TOKYO, June 2, 2003 — Any realignment of American military forces in South Korea would enhance, rather than degrade, that country's ability to deter potential threats such as those posed by North Korea, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz said June 2 in Seoul.
     Wolfowitz had given a keynote luncheon speech to a group of South Korean business leaders before flying to Tokyo.
     Japan is the last leg of Wolfowitz's trip to address East Asian security matters after stops in Singapore and South Korea.
     Because of the changed nature of today's threats and the dramatic new capabilities of U.S. forces as exhibited in Afghanistan and Iraq, Wolfowitz pointed out it's time to evaluate how U.S. forces are postured around the world and the United States and how to achieve more effectiveness while maintaining deterrence capability.
     Consequently, Wolfowitz said to business leaders at the luncheon, the alignment of U.S. forces in South Korea likely needs to be adjusted. More

     SEOUL, South Korea, June 1, 2003 – U.S. soldiers and Marines deployed along the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea "are on the front lines of freedom," U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz said June 1 during a visit to Camp Greaves – located a mile from the DMZ.
     "The country is grateful for your service," Wolfowitz told the 500 Army soldiers and Marines gathered inside the camp's gymnasium. He noted that both President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld "have asked me to send a message to you: that we appreciate what you're doing -- it is fantastic."
     Wolfowitz and his traveling party flew about 35 miles north of Seoul on Army Black Hawk helicopters to visit with Camp Greaves' service members. After meeting with the 2nd Infantry Division commander, Wolfowitz met with the troops. More

     BAGHDAD, Iraq — Keeping the streets of Baghdad free of crime and safe for the residents of the city is a task that has fallen into the laps of coalition forces since the fall of the last regime.
     Members of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) out of Fort Stewart, Ga., have been tasked to instill law and order since the end of the war. They patrol the streets of Baghdad and guard buildings from further looting.
     According to 1st Lt. Jason Redmon, a platoon leader for Company A, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor, 3rd Inf. Div., the buildings that are priority for these soldiers to guard are schools, banks, mosques and government facilities.
     “We are in charge of securing buildings and making sure no looters take anything from these buildings,” Redmon said. More

     SINGAPORE, May 31, 2003 — There's no greater threat to peace and stability facing Asian – and other -- nations today than North Korea's nuclear program, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz said here May 31.
      In his remarks to attendees at the second annual Asia Security Conference in Singapore, Wolfowitz observed that the spirit of multilateral cooperation embodied by such conferences holds "important promise for enabling countries in the region to resolve problems peacefully." The conference is sponsored by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. More

     Washington, May 30, 2003 — A significant expansion of effort in the hunt for weapons of mass destruction will begin to take hold in Iraq in coming days, DoD officials said today.
     That presence will come about with startup work by the Iraq Survey Group. Army Maj. Gen. Keith Dayton, who will head the group, said the group will consolidate the efforts of the various collection operations in Iraq under one national-level headquarters. The transition is slated to begin no later than June 7, Dayton said.
     The group will ultimately have between 1,300 and 1,400 people from the United States military, other U.S. government agencies, the United Kingdom and Australia. The main headquarters will be in Baghdad. The group's analytical center will be located with U.S. Central Command's forward headquarters in Qatar as will the Combined Media Processing Center. More

     WASHINGTON, May 30, 2003 — The Marines based south of Baghdad made the transition from warfighting to peacekeeping with their usual aplomb, said Marine Lt. Gen. James Conway during a video press conference today from Iraq.
     "Our Marines were extremely innovative and adaptive during the campaign, and they've carried those characteristics into the aftermath," Conway told the Pentagon press corps. "Our current mission is to provide a safe and secure environment in order to eventually be able to turn Iraq back over to the Iraqis."
     The general, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, said his Marines are going about the job in a no-nonsense manner. "What we tell the Iraqis is that 'we're here to do a job – don't get in our way, and nobody will get hurt; indeed, you will like the results,'" he said. "'Interfere with our efforts or threaten our forces in any way, and there will be consequences.'
     The 1st MEF has had success in dealing with the local populations. "Thus far, we are pleased to say that the people of southern Iraq have generally welcomed our presence in the cities and in the countryside," he said. More