Face of Defense: IED Fails to Deter Chief Warrant Officer

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 28, 2008 – Army Chief Warrant Officer Sammy Rodriguez has a job that isn’t exciting until things go wrong. On a routine mission Jan. 23 to deliver supplies to the Korengal Outpost here, one of the vehicles in the convoy was struck by an improvised explosive device.

Damaged vehicles left behind can be used in enemy propaganda to proclaim a victory over U.S. forces. Every effort is made to make sure the enemy does not have this opportunity.

“Chief Rodriguez knows his stuff,” said Army Capt. John Thyng, Company F commander for the 2-503rd. “When I talked before about the need to make sure we recover absolutely everything to prevent the bad guys from getting hold of it, he really took that to heart.”

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48781

Petraeus: Upcoming Troop Reduction Plans ‘On Track’

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said the scheduled withdrawal will reduce the number of troops at the height of the surge by one quarter, or roughly 42,500. Further reductions after July will be based on the state of Iraq’s security, he added.

“The guidance that (Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates) in fact has given me -- and the president and my chain of command, what all of them have said -- is that reductions after July should be conditions-based,”

Their focus, he said, will be on removing forces expeditiously, but without undercutting progress made during the troop surge that launched this time last year. Petraeus today noted that half of Iraq’s 18 provinces currently are under provincial control.

[i.e., we are already withdrawing from Iraq - as success allows]

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48777

Twofer...

Terrorist Attacks in Europe Thwarted at last moment
It is a sad fact in our media driven culture that a story about a group of Islamic extremists who were rounded up last week and discovered to be on the verge of carrying out several terrorist attacks receives little or no coverage but that if they had been successful, their names and deeds would be on everyone's lips.

Successes like these should be big stories:

[but that might remind folks of the looming threat many would convince us is overblown to begin with, or maybe serve as an example that appeasement doesn't work...]

Spanish appeasement backfires
A new al Qaeda plot set in Spain was recently disrupted, as reported by Reuters. The attack was set to occur shortly before a general election, much like the previous horrendous attack carried out in 2004. That attack led to a new government in Spain that immediately cut support for coalition efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This plot is yet further evidence that to accede to the demands of terrorists is not the way to prevent future attacks. There is only one way, by discrediting the ideology that drives young Muslim men to carry out these attacks. And in the Arab culture, a true culture of "might makes right", to discredit terrorist ideology means to defeat them on the battlefield.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/01/spanish_appeasement_backfires.html

Egypt turns back 3 000 Gazans

Cairo - Egyptian authorities have turned back around 3 000 Palestinians trying to reach Cairo and other cities after crossing into Sinai from Gaza following a border breach, a security source said on Monday. (Snip) Egyptian media reported on Monday that authorities had raided hotels and rented apartments in Cairo and other large cities in search of Palestinians who may have slipped past security.

[and the world outcry condemning Egypt for its mistreatment of Palestinians?]

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2260166,00.html

There'll be consequences - Iran

Tehran - Iran warned on Monday of ''serious consequences'' if the UN Security Council adopts fresh sanctions against Tehran over its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear work. ''If a resolution is passed... it will have serious and logical consequences and we will announce them later,'' Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Mottaki (Snip) Despite a four-year probe into Tehran's atomic drive, the IAEA has so far been unable to determine whether the programme is peaceful.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2259761,00.html

North Korea tells U.S. to remember the Pueblo

Seoul - North Korea marked the anniversary on Wednesday of one of its rare Cold War victories over the United States by saying a U.S. spy ship it seized 40 years ago served as a lesson to show it can repel an invasion. (Snip) ''(The Pueblo) is historical evidence proving before the whole world the victory of the DPRK (North Korea) in the confrontation with the U.S.

[brilliant tactical move - why don't they something about our mothers]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/23/AR2008012300498.html

Michigan announces "Safe Routes to School" recipients

January 28, 2008 - - The Granholm administration today announced that nine Michigan elementary and middle schools will receive more than $1.6 million in federal "Safe Routes to School" funding for safety improvements and education programs that will encourage students to travel safely between home and school.

"We want to protect the health and safety of our Michigan children," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "This program offers our children encouragement and opportunities [?] to walk or bike to school. These schools are to be commended for pursuing these grants to improve safety and encourage healthy lifestyles."

State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle said that MDOT's role as the administering agency for the federally legislated program creates opportunities for collaboration with agencies and partners not traditionally involved with transportation funding.

Today's announcement was the first wave of Safe Routes to School funding; three additional rounds of grants will be announced this spring, next winter, and in the spring of 2009.

[it's got nothing to do with student safety - despite the ad-nauseam references - it's another money grab by a public agency hiding behind our children to do so...> http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192--184423--,00.html ]