Army General Describes Iraq Drawdown Progress

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable, DoD News by on November 28, 2011 at 2:48 pm {no comments}

By Bradley Cantor
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2011 – U.S. forces and equipment are expected to leave Iraq by Dec. 31, Army Brig. Gen. Bradley A. Becker said during a Nov. 22 “DOD Live” Bloggers Roundtable.

Becker is the deputy commanding general for U.S. Division Center, Baghdad. He is responsible for oversight, support and sustainment for U.S. forces participating in Operation New Dawn.

According to Becker, the drawdown of U.S. forces and equipment from Iraq is being accomplished in accordance with agreements made between the United States and Iraq.

The amount of equipment and property that had accumulated on U.S. bases in Iraq over the years has been significant, Becker said. At the height of coalition operations in 2007 and 2008, he said, there were 505 bases and 165,000 service members in Iraq.

As of this month, Becker said, seven bases remain to be transferred to Iraqi authority and less than 20,000 U.S. soldiers remain in Iraq.

(more…)

Bloggers Roundtable: Iraq Base Transitions

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable, DoD News by on November 21, 2011 at 3:07 pm {no comments}

Brigadier General Bradley A. Becker, U.S. Army

On November 22nd, 2011, the DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable welcomed U.S. Army Brig. Gen.  Bradley Becker, Deputy Commanding General (Support) for United States Division – Center, Baghdad, Iraq. Brig. Gen. Becker answered questions about the final base transitions. The conversation was an update to the BRT that Maj. Gen. Spoehr gave in September. This will likely be the last BRT from Iraq before the final transition.

Joining us on the roundtable were: Michelle Cowell -  Military Matters,  Edwin Mora -  CNS News,  Michael Hoffman -  Defense News, Chuck Simmins -  North Shore Journal, Jen Judson – Inside the Army,  Dale Kissinger -  Military Avenue,  Amy McCullough -  Air-Force Magazine and Gail Harris -  Foreign Policy Blog.

Listen to the roundtable here.

 

Read the transcript here.

 

 

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: DARPA’s Shredder Challenge

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by on November 18, 2011 at 10:39 am {one comment}

Courtesy Photo

On Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, we hosted a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Mr. Dan Kaufman and Dr. Norm Whitaker, the director and deputy director of the Information Innovation Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). They spoke about DARPA’s Shredder Challenge.

DARPA’s Shredder Challenge calls on computer scientists, puzzle enthusiasts, and anyone else who likes solving complex problems to compete for up to $50,000 by piecing together a series of shredded documents. The goal is to identify and assess potential capabilities that could be used by U.S. warfighters operating in war zones, but might also create vulnerabilities to sensitive information that is protected through our own shredding practices throughout the U.S. national security community.

The challenge was launched on Oct. 27 and runs through Dec. 4. Due to the complexity of the final puzzles, newcomers with a winning approach can still take the lead and claim the $50,000 prize. The final 2 puzzles are the most complex of the 5 shredded documents, with a total of 8,408 pieces between them. The competition ends Dec. 4.

Listen to the roundtable audio here.

Read the transcript

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: 14th Chiefs of Defense Conference

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by on November 16, 2011 at 2:06 pm {no comments}

Maj. Gen. Michael A. Keltz is the Director, Strategic Planning and Policy (J5), U.S. Pacific Command

We held a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable on Wednesday, Nov. 16, with U.S. Maj. Gen. Michael A. Keltz, Director, J-5, Strategic Planning and Policy, who discussed the recent 14th annual Chiefs of Defense Conference (CHOD).

This engagement brought together senior military leaders from nations in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss mutual security challenges, improve relationships and foster security cooperation. The roundtable also covered ways the U.S. Pacific Command is partnering with more than 36 nations in areas of mutual interest, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military-to-military training, building the U.S.-India strategic partnership and countering transnational threats.

Joining us on the call were Chuck Simmins, of America’s North Shore Journal; Walter Pincus, of the Washington Post; Gail Harris, of the Foreign Policy Blog; John Doyle, of 4GWar; Titus Ledbetter, of Inside the Air Force; Megan Eckstein, of Inside the Navy; William Wan, of the Washington Post; Charley Keyes, of CNN; and Kyle Mizokami.

Listen to the roundtable here.

Read the transcript.

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: Bicentennial of The War of 1812

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by on November 16, 2011 at 8:05 am {no comments}

Courtesy Photo

On Thursday, Nov. 17 we held a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Navy Capt. Pat Burns, director, Navy Office of Commemorations, who discussed the upcoming Bicentennial of the War of 1812, the Navy’s commemoration campaign, and how it helps us tell the story of today’s Navy.

Can you imagine what America would be like without chocolate?  Neither can I.  But did you know that during the War of 1812 Baker’s Chocolate closed for 2 years because cacao trade was blocked by British warships? The War of 1812 was fought primarily to protect the freedom of commerce, and this freedom is vitally important still today — 90% of the goods and services we import travel by sea!

The U.S. Navy is finalizing plans to host a nationwide commemoration of the War of 1812 that will kick off in New Orleans in April 2012 and celebrations will take place in more than 14 cities across the country and in Canada - including NYC, Boston, Norfolk, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago. If you think the annual Fleet Week in NYC is big, it pales in comparison to the events planned for 2012.  Each city is planning a week-long celebration with educational events intended to showcase their city’s historic role in the War of 1812.  The Chief of Naval Operations has invited 120 nations to participate as well.

This is a great opportunity to learn about all the Navy is doing to commemorate this sometimes forgotten war-and the very significant role the Navy still plays in ensuring Americans way of life.  After all, this was also the war that brought us the Star Spangled Banner among many other things.  Tune in, and discover what those are and how you can be a part of the celebration!

For more information on The War of 1812 Commemoration, Read the Navy.mil story.

Read the transcript.

Listen to the audio.

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