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US CENTCOM Press Release – OUR COLATION MULTI NATIONAL FORCE IS ALIVE AND WELL.  M

Bahrain Defense Force chief of staff vsits NAVCENT HQ

5th Fleet Public Affairs  

MANAMA, Bahrain – Bahrain Defense Force Chief of Staff Gen. Shaikh Duaij Bin Salman Al-Alkhalifa visited U.S. Naval Forces Central Command headquarters April 27 to discuss Bahrain’s role in the Coalition as well as Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 operations.

“I am looking forward to continued interaction with the U.S. Navy and other Coalition forces to increase the cooperation for a better and safer world,” said Gen. Al Alkalifa.  “I am very proud of the close work we have taken part in with the Coalition.”

March 4 Royal Bahrain Navy Brig. Gen. Abdulla Saeed Al Mansoori relieved U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Bill Gortney as CTF 152 in a ceremony held at the Bahraini Naval Headquarters, marking the first time Coalition forces have been commanded by a Gulf nation.  Established in March 2004, CTF 152 is responsible for conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the central and southern Arabian Gulf.

Vice Adm. Kevin J. Cosgriff, commander, Combined Maritime Forces, said Bahrain taking charge of CTF 152 represents an important success of the Coalition.

“Our maritime forces interact with virtually every country in the region. And to my thinking, the combination of persistent, credible naval powers conducting maritime security operations is precisely the sort of things we ought to be doing.  The key to success in this region is the fullest possible integration of all Coalition and regional partners.”

MSO help develop security in the maritime environment, which promotes stability and global prosperity.  These operations complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists’ use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. -30-  Bookmark: del.icio.us, digg it

Tag: CTF 158, NAVCENT, Fifth Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces, Maritime Security Operations, Navy

Multimedia: http://www.cusnc.navy.mil/articles/2008/XX.html