters in the Waterpur valley since arriving in Afghanistan last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army Pvt. John Stafinski, a native of Seville, Ohio, fires his M-249 squad automatic weapon during a three-hour gun battle with insurgent fighters in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur Valley, Nov. 3. Stafinski is an infantryman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, based out of Fort Carson, Colo. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army Pfc. Chris Johnson and a fellow Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, soldier scan the hills surrounding the Waterpur valley, during a three-hour firefight with insurgents in Afghanistan's Kunar province, Nov. 3. The 4th Infantry Division soldiers have been providing security and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people since arriving last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army Pfc. Geoffery Thomson ducks for cover as insurgents fire on his position during a three-hour gun battle in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur valley, Nov. 3. Thomson is an infantryman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, based out of Fort Carson, Colo. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army Sgt. Kee Johnson, a native of Lewisburg, W. Va., takes cover while U.S. Army helicopters fire rockets at insurgent fighters in the hills surrounding the Waterpur valley, in Afghanistan's Kunar province, Nov. 3. Kee, and fellow members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, have been battling insurgents since arriving in Afghanistan last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army Spc. Thomas Upton, a native of Aransas Pass, Texas, watches for anti-Afghan forces during a gun-battle in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur valley, Nov. 3. Upton, and fellow members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, have been providing security and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people since arriving last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

U.S. Army soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, watch the surrounding hills for insurgents, while fellow Co. C soldiers race to their position, dodging heavy sniper fire, during a three-hour gun battle with insurgent forces in Kunar province, Afghanistan's Waterpur valley, Nov. 3. The 4th Infantry Division soldiers have been battling insurgent forces in the Waterpur valley since arriving in Afghanistan last June. (Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

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Video: Delta 2 Launch at Vandenberg

2009-11-06T07:01:00.000-05:00

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Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Embedded above is a video package of Vandenberg Air Force Apace Command successfully launching a Delta-2 Rocket from Space Launch Complex-2. (Produced by Senior Airman Ted Froats, 30th Space Wing. Length: 00:01:00.)

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Pentagon: Army Major Declared Sole Suspect in Fort Hood Shooting

2009-11-05T23:02:00.003-05:00

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is believed to be the lone shooter of some 43 people on Fort Hood, Texas, and he survived being shot by a civilian police officer, the base commander said.

In a televised press briefing tonight, Army Lt Gen. Robert Cone corrected earlier reports that said Hasan and the police officer, who shot him several times, were killed. Rather, he said, both are recovering at a nearby hospital.

All but two of the victims are soldiers, Cone said.

Cone confirmed the identity of Hasan, reportedly a psychiatrist on the base who was scheduled soon to deploy, but would not say more about the suspect. Hasan has been in the company of a Criminal Investigative Division officer since the midday shooting, he said.

In answer to a reporter’s question, Cone said of the suspect, “I would say his death is not imminent.” Hasan is not yet talking to investigators.

Three other soldiers were initially detained for questioning, but later released. After interviewing more than 100 people at the scene, Cone said, investigators determined there was only one shooter.

While investigators haven’t ruled out terrorism in the case, Cone said, the evidence doesn’t suggest it.

The shooting began about 1:30 Central Time at Hood’s Soldier Family Readiness Center where Cone said soldiers from multiple units were crowded into the center for a scheduled weekly “make up time” for medical and dental appointments.

Casualties were high due to the enclosed location, but would have been much worse were it not for the training and quick reaction of the soldiers, Cone said, adding that he was on the scene quickly after the shooting began.

“Suffice it to say…the American soldier did a great job,” he said.

From the reports of eyewitnesses, he said, the soldiers – “many of them combat lifesavers” -- reacted instantaneously, ripping off parts of their own clothing to treat the wounded.

“I credit the first responders,” he said. “God bless these soldiers and Department of Army civilians. As horrible as this was, it could have been much worse.”

Some 600 people attending a college graduation of 138 soldiers in an adjacent building were unharmed because first responders secured the building, he said.

The suspect is believed to have used two handguns in the shooting, one a semiautomatic, Cone said. And in responding to a question, “As a matter of practice, we do not carry weapons on Fort Hood,” he said. “This is our home.”

However, Cone said, “We will increase our security presence here in the coming days.”

The FBI is working the investigation, along with military and other law enforcement, he said. The base was on lockdown until 7 p.m., a base spokesman said.

For now, Cone said, Fort Hood officials are focused on caring for the wounded, securing the base, notifying victims’ families and providing grief counseling. A family hotline is available to obtain information at 254-288-7570.

Cone, who received a call from President Barack Obama soon after the shooting, said he was grateful for an outpouring of support. “It is truly overwhelming the offers of support we have had from around the nation,” the general said. “Tomorrow at Fort Hood, we return to normalcy, schools will be open.”

The Central Texas base is the military’s largest, covering some 340 square miles and is home to 40,000 soldiers. And, according to its Web site, is known as “The Great Place” for its quality of life for soldiers and their families.

(Report by Lisa Daniel, American Forces Press Service.)

OEF Summary, Nov. 5, 2009: Forces Kill, Detain Militants in Afghanistan

2009-11-05T19:37:00.001-05:00

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- Combined Afghan and international forces killed or detained suspected militants in Afghanistan’s Wardak and Khowst provinces yesterday, and officials are investigating whether an International Security Assistance Force rocket attack caused civilian casualties, military officials reported.

A combined force targeted a compound near the village of Babur Kheyl in Wardak’s Sayed Abad district after intelligence indicated militant activity there. After entering the compound, the force received hostile fire and returned fire, killing the militants. The patrol searched the compound and detained a group of suspected militants. No civilians were harmed during the operation, officials said.

In another operation, a combined force searched compounds near the village of Baran Kheyl in Khowst province’s Manduzai district, looking for a Haqqani terrorist suspect responsible for funneling foreign fighters into the area. The combined force killed an enemy militant and detained a suspect. No civilians were harmed during the operation.

The Haqqani network uses a generations-old system of routes in eastern Afghanistan to conduct attacks, gain strongholds and arm other militants, officials said.

Meanwhile, ISAF officials are investigating allegations in media reports that a surface-to-surface rocket strike near Babaji village in the Lashkar Gah district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province yesterday caused civilian casualties.

ISAF officials said the strike targeted nine militants believed to be emplacing an improvised explosive device, and that ISAF forces were not aware of any civilians in the vicinity. “Only those involved in the IED emplacement were targeted,” officials said in a statement.

"ISAF takes all credible allegations of civilian casualties very seriously and investigates each allegation to determine the facts," said Navy Capt. Jane Campbell, spokeswoman for ISAF’s Joint Command. "If any civilians were injured through our actions, we deeply regret it."

(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)

OIF Summary, Nov. 5, 2009: Forces in Iraq Nab 6 Bomb Network Suspects

2009-11-05T19:27:00.003-05:00

Dispatches from the Front:

BAGHDAD, Nov. 5, 2009 -- Iraqi security forces arrested six suspects during two security operations today targeting members of al-Qaida in Iraq-sponsored bombing networks.

In Bayji, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors with court-issued warrants searched several buildings in pursuit of vehicle-bomb network members operating across Iraq’s Salahuddin province.

Based on information gathered at the scene, police arrested three people for allegedly aiding and abetting criminal activity. The suspect wanted on the warrant was not apprehended.

In Tall Zalat, southwest of Mosul, Iraqi forces acting on a warrant searched several buildings for an alleged roadside-bomb suspect. Based on incriminating evidence found at the scene, three suspects were arrested, though the warranted person was not among them.

(From a Multinational Force Iraq news release.)

Video: Fort Hood Shooting B-Roll

2009-11-05T19:07:00.006-05:00

NOTE: News readers click here to watch the video.

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- Embedded above is a b-roll video of the aftermath of a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. Scenes include police with weapons getting out of their van, law enforcement members ducking behind buildings, victims being loaded onto an ambulance, fire trucks and ambulances with sirens. (Produced by Ron Morse and SPC Eliot Valdez, Fort Hood Public Affairs Office. Length: 00:03:54.)

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Pentagon Discuses Fort Hood Shootings

2009-11-05T18:25:00.001-05:00

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- President Barack Obama condemned the fatal shooting rampage today on Fort Hood, Texas, that left 12 soldiers dead and another 31 wounded, and promised full-scale support to get to the bottom of what happened and help the Fort Hood community recover from the tragedy.

More than one gunmen – two being held as suspects and another believed to be among those killed -- fired shots at about 1:30 p.m. Central Time at the post’s Soldier Readiness Processing Center and Howze Theater, Fort Hood officials confirmed.

The incident reportedly occurred as soldiers were conducting their final preparations for deployment.

“These are men and women who have made the selfless and courageous decision to risk, and at times, give their lives to protect the rest of us on a daily basis,” the president said.

“It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas,” he said. “It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil.”

Obama said he is in close coordination with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen in monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, the White House is working with the Pentagon, FBI and Department of Homeland Security to ensure Fort Hood is secure.

Obama said his thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and families of the fallen, and the Fort Hood community.

“We will continue to support the community with the full resources of the federal government,” he said. “We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident.”

Obama said he has no greater honor than serving as commander and chief, but also recognizes the responsibility that entails in ensuring servicemembers are properly cared for and that their safety is assured while they are at home.

“So we are going to stay on this,” he said. “But I hope in the meantime that all of you recognize the scope of this tragedy, and keep everybody in their thoughts and prayers.”

Speaking to reporters at Fort Hood, Army Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commander of 3rd Corps and Fort Hood, credited quick response by police forces with bringing down a gunman after he opened fire at the soldier readiness unit.

“There were several eyewitness accounts that there was more than one shooter,” he said, noting that two additional soldiers had been taken into custody.

“The soldiers and family members are absolutely devastated,” he said. “It’s a terrible tragedy,” he said, but offered assurances, “We will work through it.”

(Report by Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service.)

Wire: 12 Killed, 31 Wounded at Fort Hood (Update-4)

2009-11-05T17:20:00.003-05:00

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- Newswire services this afternoon reported that twelve people were killed and 31 wounded in two shootings Thursday at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas, the Army said. At least three gunmen, all soldiers, were involved in the attack.

The suspected gunman was identified as Major Malik Nadal Hasan. He was killed and two other suspects have been apprehended, Lt. Robert W. Cone said.

The gunman used two handguns, Cone said. He wasn't sure if the shooter reloaded the weapons during the attack.

The general called the attack "a terrible tragedy, stunning." He said the community was "absolutely devastated."

The extent of the injuries of victims "varies significantly," according to Cone.

The Associated Press reported that the first shooting began at about 1:30 p.m. at a personnel and medical processing office, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Nathan Banks said. The facility, called a Soldier Rating and Processing center, handles administrative details for soldiers.

An Army spokesman said the base was locked down after the shootings.

Covering 339 square miles, Fort Hood is the largest active duty armored post in the United States. Home to about 52,000 troops as of earlier this year, the sprawling base is located halfway between Austin and Waco.

At the Soldier Readiness Center, soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening -- on average about 300-400 screened a day, Lampam said.

Lampam said a graduation ceremony for soldiers who finished college courses while deployed was going on in the auditorium at the time of the shooting.

Fort Hood officially opened on Sept. 18, 1942, and was named in honor of Gen. John Bell Hood. It has been continuously used for armored training and is charged with maintaining readiness for combat missions.

This is a developing story.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Wire: 12 Killed, 31 Wounded at Fort Hood (Update-3)

2009-11-05T17:00:00.004-05:00

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- Newswire services this afternoon reported that twelve people were killed and 31 wounded in two shootings Thursday at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas, the Army said. At least three gunmen, all soldiers, were involved in the attack.

A military spokesperson says one of the suspects was shot and killed while the other two were taken into custody.

The Associated Press reported that the first shooting began at about 1:30 p.m. at a personnel and medical processing office, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Nathan Banks said. The facility, called a Soldier Rating and Processing center, handles administrative details for soldiers.

An Army spokesman said the base was locked down after the shootings.

Covering 339 square miles, Fort Hood is the largest active duty armored post in the United States. Home to about 52,000 troops as of earlier this year, the sprawling base is located halfway between Austin and Waco.

At the Soldier Readiness Center, soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening -- on average about 300-400 screened a day, Lampam said.

Lampam said a graduation ceremony for soldiers who finished college courses while deployed was going on in the auditorium at the time of the shooting.

Fort Hood officially opened on Sept. 18, 1942, and was named in honor of Gen. John Bell Hood. It has been continuously used for armored training and is charged with maintaining readiness for combat missions.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Wire: 9 Dead, Dozens Wounded at Ft. Hood (Update-2)

2009-11-05T15:19:00.006-05:00

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- Newswire services this afternoon reported that officials at the Fort Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas, say nine people are dead and dozens are wounded in a mass shooting on the Fort property.

The attack apparently happened at the Soldier Readiness Center.

Army personnel say they are not certain whether the victims are civilians or military personnel.

The Fort Hood public affairs spokesman said the Army is setting up a special operations center to handle the response.

The Fort Hood Web site posted the following information:

INSTALLATION STATUS: CLOSED Effective immediately Fort Hood is closed. Organizations/units are instructed to execute a 100% accountability of all personnel. This is not a Drill. It is an Emergency Situation.

This is a developing story with more to follow.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Wire: 2 US Soldiers Die in Iraq

2009-11-05T15:12:00.002-05:00

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- Newswire services this afternoon reported that the U.S. military says two American soldiers have died in Iraq -- one in combat and one of noncombat-related injuries.

According to an Associated Press report, the military released a statement late Wednesday saying two Multi-National Corps-Iraq soldiers died on November 4. The statement did not describe the circumstances of either death.

The deaths raise to at least 4,359 the number of U.S. military personnel who have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003. That's according to an AP count.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Pentagon: Commander Urges Focus on Protecting Satellites

2009-11-05T10:57:00.002-05:00

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- The chief of U.S. Strategic Command wants better tools for protecting against threats from space debris -- an estimated 20,000 pieces of man-made material orbiting around the planet.

Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton laid out what he described as his “wish list” yesterday, emphasizing the importance of being able to predict collisions between debris and valuable satellites.

Given the scarce number of personnel tasked with carrying out this mission, “we are decades behind where we should be, in my view,” Chilton said in a speech yesterday at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb.

The collision in February of an American and Russian satellite changed an assumption underlying the use of space. Chilton called the collision between the Iridium and Kosmos satellites the “seminal event” of the year for Stratcom.

“The big space theory, like the big sky theory, kind of came to a close when that happened -- the thought that we wouldn't have to pay attention to the movement of every satellite up there because there's so much space up there and such a low probability that they'll run into each other,” he said.

Those working in the field likely never bought into the theory that a collision was unlikely, the general said, and the event drove home the reality to those responsible for budgeting.

“It's amazing what one collision will do to the resource spigot,” he said. “Once that happened, we started to see some resources start to flow in the right directions and some creative thinking going on to improve our ability to predict collisions between the 800 satellites that we care about up there that are active and the over 20,000 pieces of total debris.”

Chilton cautioned that the 20,000 estimate could likely be off “by an order of magnitude” of actual materials able to damage satellites and systems in orbit.

As in other military scenarios, maintaining situational awareness is no less important in space than it is on land, in the air or at sea.

“Space situational awareness is no different than the situational awareness that we demand in any other domain,” he said. “And we do not provide that in an adequate fashion to my component commander in charge of space operations for the United States of America.”

To maintain awareness, Chilton stressed the need for sensors, which he described as the start of the process.

“It starts with having sensors in the right place around the globe so you can surveil the domain,” he said.

He also underscored the need to replace the space fence and keep on track the space-based surveillance system. Chilton suggested more also could be done in the way the United States relates to its allies in space.

“I think there are also opportunities for us to reach out to friends and allies and leverage capabilities that others have in a teaming fashion to provide the increased surveillance assets, the increased observations, that decreases the uncertainty in the location of elements in space,” he said. “I think there's great opportunity for us to reach out and do that better as well.”

(Report by John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service.)

Video: Aboard USS New York, Part 4

2009-11-05T10:43:00.002-05:00

NOTE: News readers click here to watch the video.

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- Embedded above is a b-roll video of activities on board USS New York. Scenes include helicopters taking off and landing on USS New York, a Landing Craft, Air-Cushioned (LCAC) approaching USS New York and views of the sailors working on the bridge. Part 4 of 4. (Courtesy Video, Naval Media Center. Length: 00:006:41.)

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