Senior leaders are saying

TODAY'S FOCUS

This November we honor the extraordinary contributions of our Nation's military families as part of National Military Family Appreciation Month.

Throughout our history, the steadfast support of military families has always been a source of inspiration. You have faced the special challenges of long deployments, family separations and frequent relocations with great courage and resolve. In doing so, your selfless dedication has directly contributed to the mission readiness of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and Merchant Marines.

My heartfelt thanks to the families who sacrifice so much-you are patriots in a quiet, strong way and you make all the difference. You support us, even though we work long hours that often interrupt your plans. When we are away, you hold our families together. When we get tired, you remind us how important our jobs are. When we receive recognition, you stand in the background. You define us and sustain us. You promise us the tomorrows for which we strive.

NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY

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  November: Military Family Appreciation Month (ARNEWS)
  
• 
  Return of former Palace offers glimmer of hope to Iraqis (NYT | EB)
  
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  Pentagon has tentative plans to reduce number of U.S. forces there early next (WP | EB)
  
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  Army chief awards Rangers for valor (ARNEWS)
  
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  Campbell, Guard HQ get construction money (AT)
  
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  DOD database would track Army sexual assault reports (SS)
  
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  Hillclimbers go in search of 'H' in Pakistan (SO)
  

WAR ON TERROR NEWS

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  Top U.S. general advises not the time for withdrawal (WT | EB)
  
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  U.S. troops setting up local camps to hold back insurgents (CSM | EB)
  
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  U.S. general says training Iraqi troops cannot be rushed (CNN)
  
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  Iran urges Iraq to push out U.S. and multi-national forces (WT | EB)
  
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  Jurors convict U.S. citizen on all nine counts (WP | EB)
  
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  Senior Sunni leader killed by militants (MSNBC)
  
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  Moderate and radical Islamist groups present challenges in Morocco (CSM)
  
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  Alleged 'dirty bomber' indicted on charges (WP)
  
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  U.S.Student who joined Al Qaeda convicted (FN)
  

OF INTEREST

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  GI on leave from Iraq duty celebrates family, faith (AJC)
  
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  Soldiers make difference in lives of Afghan children (EPT)
  
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  U.S. military closes air base in Uzbekistan over the Andijan uprising (MH)
  
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  Kevin Sites reports from Iraq (YN)
  
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  Bosnian Muslims, Serbs and Croats agree to rewrite constitution (NPR)
  
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  NBC correspondent describes close call in Baghdad (MSNBC)
  
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  Iraqi President willing to hold talks with insurgents (Newsday)
  
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  Laptops and airport security is explained (Slate)
  
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  Plans to build fence for border stirs controversy (USN)
  

WORLD VIEW

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  Allegations over Aljazeera plot dismissed (BBC News | story)
  
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  Gag order over alleged top secret memo (Aljazeera | story)
  
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  U.S. citizen deemed guilty as 'enemy combatant' (International Herald Tribune | story)
  
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  Pentagon may pull back three combat brigades in Iraq (Reuters | story)
  
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  Report states British troops could be in Iraq for decades (The Scotsman | story)
  
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  US ambassador to U.N. in power struggle (Arab News | story)
  
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  Editorial: 'Terror suspects should be prosecuted not tortured' (FT | story)
  
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  Poll indicates U.S. desire for withdrawal of troops (Taipei Times | story)
  

TODAY'S FOCUS

USNORTHCOM's specific mission:

U.S. Northern Command's AOR includes air, land and sea approaches and encompasses the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the surrounding water out to approximately 500 nautical miles. It also includes the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The defense of Hawaii and our territories and possessions in the Pacific remain the responsibility of U.S. Pacific Command. U.S. Northern Command is also responsible for security cooperation and coordination with Canada and Mexico.

* USNORTHCOM consolidates under a single unified command existing missions that were previously executed by other DoD organizations. This provides unity of command, which is so important to mission accomplishment.

* USNORTHCOM plans, organizes and executes homeland defense and civil support missions, but has few permanently assigned forces. The command will be assigned forces whenever necessary to execute missions, as ordered by the president and secretary of defense.

Civil service employees and uniformed members representing all service branches comprise USNORTHCOM's headquarters located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. The commander of USNORTHCOM also commands the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a bi-national command responsible for aerospace warning and aerospace control for Canada, Alaska and the continental United States.

* USNORTHCOM's civil support mission includes domestic disaster relief operations that occur during fires, hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Support also includes counter-drug operations and managing the consequences of a terrorist event employing a weapon of mass destruction. The command provides assistance to a primary federal agency when tasked by DoD. Per the Posse Comitatus Act, military forces can provide civil support, but cannot become directly involved in law enforcement.

* In providing civil support, USNORTHCOM generally operates through established Joint Task Forces subordinate to the command. An emergency must exceed the capabilities of local, state and federal agencies before USNORTHCOM becomes involved. In most cases, support will be limited, localized and specific. When the scope of the disaster is reduced to the point that the primary federal agency can again assume full control and management without military assistance, USNORTHCOM will exit, leaving the on-scene experts to finish the job.

CALENDAR

Washington, DC - During the Week of the Military Family, November 21 - 25, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) would like to remind service members of financial assistance available to them and their families to help with the cost of child care.Thanks to Operation Military Child Care (OMCC) and Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCIYN) these families have access to affordable, quality child care.

Operation: Military Child Care (OMCC), administered by NACCRRA, provides financial relief and assistance locating quality child care for eligible military families who do not have access to the DOD's on-base child care options. OMCC is specifically focused on providing relief to the families of those serving in the Global War on Terror, including Guard and Reserve service members. Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCIYN) is a sister-program to the OMCC program. It supports active duty military families who do not live near military bases, but still need high quality child care. Both programs, launched earlier this year, locate and subsidize child care comparable to what a service member would receive on a military installation.

See the site for more information: www.naccrra.org

NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY

• 
  U.S. Army launching campaign to equip all combat troops with a futuristic bandage (BS | EB)
  
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  Afghan women increasing role in army (DA)
  
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  Deployed troops to get Thanksgiving meal (AT)
  
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  Iraqi police, U.S. Soldiers help children hurt in IED attack (AFIS)
  
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  Guard car wins season-ender, Stewart crowned 2005 champion (ARNEWS)
  
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  Your Soldier, Your Army: A Parents' Guide (AUSA)
  
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  Iraqi women, children attacked; 17 arrested (ARNEWS)
  

WAR ON TERROR NEWS

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  Factions call for timetable for withdrawal of foreign forces (NYT | EB)
  
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  FOB Danger handover to Iraqis is 'significant' (SS)
  
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  Confirmation that Zarqawi was not killed in raid (WP | EB)
  
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  Letter: 'Plan a moderate Iraq exit strategy' (CSM | EB)
  
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  Blair defends deportation to protect Britain's security (YN)
  
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  Interpol warns of bio-terror threats (MSNBC)
  
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  Troops fire on car feared to be suicide bomber (USAT | EB)
  
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  Americans growing more cautious in their views on foreign policy (USN)
  

OF INTEREST

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  Insurgents fired mortar during hand-over ceremony (MSNBC)
  
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  Iran declares support for Iraqi Freedom (ABC)
  
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  Editorial: 'Torture victim or terrorist?' (WE)
  
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  Analysis: 'What Murtha Meant' (Slate)
  
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  Vice President responds to criticism (NPR)
  
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  Some Soldiers experience low morale amid debate (Newsday)
  
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  Most injured soldiers aren't hurt on the battlefield (USAT)
  
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  Mother concerned when military recruiters called (MH)
  

WORLD VIEW

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  Reporters without Borders report on 'enemies of the internet' (The Jerusalem Post | story)
  
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  Cluster bomb explained (The Independent | story)
  
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  Saudi Arabia's five-year plan includes women's rights (Arab News | story)
  
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  Chechen separatists kill Russian soldiers (Aljazeera | story)
  
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  DNA test to determine Zarqawi report (BBC News | story)
  
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  Germany swears in first female chancellor (Deutsche Welle | story)
  
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  Incidents of suicide bombers becomes global issue (International Herald Tribune | story)
  
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  Iran and Iraq to resume trade (Reuters | story)
  
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  UN Security Council extends European peacekeeping force in Bosnia (The New Zealand Herald | story)
  

SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING

TODAY'S FOCUS

Army intelligence is undergoing a transformation to address emerging nontraditional threats. The Army is engaged against nontraditional adversaries who cannot match its combat power, but who are able to effectively engage our forces using unsophisticated techniques. As such, Cold War paradigms developed for operations conducted during peace and war do not adequately address the current and future complex environments.

The Army HUMINT force, previously focused primarily upon interrogation operations, is transforming into a full-spectrum Human Intelligence (HUMINT) collection system, strengthened by an intrinsic understanding of culturally complex environments. This understanding enables the HUMINT system to support friendly force operations more effectively without inadvertently strengthening adversaries' position. HUMINT collection is a decisive force-multiplier because it provides valuable insight into the conduct and intentions of enemy operations.

The HUMINT Collection Operator is equipped with the skill sets and technical capabilities required to operate in today's and tomorrow's hostile environment. He/she will engage in the full range of HUMINT operations, including:

The HUMINT collection system is employing new technologies such as the Biometric Automated Toolset (BAT), which helps track and identify adversaries, and the personal digital assistant (PDA), which allows Soldiers to be constantly connected to the Joint Intelligence Operations Center (JIOC).

HUMINT collectors and their information products are being integrated into a horizontally and vertically assimilated system so information can be exploited by all operational levels.

Source:Institute of Land Warfare

WEEKEND SPORTS WRAP-UP

38-10 victory over Arkansas State

NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY

• 
  U.S. Army and military help in Pakistan (NPR)
  
• 
  IRR officers can opt to get out (AT)
  
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  Soldier seeks objector status (AT)
  
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  Annual demonstration at Ft. Benning takes place (NYT | EB)
  
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  Army, NASCAR initiative steers youth toward success (ARNEWS)
  
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  Medical mission visits Gardez orphanage (DA)
  
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  8th Army Band's salsa combo gets people dancing in the aisles (SS)
  
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  Soldier Show seeks performers, technicians (ARNEWS)
  

WAR ON TERROR NEWS

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  New Iraqi army is much like the old one (MSNBC)
  
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  Rumsfeld says debate during wartime is part of democratic process (WT | EB)
  
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  Political debate continues over Iraq timeline (NPR)
  
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  U.S. says unlikely al-Zarqawi among the dead in firefight (USAT)
  
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  Bush acknowledges Mongolia's support of Iraq war (CNN)
  
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  Rumsfeld says U.S. must stay the course (USAT | EB)
  
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  Pentagon worries about wounded morale (WT | EB)
  
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  Poll shows US public support dropped faster than previous wars (CSM | EB)
  

OF INTEREST

• 
  U.S and the problems with patrolling our borders (USN)
  
• 
  CIA Director Porter Goss discusses U.S. policy (MSNBC)
  
• 
  Opinion:'Why this unpopular war has no tipping point' (CSM)
  
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  Debate over the call for withdrawal of troops (PBS)
  
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  Commentary: 'A Soldier's Story' (FN)
  
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  Why Iraqis tend to segregate themselves according to sect (NPR)
  
• 
  The family of al-Zarqawi disown him (YN)
  
• 
  Opinion: 'Slaughter of Sunni foes is inevitable' (Newsday)
  

WORLD VIEW

• 
  Recent increase in female suicide bombers explored (BBC News | story)
  
• 
  New torture allegations surface against U.K. (Aljazeera.com | story)
  
• 
  Opinion: 'David Brooks: The importance of staying with Iraq' (International Herald Tribune | story)
  
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  U.S. troops mistakenly open fire on civilians (Reuters | story)
  
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  Terrorist cell planned attack on Italian embassy in Baghdad (Ansa | story)
  
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  Pakistan in need of helicopters for cargo (Arab News | story)
  
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  Speculation continues on cuts in troop numbers (Financial Times | story)