<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16525" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY><!-- Converted from text/plain format --><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV id=container>
<DIV id=myForm>
<FORM id=frmArchive name=frmArchive><IMG alt=Stand-To!
src="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto/printheader.gif"> </FORM></DIV>
<DIV id=date>Edition: Thu, August 30, 2007<BR><A
href="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2007-08-30">Rich-text
Version</A></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>TODAY'S FOCUS</H2>
<P><B>Homeland Defense</B><BR><BR><I>“Homeland Defense is job number one – we
‘Guard’ the nation.”</I><BR><B>--LTG H Steven Blum, Chief,</B> National Guard
Bureau<BR><BR><B>What is it?</B> Few words could more succinctly describe the
importance of Homeland Defense and the National Guard’s (NG) role in defending
our Homeland. America’s enemies continually seek new ways to attack America, so
we must be ever adaptive in our methods of protection. Natural disasters such as
the Tsunami of December 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 add
requirements to this mission and test our plans and capabilities.<BR><BR><B>What
has the Army done?</B> Historically, the United States military worked to secure
the nation by maintaining a powerful overseas presence and warfighting
capability. The 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks showed a very real and
emerging threat to our country. Along with these threats, natural disasters such
as Katrina test the very fiber of mankind. We must extend our capabilities to
deter and defeat aggression both at home and abroad as well as improve our
prevention, detection, response, and recovery mechanisms to face national or
natural disasters. The National Guard participated in Vigilant Shield 2007, an
exercise designed to test the Department of Defense's ability to response to an
attack on the homeland. The exercise emphasized the synchronized response of
various DOD agencies to a variety of homeland defense scenarios, including cyber
attacks, border security breaches, missile defense operations and a nuclear
accident.<BR><BR><B>What continued efforts does the Army have for the
future?</B> Future exercises will be conducted under the command and control of
NORTCOM utilizing a variety of scenarios to enhance National Guard readiness to
support this critical mission. The scenarios used will highlight the importance
of interagency coordination and cooperation needed in the initial response phase
of a catastrophic event. The goals of future exercises will improve the DOD's
capacity to manage a series of extreme events; improve seamless interaction of
DOD with interagency response, validate authorities, strategies, plans,
policies, procedures, and protocols. The NG will also continue to field
equipment, such as the Light Utility Helicopter that will enhance the NG role in
Homeland Defense.<BR><BR><B>Why is this important?</B> The National Guard has
traditionally done homeland defense throughout it’s history dating back 370
years to the Minutemen in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This is the epitome of
homeland defense. <BR><BR><FONT size=4>• <B>This topic was taken directly from
the <A href="http://www.army.mil/aps/07" target=_blank>2007 Army Posture
Statement.</A></B></FONT><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>Two sergeants awarded</B> Soldier’s Medal (<A
href="http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=48422"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
<LI><B>Reprimand is sentence</B> for officer at Abu Ghraib (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070830540071.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/29/AR2007082900391.html"
target=_blank>WP</A>)
<LI><B>Hefty re-up bonuses</B> offered (<A
href="http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/08/army_bonuses_070829w/"
target=_blank>AT</A>)
<LI><B>The U.S. Army held counter-terrorism drills</B> in Clarkesville (<A
href="http://www.wneg32.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WNEG/MGArticle/NEG_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352558512&path="
target=_blank>WNEG</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WAR ON TERROR NEWS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Coalition kills more than 100 insurgents</B> in Afghanistan engagement
(<A href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47223"
target=_blank>AFIS</A>)
<LI><B>Report finds little progress</B> on Iraq goals (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070830540037.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/29/AR2007082902434.html"
target=_blank>WP</A>)
<LI><B>Sadr suspends</B> his militia’s military operations (<A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/world/middleeast/30sadr.html?_r=1&oref=slogin"
target=_blank>NYT</A>)
<LI><B>Analysts say Iraq surge</B> can't last past Aug. '08 (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070830540178.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A
href="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/30/analysts_say_iraq_surge_cant_last_past_aug_08/"
target=_blank>BST</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>OF INTEREST</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Infantryman earns spot</B> on 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing team (<A
href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/29/4648-infantryman-earns-spot-on-2008-us-olympic-boxing-team/"
target=_blank>ARNews</A>)
<LI><B>Reservist cites</B> healthcare marketing firm’s superb support (<A
href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47226"
target=_blank>AFIS</A>)
<LI><B>Pentagon officials still mulling</B> future troop strength in Europe
(<A href="http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=48426"
target=_blank>SAS</A>)
<LI><B>Pentagon wants</B> to bulk up vehicles (<A
href="http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070830540086.html" target=_blank>EB</A>
| <A href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2007-08-29-mrap_N.htm?csp=34"
target=_blank>USAT</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WORLD VIEW</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>America’s dwindling coalition</B> in Iraq (<A
href="http://www.aljazeera.com/" target=_blank>ALJ</A> | <A
href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=31599"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. Army to examine $3 billion</B> in Iraq contracts (<A
href="http://www.iht.com/" target=_blank>IHT</A> | <A
href="http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/30/america/NA-GEN-US-Iraq-Probe.php"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>Southern Africa: More U.S. Soldiers</B> not welcome in Africa (<A
href="http://allafrica.com/" target=_blank>AA</A> | <A
href="http://allafrica.com/stories/200708300344.html" target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. Army adds farce</B> to Abu Ghraib shame (<A
href="http://www.aljazeera.com/" target=_blank>ALJ</A> | <A
href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=31285"
target=_blank>Story</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Night</B> land navigation (<A href="http://desertphoenix.blogspot.com/"
target=_blank>DP</A>)
<LI><B>SFC Adrian M Elizalde</B> _ Farewell, and walk with God (<A
href="http://gazingattheflag.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>GAF</A>)
<LI><B>Sadr calls for Mahdi Army</B> ceasefire (<A
href="http://billroggio.com/" target=_blank>BR</A>)
<LI><B>I see nothing!</B> I hear nothing! (<A
href="http://armchairgeneralist.typepad.com/" target=_blank>ACG</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P></DIV>
<DIV id=footer><A
href="mailto:stand-to@hqda.army.mil?subject=Subscribe">Subscribe to
Stand-To!</A> | <A
href="mailto:stand-to@hqda.army.mil?subject=Unsubscribe">Unsubscribe to
Stand-To!</A> | <A href="mailto:stand-to@hqda.army.mil?subject=Feedback">Send
Feedback</A> | <A href="http://www.army.mil/privacy/">Privacy &
Security</A></DIV></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>