Free Republic

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Crude futures halted a weeklong price slide Tuesday, nudging higher after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the stimulus package being crafted by President-elect Barack Obama and Congress could provide a "significant boost" to the sinking U.S. economy. After rebounding to a high of $50.47 one week ago, crude has fallen 30 percent as worries about the weakening global economy overshadow Mideast tensions, OPEC production cuts, the Russian-Ukraine natural gas dispute and a winter season expected to deliver the coldest weather in a decade.

AL ASAD, Iraq (April 9, 2006) -- Brushing the grit from their faces and the sand from their eyes, the Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774 completed their second deployment to Al Asad, Iraq, April 1, and are heading home to Norfolk, Va. The Marines with HMM-774, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, have spent the last seven months transporting Marines and cargo, providing assault support and maintaining their aircraft in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "Our mission is to augment with the active duty forces and provide full mission capable Marine helicopter assault support in...

3/20/2006 - NOME, Alaska (AFPN) -- After finishing last year’s Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Maj. (Dr) Thomas Knolmayer said it would be his one and only running of the 1,150 mile race across Alaska’s wilderness. But, anyone who knows the 38-year-old surgeon stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, knew better. After getting the blessing from his wife, Tina, the major threw his name in the hat to compete in the 2006 race. “I still had all the dogs and they can’t just sit around doing nothing,” he said, referring to his kennel of 21 Alaskan Huskies. After a good...

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 11, 2006) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is closing out the “Operation Blue Roof” program in Florida, with more than 42,000 homes receiving temporary roofing repairs since Hurricane Wilma made landfall in October. The Corps began the program on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Operation Blue Roof provides homeowners free temporary blue plastic roof coverings for eligible homes damaged by Hurricane Wilma. The program enables those affected by the hurricane to get back into their homes so that they can return to their routines as quickly as possible, Corps officials said....