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London - US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said in an interview published on Friday that cyber attacks, such as the one unleashed on Estonia this week, will "become more of an issue" in the future. Estonia had urged its allies in the European Union and Nato to take firm action against the cyber attacks that have hit the Baltic state amid a bitter row with Russia over a Soviet war memorial. "We need to prepare ourselves because this is likely only to become more of an issue in the future," Negroponte told the Financial Times and other European...

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - When the aliens finally invade Earth, you may wish you had listened to Travis Taylor and Bob Boan. And if the invasion follows the plot of a typical Hollywood blockbuster, they might also be the guys called in at the last minute to save the day. After all, they have written "An Introduction to Planetary Defense," a primer on how humanity can defend itself if little green men wielding death rays show up at our cosmic doorstep. And yes, they're serious. "The probability really is there that aliens exist and are old enough to have technology...

SYDNEY (AFP) - Western nations must prepare for a future dominated by China and India, whose rapid economic rise will soon fundamentally alter the balance of power, former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn has warned. Wealthy countries were failing to understand the impact of the invevitable growth of the two Asian powerhouses, Wolfensohn said in the 2006 Wallace Wurth Memorial Lecture at the University of New South Wales at the weekend. "It's a world that is going to be in the hands of these countries which we now call developing," said Australian-born Wolfensohn, who held the top job at the...

Gaza militants 'prepare for showdown' By Harry de Quetteville in Jerusalem (Filed: 28/09/2006) Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip are rearming and retraining for an imminent military showdown with the Israeli army, intelligence sources disclosed yesterday. Yuval Diskin, the head of Israel's intelligence service Shin Bet, said 19 tons of explosives had been smuggled into Gaza in the past year. Other senior Israeli officials indicated that Palestinian fighters were acquiring more effective weapons. Palestinian militants at a news conference in Gaza on Sunday It is understood that Israel may use the unresolved kidnapping of a soldier in June as an...

Kyoto isn't working, prepare for climate change, say scientists By Roger Highfield, Science Editor (Filed: 04/09/2006) The Kyoto agreement to cut greenhouse emissions is "ineffectual" and the world should prepare for the effects of climate change, the nation's biggest general science meeting will be told tonight. Developing drought-tolerant crops, constructing flood defences, improving building insulation or banning building close to sea level are as important as cutting emissions, according to Frances Cairncross, the president of the British Association and chairman of the Economic and Social Research Council. "We need more sheltered public spaces. It is going to be either sunnier...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2006 – Troop-support volunteers in Milwaukee are gearing up for the city’s first Freedom Walk, a local organizer said today. Emily Lindeman, Operation Homefront’s chapter president for southeastern Wisconsin, said Milwaukee’s two-mile-long Freedom Walk is scheduled Sept. 11 starting at 9 a.m. at the city’s War Memorial. “We’re going to be walking through Veterans’ Park, which is a park right behind the War Memorial,” Lindeman said, noting there will be a 9/11 memorial service before the walk. Lindeman said Operation Homefront, a co-sponsor of Milwaukee’s Freedom Walk, is a national nonprofit volunteer group that provides emergency support...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Aug. 28, 2006 -- As members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit here make last-minute preparations for their upcoming deployment, Staff Sgt. Danny Sava and his family are getting their own affairs in order so they’re ready for another long separation. Marine Staff Sgt. Danny Sava, his wife, Julia, son, Anthony, and daughter, Alyssa, stroll past a sign at the top of a stairwell in the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command headquarters that marks the days until Sava’s upcoming deployment. “E-22” marks “Embarkation minus 22,” or 22 days until Sava and 2,300 fellow...

(PRWEB) July 8, 2006 -- As Independence weekend celebrations spread throughout the United States, V.I.P. Promotions Founder/CEO Tommy Nero interviewed U.S. Army Captain James Van Thach while he was spending his July 4th, weekend deployed to Baghdad, Iraq on his first overseas tour of duty. "It's so unusual these days, Captain Thach, to find young people even thinking about devoting their lives to something greater than themselves May I ask why you volunteered to join the Infantry after finishing Touro Law School?" "Mr. Nero, there are higher callings in life than just focusing on building a very comfortable lifestyle for...

6/26/2006 - CAMP AL RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq (AFPN) -- In order for coalition troops to leave Iraq, the Iraqis must first be prepared to take over operations from the coalition. Part of accomplishing that task involves coalition forces training and validating the new Iraqi military. Four Airmen assigned to a small forward operating base about 10 miles outside Baghdad are responsible for that training. "Our job is to train, advise and mentor the Iraqi force to help them transition to taking over their country and getting coalition troops back home," said Maj. Derek Jenkins, the senior military adviser from the Coalition...

AL ASAD, Iraq (June 6, 2006) -- Sipping on bottled water, rifle in hand and wearing a good 60 pounds of body armor on this sprawling U.S. military airbase, Lance Cpl. Emanuel Cantu says he doesn’t mind training for combat in Iraq’s blistering 110-plus degree temperature. In fact, he says he loves it. After all, four months of serving in Iraq as part of a quick reaction force has helped the 31-year-old Marine lose more than 20 pounds, but more importantly, he says he’s found his niche in the Marine Corps – training to save lives. “I feel like I’m...

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2006 – Spending Mother's Day thousands of miles away from their kids is going to be no picnic for more than 7,400 military moms deployed in support of the war on terror. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christine Buckley, deployed to Djibouti with Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, has been home only twice to celebrate Mother's Day with her sons, ages 8 and 6. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert S. Taylor, USN  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Many say they're planning their own celebrations thinking of their children and calling home,...

FORT HUACHUCA — It’s early in the morning, the sun has yet to start its rise in the east and the only lights breaking the darkness on this Southern Arizona Army post are the soft orange illuminations from street lamps. But already there are stirrings as GIs begin to awake, stretching their muscles, yawning and occasionally growling their discontent knowing ahead of them will be chow, physical exercises, training and duty before the work period ends. It’s a routine part of a soldier’s day. And in today’s Army, a sense of security is also part of soldiers’ lives, developed through...

What You Should Do to Prepare for an EpidemicStock Up on Essentials and Have an 'Outbreak Plan'How To Protect Yourself Bird Flu How Would You Know If You Had Avian Flu?A Bit of Context on the Bird Flu Threat How To Protect Yourself By LARA SETRAKIAN March 12, 2006 — Will there be an outbreak of avian flu that threatens humans? Many experts disagree on when or if a human pandemic will occur, but do say there is a chance that the virus could mutate, leading to widespread infection. In that case, the best thing you and your family can...

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, March 1, 2006 – Defense Department officials are working to create a pandemic influenza plan in time for the Department of Homeland Defense's end-of-March deadline, a DoD medical official said Feb. 27. The plan will lay out the department's roles and responsibilities in varying stages of an avian influenza -- or "bird flu" -- outbreak, both at home and overseas, said Ellen Embrey, deputy assistant secretary of defense for force health protection and readiness, during a Joint Operations Medical Managers Course in San Antonio. DoD's work is a coordinated, integrated effort to ensure the department is...

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Feb. 1, 2006) -- Every day, service members in Iraq put on their gear and prepare for battle in the war on terror, but one day a year the two top teams in the National Football League suit up and battle to see who will be the next Super Bowl champion. In Iraq, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks hope their schedules will allow an opportunity to watch the game and support their team. They may not be home with their immediate family to watch the game, but from thousands of miles away a few...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Jan. 25, 2006) -- The Banshees of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 are preparing to return home after six months of duty in support of Operation Iraq Freedom at Al Asad, Iraq. The EA-6B Prowler squadron based at Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., recently completed its mission of electronic warfare in support of II Marine Expeditionary Force and was relieved by VMAQ-2. The Banshees logged more than 800 flight missions, or sorties, which added up to more than 3,000 flight hours. "This was a very successful deployment for us," said Maj. John D. Thurman,...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif (Jan. 25, 2006) -- As another rotation of Marine forces are deploying to Iraq, Marine reserves from around the country will be filling the ranks and heading to combat operations with their active-duty counterparts. One such group of Marine reservist from the 4th Landing Support Battalion gathered on Camp Pendleton recently to familiarize themselves with some of the weapons and gear they will carry during their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Approximately 100 members of the 4th LSB traveled from cities like Seattle, Savannah, Ga. and Charleston, S.C., to cross-train in...

Under the watchful eye of Mark Atwood, a Department of State trainer, Gen. Siafullah Hakem, the local immigration chief, and his Afghan Border Police colleagues, reviews the monitor of the Rapidscan x-ray machine at Kandahar International Airport. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Lum Afghan Border Police Prepare Airport for Hajj Afghan Border Police are receiving important airport screening training as the Kandahar International Airport prepares to open to Afghan nationals before the Hajj. By Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Lum 117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Nov. 29, 2005 — Afghan Border Police are receiving...

A U.S. soldier assigned to the 84th Engineers Battalion helps guide a scraper to the loading dock so it can be lifted into the cargo ship Tayrona Princess at Ford Island, Nov. 10, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Juan Jimenez 84th Engineers Prepare for Iraq Deployment Soldiers, sailors and civilians worked to load 190 pieces of heavy equipment on board a cargo ship to support the engineers' second deployment to Iraq. By U.S. Army Spc. Juan Jimenez Hawaii Army Weekly FORD ISLAND, Hawaii, Nov. 28, 2005 — The Tayrona Princess, a 450-foot cargo ship from the Philippines, arrived...

JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (NNS) -- Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40, deployed to the Gulf Coast region in support of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita relief efforts, are helping a private school here to recover from damage caused by the hurricanes. Students at Saint Louis King of France Catholic School are on schedule to meet their self-imposed Oct. 10 deadline to be back in the classroom, thanks to the Seabees. “The hurricane affected everybody, and that includes the [repair] contractors,” said Pam Schott, Saint Louis King of France’s principal. “So there’s no one here to help us get...