August 2007 - Iraq Special Weapons News

23 August 2007 - Iraq Special Weapons News

Operations
Deployments
US Policy
United Nations
Reconstruction Issues
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Current Operations

OIF/OEF Casualty Update 23 Aug 2007 [PDF]
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Roadside bomb strikes MND-B patrol
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
Update: 14 Task Force Lightning Soldiers die in helicopter downing

Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Kamiya from Ft. Bragg, N.C. 23 Aug 2007 -- Presenter: Director Joint Training for the Joint Warfighting Center and Joint Forces Command Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya and Deputy Commander for Operations 18th Airborne Corps Brig. Gen. Michael Ferriter
Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Brig. Gen. Sherlock from the Pentagon 23 Aug 2007 -- Presenter: Director for Operational Planning Joint Chiefs of Staff Brig. Gen. Richard Sherlock
Aug. 22 airpower summary: Transports keep cargo, pax on the move AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- Coalition airpower supported coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
Violence Down in Iraq; Iraqi Forces Becoming More Capable AFPS 23 Aug 2007 -- Due to the sustained presence of coalition forces in former insurgent safe havens and increased capability of Iraqi security forces, levels of violence in Iraq are the lowest they’ve been since June 2006, an operational leader on the Joint Staff said today.
Investigation finds engine failure caused Predator crash AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- Engine failure caused the crash of an MQ-1B Predator remotely piloted aircraft Jan. 17, at a forward location in Southwest Asia, according to an Accident Investigation Board report released by Air Combat Command today.
18th Airborne Corps Prepares for Lead Role in Iraq Theater AFPS 23 Aug 2007 -- To prepare the 18th Airborne Corps for its upcoming lead role at Multinational Corps Iraq, some 600 servicemembers are engaging in an exercise Aug. 13-24 to replicate the “rigor, complexity and realism” of Iraq’s combat environment, a corps spokesman said today.
Investigation finds engine failure caused Predator crash AFPN 23 Aug 2007 -- Engine failure caused the crash of an MQ-1B Predator remotely piloted aircraft Jan. 17, at a forward location in Southwest Asia, according to an Accident Investigation Board report released by Air Combat Command today.
One Terrorist Killed, 10 Detained During Iraq Operations AFPS 23 Aug 2007 -- Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 10 suspected terrorists today during operations around Iraq targeting al Qaeda weapons and leadership networks.
Operation Lightning Hammer disrupts al-Qaeda in Diyala MNF-I 23 Aug 2007 -- Operation Lightning Hammer concluded Aug. 22 after a 12-day, large-scale operation to disrupt al-Qaeda and other terrorist elements in the Diyala River Valley, a complex area of villages and palm groves in Iraq’s Diyala province.

Deployments

O'Kane and Paul Hamilton Returns From Deployment Navy NewsStand 23 Aug 2007 -- Arleigh Burke-Class guided missile destroyers USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) and USS O'Kane (DDG 70) returned home Aug. 20 from a seven-month deployment with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) carrier group to the Persian Gulf.

US Policy

Intelligence Estimate Shows U.S. Strategy Improved Security in Iraq AFPS 23 Aug 2007 -- The latest National Intelligence Estimate indicates the U.S. strategy has improved the security environment in Iraq, but notes that many tough challenges lie ahead, according to a statement released today by White House Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Johndroe.
Iraqi Government Still Shaky, Says New US Intelligence Estimate VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- A new U.S. intelligence estimate says there have been some improvements in the security situation in Iraq.
US Intelligence Report Says Iraqi Government 'Precarious' VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- A new report by U.S. intelligence agencies says Iraq's security situation has improved, but the Iraqi government is still unable to govern effectively.
US to Release Intelligence Report on Iraq Political Progress VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- The Bush administration is expected to release parts of an intelligence report later Thursday that questions whether Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki can overcome sectarian differences in his country.

Key Republican Senator Calls For Troop Withdrawal From Iraq VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- An influential U.S. Senate Republican says President Bush should announce an initial withdrawal of troops from Iraq on September 15

Bush Preparing for Key Iraq Report VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- President Bush is calling on Americans to have patience with the war in Iraq as he works to restore public support by focusing on the the conflict's broader context in history rather than the daily reporting of casualties

Analysis: Rhetorical Battleground Shifts on Iraq cfr.org 23 Aug 2007 -- The next phase of the White House showdown with Congress over Iraq troop-withdrawal timetables was expected to begin with mid-September progress reports
Democrats Assail Bush's Iraq Comparison With Vietnam RFE/RL 23 Aug 2007 -- Leaders from the opposition Democratic Party in the United States are criticizing President George W. Bush's assertion that an early withdrawal from Iraq could trigger a bloodbath like the one in Southeast Asia after the U.S. retreat from Vietnam.

United Nations

Reconstruction Issues

IRAQ: Former children's camp in south in urgent need of assistance IRIN 23 Aug 2007 -- People are leaving Karama camp in the southern province of al-Qadisiyyah because of the terrible conditions there, and urgent supplies are needed to rectify the situation.

Foreign Reactions

IRAQ-SYRIA: Iraqi pledge to Syria fails to assuage refugees IRIN 23 Aug 2007 -- Iraq refugees in Syria are not confident that the just concluded three-day visit to Damascus by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will make a difference to their worsening plight.

News Reports

25 Killed in Fighting Between Sunni Militants in Iraq VOA 23 Aug 2007 -- Iraqi police say at least 25 people have been killed in clashes between militants from rival Sunni Arab groups.