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SADR CITY, Iraq, Dec. 15, 2005 – In April 2004, this section of Baghdad exploded. Troopers of the 1st Cavalry Division found themselves in a fight against a Shiia militia. Men carrying rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 assault rifles challenged the Bradley fighting vehicles, Abrams tanks and the dismounted soldiers who fought through this crowded section of the city. Fast-forward to December 2005, and the Americans are greeted as friends, and residents go out of their way to compliment the members of the Iraqi security forces for the roles they played in bringing democracy to Iraq. Election day in Sadr City...

BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Iraq, Dec. 2, 2005 – An all Iraqi aircrew flew its first solo mission aboard a C-130E from Ali Air Base, near Nasariyah in southeast Iraq, to New Al Muthana here Nov. 28, officials reported today. The nine aircrew members are part the 23rd Iraqi Squadron, which has been receiving training at Ali Air Base. "The flight marked a major milestone achievement by showing Iraq's capability of providing its own military transport," said Air Force Capt. Jerry Ruiz, forward operations executive officer at New Al Muthana Air Base. The aircrew performed what's called an engine running on-load,...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2005 – The threat that led to the global war on terror began festering long before Sept. 11, 2001, and will continue to rage as long as al Qaeda and other like organizations keep spreading their ideology, Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, from U.S. Central Command, said. Kimmitt, CENTCOM's deputy director for plans and strategy, said the terrorist threat extends well beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. "And that problem set does not go away if we were victorious tomorrow in either Iraq or Afghanistan," he said Nov. 28 at the Heritage Foundation here. A large network of terrorist...

VIENNA, Va., Nov. 21, 2005 – Supporting the military canine corps serving in the global terror war is for the dogs as far as one Virginia business is concerned. The furry patrons of Happy Tails Dog Spa in this Washington suburb and their owners have pitched in to help support America's military working dogs with needed items. The pooches worked up a good lather to raise funds during a dog wash last summer. And their good efforts continue this holiday season with the spa's planned monetary donation to the U.S. War Dogs Association, which will send holiday gift baskets to...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-- (Nov. 2, 2005) -- - Lt. Gen. Lewis “Chesty” Puller is, hands down, the Marine’s Marine. He looked out for morale, stood up for what was right, stayed combat-ready, and when the time came to send rounds downrange, his rounds hit their mark. Chesty isn’t physically with us anymore, but three units within the II Marine Expeditionary Force were recognized Nov. 2 for keeping his memory and mission accomplishment alive. The Lieutenant General Chesty Puller Award for Sustained Superior Leadership and Performance originated approximately a year ago to commend a small, medium and large-size...

Alarm in US as 'gangsta bible' goes mainstream By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles (Filed: 31/10/2005) An American magazine about gangster life that was originally aimed at prisoners is selling so well that it is to go on sale in major stores. To the alarm of those working in crime prevention, Don Diva, which calls itself "the original street bible", has become required reading in many inner cities. Don Diva's controversial 'children and firearms' issue It features interviews with convicts, and includes tips on where to hide drugs and buy the best diamond-studded gold teeth and money-counting machines. Critics say...

In the gunner’s hatch of his Humvee, Spc. Dean Levy poses with fellow crew members (left to right): Staff Sgt. Herminio Rodriguez, Spc. Patrick Grubert, and 42nd Infantry Division Artillery Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Flynn. The picture was taken on Levy’s first day back to work after recovering from burns he suffered in a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device explosion. Flynn is holding the leash of “Zappa”, a dual-purpose explosive detection dog. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta U.S. Army Spc. Dean Levy Gunner Goes Head-to-Head with a V-Bed, Saves Crew By Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta, 42nd Infantry...

JUNEAU, Alaska — Starting Wednesday, a new anti-gun-control law in Alaska will allow handgun owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit in the seven Alaska cities where permits are now required. Gun owners will be allowed to keep their firearms in their vehicle, even if the car is parked on private property where the owner has a no-gun policy. And, some police chiefs say, local ordinances that ban guns from public buildings such as city halls will no longer be enforceable. Alaska’s new law forbids municipalities from passing gun laws that are more restrictive than state law. The National...

Police keep watch as Iraq war protest case goes to jury BINGHAMTON, N.Y. A large contingent of local, county and state police remain positioned outside a Binghamton federal building as the case against four Iraq war protesters goes to the jury. There's been a highly visible police presence around the downtown building since the trial started Monday. Two men and two women are being tried on federal conspiracy charges for spilling blood at an Ithaca-area military recruiting office in 2003. Binghamton Police Chief John Butler today said he feels "pretty good" with the way things have gone this week. People...

WASHINGTON - The showdown over President Bush's judicial nominees reflects the raw nature of modern-day politics: Senators pulled to their political extremes by special interest groups, with a dwindling few clinging to a semblance of moderation and tradition. Compromise, while possible, is more painful than ever because of changes in media, technology and politics. Special interest groups are richer and more powerful than a few years ago. New technologies make it easier for these groups to rally partisan voters who, because of C-Span, 24-hour cable TV news, the Internet and other communication innovations, are more plugged into politics than in...

Emancipation Proclamation Goes on View New York Lawyer February 18, 2005 By Carl Hartman The Associated Press WASHINGTON -- President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation declaring the end to slavery goes on public view Friday as part of Black History Month celebrations. The document will be on display at the National Archives, where visitors regularly see the original Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The poor quality of the paper and ink on the final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation make it vulnerable to light, so it has been only occasionally brought out of storage. It was last seen on Jan. 19,...

Newly found species goes missing again By Stephen Cauchi Science reporter February 10, 2005 The disputed Homo Floresiensis. Photo: Robert Pearce The remains of an extinct metre-high human species have become virtually as hidden as they were before their discovery last year rocked the world of palaeontology. One of Indonesia's leading palaeontologists is refusing to hand back the remains to the team that found them on the Indonesian island of Flores. As reported last year, Professor Teuku Jacob, of Gadjah Mada University, grabbed the remains of the seven creatures - dubbed "hobbits" - and locked them in his safe, refusing...

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - A busy day beckons in Washington state Wednesday, with the state Supreme Court hearing arguments on the extremely close governor's race and officials in a key county expected to finish their hand recount. But whatever happens, the drama will probably not be the end of the epic 2004 governor's election - just the beginning of a new chapter. If Republican Dino Rossi loses the third count - after winning the first two - he may challenge the election in court. Republicans are already preparing for a possible legal challenge. Democrat Christine Gregoire has promised to concede...

US goes back to basics in its war on terrorism By David Rennie in Norfolk, Virginia (Filed: 27/08/2004) Commander David Somers, an 18-year veteran of the US navy, has just taken charge of the most modern - even radical - squadron in his country's fleet. Cdr Somers has served aboard some of the most powerful warships in the world, built and armed to take on the full might of the Soviet navy. Yet the vessels in his new command are only 25 feet long. The soldiers are kept ready for almost immediate deployment He served in the Cold War as...

'Death after death, blood after blood' Killing goes on despite claims that siege is over Luke Harding inside the Imam Ali shrine, Najaf Saturday August 21, 2004 The Guardian (UK) Inside the pockmarked entrance of Najaf's Imam Ali shrine, there were no police to be seen yesterday afternoon. Supporters of the rebel Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr loafed on carpets in the pigeon-infested courtyard. A few smoked; others dozed. A couple of young students stood next to a makeshift infirmary; parked nearby was an empty pallet covered in blood. "We haven't given up. This is a lie by the government," said...

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon plans to present, at this Sunday's Cabinet meeting, a detailed proposal for the removal of 25 Jewish towns in Gaza and northern Shomron and the expulsion of their residents - despite the fact that all indications are that it will not pass. The key minister is Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who some Sharon aides are accusing of trying to prematurely succeed Sharon as Prime Minister. Sharon met with Netanyahu yesterday, and the latter said he would be willing to support the destruction of no more than three communities. He has explained in the past that for...

French imam row goes to top court Mr Bouziane was described as "medieval" by moderate Muslims The French interior ministry has said it will appeal against a court decision to cancel the deportation of a controversial Muslim preacher. A regional court in the city of Lyon on Monday upheld Friday's ruling that Abdelkader Bouziane, who was deported on Wednesday, could return to France. The government had promised to supply evidence to justify the deportation. Mr Bouziane, 52, was criticised over an interview in which he condoned beating and stoning unfaithful wives. The remarks drew criticism from local politicians and moderate...

Cavers rescued as row goes on Three British cavers trapped underground by rising water since March 17 have been pulled to safety, but a row rumbled on as the rescue continued in Mexico. Mexico asked Britain to explain the activities of the military cave divers. The Foreign Relations Department asked for "a detailed explanation of the type of activities" the group was carrying out "and about the objectives of their investigation". Meanwhile, two British and several Mexican divers pulled three of the explorers from the mouth of the Alpazat caverns, where they had been trapped since March 17. The mission...

Earth Science Missions Anomaly Report: GOES/POES Program/POES Project: 6 Sep 2003 EARTH SCIENCE MISSIONS ANOMALY REPORT TO: GSFC: 100/A. Diaz, 100/W. Townsend, 100/ 400/D Perkins, NASA HQ: Y/G. Asrar, Y/M. Luther, Q/B O’Connor FROM: GSFC/POES Project/480/K. Halterman DATE: September 6, 2003 PROGRAM/PROJECT: GOES/POES Program/POES Project DATE OF ANOMALY: September 6, 2003 LOCATION OF ANOMALY: Lockheed Martin, Sunnyvale CA DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: As the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft was being repositioned from vertical to horizontal on the "turn over cart" at approximately 7:15 PDT today, it slipped off the fixture, causing severe damage. (See attached photo). The 18' long spacecraft was about...

US warships sail into Monrovia as Taylor finally goes By Declan Walsh in Monrovia 12 August 2003 Up to the last moment many Liberians could hardly believe it was true. But after six years of destructive rule, Charles Taylor surrendered power to his deputy, Moses Blah, at his executive mansion yesterday and flew into exile abroad. Almost immediately, the momentum for a peaceful solution to Liberia's war started to spin faster. Three US warships sailed before the shores of Monrovia, causing joyful residents to flood onto the city's rubbish-strewn beaches to watch them pass. Two large helicopters rose from the...