Today's Pic's. Nov. 25

[He219]

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A strategic target in Kirkuk, Iraq, is bombarded by a U.S. incendiary mortar as part of Operation Ivy Cyclone, a combined-arms operation designed to root out and crush insurgents in Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Nov. 21, 2003. Operation Iraqi Freedom is a multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Wolfe) (Released)

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Soldiers of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade conduct a weapons cache search near Kirkuk, Iraq to seize weapons used by terrorists against coalition forces and Iraqi citizens on November 22, 2003. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is under the operational control of the 4th Infantry Division. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Clinton Tarzia) (Released)


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The Big Red One...

In the spirit of building bridges between coalition forces and the Iraqi people, soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and 1st Battalion - 63rd Armor conduct a Medical Civil Affairs Program (MEDCAP) visit to administer immunizations to villagers of Palkana, Iraq on November 23, 2003. The 173rd Airborne Brigade and 1st Battalion - 63rd Armor are under the operational control of the 4th Infantry Division. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Clinton Tarzia) (Released)


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I guess they weren't the usual Embassy Security Detail afterall ;)

Lance Cpl. Jeremy Brewer, from the U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST), 5th Platoon, stands guard at an entrance to the Coalition Provisional Authority building in Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 17, 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shane Heiser) (Released)

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U.S. Marines assigned to Interim Marine Corps Security Forces Company Bahrain, 3rd Squad, disembark from the back of an MH-53 Sea Dragon assigned to the Blawkhawks of Helicopter Mine-Countermeasures Squadron Fifteen (HM-15) for a training mission, Nov. 18, 2003. The 3rd Squad and Blawkhawks are currently forward deployed to Bahrain in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class (NAO/SW) Michael Sandberg)

NATO Response Force (NRF) Demonstration,
Doganbey, Turkey, 20 November 2003

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General James L. Jones (Supreme Allied Commander Europe) meets with the press

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General Sir Jack Deverell (Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces North Commander, NRF 1 & 2) meets with the press.

And here we go... :D

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That sniper's rifle looks a bit - old.

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Really old-skewl ..

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That's NRF for today...

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20 Nov 03, Kabul, Afghanistan
The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of National Defence, has donned the personal protective gear required for patrols outside the Canadian Camps and waits in the back of an Iltis for the patrol to begin.

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23 Nov 03, Kabul, Afghanistan
Sgt Nathan Ronaldson, of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR BG), helps distribute tools to local authorities in Kabul, Afghanistan. Lee Valley Tools in Ottawa donated the tools, consisting of shovels, spades, forks, and an assortment of similar items.

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WEAPONS SEARCH — Soldiers of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, talk with Iraqis during a weapons cache search near Kirkuk, Iraq, Nov. 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Clinton Tarzia

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Ammo carriers on the six-man gun crew prepare to load an M203A1 "super eight" round, the maximum charges fired, into the breach of an M198 155mm Howitzer.

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Pfc. Timothy Walsh (far right) pulls the lanyard on the M198 for his first time, firing the wrath of the U.S. Armed Forces into a hillside during an exercise with CWC 729 at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, Calif.

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Range CT5, Djibouti - SSgt. Tuan Pham with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines gives the range safety brief prior to firing during a live fire exercise here. The range was to battle sight zero the Marines of Task Force Betio's weapons to the new climate and give them an opportunity to refresh basic riflemen skills. Task force Batio took the reigns as force protection for Camp Lemonier, November 19 from Task Force Rawhide.

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Range CT5, Djibouti - Marines from Task Force Batio, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines fire the M16 A2 service rifle during a live fire exercise here. The range was to battle sight zero the Marines of Task Force Betio's weapons to the new climate and give them an opportunity to refresh basic riflemen skills. Task force Batio took the reigns as force protection for Camp Lemonier, November 19 from Task Force Rawhide.

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Range CT5, Djibouti - 1st Lt. Michael Hodd with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines explains different techniques with the 9mm service pistol during a live fire exercise here. Task force Batio took the reigns as force protection for Camp Lemonier, November 19 from Task Force Rawhide.

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Range CT5, Djibouti - Private Alex Mathew with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines fires a 9mm service pistol during a live fire range here. Task force Batio took the reigns as force protection for Camp Lemonier, November 19 from Task Force Rawhide.

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Sgt. Christopher Reith with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines goes over techniques of fire with the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during a live fire range here.

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Paramilitary fighters of the Cacique Nutibara block stand on guard while one of their commanders holds a press conference in the rural area of Girardota, north of Medellin, Monday, Nov 24, 2003. The 800 fighters Cacique Nutibara bloc are due to lay down their arms Tuesday at a ceremony in Colombia's second city of Medellin. Negotiations are currently underway with the government for the planned demobilization of 12,000 of the estimated 13,000 paramilitary fighters in Colombia by 2006. The paramilitary factions emerged in the 1980s to combat two leftist rebel groups. (AP Photo/Luis Benavides)

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Reinhilt Weigel of Germany, left, and Asier Huegen Echeverria of Spain, right, speak by phone after being freed by rebels of the National Liberation Army, ELN, at the Alfonso Lopez airport in Valledupar ,410 miles north of Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Nov.24, 2003. Colombian rebels on Monday released two European backpackers kidnapped more than two months ago, but there was no word on the fate of five other foreigners still being held.The German and Spanish backpackers were handed over by members of Colombia'ssmaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army, or ELN, to a humanitarian commission in the snowcapped Sierra Nevada mountains.(AP Photo/ Fernando Vergara)

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Paramilitary fighters of the Cacique Nutibara bloc chat while one of their commanders holds a press conference in the rural area of Girardota, north of Medellin, Monday, Nov 24, 2003. The 800 fighters Cacique Nutibara bloc are due to lay down their arms Tuesday at a ceremony in Colombia's second city of Medellin. Negotiations are currently underway with the government for the planned demobilization of 12,000 of the estimated 13,000 paramilitary fighters in Colombia by 2006. The paramilitary factions emerged in the 1980s to combat two leftist rebel groups. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

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Asier Huegen Echeverria, in red, of Spain walks toward a helicopter at the Alfonso Lopez airport in Valledupar, 410 miles north of Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Nov.24, 2003, after being freed by rebels of the National Liberation Army, ELN, Colombian rebels on Monday released two European backpackers kidnapped more than two months ago, but there was no word on the fate of five other foreigners still being held.The German and Spanish backpackers were handed over by members of Colombia'ssmaller rebel group,the National Liberation Army, or ELN, to a humanitarian commission in the snowcapped Sierra Nevada mountains. (AP Photo/ Fernando Vergara)

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Israeli soldiers of Ethiopian extraction and teenage Ethiopian Jewish girls are seen in Jerusalem, Monday, Nov. 24, 2003, backdropped by Jerusalem's Old city during a yearly celebration by Ethiopian Jews of the biblical union between the Jewish people and God. About 60,000 Ethiopian Jews live in Israel. (AP Photo/Enric Marti)

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Aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Nov. 21, 2003 -- The new E-2C Hawkeye is coming in for its first trap ever on an aircraft carrier aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). The new propelled aircraft is equipped with two NP2000 eight-bladed propellers, which are digitally controlled. It has been in flight-testing for three years and is now finishing flight certifications. This is the last major development test before fleet installation. John F. Kennedy is conducting flight certifications in the Cherry Point Operating Area. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Christian Weibull. (RELEASED)

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11/24/2003 5:55:00 PM
Strike fighter aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, flying from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in the North Arabian Gulf, attacked enemy targets near Kirkuk, Iraq, Nov. 23, in support of Operation Ivy Cyclone.
Two Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312 F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters from Enterprise’s embarked Carrier Air Wing 1 each dropped a 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) in the attack, striking an enemy position.

[Smintjes]

Whoah! Some brilliant pics! (Belgian para's! :D )

[Smintjes]

And I believe the sniper rifle is a french FRF-1. But I could be wrong.

[Seraphim]

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Italian Army soldier Sergio Filberti aims his flashlight at some confiscated weapons inside an Italian base near the southern Iraqi town of Nasiriyah, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003. The Italian Army confiscated some 1400 lbs. of explosives, 201 130mm rockets, 3 107mm rockets and other smaller pieces of ammunition during an operation in the Southern Iraqi town of Suq Ash Shuyukh, some 10 miles south of Nasiriyah on Tuesday with the help of local authorities. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

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US soldiers man a checkpoint in Baghdad. US General John Abizaid insisted that America's presence 'will no longer be needed' once the future Iraqi government can guarantee the country's security.(AFP/Ahmad Al-Rubaye)


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TV footage shows masked militants firing a missile that hit a DHL cargo jet over Baghdad. The plane's engine was set ablaze and it was forced to make an emergency landing.(AFP/Le Nouvel Observateur)


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Italian Army soldiers collect ammunition of different caliber in an Italian base near the southern Iraqi town of Nasiriyah, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003. The Italian Army confiscated some 1,400 lbs. of explosives, 201 130mm rockets, 3 107mm rockets and other smaller pieces of ammunition during an operation in the Southern Iraqi ton of Suq Ash Shuyukh, some 10 miles south of Nasiriyah, with the help of local authorities. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

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An Iraqi boy watches US soldiers manning a checkpoint. The US army is investigating the looting of two capsules of radioactive cobalt from a testing site outside Baghdad that was in use under former dictator Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)(AFP/Ahmad Al-Rubaye)


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Followers of radical Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr pray in front of U.S. Army tank during the Islam's biggest festival Eid al-Fitr, ending the fasting month of Ramadan, in the Baghdad suburb of Al Sadr city November 25, 2003. (Goran Tomasevic/*******)

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A U.S. soldier uses his gun to pull barbed wire in the Baghdad suburb of Al Sadr city, previously known as Saddam City, mainly populated by Iraqi Shi'ites, November 25, 2003. U.S. General John Abizaid said on Tuesday that attacks on his forces in Iraq (news - web sites) had halved over the past two weeks, while those on Iraqis had surged. Photo by Goran Tomasevic/*******

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Followers of radical Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr pray in front of U.S. army tank during the Islam's biggest festival Eid al-Fitr, ending the fasting month of Ramadan, in the Baghdad suburb of Al Sadr city November 25, 2003. *******/Goran Tomasevic
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From the other day...sorry if any are repeats.

I swear one of these helos were outside of my house the other night.

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A U.S. surveillance army helicopter patrols over the blue-domed 14th Ramadan Mosque in central Baghdad November 24, 2003. The Central Command General John Abizaid said on Nov. 25 that attacks on his forces in Iraq (news - web sites) had halved over the past two weeks, while those on Iraqis had surged. Photo by Petar Kujundzic/*******

[Andyman]

Very nice pics ;) . I find it kinda Ironic that the Canadian defense minister would be travelling in an Iltis. Yah know they're only 25 years old and have limited protection thats all. He must have faith in his soldiers.

[One?]

Very nice pics ;) . I find it kinda Ironic that the Canadian defense minister would be travelling in an Iltis. Yah know they're only 25 years old and have limited protection thats all. He must have faith in his soldiers.

:( please don't make fun of us

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

Hes the only defense minister that I've seen jump in and go on patrol. I dont see too many politicians eager to go on patrol so all the power to him.

[Whistler]

Look at that moron. Pretty out of place in soldiers clothes. He looks like an ass-hole, what a disgrace to that uniform.

Too bad it had to be two of our bravest and not the "honourable" defence minister that ran over a mine in one of those Iltis junk heaps. Maybe having his ass blown into 200 pieces on the side of an Afghan dirt road would convince him that our soldiers actually need a truck that ISN'T based on Volkswagen Rabbit mechanics.

"The Forces have all the money and equipment they need."... my ass.

[He219]

But wait! There's more .. ;)

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A U.S. Army helicopter flies over Iraqi capital of Baghdad during sunset, Monday, Nov. 24 2003. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)

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Afghan President Hamid Karzai, center, flanked by security officials and body guards, inspects the honor guard before offering Eid prayers at presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003. Karzai celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, by saying that he hopes Afghanistan will one day be freed from terrorism and poverty. Afghan Defense Minister Mohammed Fahim is also seen on left. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

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An armed female police officer stands alert as women are busy buying bangles in preparation for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, Tuesday, Nov 25, 2003 in Multan, Pakistan. Eid comes at the end of the the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Kahlid Tanveer)


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Indian Army soldiers walk through a forested area during a counter-insurgency operation to look for United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) rebels near the India-Bhutan International border, about 352 kilometers (220 miles) northwest of Gauhati, India, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003. ULFA is suspected to be instrumental in attacks on migrant Hindi speaking community from eastern Bihar state, that has claimed at least 25 lives the region. (AP Photo/Shib Shankar Chatterjee)

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Indian Partol Boat ;)

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A Pakistani soldier stands alert on the LOC in Chakothi sector, 58 kilometers ( 36 miles) south of Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani Kashmir on Monday, Nov. 24, 2003. An agreement by India and Pakistan to stop firing along the Kashmir frontier as of midnight Tuesday has given Kashmiris, frazzled by a 14-year separatist war, fresh reason to celebrate Islam's holiest festival Eid-al-Fitr. (AP Photo/Roshan Mughal)

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A commander of Colombia's paramilitary Cacique Nutibara reviews his troops during a disarmament ceremony in Medellin, Colombia's second largest city, Tuesday, Nov 25, 2003. More than 800 fighters of the Cacique Nutibara bloc layed down their arms Tuesday. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

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Check this one out...

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Police officers fire tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of jobless demonstrators protesting in Neuquen in southwestern Argentina in anger over government subsidies to the country's unemployed.,Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003. The clashes came as hundreds of other unemployed workers took to the streets of the Argentine capital, demanding increased government assistance for the poor.Although the country's economy has recently shown signs of mounting a recovery, unemployment remains stubbornly stuck in double digits around 15 percent. (AP Photo/Pepe Delloro-Telam)

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KIRKUK, Iraq -- Senior Airman Leo Ortiz eyes a target on the horizon here Nov. 21 as Senior Airman Josh Gianni observes. They are part of Operation Ivy Cyclone, an operation designed to root out and crush insurgents in Iraq. The airmen are assigned to the 4th Air Support Group's tactical air control party, Detachment 1. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Wolfe)

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KIRKUK, Iraq -- A strategic target here is hit by a U.S. incendiary mortar round as part of Operation Ivy Cyclone. The operation is designed to root out and crush insurgents in Iraq. (U. S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Wolfe)

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KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Donald Jepsen loads 30 mm ammunition into an A-10 Thunderbolt II here. The A-10s of the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron were quickly prepared to fly missions supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom after their Nov. 22 arrival from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Jepsen is the weapons team chief with the 355th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Robert Wieland)

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KIRKUK, Iraq -- The pilot of an A-10 Thunderbolt II fires its cannon at a strategic target here Nov. 17 during Operation Ivy Cyclone. The operation is a combined-arms operation designed to root out and crush insurgents in Iraq. The aircraft is from the 74th Fighter Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Wolfe)

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SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Master Sgt. Shawn Bennett (left) and Staff Sgt. Eric Simms conduct an interior roads project survey. Bennett is the noncommissioned officer in charge of development, and Simms is a heavy equipment operator. Both are assigned to the 1st Expeditionary Red Horse Group. The group is building facilities and putting in roads at a forward-deployed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Randall)

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FORT SILL, Okla. -- The new High Mobility Artillery Rocket System prepares to process a mock fire mission during testing here recently. For the first time, the Army's HIMARS was combat loaded with rockets, flown by a C-130 Hercules to an assault landing zone here, and then fired a six-round live-fire mission Nov. 19. The evaluation was a joint effort of soldiers, airmen and Marines. (U.S. Army photo by Fred W. Baker III)

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" Say, that HIMARS is pretty cool ... "

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DOUALA, Cameroon - A Cameroonian honor guard stands in formation in anticipation of a review by U.S. Navy Cdr. Mark Sakaguchi, commanding officer of HSV 2 Swift. Sakaguchi, along with sailors and Marines in Cameroon for WATC 04, celebrated the successful completion of the second phase of the exercise at a reception at a Cameroon Naval base in Duoala as guests of the Cameroon military.

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DOUALA, Cameroon - Although it may look like the mouth of a giant sea creature, this is actually the underside of the HSV 2 Swift, a wave-piercing catamaran being used by the U.S. Navy, as seen from a Marine rigid raiding craft following in trail. The ship, which is roughly the size of a football field, boasts a top speed of more than 45 knots. The Swift, with embarked sailors and Marines, is participating in West African Training Cruise 04. During the exercise, the Marines and sailors will use the ship as a platform for small boat operations, riverine operations and troop transport. During WATC 04, the Marine Corps is also conducting an assessment of the Swift's capabilities.

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DOUALA, Cameroon - U.S. Marine Capt. Rich Harrington (in boat, front), 1st Lt. Keegan Welch (middle) and Lance Cpl. William Horton (rear) ride a Marine rigid raiding craft as it is lowered into the water under the watchful eyes of U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Garrett Cecilio and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Vincent Cantley. The Marines and sailors are deployed aboard the HSV 2 SWIFT for West African Training Cruise 04. During this portion of training, the Marines and crew from the Swift performed an at-sea rescue of a Cameroonian Naval Infantrymen who were aboard a simulated burning ship.

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DOUALA, Cameroon - U.S. Marine zodiac crafts head to the beach near Duoala, Cameroon, with Naval Infantrymen from Cameroon. The infantrymen staged an amphibious raid on the beach as part of West African Training Cruise 04. The Marines, from Small Craft Company, 2nd Marine Division, are embarked aboard the HSV 2 Swift, a wave-piercing catamaran operated by the U.S. Navy. The Swift departed Duoala Nov. 16, ending the second phase of a series of training events in several West African nations.

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DOUALA, Cameroon - Cameroonian Naval Infantrymen ride aboard a U.S. Marine rigid raiding craft as they prepare to conduct an amphibious raid on Cape Cameroon, near Duoala. The Cameroonians were embarked aboard the HSV 2 Swift as part of West African Training Cruise 04, a biennial exercise conducted by the United States and participating nations in western Africa.

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Students in the National Guard Sniper School break down their M 24 Sniper Weapon System (http://www.snipercentral.com/m24.htm), after firing at targets 700 meters away. Photo by Spc. Joshua Hutcheson, 101st Airborne Division. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Hutcheson

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Staff Sgt. Dominic Barnello, cadre, National Guard Marksmanship Training School, talks to two of the course's students about properly setting their sniper rifle to hit targets at varying distances. The school is operating in Sinjar, in the northern region of Iraq for soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division until December. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Hutcheson


And something for Operation Ivy ;)

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The A Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Task Force 1st Armored Division, motor pool is the staging area for the tank patrols. The M1A1 Abrams battle tank is the vehicle of choice for evening patrols. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Chad D. Wilkerson, 372nd Mobile Public Affair Detachment

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Capt. William Cundy, tank commander, far left, Sgt. Jermaine Brooks, gunner, left, Staff Sgt. Robert Tua, tank commander, right, Spc. Brian Witt, gunner, far right, with drivers Pfc. Chad Ace and Spc. Mark Carter (not pictured, in hatch), from A Company, Task Force 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, roll through on patrol under the Arches of Victory at Zawra Park in central Baghdad Nov. 14. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Chad D. Wilkerson, 372nd Mobile Public Affair Detachment

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U.S. Army Maj. Mark Mitchell, Special Forces soldier, is pinned with the second highest military decoration for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross, for combat actions in Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, by Gen. Bryan "Doug" Brown, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, Nov. 14, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. U.S. Army photo by Jennifer Whittle

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11/24/2003 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFPN) -- An AC-130H Spectre gunship crew from the 16th Special Operations Squadron here was awarded the Clarence MacKay Trophy (http://www.af.mil/stories/story.asp?storyID=123006083) recently for most meritorious flight of the year.

The 14 airmen of “Grim 31” received the Air Force-level award for saving the lives of 82 U.S. soldiers and two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and crews during a close-air support mission. The mission was over Afghanistan’s Shah-e-Kot Valley on March 2, 2002 -- the second day of Operation Anaconda.

[Marxist203]

Hes the only defense minister that I've seen jump in and go on patrol. I dont see too many politicians eager to go on patrol so all the power to him.

Art Eggleton went on patrol in Timor, it was muddy and he was cruisin' on one of those ATV's

[Marxist203]

Look at that moron. Pretty out of place in soldiers clothes. He looks like an ass-hole, what a disgrace to that uniform.

Too bad it had to be two of our bravest and not the "honourable" defence minister that ran over a mine in one of those Iltis junk heaps. Maybe having his ass blown into 200 pieces on the side of an Afghan dirt road would convince him that our soldiers actually need a truck that ISN'T based on Volkswagen Rabbit mechanics.

"The Forces have all the money and equipment they need."... my ass.

Right...Buddy, if you knew anything and by that I mean anything, You would know that the defence minister doesn't hand out the defence budget and also if you knew anything you would also know that they are replacing the Iltis with the Mercedes Wolf(or what ever its called) Ive spoken to actual Army Personell about this and that is what they have told me.

Before you bad mouth the Honourable John Mcallum may'be you should do some research.

[Schuster]

Maybe he should do some research on Mr.David Collenette before he badmouths this one.

[Operation Ivy]

woot woot Abrams Wahoo :D

[Whistler]

McCallum still lies through his teeth on every occasion possible when it comes to the condition of the military. He has little or no understanding of military issues and is only good for bailing his boss out of all the embarrasing cost cuts that are coming into light recently.

Trust me, I come from a military family and have several friends and family members retired and active. I get this stuff first hand from the guys who have to put up with the BS from McCallum and his master Chretien every day of the week.

I'm glad they are finally getting the Mercedes G-Wagen, but I'll let you in on a little secret. Not only are they years too late, they aren't even what the Army wanted. The G-Wagen was simply the "last man standing" after endless Govt interference and program cutting.

What they really desired was something along the lines of the AM General Humvee or Swiss MOWAG (I think thats the name of it). Those two entries dropped from the competition because of government bickering.

Unlike the Humvee and variants, the G-Wagen offers NO more armour or mine protection than the Iltis.

If you don't believe me heres a few articles. Enlighten yourself before claiming that I "don't know anything about anything".

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/westview/story/1431101p-1684411c.html

http://www.canadiangrassroots.ca/article.php?sid=12002&mode=thread&order=0

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPPrint/LAC/20031003/UILTIN/National/

http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2003/10/13/fOpinion116.raw.html

http://sympatico.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031004.uiltis1004/front/Front/frontBN/sympatico-front/

Those are just a few that I got from Google in about 60 seconds. There was a much better article in the Post a few weeks ago but it doesn't seem to be on the net.

Before the Afghanistan contingent left, "honourable" McCallum said that he would resign if any Canadian soldiers died because of shoddy equipment. I'm still waiting for him to live up to his promise.