The Point: News From the Front, 2nd edition

vol. I, 2nd Edition, 15 March 2006

America is fighting a war against Terrorism. On September 11, 2001 we were forced to say so publicly. Before that day, this sleeping giant was content to swipe at individual acts as they happened. When 3,000 of our souls were taken from us, we emerged on the other side having survived, but finding ourselves as a Nation mortally wounded. When the fires were finally put out, and as many of the bodies identified and claimed as possible, we arose from the ashes to face our enemy with resolve and righteous indignation. The phrase “Never Forget” meant something then, and for those engaged in the fight, it still means something today. We are in a war, and we must win.

Today, the two most active theaters of this war are Afghanistan and Iraq. Our Civilian leadership and our brave men and women in uniform are fighting for US, and in our stead. We owe them loyalty, support, honor, and commitment. Not through Political machines; power-hungry self-important aspirants to the halls of Congress or the Whitehouse, but through our direct involvement with, and understanding of the evils they face and the accomplishments they continue to make with dignity, courage, and faithful execution of the mission. While commercial media and disingenuous detractors nip at the edges of their courage and sacrifice, I bring you this report:



Eight Strategic Pillars to Victory in Iraq:

Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgency
Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance
Help Iraqis Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government
Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services
Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy
Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law and Promote Civil Rights
Increase International Support for Iraq
Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public Isolation of the Insurgents

The President discusses Freedom and Democracy in Iraq

1- The Iraqi People Have Chosen A Future Of Freedom And Peace
2- Iraqi Security Forces Are Taking The Lead In Defending Their Democracy
3- Coalition Forces Are Combating The Threat Of IEDs

NEW: Whitehouse Releases "National Security Strategy"

* Champion aspirations for human dignity;
* Strengthen alliances to defeat global terrorism and work to prevent attacks against us and our friends;
* Work with others to defuse regional conflicts;
* Prevent our enemies from threatening us, our allies, and our friends with weapons of mass destruction (WMD);
* Ignite a new era of global economic growth through free markets and free trade;
* Expand the circle of development by opening societies and building the infrastructure of democracy;
* Develop agendas for cooperative action with other main centers of global power;
* Transform America’s national security institutions to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century; and
* Engage the opportunities and confront the challenges of globalization.

UPDATED: US State Department Iraq Weekly Status Report:

** Highlights:**

1. Defeat the Terrorists and Neutralize the Insurgents
Soldiers from the 6th and 9th Iraqi Army Divisions, supported by Coalition
Soldiers conducted one of the largest operations of the past six months and
took control of a terrorist stronghold south of Baghdad.

2. Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance
The final session of an Iraqi National Police Leadership seminar concluded on
March 9, wrapping up a 10-session series that began on November 25, 2005.
Each of the 10 sessions for senior leaders was facilitated by Coalition police
trainers.

3. Help Iraqis to Forge a National Compact for Democratic Government
Iraqi leaders began intensive meetings on March 14 to form a national unity
government ahead of the Council of Representatives’ first session on
Thursday. The parliament session set for March 16 is expected to remain
technically open for days, without adjourning, to give time for to blocs meet a
constitutional requirement to elect a speaker in the first session, officials said.

4. Help Iraq Build Government Capacity and Provide Essential Services
Testing of the V94 turbine generator has proven successful at the Kirkuk power
plant. With an output of 260 MW, the enormous generator provided 48 percent
of Baghdad’s total electrical output on March 8, according USAID officials.

5. Help Iraq Strengthen Its Economy
At the request of the Central Bank of Iraq Governor Sinan al-Shabibi, the Paris
Club Secretariat will send letters to seven of Iraq’s non-Paris Club official
creditors who have not yet agreed to debt relief for Iraq urging them to conclude
bilateral agreements.

6. Help Iraq Strengthen the Rule of Law
The Combined Review and Release Board (CCRB) reviewed cases of 122 male
detainees and recommended release, from Theater Internment Facilities on
March 8.

7. Increase International Support for Iraq
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the
UN Assistance Mission for Iraq organized a workshop on building a national
commission to address abuses in Iraq.

8. Strengthen Public Understanding of Coalition Efforts and Public
Isolation of the Insurgents
President Bush delivered the first in a series of speeches on March 13, updating
the American people on the National Strategy For Victory In Iraq. The President's
National Strategy for Victory in Iraq has three tracks: political, economic, and
security. The speech focused on the security track.

Dept. of State Quarterly Report on Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Funding and Expenditures

Excerpts:

During this October-December 2005 quarter, the Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund(IRRF) supported a wide range of programs and activities in ten sectors. This report highlights three of particular importance:

(1) programs to support Iraq’s constitutional referendum in October and the parliamentary elections in December;
(2) support for institutional economic reforms, which supported the conclusion of an IMF Stand-By Arrangement on December 23; and
(3) continued support in delivering essential services, including capacity building for Iraqis responsible for providing those services.

USAID: Assistance for Iraq
NEW FEATURE: ** Iraq Reconstruction Weekly Update **
USAID Celebrates Women in Iraq
Program Financial Summary through 3 March 2006



US Department of Defense
National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism
UPDATED US Department of Defense War on Terror - Current Headlines:

Rice Says Victory Requires Time, Patience, Sacrifice

Progress Continues As Iraqi Freedom Nears Three-Year Mark

Iraqi Security Forces, Coalition Launch 'Operation Swarmer'

Abizaid Stresses Security, Government in Iraq

Official Praises Iraqi Forces' Work Following Mosque Blast

Violence in Afghanistan Ebbs, Flows Over Time

UPDATED US Central Command
SPECIAL FEATURE:

** STATEMENT OF GENERAL JOHN P. ABIZAID BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ON THE 2006 POSTURE OF THE UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 14 MARCH 2006 **
Excerpts:

INTRODUCTION:
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) is in the middle of a fifth consecutive year of sustained warfare in its area of operations. The Command remains engaged in three principal activities: (1) defeating al Qaida and associated extremist networks throughout the region, (2) stabilizing Iraq and Afghanistan, and (3) partnering with governments and their militaries in the region to help them develop the capabilities and institutions to defeat terrorists and extremists on their own.

MISSION:
U.S. Central Command conducts operations to attack, disrupt and defeat terrorism, deter and defeat adversaries, deny access to WMD, assure regional access, strengthen regional stability, build the self-reliance of partner nations’ security forces, and protect the vital interests of the United States within the area of responsibility.

NATURE OF THE REGION:
The CENTCOM region spans 6.5 million square miles and 27 countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt, the countries of the Horn of Africa, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and the Central Asian states as far north as Kazakhstan. It incorporates a nexus of vital transportation and trade routes, including the Red Sea, the Northern Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Gulf. It is home to the strategic maritime choke points of the Suez Canal, the Bab el Mandeb, and the Strait of Hormuz. It encompasses the world’s most energy-rich region – the Arabian Gulf alone accounts for 57% of the world’s crude oil reserves, 28% of the world’s oil production, and 41% of the world’s natural gas reserves.

GLOBAL COUNTERTERRORISM AND THE LONG WAR:
Defeating al Qaida and associated ideological movements will require significant counterterrorism cooperation among our allies and partners not only within the CENTCOM AOR, but throughout the globe. It will also require the dedication of military, intelligence, and many other components of national power. Our network of allies and agencies will eventually defeat the al Qaida network, but we have yet to master the integration of national and international power to achieve success against this ruthless, borderless enemy. We have long experience with nation state warfare. We must, in the years ahead, learn to organize ourselves to defeat a stateless enemy capable of delivering state-like destruction without having state-like vulnerabilities. Defeating such an enemy requires a careful study of its clearly articulated strategy and vision.

THE NATURE OF THE ENEMY:
Al Qaida and ideologically-linked groups such as Ansar al Islam, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, al Ittihad al Islami, Jemaah Islamiyah, and Ansar al Sunna represent the main enemy to long-term peace and stability in the CENTCOM AOR, promoting and thriving on instability and violence. They challenge our partners in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. They attack our friends in Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Madrid, and London. Although we have not experienced another attack on our homeland, the enemy that brought us 9/11 continues to represent a clear and unambiguous threat to our country.

This enemy seeks to topple local governments, establish a repressive and intolerant regional theocracy, and then extend its violence to the rest of the world. To effect such change, this enemy believes it must evict the United States and our Coalition allies from the region. Masking their true intentions with propaganda, rhetoric, and a sophisticated use of the mass media and the internet, this enemy exploits regional tensions and popular grievances. Al Qaida and its associated movements exhibit strategic patience and are willing to wait decades to achieve their goals.

PRINCIPLES OF GLOBAL COUNTERTERRORISM AND THE LONG WAR:
For the first time in our history, the principal enemy facing the United States is not another nation state – it is an ideologically-driven, borderless network. Such an enemy requires new thinking on how we organize and fight. Militarily, we will continue to kill and capture al Qaida leaders, shut down training camps, destroy operational cells, and prevent al Qaida and associated movements from exploiting ungoverned spaces. Certainly, such action requires precision targeting and highly sophisticated intelligence networks of our own. Nonmilitary measures to defeat al Qaida will be increasingly decisive in ultimately bringing about the network’s defeat. In order to counter its fanatical ideology and diminish its sources of strength, all elements of international and national power – diplomatic, political, economic, financial, the private sector – must be used to pressure the entire al Qaida and associated movement network over time.

STRATEGIC PRESENCE:
As we implement these principles, forces should be deployed in the region to focus on building partner military capacity, protecting the flow of strategic resources, deterring hostile states, and maintaining regional U.S. counterterrorist capacity. It is important to understand that the current large conventional force posture is largely a function of counterinsurgency work in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the next issue... the rest of General Abizaid's statement, focusing on these key areas:

Iraq

Situation Overview

- Coalition Forces

- The Enemy

Strategic Focus

Transitions and Timing

Afghanistan

Situation Overview

- Coalition Forces

- The Enemy

Strategic Focus

Much Accomplished, Much More to Do

Horn of Africa and Yemen

Situation Overview

Strategic and Country Focus

Way Ahead: Internationalizing and Civilianizing

Theater Security Cooperation and Other Regional Partnerships

Pakistan

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Arabian Gulf States

Egypt

Jordan

Lebanon

Central Asian States

Iran and Syria

Critical Mission Enablers

A Strong Coalition

Interagency Coordination

Intelligence

Logistics

Strategic Sealift and Intra-Theater and Inter-Theater Airlift

Communications

Personnel

Flexible Spending Authority

Strategic Communications

Strategic Issues

Counter-IED and Force Protection

Contesting the Virtual World

Detainees

Joint Warfighting

Conclusion

Current Headlines

COALITION FORCES COLLECT, DISARM MUNITIONS IN NANGARHAR

MNC-I DIRECTS HADITHA INVESTIGATION

ISF DISCOVER BOMB BY SCHOOL

DETAINEE DIES AT ABU GHRAIB

Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq

6th Iraqi Army Division closes in on complete responsibility
Iraqi Police overcome challenges in Baghdad
Iraqi soldiers groom new trainers

Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System

Military Branch and Unit Publications

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Now, go out and seek the truth from those who fight for all of us each and every day