31 Mar
United States Wars, News and Casualties
The War Criminals
How many Iraqis have died as a result of the invasion 15 years ago? Some credible estimates put the number at more than one million. You can read that sentence again.
The invasion of Iraq is often spoken of in our country as a “blunder,” or even a “colossal mistake.” It was a crime.
Those who perpetrated it are still at large. Some of them have even been rehabilitated thanks to the horrors of a mostly amnesiac citizenry. (A year ago Mr. Bush was on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” dancing and talking about his paintings.)
The war criminals, Bush,Cheney,Rice,Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and Powell who sold us the war still go on doing what they do.
Iraq is now far worse than it was during Saddam’s reign. And that is what America’s war achieved and bequeathed to Iraqis.
We condemned children to death, some after many days of writhing in pain on bloodstained mats, without pain relievers. Some died quickly, wasted by missing arms and legs, crushed heads. As the fluids ran out of their bodies, they appeared like withered, spoiled fruits. They could have lived, certainly should have lived – and laughed and danced, and run and played- but instead they were brutally murdered. Yes, murdered!
The war ended for those children, but it has never ended for survivors who carry memories of them. Likewise, the effects of the U.S. bombings continue, immeasurably and indefensibly.
The McGlynn
War News
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – One of the personnel killed with an improvised explosive device in Syria on Thursday was a U.S. service member, two U.S. officials told Reuters.
On Friday, the coalition fighting Islamic State said in a statement that two personnel from the coalition had been killed, without giving the nationalities.
Two U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity and citing initial information, said one of the personnel was American and the incident took place near the Syrian city of Manbij. They declined to say which country the other individual was from.
BEIRUT/MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Syrian rebel group said on Friday that U.N.-mediated talks with Russia were “heading in the right direction” but denied it had agreed to evacuate the last insurgent-held enclave in eastern Ghouta.
A man walks with his bicycle at a damaged site in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, Syria March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh
The town of Douma, controlled by the Jaish al-Islam rebel group, is the last patch of eastern Ghouta still held by insurgents who have been routed in a ferocious offensive by the Russian-backed Syrian military that began in February.
Its recovery would seal a major victory for President Bashar al-Assad, crushing the last big rebel stronghold near Damascus seven years into a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.
Thousands of people – fighters from other rebel factions, their families and other civilians – have been leaving for northwestern Syria from other parts of eastern Ghouta in convoys of buses that have been given safe passage to Idlib province.
HALAWANJI, Syria (AP) — Perched on a green hilltop, Kurdish and Arab fighters face a tense front line separating them from Turkish-backed forces in this part of northern Syria. Behind them, American troops drive up and down the roads. Their aim: Make their presence known to prevent bursts of gunfire from spiraling into a battle.
Down the hill and across a stream are the rival forces: Syrian opposition fighters. They have taken positions on a crossroads in the village of Halawanji and on rooftops with views up to the hill. Beyond them, on another hill, Turkish troops have a base, ready to back up their allies if needed.
This front line threatens to ignite at any time, with the militaries of two NATO members on opposing sides. The crowded terrain has become more combustible as Turkey ever more loudly threatens to push through these lines to attack the nearby Kurdish-Arab town of Manbij and other Kurdish-run towns further east. The presence of the Americans is a main obstacle preventing them from doing so.
Further hiking tensions, a roadside bomb in Manbij late Thursday killed two coalition personnel, an American and a Briton. Kurdish officials accuse Turkey and its allies of carrying out acts of violence in the town to sow instability, including several recent smaller bombings, protests and an attempted assassination attempt on a Kurdish official — although there is also the possibility Islamic State group militants are behind the violence………………….The U.S-backed Syrian fighters at Halwanji say their Turkish-backed rivals downhill increasingly open fire on them, trying to provoke a fight and create a pretext for an incursion. One commander said it happens as often as three times a week. Another said the “provocations” increased after Turkish troops and their allies successfully captured another town further west, Afrin, from the YPG. The commanders say their forces do not respond to the fire.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) – President Donald Trump has told advisers he wants an early exit of U.S. troops from Syria, two senior administration officials said on Friday, a stance that may put him at odds with U.S. military officials who see the fight against Islamic State as nowhere near complete.
A National Security Council meeting is set for early next week to discuss the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State in Syria, according to U.S. officials familiar with the plan.
Two other administration officials confirmed a Wall Street Journal report on Friday that said Trump had ordered the State Department to freeze more than $200 million in funds for recovery efforts in Syria while his administration reassesses Washington’s role in the conflict there.
Trump called for the freeze after reading a news report that the U.S. had recently committed an additional $200 million to stabilize areas recaptured from Islamic State, the paper said.
The funding was announced by departing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in February at a meeting in Kuwait of the global coalition against Islamic State.
The decision to freeze the funds was in line with Trump’s declaration during a speech in Richfield, Ohio, on Thursday, where he said it was time for America to exit Syria…………..“Let the other people take care of it now. Very soon, very soon, we’re coming out,” Trump said. “We’re going to get back to our country, where we belong, where we want to be.”
Trump’s comments came as France said on Friday it could increase its military presence in Syria to bolster the U.S.-led campaign.
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Friday it had not been informed of any plan to withdraw U.S. forces operating in Syria as part of the coalition against Islamic State.
President Donald Trump had indicated on Thursday the United States would be withdrawing forces from Syria “very soon”.
The SDF, which is spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG militia, has been the main partner for the U.S.-led coalition in Syria, where some 2,000 U.S. forces are operating in the fight against Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
“Our work and coordination (with the coalition) is continuing in the framework of the support program and joint operations in all regions,” SDF spokesman Kino Gabriel told Reuters in a written message.
Referring to Trump’s statement, he said it “was not clear”, and noted “statements that came from other American officials in the American administration did not confirm that or deny it”.
MoD confirms death of individual who was embedded with US forces fighting Islamic State
A British soldier fighting against Islamic State has died in an explosion in Syria, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The individual, who was embedded with US forces, was killed on Thursday night alongside an American soldier.
Five others were wounded in the roadside bomb blast in Manbij, northern Syria, near the Turkish border. No further details about the victims have yet been released.
A spokesperson for the MoD said: “It is with regret that we must confirm that a member of the UK armed forces was killed by an improvised explosive device in Syria yesterday.
“The individual was embedded with US forces on a counter-Daesh [Isis] operation when the incident occurred. The family has been notified and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
Turkish president’s comments come after a delegation of Kurdish fighters in Syria met French President Emmanuel Macron.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected a French offer to mediate between Turkey and Kurdish fighters in Syria that have been blacklisted by Ankara.
His comments on Friday came a day after French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a delegation of Kurdish fighters in Paris and offered to mediate between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – an umbrella group of fighters dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) – and the Turkish government.
“Who are you to mediate between Turkey and a terror group?” Erdogan said at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in the capital, Ankara.
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey said on Friday that a French pledge to help stabilize a region of northern Syria controlled by Kurdish-dominated forces amounted to support for terrorism and could make France a “target of Turkey”.
French backing for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG militia, has angered Ankara at a time when it is fighting the YPG in northern Syria and considers it a terrorist organization.
President Tayyip Erdogan said France had taken a “completely wrong approach” on Syria, adding that he exchanged heated words with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, last week.
The split with France is the latest rift between Turkey under Erdogan and its NATO allies in the West.
Turkey has long complained about U.S. support for the SDF, among a number of irritants to ties with the leading NATO power. Last year it compared the German and Dutch authorities to Nazis for restricting pro-Erdogan demonstrations during a campaign for a referendum to give him greater powers.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Hundreds gathered in Baghdad to protest the upcoming visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Protesters gathered Friday afternoon following midday prayers, some carrying signs calling him a war criminal, blaming the kingdom for crimes committed by the Islamic State group in Iraq.
Prince Mohammed is planning to visit Iraq in the near future, according to the office of Iraq’s prime minister, but a date has not yet been set.
Iraq and Saudi Arabia have long had a strained relationship, but recently mended ties with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visiting Riyadh last year after diplomatic ties between the two counties were restored in 2016.
The kingdom’s heir apparent is currently on an extensive tour of the United States. Earlier this month he visited the United Kingdom.
By Khaama Press on 31 Mar 2018 2:07pm
The Pakistani officials on Friday announced the latest decision of the country’s decision regarding the expulsion of the hundreds of thousands of the Afghan refugees. The officials said the deadline for the stay of the Afghan refugees has been further extended until 30th of June this year. According to the officials, refugees possessing Proof of
By Khaama Press on 31 Mar 2018 12:30pm
At least seven people including migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan were killed in a road accident in Turkey, the officials said Friday. The incident reportedly took place late on Thursday night in the vicinity of Igdir district of Turkey after a bus carrying migrants struck a lighting pole. Officials in Idgir district have confirmed that
By Khaama Press on 31 Mar 2018 11:00am
An explosion ripped through a vehicle of the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces in southern Kandahar province, leaving a number of the soldiers dead or wounded. The incident took place at around 7 am local time in the vicinity of the 10th police district of Kandahar city. The officials in Kandahar city are saying that
By Khaama Press on 31 Mar 2018 10:37am
A group of Indian nationals who were recruited by the militants in ISIS ranks have likely been killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan, it has been reported. According to the Indian officials, reports regarding the killing of four ISIS recruits hailing originally from Kerala have emerged. The police chief of Kerala Loknath Behera has told
War Casualties By Name – Search by Name
Recent Casualties
Color Denotes Today’s Confirmation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) March 31 – One of the personnel killed with an improvised explosive device in Syria on Thursday was a U.S. service member, two U.S. officials told Reuters.
On Friday, the coalition fighting Islamic State said in a statement that two personnel from the coalition had been killed, without giving the nationalities.
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of seven airmen who were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. They died March 15 when an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crashed in western Iraq. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Captain Mark K. Weber, 29, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was assigned to the 38th Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.
Captain Andreas B. O’Keeffe, 37, of Center Moriches, New York.
Captain Christopher T. Zanetis, 37, of Long Island City, New York.
Master Sergeant Christopher J. Raguso, 39, of Commack, New York.
Staff Sergeant Dashan J. Briggs, 30, of Port Jefferson Station, New York.
Master Sergeant William R. Posch, 36, of Indialantic, Florida.
Staff Sergeant Carl P. Enis, 31, of Tallahassee, Florida.
Both were assigned to the 308th Rescue Squadron, Air Force Reserve, at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. For more information, media may contact the 920th Rescue Wing public affairs office at 321-615-0329.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
Sgt. 1st Class Maitland Deweever Wilson, 38, of Brooklyn, New York, died March 7 in Landstuhl, Germany from a non-combat related incident. The incident is under investigation.
Wilson was assigned to the 831st Transportation Battalion, 595th Transportation Brigade, Manama, Bahrain.
Care for Veterans:
PTSD: National Center for PTSDPTSD Care for Veterans, Military, and FamiliesSee Help for Veterans with PTSD to learn how to enroll for VA health care and get an assessment.
All VA Medical Centers provide PTSD care, as well as many VA clinics.Some VA’s have programs
specializing in PTSD treatment. Use the VA PTSD ProgramLocator to find a PTSD program.If you are a war Veteran, find a Vet Center to help with the transition from military to civilian life.
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