Mullen Visits Patrol Base Olsen and Tours Samarra, Iraq

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • Maj. Gen. Robert Caslen, commanding general, Multinational Division North, escorts U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on a tour of Patrol Base Olsen, Samarra, Iraq, Dec. 18, 2008. Mullen is visiting the base with plans to meet with residents of the area in the shadows of the Golden Dome Mosque that was nearly destroyed in 2006 by extremists. Along with his wife Deborah, Mullen is touring the Central Command Area of Responsibility as host of 2008 USO Holiday Tour. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • With the reconstruction of the Golden Dome Mosque in the background, U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks with CBS correspondent David Martin about his tour of Samarra, Iraq, Dec. 18, 2008. Mullen visited Patrol Base Olsen and got a walking tour of the market that is in the shadows of one of the holiest sites in Islam that was nearly destroyed in 2006 by extremists. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visits with a resident of Samarra, Iraq, Dec. 18, 2008. Mullen visited Patrol Base Olsen and got a walking tour of the market that is in the shadows of the Golden Dome Mosque that was nearly destroyed in 2006 by extremists. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shakes hands with a boy in Samarra, Iraq, Dec. 18, 2008. Mullen visited Patrol Base Olsen, and got a walking tour of the market that is in the shadows of the Golden Dome Mosque that was nearly destroyed in 2006 by extremists. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, takes a walking tour of the Golden Dome Mosque, which is being rebuilt, with Samarra Mayor Mahmood Khalef Ahmed, Dec. 18, 2008. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • U.S. Army soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division, assigned to Patrol Base Olsen, Samarra, Iraq, stand in formation to meet U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dec. 18, 2008. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • U.S. Army soldiers assigned to Camp Victory, Iraq, anticipate the start of the 2008 USO Holiday Tour, Camp Victory, Iraq, Dec. 18, 2008. U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with his wife Deborah, welcomed comedians John Bowman, Kathleen Madigan and Lewis Black; actress Tichina Arnold; American Idol contestant and country musician Kellie Pickler and Grammy award-winning musician Kid Rock. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
  • U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deborah, introduce the 2008 USO Holiday Tour on Camp Victory, Iraq, Dec. 18, 2008. Mullen welcomed comedians John Bowman, Kathleen Madigan and Lewis Black; actress Tichina Arnold; American Idol contestant and country musician Kellie Pickler and Grammy award-winning musician Kid Rock. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley