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As reported earlier, Pakistan and India were both shaken by a strong 7.8 magnitude earthquake with numerous aftershocks. While the damage and the casualties from the quake are not fully known yet although according to Raza news agency the latest death toll is at 45, one quite stunning development has emerged, quite literally, out of the sea. As Pakistani's The News reports, an entire island emerged off the country's Gwadar coast in the aftermath of the quake. "According to DIG Gwadar Moazzam Jah, the island's altitude is 20 to 40 feet and width around 100 feet. Talking to Geo news,...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2006 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is now officially the commander in chief of his troops. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and U.S. Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. sign documents to mark the hand-over of control of the Iraqi armed forces to Maliki. U.S. Army photo  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Coalition forces handed over operational control of Iraq’s navy, air force and the 8th Iraqi Army Division in a ceremony today at the Ministry of Defense in Baghdad’s International Zone. “It’s fitting I follow the commander in chief of the Iraqi forces,” said...

The Al Basrah Oil Terminal as seen from the roof of the platform. The terminal produces approximately two million barrels of oil each day. On Feb. 7, 2006, the Iraqi navy’s marine unit took the lead in platform security. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class John J. Pistone Iraqi Navy Protects Country’s Oil Platforms The Iraqi navy consists of two squadrons, a patrol boat squadron and an assault boat squadron, and also includes one marine battalion. By U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John J. Pistone Multinational Security Transition Command—Iraq UM QASR, Iraq, Feb. 13, 2006 —...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2005 – More than 110 Iraqi battalions are involved in the fight against terrorists, officials in Baghdad said this week. The contributions of the units vary, but all are participating in operations. The Iraqi ministries of Defense and Interior have developed readiness assessment criteria for units. Much like the readiness assessments for the U.S. Army, the criteria measure capabilities in six different areas: personnel, command and control, training and mission-essential tasks, sustainment, equipment, and leadership. Different readiness levels indicate different capabilities. Level 1 is the highest rating, where units are fully independent in all aspects. This includes...

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Veteran’s Day   by Roger W Hancock   We honor you, who fought for us, for country’s sake of freedom’s plight. You kept the greatest country great, by sacrifice of you who served.   Honor to military, soldiers served. There seems no risk in peace to serve. When war breaks the silent peace, no peace when security cease.   Sacrifice of civilian life, careers succumb to enlist, or draft. Families wait in fear, in prayer, for loved ones return alive, not dead.   Returned Heroes and those deceased, we honor, thank, though insufficient. Parades, programs, our pride convey, We honor...