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U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney defended the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush's Iraq policy on NBC's "Meet The Press." Cheney's rare TV appearances always warrant attention, but his defense of the administration's Iraq policy on NBC's" Meet The Press" was a one-of-a-kind performance. Rejecting any suggestion of insufficient planning by the administration, Cheney insisted the White House had underestimated neither the number of troops nor the amount of money needed for the postwar occupation. In fact, even though President Bush just asked Congress for an additional $87 billion, most of which is for rebuilding the country, Cheney suggested Iraq could pay for its own reconstruction. But, even if oil doesn't foot the bill, Cheney predicted confidently that, at next month's conference in Madrid, "the international community will come together and pledge funds." He must not have read Friday's "Los Angeles Times," which reported an aide to reconstruction czar L. Paul Bremer saying that the United States was unlikely to receive more than "gravy" from foreign countries. Despite the fruitless search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Cheney also said the administration's prewar claims of the Iraqi threat would be vindicated, asserting that two Iraqi mobile biological weapons trailers are "in our possession today," even though American intelligence analysts and experts consider the claim patently implausible because the trailers are not equipped to handle virulent biological agents. Cheney averred that "we don't know" whether or not Saddam Hussein was involved in the September 11, 2001, attacks. In fact, we do know: He wasn't. The joint congressional inquiry into the attacks is, to date, the most authoritative account of the hijackers and their planning, and it does not remotely implicate Saddam. (However, classified sections of the inquiry do reportedly point a finger at the oil-rich Saudi royal family, which Cheney bluntly exonerated.).

The article offers the author's insights regarding the battalion and brigade border training teams (BTTs) Marines in Al Anbar, Iraq. The author says that TTs has contributed in the establishment of peace and enforcement in the province and soon in Afghanistan. He suggests a continuous equitable development among Ministry of Interior (MoL) and Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Iraq to make Department of Boarder Enforcement (DBE) units ready to operate at Operational Readiness Assessment (ORA) level 1.

The article discusses the future course of action for the returning troops of the U.S. Marine Corps from Iraq in the onset of emerging and unanticipated threats. It notes the groups that are tasked with drawing ways that enable the Corps to move forward, which include the officials at the Defense Department and the Strategic Vision Consulting Group (SVG). It adds that SVG's longer-term objectives for the Marine Corps' developmental skills and training have been considered for implementation.

The author comments on the current U.S. Army physical training (PT) test which he considers a fairly good measure for gauging general fitness but not combat readiness. He argues that to prepare for the rigors of combat in Iraq, the service must first realize and understand the hazards and tasks that it will perform on a daily basis in Iraq. Endurance events are crucial, such as confidence and obstacle courses, grass and guerilla drills.

Presents an account of a casualty evacuation mission in Iraq in which the author participated. Information on the qualifications and flying experience of the author; Difference between a combat flight and a peacetime flight; Importance of operational readiness and performance over safety concerns during wartime.

The article focuses on the preparation of a Combat Logistics Battalion 46 (CLB-46) prior to the beginning of its active duty in Iraq. It states that leadership positions should come from varied battalions in order to gain different expertise and prevent the A team perceptions. It mentions that performing intermediate location (ILOC) training at the same location where the employing force command (EFC) Second Marine Logistics Group (2d MLG) was being performed offered an advantage.

The article discusses the revisions in the stop-loss, stop-move policy of the U.S. Army which requires servicemen to stay with their assigned units for 90 days to preserve cohesion and combat readiness. The primary reason for the period is to educate the soldiers about the Army Career and Alumni Program, as well as veteran benefits and entitlement. The program is applicable to soldiers participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. An overview of the exceptions is included.

The article reports that the Marine Corps is redefining its entire tactical vehicle program in response to problems experienced in Iraq with current vehicles and the need to plan for emerging operational concepts. The Marine Corps Combat Development Command at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, is conducting studies on the future of tactical wheeled vehicles, armoring and ground mobility that is due to be completed by late summer. In addition, the Corps is committed to the Sea Basing concept, which envisions that U.S. forces sent to world trouble spots would operate their supply depots, staging areas and operational headquarters at sea, rather than on land.

Evaluates the efforts of the U.S. military in its social, political and economic reconstruction campaign in Iraq. Recognition of the numerous security elements involved in fighting a counterinsurgency; Disassociation between a military victory and total victory; Focus of the U.S. Army on establishing security to stabilize the peace conditions in Iraq; Concern over the training methodology and training systems used to prepare for combat effectiveness; Suggestion for the U.S. Army to form a study group to determine effective military training and procedures suitable for the campaign in Iraq.

Reports on the military troop rotation options in Iraq being drafted by the U.S. Army as of July 21, 2003. Overview of its military mission demand; Actions being considered by the Defense Department to keep the Iraq mission from eroding the combat readiness of the Army; Details of the military troop rotation options.

The article presents an update on the U.S. Air Force as of January 13, 2010. Over 100 reservists from the 507th Air Refueling Wing at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma were deployed in late December 2009 aimed at supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Twenty-one airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey returned home after being deployed to Afghanistan for 60 days. An operational readiness exercise was started by airmen with the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea.

This article is an editorial on the necessity for more troops in Iraq. The fact that troops were shifted from other parts of the country to help fight in Baghdad, after it had been declared secure, highlight the problems that face the war. There are also reports of the military losing the grip on the Anbar province because of insurgency fighting, and officers on the ground are calling for more manpower. With a weak central government, Iraq is insecure, but the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is not willing to send more people over.

The article discusses the issues surrounding the efforts of the U.S. to establish a democracy in Iraq as of January 2006. As the U.S. begun sending some of its troops home, the question of whether the role of the country in Iraq has peaked was raised. One of the issues dealt with the combat readiness of the Iraqi forces, which is still unstable.

Reports on Washington Army National Guardsman Spc. Gerrit Kobes' receipt of the Silver Star, one of the highest combat heroism awards in the U.S., for risking his life to save several Iraqi soldiers during a mission in early November 2004. Kobes' treatment of the injured Iraqis; Exposure of Kobes to insurgent fire in the process of reloading the wounded soldiers onto vehicles.

Comments on the deployment of retired General Gary Luck to Iraq to conduct a review of U.S. military operations and readiness of Iraqi security forces. Issues on deployment cycles and military policies; Assessment of the Iraqi insurgency by intelligence service director General Mohamed Shahwani; Opinion on the Iraq conflict.

Reports that the U.S. second war against Iraq could erode U.S. military services' progress on improving combat readiness, according to the service vice chiefs. Barrier to the goal of reconstituting the force to a high state of readiness; View of Representative Joel Hefley, R-Colo., on the peacetime budget; One sign of improved readiness.