January 2008 - Iraq Special Weapons News

17 January 2008 - Iraq Special Weapons News

Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Lt. Gen. Odierno from Iraq 17 Jan 2008 -- Presenter: Commander, Multinational Corps Iraq, Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno
Jan. 16 airpower summary: Tankers fuel the fleet AFPN 17 Jan 2008
Coalition Forces Continue to Disrupt Al Qaeda in Iraq AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 17 suspects today during operations targeting al Qaeda networks in northern Iraq.
Operation Phantom Phoenix Denies Sanctuary to Al Qaeda AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Soldiers supporting Operation Phantom Phoenix, a series of division- and brigade-level strikes against al Qaeda and other extremists in Iraq, continue to disrupt terrorist safe havens and bases throughout the country, military officials reported.
Odierno Touts Phantom Phoenix Progress AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Operation Phantom Thunder, under way in Diyala and Ninevah provinces in Iraq, builds on previous operations as coalition and Iraqi forces target al Qaeda in Iraq and other extremist groups, the commander of the Multinational Corps Iraq said today.
NMCB 1, NMCB 15 Celebrate Getting 'Over the Hump' in Iraq Navy NewsStand 17 Jan 2008 -- U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 and NMCB 15, Task Force Sierra (TFS), celebrated making it half-way through deployment with an 'over-the-hump' party/sports day in Iraq, Jan. 12.

Five Brigades Should be Home by July, Gates Says AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Five brigade combat teams, equal to 2007’s troop surge, should be home by July, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.
US Defense Chief Expects Iraq Troop Drawdown to Stay on Schedule VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he expects the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq to proceed through July, as planned, and he hopes the process will continue in the second half of the year

2007 Gave Iraqis Hope; Progress Must Continue, General Says AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Operations in 2007 gave the Iraqi people hope, and operations this year must capitalize on that hope, a top commander in Iraq said today.
U.S. Commander Charts Iraqi Security Forces’ Progress AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- Developing the Iraqi security forces is hard, slow work, the commander of Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq said today.

UN Chief Welcomes Reduction in Iraq Attacks, Calls for Political Progress VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- A report issued by a U.S.-based human rights group is criticizing the Justice Department for failing to hold private security contractors operating in Iraq and Afghanistan responsible for acts of violence

U.S. to Transfer 4,200 Humvees to Iraqis AFPS 17 Jan 2008 -- A ceremony here today marked the beginning of a program to refurbish and transfer more than 4,200 up-armored Humvees over the next 13 months.

Analysis: Iraq Surge’s Mixed Messages cfr.org 17 Jan 2008 -- When President Bush announced in January 2007 a surge of five additional combat brigades to Baghdad, he said it would improve security in the capital, giving the Iraqi government the “breathing space it needs to make progress.”
Report Says Iraq Contractors Operate With Impunity VOA 17 Jan 2008 -- A report issued by a U.S.-based human rights group is criticizing the Justice Department for failing to hold private security contractors operating in Iraq and Afghanistan responsible for acts of violence