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In Wisconsin, where Big Labor is circulating petitions to trigger the recall of Republican Governor Scott Walker, the state agency that monitors and administers elections is known as the G.A.B. The ‘A’ is supposed to stand for accountability. But, in reality, not so much. Yesterday we reported that the GAB would not comb through the petitions to disqualify duplicate signatures. Today, we find out it is much worse than that.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — By the time U.S. military forces left Somalia in 1994 after entering the lawless nation more than a year earlier to stop a famine, 44 Army soldiers, Marines and airmen had been killed and dozens more wounded. Thus ended America's last large-scale military intervention in Africa. But the U.S. has come back, using special forces advisers, drones and tens of millions of dollars in military aid to combat a growing and multifaceted security threat. This time the United States is playing a less obtrusive role but is focusing once again on Somalia. While putting few U.S....

Gen. David H. Petraeus assumes command of Multi-National Force - Iraq during a ceremony Saturday at Camp Victory. BAGHDAD — General David H. Petraeus assumed command of Multi-National Force-Iraq from Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., in a change of command ceremony held at Camp Victory Saturday.Casey was the commanding general of MNF-I for two and a half years. He will go on to replace the current Army chief of staff, Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va.The reviewing officer for the ceremony was Gen. John P. Abizaid, commander, U. S. Central Command. He thanked Casey for his...

SAMARRA, Iraq, Dec. 19, 2006 — Local Iraqi army forces assumed control of Patrol Base Razor from Coalition Forces on Dec. 15. The 4th Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army, took responsibility for the patrol base from the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The transfer of authority indicates the readiness of the Iraqi army to take the lead in the Samarra area, said Maj. Brian Flood, 2-505th PIR executive officer. "It's a positive step in the right direction for the long-term security for this part of Iraq." Maj. Brian Flood “It allows them to show they are...

TAL AFAR, Iraq, Sep. 4, 2006 – The 1st, Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division, became the third and final battalion to take the lead in assuming security operations for the city of Tal Afar during a ceremony held at Fort Tal Afar on Sept. 2, U.S. officials reported. On hand for the ceremony were Tal Afar Mayor Najim Abdullah al-Jubori; Maj. Gen. Khorsheed, commander of the 3rd Iraqi Army Division; Brig. Gen. Qais Hamza, commander of the division’s 2nd Brigade; U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Tien, commander of Task Force 2-37; and various dignitaries from the surrounding area....

BAGHDAD, Sep. 1, 2006 – The Iraqi Ground Forces Command assumed command and control here today of one of its Iraqi army divisions from the Multinational Corps Iraq, marking what officials here said is the first step toward Iraqi sovereignty over the country’s armed forces. The 8th Iraqi Army Division, commanded by Maj. Gen Othman Ali Salih Farhood, which had been a subordinate unit of Multinational Division Baghdad, will now report directly to the IGFC as an adjacent unit to MND-B. When the division took the lead for operations in its sector on Jan. 27, it was the first to...

Soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division capture insurgents during a demonstration of military ability that took place at Forward Operating Base Mahmudiah South Monday. Story and photos by Sgt. Trevor Snyder124th Mobile Public  Affairs Detachment BAGHDAD -- Iraqi forces took control of another area of Baghdad on Monday after the latest in a series of transfer of authority ceremonies near the capital. Army Col. Claude Ebel, commander of the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division said responsibility for Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah South, a base of operations for security forces south of the capital, was transferred to...

CAMP TAJI, Iraq, May 15, 2006 – As the new Iraqi army attains capability, more units are taking over security responsibility within their country. The latest example is the Iraqi 2nd Brigade of the 9th Mechanized Division, which assumed responsibility for security in the Taji area during a ceremony here today. Soldiers hold the flag of the Iraqi 2nd Brigade, 9th Mechanized Division, during an assumption of responsibility ceremony May 15. The brigade will have responsibility for 150 square kilometers around Camp Taji. Photo by Jim Garamone  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The brigade will be "in the...

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. (Army News Service, May 8, 2006) – The newly activated Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Battalion (provisional) assumed responsibility for training operators and maintainers of the Army’s unmanned aerial systems last month at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. The ceremony marked the transfer of the training mission from the U.S. Army Intelligence Center to the U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., the home of Army aviation. Unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are powered aerial vehicles sustained in flight by aerodynamic lift over most of their flight path and guided without an on-board crew. They may be expendable...

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Juan Villanueva, 1-8 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, stands next to his Iraqi army brothers-in-arms during a transfer of authority ceremony at an Iraqi army post near Balad, Iraq, April 15, 2006. Iraqi Army Assumes Control in Salah al Din Iraqis assume control of an area of responsibility that encompasses Balad, Al Duluyah and Yethrib, as well as the smaller villages surrounding these cities. By U.S. Army Sgt. Zach Mott4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office BALAD, Iraq, April 18, 2006 — Iraqi soldiers assumed...

TIKRIT, Iraq, April 5, 2006 – An Iraqi army brigade has begun the first phase of assuming responsibility for security operations in Iraq's Salah Ad Din province. The Salah Ad Din province is a key area in the security of Iraq, U.S. officials said. It is in the heart of the country and contains many of Iraq's natural resources and industries that could bring much needed revenue to the country. The 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, has been partnered with the "Rakkasans" of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, since December. During that time, 1st...

ABOARD HMS BULWARK -- HMS Bulwark (L15), the Royal Navy's most modern and versatile warship, assumed duties Feb. 28 from USS Cape St. George (CG 71) as the flagship for the Royal Navy staff which leads Combined Task Force 58 (CTF 58), a multinational coalition that conducts maritime security operations (MSO) in the North Arabian Gulf (NAG). Maritime security operations help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO deny the illegal use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to...

BAGHDAD – (Army News Service, Feb. 24, 2006) – The 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, assumed responsibility for areas in central and southern Baghdad during a battle space transfer of authority ceremony from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at Forward Operating Base Honor Feb. 20. The ceremony took place after many months of training and combined missions between the two units, in which the Soldiers of the 4th BCT assisted the soldiers of 5th Brigade in preparation to assume the battle space inside and around the International Zone. Col. Mohammed Wasif, 5th Bde. commander took the reins...

Iraqi Brigade Assumes Responsibility for Central Baghdad By Pfc. Jason Dangel, USASpecial to American Forces Press Service BAGHDAD, Feb. 21, 2006 – The 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, assumed responsibility from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, for areas in central and southern Baghdad yesterday during a battlespace transfer-of-authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Honor. Soldiers from the 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, march during the Feb. 20 battlespace transfer-of-authority ceremony between their brigade and the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Photo by Pfc. Jason Dangel, USA   The ceremony took place after many months...

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Feb. 18, 2006 – For soldiers and aviators of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade's Task Force Falcon, the return here is like a scene from the movie "Groundhog Day." Although it's been two years since the Fort Drum, N.Y., unit's 2004 redeployment from here, for many it seemed like only yesterday when they stood on the same flight line to accept authority of the aviation mission for Operation Enduring Freedom as part of Combined Joint Task Force 76. That authority was handed over yesterday as Army Col. Michael Rose, Task Force Falcon commander, accepted the OEF...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2006 – The Iraqi army's 5th Brigade, 6th Division, assumed control of a base in central Baghdad from the U.S. 4th Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team during a transfer-of-authority ceremony yesterday. "The ceremony marked the increasing role Iraqi security forces are undertaking in Baghdad and throughout their country in enforcing the sovereign government's rule of law," U.S. officials said in a statement. "This brigade is responsible for protecting Iraq's new government here in the International Zone," said Iraqi Col. Mohammad Wasif, commander of 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division. "The brigade consists of three battalions. We...

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Jan. 9, 2006) – As Iraqi Army and coalition partners looked on, the 3rd Infantry Division transferred authority of Multi-National Division-Baghdad to the 4th Infantry Division in a ceremony Jan. 7. Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman, the commanding general of 4th Inf. Div., along with Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling, uncased the “Ironhorse” Division’s colors, signifying the division assuming the mantle of responsibility as Multi-National Division-Baghdad. The division cased its colors before deploying from Fort Hood, Texas, during a ceremony Oct. 28. Lt. Gen. John Vines, the commanding general of Multi-National Corps-Iraq, served as the reviewing officer...

TIKRIT, Iraq, Nov. 2, 2005 – Task Force Band of Brothers and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) officially took command of military operations in north-central Iraq in a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Danger here Nov. 1. The ceremony marked the transfer of authority from Task Force Liberty and the 42nd Infantry Division, a National Guard unit from New York that has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for a year, to TF Band of Brothers. TF Band of Brothers is composed of two brigade combat teams and a combat aviation brigade of the 101st Airborne Division,...