European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 12, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 stars and stripes thursday april 12 2007 Black enlistments drop As War in Iraq goes on when Danny Edwards 26 enlisted in the army in april 2001 he expected to stay for a career he changed his mind while serving in Iraq in 2003 a War fought for reasons he said he still Doest understand Edwards who is Black has for several years advised Black youth in his neighbourhood in Savannah a to avoid the army and the hell of Iraq Black youth across the country appear to be heeding similar advice from parents teaches minis ters coaches and other Black vet Erans there have been changes in the racial composition of us forces particularly among firs term enlistees of ground forces heavily involved in Iraq racial data on enlistees com piled for military update by the defense manpower data Center show that in fiscal 2002 the year before the us invasion of Iraq the army had 43400 Blacks among its firs term sol Diers or 21 percent of the total by 2006 the number of Blacks on their first hitch had fallen to 30000 Down to 145 percent Tom Philpott two years ago we reported Here that army recruiting of Black youth had fallen by 40 percent from 2000 through Early 2005 the new a Mac data show the Ripple effect of that decline the most Likely cause is deep disapproval of the Iraq War among Black communities across the country the Marine corps another ground Force under enormous Strain from the War Likely has seen a decline in Black enlistees proportional to the army Marine corps data however is less use Ful for tracking changes racial composition because a Large num Ber of marines elect not to Indi Cate race on their records All services saw declines in the proportion of Blacks in their enlisted forces from 2002 through 2006 one officer who finds the data disturbing is retired Brig Gen Robert a cocroft executive director of National association for Black veterans inc cocroft said Blacks for decades have viewed the military As a path out of poverty and As a meritocracy where race Doest Factor in Advance ment a downshift in enlistments is a telling indication that something is amiss about the military experience for african americans he said that difference he said appears to be the War in Iraq the Black Community at its roots is More conservative than portrayed in the Media or in popu Lar culture cocroft said Black churches reinforce Jude Chris Tian values and one of those values is that actions be predicated on truth cocroft said too Many Active component soldiers View current wars especially the War in Iraq As being Bush war1 and that it was not predicated on the truth to comment write military update to Box 231111 Centreville a 201201111 email or visit  red Cross Iraq situation worsening the associated press Geneva the situation for civilians in Iraq is Ever Worsen ing even though Security in some places has improved As a re sult of stepped up efforts by used multinational forces the International red Cross said wednesday thousands of bodies he unclaimed in mortuaries with family members either unaware that they Are there or too afraid to go to recover them according to an official with the Neutral Agency medical professionals also have been fleeing the country after cases where their col leagues were killed or abducted the group said whatever operation that is today under Way and that May be taken tomorrow and in the weeks after to improve the Security of civilians on the ground May have an effect in the medium term said Pierre Kraehenbuehl director of operations of the International committee of the red Cross or i arc were certainly not seeing an immediate effect in terms of stabilization for civilians currently that is not our Reading Kraehenbuehl said it was so dangerous for red Cross workers to move around in Baghdad that we dont have on a Day today basis a full picture of absolutely every situation the i arc has 415 iraqis work ing for it in the country and has an additional 57 International staff based in Iraq and Amman Jordan but relies on the affiliated iraqi red Crescent for much of its information Carrier needed for Graf in woes r i Liesheim and Vilseck for More information please Contact Tom at 01726707342 iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki left shakes hands with South korean prime minister Han Ducksoon during their meeting in Seoul on wednesday Almalik s Korea a Model for Iraq the associated press Seoul South Korea iraqi prime minister Nouri Almalik said wednesday he wants to learn from South Korea fast Rise As an economic Power after the korean War As he began a three Day trip expected to focus on strengthening economic ties South Korea will be a Good Model for us Almalik told South korean prime minister Han Ducksoon during a dinner Iraq should learn from South to reas experience South Korea built the worlds lot largest Economy after the 195053 conflict with North Korea devastated the nation Almalik was scheduled to hold a Summit with South korean president Roh Soohyun on thursday their meeting was expected to concentrate on expanding cooperation in various sectors including natural resources electricity and construction Rons office said it said the two sides will also discuss South Korea support for Iraq reconstruction South Korea has about 2300 troops in Iraq on a reconstruction Mission Almalik will also hold talks with South Korea business Lead ers and tour local Industrial facilities the iraqi Leader was travelling from Japan where the two coun tries agreed to Loans from Tokyo for a number of reconstruction projects  your newspaper Why pay full Price Home Deli very Only per week toil free 08001011270 Germany 0800780265 Italy 08000858827 us 080078073 Belgium 08000225203 Netherlands 0900958303 Spain Dan 3498437 email hours of operation of 07001800 Samsun 07301300 european stars and stripes attn circulation dept unit 29480 Apoate 09211