CH-47 CRASHES IN KUNAR PROVINCE, BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan

Technorati Tags: CH-47 CRASHES and KUNAR PROVINCE or BAGRAM AIRFIELD and Afghanistan, or Chinook helicopter and Asadabad, or centcom, and Joint Task Force – 76, or war on terrorism and coalition or Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – A CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed late yesterday evening while conducting combat operations near Asadabad in Kunar Province. Nine personnel were aboard the aircraft including passengers and crew. Casualties cannot be confirmed at this time. Rescue and recovery operations are ongoing. The crash is not a result of enemy action.

The CH - 47 was conducting operations on a mountain top landing zone when the crash occurred. Additional aircraft and crews were also at the landing zone and confirmed that enemy forces did not cause the crash.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and comrades of the Soldiers who were involved in this crash, ”said Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, commander of Combined Joint Task Force – 76. “We must honor the courage and dedication of our Soldiers by continuing our commitment to bringing peace and stability to the Afghan people.”

For more information please contact COMBINED FORCES COMMAND – AFGHANISTAN COALITION PRESS INFORMATION CENTER KABUL, AFGHANISTAN APO AE 09356 cfc-a.centcom.mil

News Desk: 011-937-07-223-758 Press Center: 011-937-07-276-545 Kabul-Presscenter@cfc-a.centcom.mil

Created at 5/6/2006 9:44 AM by Joe P. Vermette, Last modified at 5/6/2006 10:05 AM by Joe P. Vermette Title: CH-47 CRASHES IN KUNAR PROVINCE, Release Date: 5/6/2006, Release Number: 06-05-06P

NEWS RELEASE, HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND, 7115 South Boundary Boulevard, MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101, Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

Soldiers sling-load a vehicle to a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during an operation near Bagram, Afghanistan. The Soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, supporting the Joint Logistics Command during Operation Enduring Freedom.

This photo appeared on www.army.mil, July 29, 2004 by Sgt. 1st Class Sandra Watkins Keough Download Full High Resolution Image

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President Bush Welcomes President Vázquez of Uruguay (VIDEO)

Technorati Tags: President Bush and White House or Uruguayan President and Tabare Vazquez, or Uruguay

President Bush Welcomes President Vázquez of Uruguay to the White House, FULL STREAMING VIDEO, The Oval Office, 11:09 A.M. EDT. In Focus: Global Diplomacy

PRESIDENT BUSH: Bienvenidos. It's been a distinct pleasure to welcome the President to the Oval Office. We've had a very extensive conversation about -- we talked about a lot of subjects.

We talked about the human condition. We talked about our mutual desire to improve lives through good education and health care. I assured the President that the billions of dollars of aid that we spend in the neighborhood are all aimed at justice and giving people a chance to realize their dreams.

We talked about ways to make sure there's better student exchanges between our countries. It made a lot of sense; after all, the President was educated -- or received some education in my home state of Texas, at M.D. Anderson.

We talked about extending our commercial relations. One of the interesting topics that the President brought up was renewable energy, a subject that is very dear to my heart and necessary for our country. And finally, I shared some thoughts with the President about my deep desire to help countries become free so that this world is more peaceful.

I -- in short, it was a very extensive dialogue. And finally, he shared with me the joy of being a grandfather. Obviously, he's a good man, because he's got such pride in his family.

And so I welcome you here, sir. Thank you for coming.

PRESIDENT VAZQUEZ: Mr. President, thank you very much for your kindest attention. It's, for us, a great opportunity to speak -- but I speak Spanish.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Si. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT VAZQUEZ: Y tu tambien.

(As translated.) Thank you, very much, Mr. President. I want to thank you very much for your welcome. This is one more show of friendship that has been a very deep friendship between our countries from the very beginning.

We've had a very kind and extensive exchange of opinions with President Bush. First of all, we recalled the bilateral investment treaty that was recently signed by our two countries in which we have -- and we have now also agreed to work to expand, intensify, and strengthen our trade relations. In fact, our technical people are going to be meeting within the framework of our joint commission in a few months in Montevideo, and we've agreed that we are going to be kicking off work at that time.

I will not extend on the points that have -- the items that have already been referred to by the President, but I do want to thank you very much.

And to the Uruguayan people who are listening to me, I want to say to all of you, without exception, without exclusions, together we will continue to work jointly on this path that we have undertaken in order to further the standard of life with our people, through education, through health care, through more and better jobs, and through decent salaries for all our people, and to truly insert Uruguay on the path of globalization.

Thank you, very much.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Gracias, senior. Gracias.

END 11:16 A.M. EDT, For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, May 4, 2006

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