KIRKUK, Iraq, Dec. 11, 2009 – The U.S. military role remains critical to preserving gains made in Iraq and helping to prevent sectarian violence in the roll-up to Iraq’s national elections, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told about 300 soldiers and airmen at a town hall session today at Forward Operating Base Warrior. “Whether you [...]

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2009 – The road to success in Afghanistan goes through the South, a former commander of international forces there said today. “We all recognize that key to success in Afghanistan is the situation in southern Afghanistan,” Dutch army Maj. Gen. [...]

As of Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, at least 4,370 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes nine military civilians killed in action. At least 3,477 military personnel died as a result of hostile action, according to [...]

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — Doctors at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in this quiet, bucolic town tucked between coal country and the nation’s capital used to go months without treating a female veteran. Today, they’re reporting the beginning of a boom. Mixed with the Vietnam and World War II-era patients waiting for a doctor are [...]

KABUL (AP) — The top U.S. military officer said the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan is harder to defeat now than it was a year ago, and said he will take up concerns about strengthening ties to al-Qaida with government leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was [...]

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — Air Force officials here released its new energy plan Dec. 9 to serve as the framework for communicating Air Force energy goals and further expands a culture shift “where Airmen make energy a consideration in everything we do.” Debra Walker, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, logistics and environment, [...]

WASHINGTON (Dec. 8, 2009) — The training of tens of thousands of additional, capable Afghan soldiers and police is among the crucial tasks necessary to achieving success in Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan told Capitol Hill legislators here today. “To pursue our core goal of defeating al-Qaida and preventing their [...]

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robert Stirrup, Commander, Navy Region Hawai‘i Public Affairs PEARL HARBOR (NNS) — The U.S. Navy and the National Park Service hosted a joint memorial ceremony at Kilo Pier on Naval Station (NAVSTA) Pearl Harbor to commemorate the 68th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7. More [...]

KABUL, Dec. 9, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates spent the day today checking out operations supporting President Barack Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan, including a new joint headquarters overseeing the tactical fight. Gates also got briefings on stepped-up initiatives to train Afghan security forces, and stopped by the U.S. embassy here to thank [...]

KABUL, Dec. 9, 2009 – Better pay for Afghan national security forces and a government-led emphasis on national service appear to be paying off in stronger recruiting, the commander responsible for recruiting and training them told reporters here today. Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, who heads up Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, cited [...]