War Effort

The controversy over the building of the mosque/community center a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Towers has risen to the level where it has caught the attention of the world and in particular the Muslim Community. One has to ask if the demagoguery by certain politicians against the building site is undermining the mission of our troops in Afghanistan who are so desperately fighting to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people who are predominantly Muslim. Jim Apgar

In his final commencement address as the secretary of defense, Robert M. Gates told the graduating class of midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy on Friday that they will join the nation's war effort at a critical turning point in Iraq and Afghanistan. During a 20-minute address that avoided politics and instead focused largely on leadership and recent military successes, Gates noted that the 2011 class joined the academy at a time when the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan were entering an especially dangerous phase.

Viacom Studios Nov. 13, 2001 For Internal Use Only To: Richard Re: "Get Osama" Lunch was great, thanks, although don't you think vertical foie gras with the big rosemary sprig sticking up is really so '90s? Who says everything has changed? Hey, if we don't have the duck liver appetizer with a nice glass of Merlot, the terrorists win, no? So to follow up re: Operation Enduring Receipts. Here's what's gone on since the request from Bush's guy Rove vis a vis Hollywood taking part in the war effort.

The Junior Women's Club of Westminster is already well known in for its popular children's consignment sale and its annual chili cook-off. Now, the group is planning a new event they hope will become a county tradition as well. On May 28, at 7 p.m., the club will present "Rosie the Riveter" a production by the Baltimore-based theater group, Thirst 'n' Howl, at Winters Mill High School, Westminster. "We are always looking for ways to raise money to give back to the community," said Mary Walton, committee chairwoman of the club.

WASHINGTON - -U.S. officials are planning to add up to 14,000 combat troops to the American force in Afghanistan by sending home support staff and underutilized soldiers and replacing them with infantry units, Pentagon officials said. The plan represents a key step in a drive to beef up U.S.-led forces as the Obama administration presses to counter Taliban gains and demonstrate progress in Afghanistan amid crumbling American public support for the war effort. Forces that could be swapped out include units assigned to noncombat roles, such as guards or lookouts or those on clerical and support duty.

Despite the euphoria following the quick allied victory in the Persian Gulf war, the plight of the Iraqi Kurds has softened the enthusiasm of many people, according the results of a SUNDIAL survey.Most callers yesterday -- 173 of 497, or 35 percent -- said they believed the war effort was a failure. But, 33 percent, or 167 callers, said they thought the effort was a success. Another 157 callers, or 32 percent, said they felt the effort was a partial success."It's Your Call" represents a sampling of opinions from certain segments of the community, but it is not balanced demographically, as would be done in a scientific public opinion poll.

25 Years Ago (week of April 28-May 4, 1968):* The Committee for Hilltop Housing met with the Board of County Commissioners to discuss the county-owned housing then under construction in Ellicott City. The committee consisted of Main Street and Fel's Lane residents who wished to be involved with the county's plans to move area residents out of county-owned slum housing and into new residences.50 Years Ago (week of May 2-8, 1943):* It was announced that a limited number of pressure cookers would be available for purchase by groups of five or more families.

World War II was a defining event, one that transformed Maryland, America and the world. Almost every social change that has taken place since the 1940s is linked to the effects of that long struggle:* Suburbanization and the explosive growth of colleges started soon after Johnny came marching home and took advantage of GI benefits.* The development of equal rights movements for African Americans and women had its roots in social changes that occurred during the war.* Post-war years also saw the civilian application of many military inventions that paved the road first to transistors, then to the computer era.About 288,000 Marylanders participated in World War II; 6,454 lost their lives.

When the United States entered World War II, the will to fight was abundant but the supplies required to vanquish the Axis powers were not. Symbolic of the early stages of the war effort were the training exercises undertaken at Fort George G. Meade by members of the 29th Infantry Division: Because guns were in such short supply, the unit of National Guardsmen from Maryland and Virginia drilled with broomsticks and two-by-fours.Within two years, the American war effort had grown into a force much greater to behold.

50 Years Ago* The Board of Anne Arundel County Commissioners, acting at the request of the Oysterman's League, went on record as opposed to a proposal to rehabilitate the oyster industry by farming out oyster beds under government control and plans. -- The Sun, July 1, 1943.xTC * The first child care center in Anne Arundel County opened at Brooklyn Park School for children 6 to 14 years of age whose mothers are working in the war effort. Twenty-one children are attending. -- The Sun, July 7, 1943.

The controversy over the building of the mosque/community center a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Towers has risen to the level where it has caught the attention of the world and in particular the Muslim Community. One has to ask if the demagoguery by certain politicians against the building site is undermining the mission of our troops in Afghanistan who are so desperately fighting to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people who are predominantly Muslim. Jim Apgar

Gen. Stanley McChrystal put President Obama in a terrible bind. Forgive the insubordinate remarks the commander of allied forces in Afghanistan made in an article in Rolling Stone, and President Obama destroys the chain of command that puts civilians in charge of our military, condones disrespect and poor discipline in the ranks and looks like a wimp besides. Fire him, and the president risks disrupting an increasingly deadly military offensive at what may be the most critical point in what is now America's longest war. The president will no doubt get criticism from the supposed friends of the military that his decision to replace the general puts the troops at greater risk over what amounted to a series of ill-advised jokes among General McChrystal and his staff.

WASHINGTON - -U.S. officials are planning to add up to 14,000 combat troops to the American force in Afghanistan by sending home support staff and underutilized soldiers and replacing them with infantry units, Pentagon officials said. The plan represents a key step in a drive to beef up U.S.-led forces as the Obama administration presses to counter Taliban gains and demonstrate progress in Afghanistan amid crumbling American public support for the war effort. Forces that could be swapped out include units assigned to noncombat roles, such as guards or lookouts or those on clerical and support duty.

Maryland Air National Guard cargo crews are prepping for an expected deployment to Afghanistan next year, flying a critical mission of air-dropping supplies to U.S. troops fighting in remote locations. Delivering ammunition, rations and water by parachute from the Guard's C-130J cargo planes is increasingly necessary in Afghanistan, not just because troops are being scattered to small, local bases as part of a new strategy, but also because of the growing danger that ground convoys will be attacked by Taliban insurgents, senior U.S. officers said.

Just after the end of World War I, to honor all the men and women participating in the war effort, a Christmas Military Dance was held Dec. 28, 1918, at the Bel Air Armory. The festivities were organized by the ladies connected with the Service Club of Harford County for Soldiers and the personnel of the local chapter of the American Red Cross (which had been officially formed the previous year). The Edgewood Arsenal Band furnished the music for the festive evening. "All are expected to come and enter into the holiday spirit and show their appreciation of the dawning of peace," wrote the Aegis newspaper.

Jack Hook, longtime secretary-treasurer of Local 40-543 of the American Federation of Musicians, trombonist and connoisseur collector of old-time radio shows, sent me a tape the other day of singer Kate Smith's performance on WCAO radio in Baltimore during World War II. "I bought the tape some years ago of wartime radio broadcasts from Radio Yesteryear, and nowhere on the liner notes does it mention Kate Smith singing in Baltimore," Hook said the other...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Orioles manager Mike Hargrove has a niece serving in the Army over in Kuwait and a cousin working in Special Operations somewhere in this war - Hargrove isn't sure where; he's not supposed to know where because it's top secret. In his office at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, Hargrove keeps his television tuned to war coverage while he does his work. He has charts on the walls documenting the progress of the pitchers and hitters, and he also tracks the war effort, with his thoughts never far from his niece, Katy Nicole Hargrove, and cousin, Courtney McLain.

The Army faces "significant challenges" in moving its communications, surveillance and electronics operations from Fort Monmouth, N.J., to Aberdeen Proving Ground without disrupting the military's war effort, according to a new congressional report that warns of potential staffing shortages and difficulties in quickly providing security clearances to new workers. Turnover is expected to be so high among the veteran scientists and engineers now working at the New Jersey base that it might take the Army until 2019 or 2024 to fill all the vacant positions and fully train the new employees, the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, warned in its report.

Shifting sensitive defense work being done at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey to Aberdeen Proving Ground could disrupt the war effort if the Army fails to replace the many workers who are likely to quit or retire rather than move, the Pentagon acknowledges. In a report to Congress, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England writes that officials plan to minimize the upheaval from the base move by relocating its 5,200 workers gradually over the next three years and recruiting military retirees locally to fill the many vacancies expected.