DOCSLIB.ORG

Statement on the Terrorist Attacks in Baghdad, Iraq Remarks at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Statement on the Terrorist Attacks in Baghdad, Iraq Remarks at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 / Oct. 26 American middle class, keeping alive that most NOTE: The address was recorded at approxi- American of ideals: That all things are possible mately 5:55 p.m. on October 22 in the Red for all people, and we’re limited only by the size Room at the White House for broadcast on Oc- of our dreams and our willingness to work for tober 24. The transcript was made available by them. We need to do everything we can to en- the Office of the Press Secretary on October 23, sure that they can keep taking those risks, acting but was embargoed for release until 6 a.m. on on those dreams, and building the enterprises October 24. The Office of the Press Secretary that fuel our economy and make us who we are. also released a Spanish language transcript of Thanks. this address. Statement on the Terrorist Attacks in Baghdad, Iraq October 25, 2009 I strongly condemn these outrageous attacks ple and their determination to build strong in- on the Iraqi people and send my deepest con- stitutions. dolences to those who have lost loved ones. The United States will stand with Iraq’s peo- These bombings serve no purpose other than ple and Government as a close friend and part- the murder of innocent men, women, and chil- ner as Iraqis prepare for elections early next dren, and they only reveal the hateful and de- year, continue to take responsibility for their fu- structive agenda of those who would deny the ture, and build greater peace and opportunity. Iraqi people the future that they deserve. These Together, we will continue to work for lasting attempts to derail Iraq’s progress are no match security, dignity, and justice. for the courage and resilience of the Iraqi peo- Remarks at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida October 26, 2009 Thank you, everybody. How’s it going, Jack- Now, military communities like this one take sonville? Let me begin by thanking Secretary care of their own, your people, your families. Mabus for the introduction, for your service, But keeping you strong also takes the civilian Ray. I know we’ve got a lot of naval aviators community beyond the gate. So we want to here, and Ray is a former surface warfare offi- thank Mayor John Peyton and all your great cer. But don’t hold that against him. Don’t hold neighbors, the people of Jacksonville, for their that against him, now, because Ray Mabus is incredible support. Give them a big round of doing an outstanding job as Secretary of the Na- applause. vy. Keeping you strong also takes leaders in Con- I also want to thank all your outstanding local gress, like those here today: two great friends of leaders for welcoming me here today: Admiral yours, Representatives Ander Crenshaw and Tim Alexander, your CO, Captain Jack Scorby, Corrine Brown, who are here. Give them a big and your Command Master Chief, Jeff Hudson. round of applause right here. And a leader who To Chris Scorby and all the spouses who are fights for you as a member of the Armed Servic- with us, you hold our military families together. es Committee, Senator—and Army veter- We honor you and we are grateful to you. an—Bill Nelson is in the house. Now, it is great to be here at one of Ameri- Keeping you strong takes something else, a ca’s finest naval air stations. But we also have country that never forgets this simple truth: It’s folks from Mayport and Kings Bay. And we not the remarkable platforms that give the have every service represented: Navy, Army, United States our military superiority, although Air Force, Coast Guard, and United States Ma- you’ve got some pretty impressive aircraft here, rines from Blount Island. I got to admit. It’s not the sophisticated 1583 Oct. 26 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 technologies that make us the most advanced After months of exercises in the Pacific and in the world, although you do represent the fu- stopping narcotraffickers off South America, ture of naval aviation. No, we have the finest you, the Mad Foxes, joined the recovery of Navy and the finest military in the history of that Air France crash off Brazil. After hun- the world because we have the finest person- dreds of combat missions over Iraq and Af- nel in the world. You are the best trained, the ghanistan, when Somali pirates kidnapped best prepared, the best led force in history. Captain Richard Phillips, you, the Fighting Ti- Our people are our most precious resource. gers, were first on the scene. And others We’re reminded of this again with today’s among you, the Nightdippers, were part of the helicopter crashes in Afghanistan. Fourteen carrier group that brought our captain home. Americans gave their lives. And our prayers You’ve delivered medical care to people are with these servicemembers, their civilian around the world, as my wife Michelle saw this colleagues, and the families who loved them. summer when she welcomed back to port the And while no words can ease the ache in their Comfort, including those of you from Naval hearts today, may they find some comfort in Hospital Jacksonville. And like thousands of knowing this: Like all those who give their sailors in today’s Navy, you’ve gone ashore to lives in service to America, they were doing meet the mission of our time, like the Desert their duty, and they were doing this Nation Lions who served in Iraq. proud. They were willing to risk their lives, in Today we also send our thoughts and this case, to prevent Afghanistan from once prayers to all the folks from Jacksonville on the again becoming a safe haven for Al Qaida and frontlines at this very moment: pilots and air- its extremist allies. Today they gave their lives, crews around the world, Navy corpsmen on that last full measure of devotion, to protect the ground in Afghanistan. And those of you, ours. the Dusty Dogs, who’ll deploy next month to Now, it is our duty as a nation to keep their the Persian Gulf, you’re going to make us memory alive in our hearts and to carry on proud. their work, to take care of their families, to But there is no service without sacrifice. keep our country safe, to stand up for the val- And though few Americans will ever truly un- ues we hold dear and the freedom they de- derstand the sacrifices that you and your fami- fended. That’s what they dedicated their lives ly make, day in, day out, tour after tour, year to, and that is what we must do as well. after year, I want you to know this: Your dedi- So I say to you and all who serve: Of all the cation to duty is humbling. Your love of coun- privileges I have as President, I have no great- try is inspiring. The American people thank er honor than serving as your Commander in you for your service. We honor your sacrifices. Chief. You inspire me. And I’m here today to And just as you have fulfilled your responsibil- deliver a simple message, a message of thanks ities to our Nation, your Nation will fulfill its to you and your families. responsibilities to you. Now, being here, you join a long, unbroken That’s the message that I just offered to the line of service at Jacksonville, from the naval inspiring Gold Star families I met with a few aviators from World War II to Korea to Viet- moments ago, families who’ve made the ulti- nam, among them a great patriot named John mate sacrifice and whom we honor. And that’s McCain. You embody that sailor’s creed, the the message I bring to you and all our forces, “spirit of the Navy and all who have gone be- families, and veterans around Jacksonville and fore”: honor, courage, commitment. across America. In recent years, you’ve been tested like nev- You’ve made the most profound commit- er before. We’re a country of more than 300 ment a person can make, to dedicate your life million Americans, but less than 1 percent to your country and perhaps give your life for wears the uniform. And that 1 percent—you it. So as your Commander in Chief, here’s the and those in uniform—bear the overwhelming commitment I make to you. To make sure you burden of our security. can meet the missions we ask of you, we are 1584 Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 / Oct. 26 increasing the defense budget, including spend- And finally, we pledge to be there when you ing on the Navy and Marine Corps. This week come home. We’re improving care for our I’ll sign that defense authorization bill into law. wounded warriors, especially those with post- To make sure we’re spending our defense traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries. dollars wisely, we’re cutting tens of billions of We’re funding the post-9/11 GI bill to give you dollars in waste and projects that even the mili- and your families the chance to pursue your tary says it doesn’t need, so that that money can dreams. And we are making the biggest com- be better spent on taking care of you and your mitment to our veterans—the largest percent- families and building the 20th—21st-century age increase in the VA budget, even when we’ve military that we do need.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 155, Pt. 15 August 6, 2009
    August 6, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 155, Pt. 15 20997 Whereas, as a Nation, we are deeply grate- (3) encourages the Department of Defense Whereas, pursuant to sections 703(a) and ful and thankful for those men and women to continue the Nation’s efforts to provide 704(a)(2) of the Ethics in Government Act of who bravely served during the Vietnam War: clear and accurate information about what 1978, 2 U.S.C. §§ 288b(a) and 288c(a)(2), the Now, therefore, be it happened to our fallen heroes, to determine Senate may direct its counsel to represent Resolved, That the Senate— the nature and cause of Captain Speicher’s an employee of the Senate with respect to (1) designates the month of August 2009 as death, and to continue accounting for all any subpoena, order, or request for testi- ‘‘Agent Orange Awareness Month’’; who remain missing in action; and mony relating to their official responsibil- (2) calls attention to those veterans who (4) honors the United States Navy, the ities; were exposed to Agent Orange and the ad- United States Marine Corps, the Defense In- Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of verse effects that such exposure has had on telligence Agency, and the Department of the United States and Rule XI of the Stand- their health; Defense for their efforts to bring Captain ing Rules of the Senate, no evidence under (3) recognizes the sacrifices that our vet- Speicher home. the control or in the possession of the Senate erans and servicemembers have made and may, by the judicial or administrative proc- continue to make on behalf of our great Na- f ess, be taken from such control or possession tion, especially those veterans who were ex- AUTHORIZING TESTIMONY AND but by permission of the Senate; posed to Agent Orange; Whereas, when it appears that evidence (4) reaffirms its commitment to our Na- LEGAL REPRESENTATION under the control or in the possession of the tion’s veterans; and Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Case Log October 2000 - April 2002
    Description of document: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Case Log October 2000 - April 2002 Requested date: 2002 Release date: 2003 Posted date: 08-February-2021 Source of document: Information and Privacy Coordinator Central Intelligence Agency Washington, DC 20505 Fax: 703-613-3007 Filing a FOIA Records Request Online The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is a First Amendment free speech web site and is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. The public records published on the site were obtained from government agencies using proper legal channels. Each document is identified as to the source. Any concerns about the contents of the site should be directed to the agency originating the document in question. GovernmentAttic.org is not responsible for the contents of documents published on the website. 1 O ct 2000_30 April 2002 Creation Date Requester Last Name Case Subject 36802.28679 STRANEY TECHNOLOGICAL GROWTH OF INDIA; HONG KONG; CHINA AND WTO 36802.2992 CRAWFORD EIGHT DIFFERENT REQUESTS FOR REPORTS REGARDING CIA EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS 36802.43927 MONTAN EDWARD GRADY PARTIN 36802.44378 TAVAKOLI-NOURI STEPHEN FLACK GUNTHER 36810.54721 BISHOP SCIENCE OF IDENTITY FOUNDATION 36810.55028 KHEMANEY TI LEAF PRODUCTIONS, LTD.
    [Show full text]
  • American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics
    American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics Updated July 29, 2020 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov RL32492 American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics Summary This report provides U.S. war casualty statistics. It includes data tables containing the number of casualties among American military personnel who served in principal wars and combat operations from 1775 to the present. It also includes data on those wounded in action and information such as race and ethnicity, gender, branch of service, and cause of death. The tables are compiled from various Department of Defense (DOD) sources. Wars covered include the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, and the Persian Gulf War. Military operations covered include the Iranian Hostage Rescue Mission; Lebanon Peacekeeping; Urgent Fury in Grenada; Just Cause in Panama; Desert Shield and Desert Storm; Restore Hope in Somalia; Uphold Democracy in Haiti; Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF); Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF); Operation New Dawn (OND); Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR); and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS). Starting with the Korean War and the more recent conflicts, this report includes additional detailed information on types of casualties and, when available, demographics. It also cites a number of resources for further information, including sources of historical statistics on active duty military deaths, published lists of military personnel killed in combat actions, data on demographic indicators among U.S. military personnel, related websites, and relevant CRS reports. Congressional Research Service American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Conversations from Cecil Field, Florida
    Conversations from Cecil Field, Florida TRANSCRIPTIONS OF ORAL HISTORY RECORDINGS OF NINETEEN WHO SERVED Lyn Corley Out in the piney woods of Northeast Florida was born NAAS Cecil Field, child of NAS Jacksonville. From two hangars, Hangar 13 and Hangar 14, and a 2,000-foot diameter circular landing mat it grew with the addition of four 5,000-foot runways. It grew to house a jet squadron in 1949 with Carrier Air Group 1 and Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron 9. It grew with four 8,000- foot runways to become the first Master Jet Base in the South. It grew to have eight hangars and 19,000 acres with its own outlying fields. Its extended 12,500-foot runway grew to become an alternate landing site for NASA space shuttles. It grew with the addition of Naval Weapons Station Yellow Water with over 10,000 acres, Outlying Field Whitehouse, and Pinecastle Bombing Range. Cecil grew to encompass 3% of the land area of Duval County, Florida. Cecil served our world by becoming a training base for those who would protect American lives and freedoms that we cherish. Tens of thousands of men and women came through its gate to serve. They lived and died in that pursuit. Cecil had promise “to continue to be a station of significant importance to readiness in the U. S. Atlantic fleet” according to public relations materials but, NAS Cecil Field passed away on September 30, 1999. Many fought to save its life and the City of Jacksonville, Florida and those who served there mourned its passing.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraqi Air-To-Air Victories During Gulf War 1991
    Iraq Gulf War 1991 Aerial victory Credits Jan J. Šafařík http://aces.safarikovi.org/ © 2008 – 2021 Jan Josef Šafařík Thu Sep 2 02:34:02 PM CEST 2021 Iraqi air-to-air victories during Gulf War 1991 Date Time Unit Pilot Type S.No. Place Enemy Result Weapon e/a - Pilot / Crew e/a - Unit e/a - S.No. 17.01.1991 84 Sq. IrAF Dawood, Zuhair MiG-25PDS F/A-18C Hornet destroyed R-40RD Spiecher, Michael S. VFA-81 No. 163484 USS Saratoga 17.01.1991 4:30 63 Sq. IrAF Hussam MiG-23ML South of Balad Airbase F-111F damaged R-24T 48th TFW (Samara Southwest) 17.01.1991 5:10 63 Sq. IrAF ? unknown MiG-23ML 15 mile East of F-111F damaged R-24T 48th TFW No. 70-2384 Salman Pal 17.01.1991 5:30 9 Sq. IrAF, Hijab, Khudair MiG-29 North of Nukhayb F-111F damaged R-60MK 48th TFW 2nd Iraqi AD SOC 17.01.1991 5:30 + 9 Sq. IrAF, Hijab, Khudair MiG-29 B-52 damaged R-27R Mason, Linwood 4300th BW(P) No. 58-0248 2nd Iraqi AD SOC 19.01.1991 12:30 9 Sq. IrAF, Sayhood, Jameel MiG-29 Tornado GR.1A destroyed R-60MK Lennox, Gary 15 Sq. RAF ZA467 / FF 1. 2nd Iraqi AD SOC Weeks, Adrian Copyright © Jan J. Šafařík Comments: 1. Jameel Sayhood was then shot down by the two pilots of McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle (F- 15C, AF85-0122/EG, 58TFS / 33TFW, pilot Craig William Underhill; F-15C, AF85-0114/EG, 58TFS / 33TFW, pilot Cesar Antonio Rodriguez).
    [Show full text]
  • 2009-0166-S [Presidential Daily Files].Pdf
    George Bush Presidential Library 1000 George Bush Drive West College Station, TX 77845 phone: (979) 691-4041 fax: (979) 691-4030 http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu [email protected] Inventory for Systematic Request 2009-0166-S Records on the Presidential Daily Files January 20, 1989–January 19, 1992 Extent 1390 folders Access Collection is open to all researchers. Access to Bush Presidential Records, Bush Vice Presidential Records, and Quayle Vice Presidential Records is governed by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)(5 USC 552 as amended) and the Presidential Records Act (PRA)(44 USC 22) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions. Access to Bush Personal (Donated) Records is governed by Mr. Bush's deed of gift. Personal records restricted under the terms of the deed are so marked in the files. Copyright Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States government as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Researchers are advised to consult the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, USC) which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Provenance Official records of George Bush's presidency and vice presidency are housed at the George Bush Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA). Processed By Staff Archivists, January 2010. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released. Related Collections Due to the overall scope of the type of documents located in the Daily Files, related material may be found in almost all other files found within the Bush Collection.
    [Show full text]
  • Letter from Michal Scott Speicher
    Letter From Michal Scott Speicher CAPTAIN MICHAEL SCOTT SPEICHER, USN (deceased) Michael Scott Speicher was born 12 July 1957 in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of a World War II fighter pilot. His family moved to Jacksonville, Florida when Scott was fifteen and Scott attended Nathan Bedford Forrest High School, now Westside High School. After completing a degree in accounting and business management at Florida State University, Scott joined the United States Navy and attended Aviation Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. His wife Joanne and he were parents to two children. Lieutenant Commander Speicher flew A-7 Corsair II’s and F/A-18 Hornets and was assigned to FVA-81, Cecil Field. During his deployment aboard USS Saratoga his plane was lost 17 January 1991 during the first mission of Operation Desert Storm. Scott Speicher became the face of those missing during times of war not only from his home town of Jacksonville, Florida but to many around our nation. The efforts of his family and “The Friends of Scott Speicher” brought national attention to efforts to bring military missing in action home. The story of his days between 1991 and 2009 are shrouded in mystery. Much of the efforts to recover Scott from Iraqi are detailed on the internet. On 13 August 2009 the remains of Captain Speicher arrived at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and his interment took place at Memory Gardens in Orange Park. 3 The message below is shared by Scott Speicher’s friend and fellow pilot, Dennis Gillespie, in effort to bring reality to the service of the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Hearings to Examine Threats, Responses, and Regional Considerations Surrounding Iraq
    S. HRG. 107–658 HEARINGS TO EXAMINE THREATS, RESPONSES, AND REGIONAL CONSIDERATIONS SURROUNDING IRAQ HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION JULY 31 AND AUGUST 1, 2002 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Relations ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 81–697 PDF WASHINGTON : 2002 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 18:09 Sep 20, 2002 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 81697 SFRELA1 PsN: SFRELA1 COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Delaware, Chairman PAUL S. SARBANES, Maryland JESSE HELMS, North Carolina CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, Connecticut RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts CHUCK HAGEL, Nebraska RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon PAUL D. WELLSTONE, Minnesota BILL FRIST, Tennessee BARBARA BOXER, California LINCOLN D. CHAFEE, Rhode Island ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia BILL NELSON, Florida SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming ANTONY J. BLINKEN, Staff Director PATRICIA A. MCNERNEY, Republican Staff Director (II) VerDate 11-MAY-2000 18:09 Sep 20, 2002 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 81697 SFRELA1 PsN: SFRELA1 CONTENTS WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2002 Page Ajami, Prof. Fouad, Majid Khadduri professor and director of Middle East Studies, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins Univer- sity, Washington, DC ..........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Operation Liberator II Begins Massive Nationwide Search Continues by Spc
    Volume 1, Issue 70 April 16, 2010 Operation Liberator II begins Massive nationwide search continues By Spc. Cassandra Monroe 135th Mobile Public Affairs Det. “They’re citizens that were here supporting operations for Efforts to recover isolated, miss- their country ... it’s important that we help to bring them ing, detained and captured personnel home to close that final chapter with their Families ...” across Iraq, are being launched through -Lieutenant Colonel Marvin Chavous, TF Marne personnel recovery officer Operation Liberator II, April 15. The Joint Inter-Agency Personnel Recovery Working Group, which is nationwide,” said Lt. Col. Marvin When local citizens see these ads, made up of all United States Forces- Chavous, the United States Division- they have the opportunity to respond Iraq units, U.S. Embassy-Baghdad North personnel recovery officer for through tip- lines that will be estab- agencies and both U.S. and Iraqi law Operation Liberator II and Task Force lished throughout the country. enforcement agencies, will be initiat- Marne. “U.S. forces have established The numbers have been published at ing the operation. a nationwide campaign through radio the national level so that anyone in any “Operation Liberator II is designed and television ads to get the word out region can call a local number, said Lt. to encourage the people of Iraq to bring to the Iraqi population that they would Col. Chavous. There’s also an initiative forth information through a series of like to return these missing Americans tip-lines that are being established back home to their families.” See LIBERATOR, Page 2 COB Speicher implements plastic recycling program By Spc.
    [Show full text]
  • Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm / Darrel D. Whitcomb
    Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm DARREL D. WHITCOMB Colonel, USAFR, Retired Air University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama September 2006 front.indd 1 11/6/06 3:37:09 PM Air University Library Cataloging Data Whitcomb, Darrel D., 1947- Combat search and rescue in Desert Storm / Darrel D. Whitcomb. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references. A rich heritage: the saga of Bengal 505 Alpha—The interim years—Desert Shield— Desert Storm week one—Desert Storm weeks two/three/four—Desert Storm week five—Desert Sabre week six. ISBN 1-58566-153-8 1. Persian Gulf War, 1991—Search and rescue operations. 2. Search and rescue operations—United States—History. 3. United States—Armed Forces—Search and rescue operations. I. Title. 956.704424 –– dc22 Disclaimer Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Air University, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, or any other US government agency. Cleared for public release: distribution unlimited. © Copyright 2006 by Darrel D. Whitcomb ([email protected]). Air University Press 131 West Shumacher Avenue Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6615 http://aupress.maxwell.af.mil ii front.indd 2 11/6/06 3:37:10 PM This work is dedicated to the memory of the brave crew of Bengal 15. Without question, without hesitation, eight soldiers went forth to rescue a downed countryman— only three returned. God bless those lost, as they rest in their eternal peace. front.indd 3 11/6/06 3:37:10 PM THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Contents Chapter Page DISCLAIMER .
    [Show full text]
  • Scott Speicher
    http://alacarte.lexisnexis.com/partners/int/lexisnews/viewdoc.asp?mtid=0&doc=92819&skey={D04FAF2D-EFEF-443C-B533-B355A422EB6F} My AlaCarte | Sign Out | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Help Return to results Print View NAVY CHANGES 'KILLED' PILOT'S STATUS TO MISSING IN ACTION JACKSONVILLE FLIER WAS SHOT DOWN IN GULF WAR ACTION 10 YEARS AGO The Miami Herald, FRONT; Pg. 6A January, 12 2001 YVES COLON 896 words Prompted by substantial evidence that a Jacksonville pilot may have survived the downing of his fighter jet during the Gulf War, the Navy on Thursday changed the status of Lt. Cmdr. Michael Speicher from killed in action to missing. Speicher was listed as the first casualty of the Gulf War when his F/A-18 Hornet was shot down on Jan. 17, 1991. He now becomes the last still unaccounted for. The State Department is demanding an accounting from Iraq and is awaiting a response. A diplomatic note was delivered to the Iraqi Interest Section at the Algerian Embassy in Washington, a State Department official said, and a similar message is being delivered to Iraq's representatives in New York and Geneva. UNCERTAIN FATE The evidence in the hands of U.S. officials does not necessarily suggest that Speicher is still alive, but rather that he may well have survived the crash of his fighter in the Iraqi desert. In the 10 years since Speicher's plane went down, Iraq has never given a sign that he had been captured. However, President Clinton took the Navy's announcement a step further. Asked in a CBS Radio interview about the case, he raised the possibility that Speicher could still be living.
    [Show full text]
  • Acknowledgements (12 September 2004 2330)
    Acknowledgements (12 September 2004 2330) This report is the product of the hundreds of individuals who participated in the efforts of Iraq Survey Group (ISG): The Australian, British, and American soldiers, analysts, and support per- sonnel who fi lled its ranks. They carried out their roles with distinction, and their work refl ects creditably on the commitment of Washington, London, and Canberra to fi rmly support the mis- sion throughout a long and diffi cult period. Two of our colleagues gave their lives during ISG’s fi eld inspections. On April 26, Sgt. Sherwood R. Baker and Sgt. Lawrence A. Roukey died while providing security for one of the most critical ISG investigations when an explosion destroyed the facility being inspected. Their memory has been present throughout the creation of this report. The analysts and case offi cers who came to Iraq, most for the fi rst time, worked hard to develop the information to support this report. They labored long hours to develop intelligence reports and the text that became this report, a diffi cult task to which they responded with enthusiasm. This report also builds upon the work of a broader universe of people who have striven to under- stand the role of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq during the past decade or more. United Nations inspectors and analysts around the world have wrestled with this issue trying to sort out reality and develop policies to mitigate suffering and avoid confl ict. Hopefully this report will provide some answers or at least more data for constructive review.
    [Show full text]