Truth, Lies and In Between

Surgeon-general at Walter Reed sacked

By Caroline Daniel in Washington

The scandal over the conditions at Walter Reed, an army medical facility for wounded US soldiers from Iraq, claimed a third army casualty on Monday when Lieutenant General Kevin Kiley, the US army surgeon general, was asked to resign.

His resignation, demanded by senior Defence Department officials, follows the dismissals of Francis Harvey, army secretary, and Major General George Weightman, a commander at the army centre.

The three departures mark a notable shift by the Bush administration towards holding officials accountable for mistakes made under their command.

The swift departure of three of the most senior officials connected with Walter Reed also underlines how damaging the revelations by the Washington Post of conditions there have been to the administration, reviving an image of incompetent governance associated with its handling of Hurricane Katrina.

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This guy should be fired for allowing this to happen.
There is no excuse for any Soldier that has been wounded, or Veteran that has service connected disabilities to have to suffer in shoddy conditions.
Unacceptable.

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WASHINGTON — A gay advocacy group Tuesday demanded an apology from the Pentagon’s top general for calling homosexuality immoral.

In a newspaper interview Monday, Marine Gen. Peter Pace had likened homosexuality to adultery and said the military should not condone it by allowing gays to serve openly in the military.

“General Pace’s comments are outrageous, insensitive and disrespectful to the 65,000 lesbian and gay troops now serving in our armed forces,” the advocacy group Servicemembers Legal Defense Network said in a statement on its Web site.

The group has represented some service members dismissed from the military for their sexual orientation.

Pace, chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff, made his remarks in an interview Monday with the Chicago Tribune. He was responding to a question about the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that allows gays and lesbians to serve if they keep their sexual orientation private and don’t engage in homosexual acts.

Pace said he supports the policy, which prohibits commanders from asking about a person’s sexual orientation. Over the years thousands have been dismissed under this policy, signed into law by President Clinton in 1994.

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I agree.

There is no room for immoral behavior in the military, or in society as a whole.

The General is right on!

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Iraqi, coalition troops detain six during raids in Balad
Tuesday, 13 March 2007

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

Iraqi, coalition troops detain six during raids in Balad
MND-N PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi and U.S. troops detained six suspected terrorists Sunday,
during raids on numerous residences known to be used by extremists in Balad, Iraq.

The operation was conducted successfully without a single shot being fired.

No troops or detainees were injured.

“Operations of this nature continue to demonstrate that the impartiality and
capability of the Iraqi security force is on the rise,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Dunlop,
commander, 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. “We’re seeing that as
extremist activity on all sides is curtailed, the conditions are being set for improved
economic activity, which should result in increasing employment and prosperity.”

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Iraqi Army stops 27 terrorist cell members in As Sadiyah
Tuesday, 13 March 2007

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

AS SADIYAH, Iraq – The 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi army, in partnership with a
military transition team from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted
operations against specific terrorist cells Thursday through Saturday in As Sadiyah, Iraq, in the
interest of improving stability for the area’s residents.

During the operation, 16 anti-Iraqi forces were killed and 11 suspected terrorists were
detained. The detainees will be processed for further questioning.

The IA exploited a cache consisting of a sniper rifle, a mortar sight, a hand grenade, five
AK-47s and improvised explosive device-making materials.

“The Iraqi army continues to distinguish itself through vigilance and values. Their
selfless service to the people of Diyala is providing confidence and security to the people while
they improve their skills, knowledge and attributes as a professional organization,” said Col.
David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala Province.
The soldiers also discovered and defused an IED which could have been used to target
other innocent people or security forces.

After the operation, the IA provided medical care to citizens with minor medical issues,
and passed out supplies to the local population.

The commander of the IA battalion also met with the As Sadiyah mayor and police chief
in hopes of building a partnership to sustain the security and stability of the region.

“The ISF is improving everyday while securing the population and defeating a
determined enemy,” Sutherland said.

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Coalition Forces continue to pressure Baghdad VBIED network
Tuesday, 13 March 2007

Coalition Forces continue to pressure Baghdad VBIED network
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Soldiers from eight brigade combat teams completed a nine-day sweep throughout Baghdad to disrupt the Baghdad vehicle borne improvised explosive device network on March 10.
The operation was designed to attack the terrorist command and control structure organizing and financing the deadly car bomb attacks.

Over the course of the operation which began March 2 Coalition forces and Iraqi security forces struck 82 precision targets. As a result, 24 terrorists were killed; four wounded and 90 suspected terrorists were detained. Several of those detained were members of Al-Qaeda. Coalition Forces also found or captured many weapons caches to include two aircraft bombs, one 500-lb MK-82 bomb, 50 155mm artillery shells, one complete 82mm mortar system with over 100 rounds, four 122mm rockets, one DSHKA heavy machine gun, six rocket propelled grenades, two RPK light machine guns, 27 AK-47 assault rifles, five bolt action rifles, two shotguns, six pistols and numerous ammunition and other bomb making materials.

The operation coined as Arrowhead Strike 8 included Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division; 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division; 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division; 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division; 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division; 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division; 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division; and other Special Operations Forces.

“We wanted to put pressure on the entire network at one time” said Colonel Steve Townsend, Commander of 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. “We think the number of detainees we have should shake things up a bit. Although car bombing has continued in recent days, their effectiveness against civilians has significantly decreased,” said Colonel Townsend.

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Monday, 12 March 2007

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

MOSUL, Iraq – Anti-Iraqi forces, emplacing an improvised explosive device, were engaged and killed by Coalition forces March 8, before they had a chance to detonate their roadside bomb.
Three males were observed by Coalition forces digging a hole and laying wire next to a main road near the Al Jededa neighborhood in west Mosul. They were viewed actually emplacing a munition in the ground and covering the tracks of the command wire by smoothing the dirt over top of it.
Coalition helicopters in position nearby immediately responded and engaged the emplacers with rocket fire. Two AIF were killed and three AIF were wounded and taken to the local hospital in Mosul.
Iraqi Police were conducting an investigation and questioning the surviving emplacers.

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Iraqi Army captures four suspects during operations against rogue elements of JAM
Monday, 12 March 2007

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

Iraqi Army captures four suspects during operations against
rogue elements of JAM
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

Baghdad – Soldiers of the 4th Iraqi Army Division captured four suspects during
operations with Coalition advisors March 11 in Balad, targeting rogue elements of Jaysh
Al-Mahdi. The suspects are allegedly involved in carrying out sectarian attacks against
Iraqi civilians in the area.

The suspects are implicated in supplying weapons used by rogue elements to
commit violence and other criminal activities.

Iraqi Forces detained five additional suspects for questioning.
Minimal damage was done to the objective. There were no Iraqi civilians, Iraqi
Forces or Coalition Forces casualties.

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COALITION FORCES CAPTURE 22 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN IRAQ
Monday, 12 March 2007
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
BAGHDAD, Iraq
COALITION FORCES CAPTURE 22 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN IRAQ

BAGHDAD, Iraq –Coalition Forces captured 22 suspected terrorists during operations Monday morning targeting al-Qaeda and foreign fighter facilitators.

During operations in Mosul, Coalition Forces captured four suspected terrorists allegedly involved in the planning of improvised explosive devices attacks on friendly forces.

A senior foreign fighter facilitator was captured north of Habbaniyah, and two suspects who are reportedly involved in weapons facilitation were detained in Baghdad.

Northeast of Tarmiyah, Coalition Forces captured thirteen suspected terrorists with alleged involved in weapons movement and foreign fighter facilitation.

South of Amiriyah, two suspected terrorists with alleged ties to foreign fighter facilitation and weapons movement were also detained.

“Coalition Forces will continue deliberate and methodical operations in order to pursue, capture or kill terrorists trying to prevent a peaceful and stable Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

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