JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Rice stands firm in Senate questioning
Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice gave no ground in Senate confirmation questioning Tuesday, insisting the United States was fully prepared for the Iraq war and its aftermath and refusing to give a timetable for U.S. troops to come home.

Bush launches inaugural celebrations
President Bush launched his inaugural celebrations on Tuesday by thanking two groups that played major roles in his election to a second term — the military that prosecuted the war in Iraq and his most ardent and generous political supporters.

Iraq to close borders during election
A suicide bomber struck the Baghdad headquarters of Iraq's biggest Shiite political party Tuesday, killing three people, as the government announced plans to close borders and restrict movements to bolster security in the national election. Three candidates were slain as insurgents intensified their campaign to subvert the ballot.

Man faces charges in oil-for-food probe
An Iraqi-American businessman, accused of pocketing millions of dollars through the U.N. oil-for-food program with Iraq, pleaded guilty Tuesday to acting as an illegal agent of Saddam Hussein's government.

Bombing clouds Abbas' talks with militants
In the biggest test of his brief tenure, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas came to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, hoping to persuade militants to halt attacks on Israel. But in a show of defiance, a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up on a settler road in Gaza, killing an Israeli security agent and wounding seven other Israelis.

Man surrenders after making blast threat
A man upset over custody of his child threatened to blow up his van a block from the White House on Tuesday, prompting a 4 1/2-hour standoff with police, authorities said.


Weather
Weather information provided by The Weather Channel

Iraq
Al Azamiyah
Al Basrah
Al Hillah
Al Karkh
Al Kazimiyah
Al Kut
An Nasiriyah
Baghdad
Baqubah
Mosul
Najaf
Nineveh
Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar
Ghurian
Herat
Kabul
Qandahar

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Bombing clouds Abbas' talks with militants
In the biggest test of his brief tenure, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas came to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, hoping to persuade militants to halt attacks on Israel. But in a show of defiance, a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up on a settler road in Gaza, killing an Israeli security agent and wounding seven other Israelis. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

AP: Mubarak's son qualified, PM says
Gamal Mubarak, the son of Egypt's president, is qualified on his own to replace his father, but being related to the current leader could be an "obstacle" to ruling the Arab world's largest country, Egypt's prime minister said. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Panel: Holocaust victims' assets held
The Israeli government and several banks hold assets belonging to Holocaust victims worth $212 million, according a parliamentary report released Tuesday. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Kuwait interrogates ex-Guantanamo prisoner
Kuwait's first detainee to be freed from the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is now being interrogated by prosecutors in his home country, the head of a group that lobbied for his release said Tuesday. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Iraq to Close Borders During Election
A suicide bomber struck the Baghdad headquarters of Iraq's biggest Shiite political party Tuesday, killing three people, as the government announced plans to close borders and restrict movements to bolster security in the national election. Three candidates were slain as insurgents intensified their campaign to subvert the ballot. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

Man Faces Charges in Oil-For-Food Probe
An Iraqi-American businessman, accused of pocketing millions of dollars through the U.N. oil-for-food program with Iraq, pleaded guilty Tuesday to acting as an illegal agent of Saddam Hussein's government. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq


Rice Defends Her Integrity in Clash Over Iraq
Secretary of State-designateCondoleezza Rice on Tuesday defended herself against a chargethat she put loyalty above truthfulness in making the Bushadministration's case for going to war against Iraq. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

Rice: U.S. was prepared for war in Iraq
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice gave no ground in Senate confirmation questioning Tuesday, insisting the United States was fully prepared for the Iraq war and its aftermath and refusing to give a timetable for U.S. troops to come home. Modesto Bee: Iraq

Iraqi officials take measures to protect voters
Iraqi officials announced Tuesday that they would seal the country's borders, extend a curfew and restrict travel as part of a sweeping plan to protect voters from insurgents trying to disrupt the country's first free election in decades. Kansas.com: Iraq

Man faces charges in oil-for-food probe
WASHINGTON (AP) - An Iraqi-American businessman, accused of pocketing millions of dollars through the U.N. oil-for-food program with Iraq, pleaded guilty Tuesday to acting as an illegal agent of Saddam Hussein's government. Fresno Bee: Iraq

Grilling for Rice...Bush salutes troops...US-Iran rattle sabres
Katu.com: Iraq & Terror

Rice strains to remain diplomatic during hearing
Katu.com: Iraq & Terror


From Fox News:
Car Bomb Explodes Near Australian Embassy in Iraq
Three Iraqi Candidates Killed
FBI Ditches Carnivore Surveillance System
U.N. Lifts Travel Ban on Aceh
Abbas Summons Militants
High Court Skips Gitmo Case


From the Department of Defense:
Governor Optimistic About Security
BAQUBAH, Iraq, Jan. 18, 2005 — The governor of Iraq's Diyala province is optimistic that security will be strong enough to hold elections here Jan. 30. "We're working with the police and the Iraqi army and with the coalition forces," said Abdullah Rashid during an interview in his office today. Story

Iraqis Hold Political Debate in Baqubah
BAQUBAH, Iraq, Jan. 18, 2005 — It had none of the packaging that Americans have grown accustomed to in a presidential debate, but a debate here today for the upcoming election was fledgling democracy in action — Iraqi style. Story

Iraqi Police Station Renovations Begin
TALLIL, Iraq, Jan. 18, 2005 — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division, Southern District plans to help the Iraqi police perform its mission by renovating some 230 police stations in southern Iraq. Story

ON THE GROUND
Attack Jolts Complacency, Proves Beneficial
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2005 — A single gunshot shattered the early morning quiet Jan. 12. A few moments of silence followed, leading some to believe the shot was an accidental discharge. Then, a flurry of machine gun fire erupted from a nearby hill. This was an attack. Story

Afghan Villagers, Coalition Funds Build School
KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2005 — Difficult terrain did not thwart the determined residents of a village here from building a first-rate school for area children. Thanks to Coalition Forces’ Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team funding and the determination of the residents, Qamchai village celebrated the grand opening of the first school in their region. Story

'Commandos' Tally One Million Completed Calls
CAMP LIBERTY, BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 18, 2005 — Coalition forces have achieved several milestones in the last several months: removing Saddam Hussein from power, preparing for the country’s first democratic elections later this month and Company B, 10th Signal Battalion, 10th Mountain Division recording their one millionth completed call. Story

IN IRAQ
Cavalry Troops Remember Martin Luther King
Stryker Brigade Proves Itself in Ninewa
'Little Things Make All the Difference'
Marine Combat Engineers Fortify U.S. Camp

IN AFGHANISTAN
Airmen Arrive for Duty in Afghanistan
Force Protection Vital to Rebuilding Effort
'Wolfhounds' Ensure Stability, Security

IN KUWAIT
Army Reserve Chief Visits Troops, Hears Concerns

IN SOUTHWEST ASIA
From Beans to Bullets, Contracting Makes It Happen

WHY I SERVE
Lincoln Sailor Loves Saving Lives
ABOARD THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Jan. 16, 2005 —"It's rewarding, it really is," said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class David Loiselle, an aviation warfare systems operator with Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 47, embarked aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. "I'd much rather do this than sit behind a desk." Story

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
Crackdown Continues on Insurgents
Aircraft Delivered to Iraqi Air Force
Three Troops Die in Action
More Insurgents Captured
Detainee Transfer Announced
Attack Again From Mosul Mosque
Iraq Daily Update
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IRAQ ELECTIONS
Troops Arrive to Bolster Security
U.S. General: Iraqis Want to Vote
'Absolute Security' Impossible
North-Central Iraq Ready for Vote
Fact Sheet: Iraqi Elections
Fact Sheet: Timeline
Fact Sheet: Transitional Admin Law
Fact Sheet: Candidate List Regulations

IN AFGHANISTAN
Missing Aircraft Search Continues
More Weapons Caches Turn Up
Enduring Freedom Marks 3 Years
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Ridge: War Tests Will, Fortitude
Report: Terrorists Will Adapt, Thrive
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Benning Pledges Family Support
Children Learn About Deployments
National Guard, Reserve Update