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<DIV id=date>Edition: Fri, August 24, 2007<BR><A
href="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2007-08-24">Rich-text
Version</A></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING</H2>
<P>“As (U.S. forces) take the initiative from the enemy, they have a question:
whether elected leaders in Washington pulled the rug out from under them just as
they’re gaining momentum and changing the dynamic on the ground in Iraq. Here’s
my answer: We'll support our troops, we'll support our commanders; and we will
give them everything they need to succeed.” -<B> President George Bush</B> said
during the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Kansas City, Mo.,
Aug. 22. </P>
<H2>TODAY'S FOCUS</H2>
<P><B>Utilities Privatization</B><BR><BR><B>What is it?</B> Owning and operating
utility systems is not a core function of the Department of Defense (DoD). The
Army has historically under funded our utilities infrastructure. The Utilities
Privatization program seeks to leverage financing and economies of scale by
turning over our systems to industry experts who will bring our utilities to
industry standards. The intent is to obtain safe, reliable and efficient utility
services for Army installations. Privatization also allows installation
commanders to focus on core defense missions and functions by relieving them of
activities that can be done more efficiently and effectively by others. DoD
directed Defense Components to privatize all Service-owned electric, natural
gas, water and wastewater utility systems unless security concerns required
Federal ownership or privatization was uneconomical. The Army expects to
complete the evaluation of our 351 Continental United States systems by
September 2011.<BR><BR><B>What has the Army done?</B> As of 30 September 2006,
118 systems in the United States have been privatized, 158 are uneconomical to
privatize, and 75 are under evaluation. Overseas utility systems are generally
owned by the host nation and are evaluated using host nation laws and
international agreements, and are not included in the DoD Utilities
Privatization initiative. Europe has privatized the operations and maintenance
of 320 of its 589 utility systems.<BR><BR><B>What efforts does the Army plan to
continue in the future?</B> The Army will continue to evaluate and privatize all
utility systems where this is economical. Utility systems that cannot be
privatized will be re-capitalized using traditional funding sources such as the
Operations & Maintenance and Military Construction
appropriations.<BR><BR><B>Why is this important to the Army?</B> Privatization
of such utility systems is important because it results in safe, reliable and
efficient utility services for Army installations and relieves installation
commanders of activities that can be performed more efficiently and effectively
by others and allows them to focus resources on their core missions. <BR><BR>•
This topic was taken directly from the <A href="http://www.army.mil/aps/07"
target=_blank>2007 Army Posture Statement.</A><BR></P>
<H2>INFORMATION YOU CAN USE</H2>
<P>• <A href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993" target=_blank><B>2007
Strategic Communication Guide</B></A> - Be Army Strong, and Army Smart. Read the
2007 Army Strategic Communication Guide.</P></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Ten Iraq Black Hawk crash victims</B> were from Hawaii's Schofield
Barracks (<A
href="http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=48293"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
<LI><B>Bragg officers</B> join Africa command (<A
href="http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=270530" target=_blank>FO</A>)
<LI><B>Army Corps begins search</B> for Agent Orange in Tok (<A
href="http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6974266" target=_blank>KTUU</A>)
<LI><B>Alaska Guard sees dynamic change</B> in face of deployments (<A
href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47157"
target=_blank>AFIS</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WAR ON TERROR NEWS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Intelligence estimate shows U.S. strategy</B> improved security in Iraq
(<A href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47161"
target=_blank>AFIS</A>)
<LI><B>Top general to urge</B> Iraq troop cut (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070824538702.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pace24aug24,0,43964.story?coll=la-home-center"
target=_blank>LAT</A>)
<LI><B>Villagers battle Insurgents</B> after attack on sheik near Baqubah (<A
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/23/AR2007082302044.html"
target=_blank>WP</A>)
<LI><B>More Iraqis said to flee</B> since troop rise (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070824538520.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/24/world/middleeast/24displaced.html?_r=1&oref=slogin"
target=_blank>NYT</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>OF INTEREST</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>After-Army review: Two former Soldiers</B> tell how Army life helped
them (<A
href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/23/4549-after-army-review-two-former-soldiers-tell-how-army-life-helped-them/"
target=_blank>ARNews</A>)
<LI><B>18th Airborne Corps prepares for lead role</B> in Iraq theater (<A
href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47156"
target=_blank>AFIS</A>)
<LI><B>BAMC steps up care for Warriors in transition,</B> Families (<A
href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/23/4555-bamc-steps-up-care-for-warriors-in-transition-families/"
target=_blank>ARNews</A>)
<LI><B>Ex-Army Corps official pleads guilty</B> to rigging New Orleans bid (<A
href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-leevee24aug24,0,5062724.story?coll=la-home-nation"
target=_blank>LAT</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WORLD VIEW</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>U.S. Army Secretary rules out</B> Iraq deployments longer than 15
months (<A href="http://www.iht.com/" target=_blank>IHT</A> | <A
href="http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/23/america/NA-GEN-US-Army-Secretary.php"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. Soldier charged</B> with taking bribe in Iraq (<A
href="http://www.reuters.com/" target=_blank>RT</A> | <A
href="http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2329555720070823"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. Army gave troops go-ahead</B> to enter Pakistan in 2004 (<A
href="http://story.malaysiasun.com/" target=_blank>MS</A> | <A
href="http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/303b19022816233b/id/276279/cs/1/"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. general warns</B> of bloody ‘Ramadan Offensive’ in Iraq (<A
href="http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/" target=_blank>MEO</A> | <A
href="http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/iraq/?id=21853"
target=_blank>Story</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Iraq pictures</B> - 23 August 2007 (<A
href="http://iraqpictures.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>IP</A>)
<LI><B>The eastern Afghanistan</B> offensive (<A href="http://billroggio.com/"
target=_blank>BR</A>)
<LI><B>Another </B>Vietnam? (<A
href="http://soldiersangelsgermany.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>SAG</A>)
<LI><B>Casual</B> Fridays (<A
href="http://armchairgeneralist.typepad.com/my_weblog/"
target=_blank>ACG</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P></DIV>
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