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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....

TAL AFAR, Iraq (Army News Service, Sept. 23, 2005) -- About 700 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, working with Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, are attempting to place the troubled city of Tal Afar under control before the constitutional referendum in October and the national elections in December. The paratroopers of 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment arrived Sept. 11, ready to fight, but opposition was light. They conducted patrols and searched homes in the nearly deserted city, as well as questioned the few local residents who failed to evacuate prior to the operation. “It was less...

I have been pulling my hair out watching both the NASA press conferences and also the stupid reporters questions after the absolute tragedy of the Columbia disaster. They all say there was no way to save the ship... That is Nonsense!! Remember the Challenger disaster where the launch control director was yelling RTLS RTLS after the explosion at 83 seconds? RTLS stands for Return To Launch Site. If 83 seconds was good enough for Challenger. Why wasn't 80 (or more) seconds good enough for Columbia? If I can find this, then people at NASA know this. Husband and McCool could...