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<DIV>Edition: Wed, February 27, 2008<BR><A
href="http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2008-02-27">Rich-text
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<H2>TODAY'S FOCUS</H2>
<P><B>This is the second of an eight part series highlighting critical elements
of the 2008 Army Posture Statement. <BR><BR>Challenges of providing forces with
the right capabilities</B><BR><BR>The Army recruits, organizes, trains and
equips Soldiers who operate as members of joint, interagency and multinational
teams; provides logistics and other support to our joint and interagency
partners; and supports civil authorities in times of national emergencies. For
this, we are building an expeditionary and campaign-quality Army. Our
expeditionary Army is capable of deploying rapidly and conducting operations in
any operational environment, anywhere in the world, and sustaining operations as
long as necessary. <BR><BR>Our current focus is on preparing forces and building
readiness for counterinsurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite this
current and critical mission, the Army also must be ready to provide the
combatant commanders with the forces and capabilities they need for operations
ranging from peace-time military engagement to major combat operations. Examples
of Army capabilities and recent or ongoing operations other than combat include
the following:<BR><BR>• Supporting the defense of South Korea, Japan, and many
other friends, allies and partners<BR>• Conducting peacekeeping operations in
the Sinai Peninsula and the Balkans<BR>• Conducting multi-national exercises
that reflect our longstanding commitments to alliances<BR>• Continuing
engagements with foreign militaries to build partnerships and preserve
coalitions by training and advising their military forces<BR>• Participating in
securing our borders and conducting operations to counter the flow of illegal
drugs <BR>• Supporting civil authorities in responding to domestic emergencies,
including natural disasters and threats at home and abroad<BR>• Supporting
interagency and multi-national partnerships with technical expertise, providing
critical support after natural disasters, and promoting regional stability<BR>•
Supporting operations to protect against weapons of mass destruction and block
their proliferation<BR><BR>We must ensure that units and Soldiers have the right
capabilities to accomplish the operations that we will conduct in the 21st
century. Continuous modernization is the key to enhancing our capabilities and
maintaining a technological advantage over any enemy we face. We never want to
send our Soldiers into a fair fight.<BR><BR>Future Combat Systems (FCS) are the
core of our modernization effort and will provide our Soldiers an unparalleled
understanding of their operational environment, increased precision and
lethality, and enhanced survivability. These improved capabilities cannot be
achieved by upgrading current vehicles and systems. FCS will use a combination
of new manned and unmanned air and ground vehicles, connected by robust
networks, to allow Soldiers to operate more effectively in the complex threat
environments of the 21st century. FCS capabilities currently are being tested at
Fort Bliss, Texas. They are proving themselves valuable in the current fight and
are being fielded to our Soldiers in Iraq. <BR><BR><A
href="http://www.army.mil/aps/08"><B>2008 Army Posture Statement (full
version)</B></A></P>
<H2>INFORMATION YOU CAN USE</H2>
<P>• <A
href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993?c=ZGF2aWQudmVyZ3VuMg==">2007
Strategic Communication Guide </A>- Read the 2007 Army Strategic Communication
Guide for key messages and updates<BR><BR>• <A
href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/303879">Strategic Communication
Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace </A><BR><BR>• <A
href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/216363">Army Public Affairs Portal
</A><BR><BR>• <A href="http://www.army.mil/valor">Stories of Valor </A></P>
<H2>CALENDAR</H2>
<P><B>Conflict has always been a human endeavor; the human nature of 21st
century conflict makes LAND POWER essential for victory. YOU are this nation's
LAND POWER. Read your doctrine. FM 3-0. Coming Feb. 28.</B></P></DIV>
<DIV class=column>
<H2>NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Chief of staff reflects</B> on new manual for operations (<A
href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/02/26/7612-chief-of-staff-reflects-on-new-manual-for-operations/"
target=_blank>ARNews</A>)
<LI><B>As the Army approaches</B> a breaking point (<A
href="http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=TN&pubid=1815"
target=_blank>TCF</A>)
<LI><B>Army: </B>Service must cut combat tours (<A
href="http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4345584"
target=_blank>ABC</A>)
<LI><B>Army remains strong, </B>but stretched, officials say (<A
href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49088"
target=_blank>AFIS</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WAR ON TERROR NEWS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Army chief of staff: </B>No reason to doubt Obama’s account of
under-equipped platoon (<A
href="http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/02/26/army-chief-of-staff-no-reason-to-doubt-obamas-account-of-under-equipped-platoon/"
target=_blank>FOX</A>)
<LI><B>Fewer Pacific forces</B> ready to respond (<A
href="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/27/fewer_pacific_forces_ready_to_respond/"
target=_blank>BG</A>)
<LI><B>Baghdad tells Turkey</B> to pull troops; Erdogan says no (<A
href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080227/FOREIGN/711363465"
target=_blank>WT</A>)
<LI><B>U.S. paid $42.4 million</B> to Iraqis (<A
href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080227/FOREIGN/512957142"
target=_blank>WT</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>OF INTEREST</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Hagel concerned</B> with country's weakening military structure (<A
href="http://www.theindependent.com/stories/02272008/new_hagel27.shtml"
target=_blank>GII</A>)
<LI><B>Soldiers respond</B> to vice president's welcome (<A
href="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49089"
target=_blank>AFIS</A>)
<LI><B>Audit: </B>Some Corps' flood fixes preceded plans (<A
href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-02-26-Levees_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip"
target=_blank>USA</A>)
<LI><B>Officials call shooting</B> of Soldier a ploy (<A
href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-soldier27feb27,1,7506954.story"
target=_blank>LAT</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WORLD VIEW</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>France, Gulf states</B> begin war games (<A
href="http://www.jpost.com/" target=_blank>JP</A> | <A
href="http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203847472058&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>Khamenei hails Iran</B> 'nuclear win' (<A href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/"
target=_blank>BBC</A> | <A
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7264636.stm"
target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>Top terror recruiter</B> found guilty (<A href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/"
target=_blank>BBC</A> | <A
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7231492.stm" target=_blank>Story</A>)
<LI><B>Opinion: </B>Turkey and the troubled lake (<A
href="http://www.alarabiya.net/english.html" target=_blank>AA</A> | <A
href="http://www.alarabiya.net/views/2008/02/26/46151.html"
target=_blank>Story</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P>
<H2>WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS</H2>
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Army strategy manual</B> gets it right (<A
href="http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/02/army-strategy-m.html"
target=_blank>DR</A>)
<LI><B>Giving back</B> to those who have given so much (<A
href="http://soldiersmind.com/2008/02/26/giving-back-to-those-who-have-given-so-much/"
target=_blank>SM</A>)
<LI><B>One shot, one squirrel</B> (<A
href="http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/02/one-shot-one-sq.html"
target=_blank>BF</A>)
<LI><B>The Army and Operation Chicken Run</B> (<A
href="http://gazingattheflag.blogspot.com/2008/02/army-and-operation-chicken-run.html"
target=_blank>GAF</A>)
<LI><B>Goodbyes</B> (<A
href="http://gocomics.typepad.com/the_sandbox/2008/02/goobyes.html"
target=_blank>TS</A>)</LI></UL>
<P></P></DIV>
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