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Two U.S. soldiers are kidnapped, one killed after their team came under attack at a traffic-control point southwest of Yusufiyah, Iraq
Friday, 16 June 2006
One U.S. soldier was killed and
two others were kidnapped, after their team came under attack at a traffic-control
point southwest of Yusufiyah, Iraq, at about 7:55 p.m. local time today.
Yusufiyah is about 10 miles south of Baghdad.
Only one soldier is listed as
missing in action during the three-plus years of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Insurgents said they captured Army Sergeant Matt Maupin in April 2004.
A videotape alleged to show Maupin appeared on an extremist Web site.
Corruption investigations over 2 years lead to the conviction of 177 federal officials, 158 state officials, 360 local officials and 365 police officers -- FBI
Tuesday, 3 January
2006
"Combating public corruption
is the top criminal program investigated by the FBI," said a statement
by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Over the last two years, FBI investigations
have lead to the conviction of more than 1,060 government employees involved
in corrupt activities, to include 177 federal officials, 158 state officials,
360 local officials and more than 365 police officers."
10 Marines are killed, 11 wounded by a roadside bomb during a foot patrol outside Fallujah, Iraq
Friday, 2 December
2005
Ten Marines were killed and 11
were
wounded by a roadside bomb during a foot patrol outside Fallujah, Iraq
December 1, military officials reported today.
According to American Forces
Press Service, the patrol, from Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division,
2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was attacked with a bomb made
from several large artillery shells.
President Bush nominates Arab American Alex Azar as Deputy Secretary of Health, Dina Habib Powell as Assistant Secretary of State
Monday, 18 April 2005
The White House has announced its forthcoming nomination of Arab American
Alex M. Azar II to serve as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
(HHS) which operates with a $583 billion budget.
President George W. Bush decision comes on the heels of an earlier announcement
nominating Arab American Dina Habib Powell as Assistant Secretary of State
for Educational and Cultural Affairs working in the Department of Public
Diplomacy and Public Affairs.
Francis Slay wins reelection as Mayor of the City of St. Louis, Missouri
Tuesday, 5 April 2005
Mayor Francis G. Slay has won today reelection as Mayor of the City of
St. Louis, Missouri with 80 percent of the vote.
14 U.S. forces are killed, 51 wounded from explosion at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq
Wednesday, 22 December
2004
Military
officials in Iraq today released casualty figures from yestreday's explosion
at a dining facility at Forward Operating Base Marez in southwest Mosul.
Twenty-two people died, and another 72 were wounded in the attack.
Officials said 14 of the 22 killed were U.S. military servicemembers, according
to American Forces Press Service. Four U.S. civilians and four Iraqi security
force troops also were killed. Of the 72 wounded, 51 are U.S. servicemembers.
The other 21 include U.S. and foreign civilians and Iraqi security force
troops. Twenty-nine of the 51 injured have been released from the hospital,
officials added.
General Dynamics wins a $6-13 million contract for production of 30 mm gun barrels for the A-10 fighter aircraft currently in the Middle East
Monday, 6 December
2004
General
Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics,
was awarded a $6 million contract for production of 1,393 30 mm gun barrels
from the Defense Logistics Agency’s Defense Supply Center Columbus (Columbus,
Ohio). Total potential contract value could reach $13 million if all options
are exercised.
The barrels will equip the A-10 fighter aircraft, currently in use in the
Middle East, to provide close air support. The A-10’s GAU-8 seven-barrel
cannon fires 30 mm rounds capable of piercing tank armor, making it an
effective tool against armored targets.
The program will be managed at General Dynamics Burlington Technology Center
in Vermont, with production the General Dynamics facility in Saco, Maine.
Deliveries on this contract will commence in July 2005 at a rate of 77
barrels per month.
Arab American Mitch Daniels is elected Governor of Indiana with 53% of the vote -- AAI
Monday, 8 November
2004
Arab American candidates were victorious in 14 states in Election 2004,
said Arab American Institute (AAI). Arab American Congressmen Darrell Issa
(R-CA), Ray LaHood (R-IL), and Nick Rahall (D-WV) were elected with significant
majorities (62%, 70%, and 65% respectively). Former director of the Office
of Management and Budget Mitch Daniels was elected Governor of Indiana
with 53% of the vote.
87% of the candidates supported by the Arab American Leadership Council
PAC (ALCPAC) were successful including: Senator-elect Barack Obama (D-IL),
Representative John Conyers (D-MI), Representative John Dingell (D-MI),
Representative Henry Hyde (R-IL), Representative Jim Moran (D-VA), Representative
Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA).
Arab American Mark Strama (D-TX) is a newly elected State Representative.
All Arab American state legislature incumbents held their seats including:
State Senator David Cappiello (R-CT), State Senator Hanna Gallo (D-RI),
State Senator Daniel Issa (D-RI), State Senator Vincent A. Sheheen (D-SC),
State Representative Jimmy Naifeh (D-TN), State Representative William
Hamzy (R-CT), State Representative David Farhat (R-MI), State Representative
Barbara Farrah (D-MI), State Representatives Ben Baroody (D-NH), State
Representative Camille George (D-PA), and State Representative Jimmy Naifeh
(D-TN).
The government's judicial branch will continue to be served by Arab American
judges David Allen (MI), Alvin Khoury (TX) and Dianne Yamin (CT). Yamin
is the first woman and youngest judge to be elected in her state.
8 Marines are killed, 9 others are wounded in operations in Iraq's al Anbar province
Saturday, 30 October
2004
Eight
Marines were killed and nine others were wounded today in operations in
Iraq's al Anbar province.
A statement issued by Multinational Force Iraq did not provide details
of the fighting, saying only that the Marines were, "conducting increased
security operations in al Anbar province."
Since 20 March 2003 and as of Yesterday, 1,107 U.S. forces were killed
in Iraq and 3,789 Wounded In Action (WIA) were retired, according to the
Pentagon.
Democratic Presidential Nominee John Kerry believes that security, stability to the Middle East is vital to American national security -- Rand Beers
Monday, 18 October
2004
"[Senators]
John Kerry and John Edwards believe that security and stability to the
Middle East is vital to American national security," said senior Democratic
Presidential Nominee adviser Rand Beers, "to the security of Israel and
other countries in the region, and to the aspirations of the Palestinian
people for a viable Palestinian state."
According to Arab American Institute President James J. Zogby, Beers said
in a recent letter to Arab Americans, "In a Kerry-Edwards administration,
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not be an afterthought . .
. [Kerry and Edwards] will work tirelessly to achieve a stable, lasting
peace with security in the Middle East and ensure that American leadership
is a source of hope in the region."
Seven U.S. Marines are killed in attack in Fallujah, Iraq
Monday, 6 September
2004
Seven
U.S. Marines and three members of the Iraqi National Guard were killed
in a resistance attack in the suburbs of Fallujah, officials in Baghdad
said today, according to American Forces Press Service.
A car bomb exploded, killing the men. The seven Marines were part of the
1st Marine Expeditionary Force. It was the largest U.S. death toll in the
region since April when Marines surrounded the city. A negotiated settlement
ended the fighting, and Iraqi forces and Marines have been patrolling the
outskirts of the city together.
Press reports said two Humvees were also destroyed in the attack, which
sent an engine from the car used to launch the attack "a good distance."
Anbar province is the heart of anti-Iraqi forces, officials said. The region
was a hotbed of support for the former regime of President Saddam Hussein
and remains a flash point for resistance to the Iraqi interim government
and Multinational Force in Iraq.
Walid Maalouf is appointed USAID's director of Public Diplomacy for Middle Eastern Affairs
Tuesday, 6 April 2004
The
Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),
Andrew S. Natsios has appointed Walid Maalouf as director of Public Diplomacy
for Middle Eastern and Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Affairs
within USAID's Bureau of Legislative and Public Affairs.
Mr. Maalouf served at the United States Mission to the United Nations (U.N.)
in New York since September 2003 as the Alternate Representative of the
United States to the U.N. 58th General Assembly. He was an integral member
of the Middle East team at the Mission and the first U.S. representative
to deliver a speech at the U.N. in Arabic his mother's tongue of Lebanon.
Prior to these two presidential appointments Mr. Maalouf was an experienced
international banker in the greater Washington D.C. area for fourteen years
and was active in the international community. He is a Knight of the Sovereign
Military Order of Malta and a member of the Consular Corps of Washington,
D.C., the American Task Force for Lebanon and the U.S.-Bahraini Friendship
Society. He is also member of the Federal City Club and the John Carroll
Society.
9 soldiers die when a U.S. Army Black Hawk is downed in Iraq; 1 soldier dies and 30 are wounded in a mortar attack on a logistic base
Thursday, 8 January
2008
An
Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was downed southeast of Fallujah, Iraq,
today, killing all nine soldiers aboard, coalition officials said. The
helicopter was on a medical mission.
Also, an Air Force C-5 Galaxy transport airplane departing from Baghdad
International Airport declared an in-flight emergency shortly after taking
off as one of its four engines was hit by a missile. The craft returned
safely to the airport, with no injuries among the 63 passengers and crew
aboard. Air operations at the facility continue, said officials.
In addition, a coalition news release today said a soldier died and 30
American personnel were wounded in a January 7 mortar attack on the 3rd
Corps Support Command's Logistical Base Seitz in Balad, north of Baghdad.
In the release, officials said 20 of those wounded have returned to duty.
Two soldiers were slightly wounded after the attack, but not as a result
of the blasts. The area is the primary supply point for U.S. forces in
the country.
485 U.S. troops were killed in Iraq, according to the Department of Defense,
including 333 by hostile fire and 2,445 were wounded in action.
17 soldiers are dead, 5 injured and 1 unaccounted for following a crash of two U.S. Blackhawks in Mosul, Iraq
Saturday, 15 November
2003
Seventeen
soldiers are dead, five others are injured, and one more still is unaccounted
for following today's crash of two U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters
in West Mosul, Iraq.
The helicopters crashed about 250 yards apart in a residential neighborhood
at about 6:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. EST), U.S. Central Command officials said.
The cause is under investigation, but a witness claimed that the tail of
one helicopter was hit by RPG fire.
16 soldiers are killed, 20 are wounded when a U.S. helicopter is downed near Amiryah, Iraq
Sunday, 2 November
2003
Sixteen
soldiers were killed and 20 were wounded when a U.S. helicopter went down
near the city of Amiryah, Iraq, at about 9 a.m. local time today. This
was the single deadliest attack on coalition forces, and the third helicopter
downed, since May President George W. Bush announcement the end of major
combat in Iraq.
The helicopter, a CH-47 Chinook, was transporting troops to the Baghdad
International Airport, reportedly on the first leg of a trip home for rest
and recuperation leave for some of the soldiers.
Appearing on ABC's "This Week" and "Fox News Sunday," Defense Secretary
Donald H. Rumsfeld said today is a tragic day.
9 U.S. service members die since October 9 in separate incidents in Iraq -- U.S. Central Command
Tuesday, 14 October
2003
Nine
U.S. service members have died since October 9 in seven separate incidents
in Iraq, U.S. Central Command officials said. The incidents are unrelated,
and three of the deaths were not combat-related. "It highlights the fact
that Iraq remains a dangerous place to work and operate in," said Marine
Maj. Pete Mitchell, a U.S. Central Command spokesman.
In the most serious incident, two 1st Armored Division soldiers were killed
and four others were wounded in an ambush in the Sadr City district of
Baghdad October 9. The soldiers were on a routine patrol when unknown assailants
attacked with small-arms fire at approximately 8 p.m.
Near Tikrit, four 4th Infantry Division soldiers were killed and two others
were wounded in separate incidents. A soldier was killed when a rocket-propelled
grenade struck a Bradley fighting vehicle in Tikrit at about 1:15 p.m.
October 13. Another Iron Horse soldier died and another was wounded when
their Bradley vehicle struck a mine northwest of Bayji at about 7:45 p.m.
October 12. Another 4th Infantry Division soldier died from wounds received
during a rocket-propelled grenade attack at about 2 a.m. October 9. The
soldier was traveling in a convoy near Baqubah, north of Baghdad. Finally,
a 4th Infantry Division soldier was killed and two others were wounded
in an attack at about 11:15 a.m. October 13, when their convoy was ambushed
southeast of Jalyula.
332 service
members were killed in Iraq, including 212 by hostile fire and 120 by non-hostile
fire, according to the Department of Defense.
"A truly great and noble man,” Professor Edward Said passes away -- ADC
Thursday,
25 September 2003
Arab
American organizations have expressed today their profound sadness at the
death of Professor Edward W. Said who was one of the best-known and respected
Arab Americans. Dr. Said, 67, had suffered from leukemia for years and
died at a New York hospital late Wednesday. He is survived by his wife
Miriam Cortas, their son Wadih and daughter Najla.
“Edward Said was a giant figure in the Arab-American community, and for
Arabs in the Middle East and across the world," said American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee (ADC) President Mary Rose Oakar. "He is an irreplaceable treasure,
and we shall miss him beyond measure."
Former Congresswoman Oakar added, “We extend our most heartfelt condolences
to his family and friends, and especially to his wonderful wife Miriam
who was a member of ADC’s Board of Directors for many years. We want them
to know that we, the community at large, and millions of people of conscience
around the world join them in mourning the passing of a truly great and
noble man.”
Dr. Said was University Professor of English and Comparative Literature
at Columbia University in New York City. He was the past President
of the Modern Language Association and one of the most influential literary
critics of his generation. His seminal work “Orientalism," (1978) is widely
credited with inaugurating the Postcolonial Studies movement in the humanities.
Other works, including “The Question of Palestine,” “After the Last Sky,”
“The Politics of Dispossession,” “Peace and its Discontents,” and his extraordinary
memoir, “Out of Place,” constitute one of the most sustained and effective
efforts to represent the Palestinian experience to the American public.
He became a member of the Palestinian National Council (PNC) of the Palestinian
Liberation Organization (PLO) throughout 1977-1991. In a press conference
during late seventies, former Egyptian President Anwar As Sadat named Dr.
Said as a possible Palestinian representative in peace negotiations with
Israel.
Dr. Said, a multitalented renaissance man, was also Music Editor for the
Nation magazine in the 1990s, and an accomplished pianist. His collections
of essays, “The World, the Text, the Critic,” and “Reflections on Exile”
are among the most influential in contemporary literary scholarship. His
1982 work, “Covering Islam,” set the standard for much of the media criticism
to follow.
The Pentagon announces the deaths of 4 soldiers in Iraq; tally mounts to 302 U.S. forces killed
Monday, 22 September
2003
The
Department of Defense (DoD) has announced today the deaths of four (4)
soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Three (3) soldiers
were killed in an ambush by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenade,
on September 18 in Tikrit, Iraq. Another soldier (1) was killed on September
20 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. The soldier was conducting a security patrol
when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle. He died of his injuries.
Three hundred and two (302) U.S. forces were killed in Iraq so for, according
to DoD, including one hundred ninety three (193) of hostile fire and one
hundred nine (109) of non-hostile fire.
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