Stand-To!- Homeland Defense - August 30, 2007

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Edition: Thu, August 30, 2007
Rich-text Version <http://www4.army.mil/news/standto.php?dte=2007-08-30> 

TODAY'S FOCUS


Homeland Defense

"Homeland Defense is job number one - we 'Guard' the nation."
--LTG H Steven Blum, Chief, National Guard Bureau

What is it? 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.

What has the Army done? 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.

What continued efforts does the Army have for the future? 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.

Why is this important? 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. 

* This topic was taken directly from the 2007 Army Posture Statement.
<http://www.army.mil/aps/07> 



INFORMATION YOU CAN USE


* 2007 Strategic Communication Guide
<https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/409993>  - Be Army Strong, and Army
Smart. Read the 2007 Army Strategic Communication Guide.


NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY


*	Two sergeants awarded Soldier's Medal (SAS
<http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=48422> ) 
*	Reprimand is sentence for officer at Abu Ghraib (EB
<http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070830540071.html>  | WP
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/29/AR200708290
0391.html> ) 
*	Hefty re-up bonuses offered (AT
<http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/08/army_bonuses_070829w/> ) 
*	The U.S. Army held counter-terrorism drills in Clarkesville (WNEG
<http://www.wneg32.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WNEG/MGArticle/NEG_BasicAr
ticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352558512&path=> )


WAR ON TERROR NEWS


*	Coalition kills more than 100 insurgents in Afghanistan engagement
(AFIS <http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47223> ) 
*	Report finds little progress on Iraq goals (EB
<http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070830540037.html>  | WP
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/29/AR200708290
2434.html> ) 
*	Sadr suspends his militia's military operations (NYT
<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/world/middleeast/30sadr.html?_r=1&oref=sl
ogin> ) 
*	Analysts say Iraq surge can't last past Aug. '08 (EB
<http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070830540178.html>  | BST
<http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/30/analysts_say_iraq_sur
ge_cant_last_past_aug_08/> )


OF INTEREST


*	Infantryman earns spot on 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing team (ARNews
<http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/08/29/4648-infantryman-earns-spot-on-2008-us
-olympic-boxing-team/> ) 
*	Reservist cites healthcare marketing firm's superb support (AFIS
<http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47226> ) 
*	Pentagon officials still mulling future troop strength in Europe
(SAS <http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=48426> ) 
*	Pentagon wants to bulk up vehicles (EB
<http://ebird.afis.mil/ebfiles/e20070830540086.html>  | USAT
<http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2007-08-29-mrap_N.htm?csp=34> )


WORLD VIEW


*	America's dwindling coalition in Iraq (ALJ
<http://www.aljazeera.com/>  | Story
<http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=31599> ) 
*	U.S. Army to examine $3 billion in Iraq contracts (IHT
<http://www.iht.com/>  | Story
<http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/30/america/NA-GEN-US-Iraq-Probe.php>
) 
*	Southern Africa: More U.S. Soldiers not welcome in Africa (AA
<http://allafrica.com/>  | Story
<http://allafrica.com/stories/200708300344.html> ) 
*	U.S. Army adds farce to Abu Ghraib shame (ALJ
<http://www.aljazeera.com/>  | Story
<http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=31285> )


WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS


*	Night land navigation (DP <http://desertphoenix.blogspot.com/> ) 
*	SFC Adrian M Elizalde _ Farewell, and walk with God (GAF
<http://gazingattheflag.blogspot.com/> ) 
*	Sadr calls for Mahdi Army ceasefire (BR <http://billroggio.com/> ) 
*	I see nothing! I hear nothing! (ACG
<http://armchairgeneralist.typepad.com/> )

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