JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
New intelligence nominee faces tough job
John Negroponte, President Bush's choice to serve as the government's first national intelligence director, is likely to win Senate confirmation for a job the veteran U.S. diplomat expects to be uncommonly hard.

Fatal U.S. military accidents up in Iraq
U.S. troops in Iraq have suffered a rash of fatal vehicle accidents and other non-combat deaths in recent weeks, even as the number killed in insurgent attacks has declined.

Wrangling over new Iraq government begins
A Shiite alliance won a slim majority in Iraq's new National Assembly, according to certified election returns announced Thursday, but it may take weeks to form a government. Meanwhile, interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi cautioned against excluding all Saddam Hussein's supporters.

Brazil orders Amazon reserve after killing
Brazil's president ordered the creation of a huge Amazon environmental protection area in a lawless region coveted by soy farmers and ranchers less than a week after an American nun was gunned down trying to protect the jungle from deforestation.

Iraq's Interim PM Looks Back on Tenure
He's a former exile and surgeon whose previous Baath Party connections made him a valuable intelligence source for both the British and the Americans.Ayad Allawi, the first man to be prime minister in... [in Gadsden Times] The US News: Iraq News


Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Indonesian TV reporters missing in Iraq
Two reporters working for an Indonesian television station are missing in Iraq, a foreign ministry spokesman said Friday. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq


Ananova: War In Iraq
Blair seeks terror law consensus
Tony Blair will hold talks with opposition leaders in an attempt to secure cross-party agreement on new anti-terrorism powers. Ananova: War In Iraq

Seven held in IRA cash probe
Two members of Sinn Fein are being questioned as part of a police investigation into possible IRA links to a major money laundering operation. Ananova: War In Iraq

Iraqis seize Indonesian journalists
Two Indonesian journalists were kidnapped in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, Al-Arabiya television said, citing the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. Ananova: War In Iraq


The US News: Iraq News
Iraqi Prisoner Died During CIA Questioning
SAN DIEGO -- A procedure known as "Palestinian hanging" may have led to the death of an Iraqi whose corpse was seen in pictures worldwide.Investigative reports reviewed by The Associated Press say Man... [in ABC 7] The US News: Iraq News

US President George W. Bush names his ambassador to Iraq as spy director
Click to enlarge WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush has nominated his ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte, to oversee all 15 US spy agencies including the CIA as the first-ever director of n... [in AFP via Yahoo] The US News: Iraq News

Iraq's Shia alliance wins majority
BAGHDAD: Iraq's Shi'ite alliance won a slim majority of seats in the country's new National Assembly, the Iraqi Electoral Commission said on Thursday, based on final results from last month's histo... [in Times of India] The US News: Iraq News

Allawi says Iraq must unify or face 'disaster'
BAGHDAD, Feb. 17 - Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has warned that unless Iraq takes steps toward national reconciliation -- "not by words but by deeds" -- the country faces disaster, and he said h... [in MSNBC] The US News: Iraq News

Iraq results confirm historic Shiite victory, amid political haggling
Photo: AFP BAGHDAD (AFP) - Shiite and Kurdish domination of Iraq's parliament have been confirmed by the announcement of official election results, bringing the country's rocky electoral process to... [in AFP via Yahoo] The US News: Iraq News

Wrangling Over New Iraq Government Begins
Because a two-thirds majority in the 275-member parliament is required for confirming the top positions in the new government, the United Iraqi Alliance will have to make deals with the other parties.... [in Yahoo] The US News: Iraq News

Iraq's Interim Prime Minister Looks Back on Turbulent Tenure
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - He's a former exile and surgeon whose previous Baath Party connections made him a valuable intelligence source for both the British and the Americans. Ayad Allawi, the first ma... [in Tampa Bay Online] The US News: Iraq News


Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Shi'ite Bloc Secures Majority in Iraq Assembly
Iraq's Shi'ite alliance won a slimmajority of seats in the new National Assembly, the ElectoralCommission said on Thursday, securing them power after decadesof domination by minority Sunnis. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

U.S. Army Files Describe New Detainee Abuse Cases
An Iraqi prisoner stated U.S. forcesbeat him with a baseball bat, broke his nose and dislocated hisarms, then coerced him to drop an abuse claim to gain hisrelease, Army files made public on Friday showed. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq


Weather
Weather information from 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


From Fox News
Iran: Response if Nukes Hit- Bush: Syria 'Out of Step'
Woman Nabbed in Bus Hijack
Iraq Certifies Election Results
Rumsfeld: Insurgency Not Static
Concern for Guard, Reserves
Recruiter: Draft Wouldn't Improve Quality of Soldiers
Navy SEALs Face Iraqi Prisoner Abuse Trial


From the Department of Defense
Iraqi Forces Cornerstone of Security
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2005 — Training and equipping Iraqi security forces will speed up, and is the cornerstone of coalition policy in the country, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said during testimony before the Senate Armed Service Committee today. Story

Iraq Certifies Jan. 30 Election Results
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2005 — It's official: the Shiite-dominated United Iraqi Alliance carried Iraq's Jan. 30 elections and will claim the most seats in Iraq's new national assembly. Story

Rumsfeld, Myers Describe Enemy in Iraq
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2005 — The enemy in Iraq is made up of many different groups, defense leaders said here Feb. 16. Intelligence professionals "have differing assessments … at different times," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said today during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. Story

System Helps Guards Track Detainees
NAVAL BASE GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Feb. 17, 2005 — An automated system helps guards at the U.S. detention facility here keep track of terror war detainees and has cut down exponentially on paperwork. Story

Abizaid: Patience, Perseverance Vital
DOHA, Qatar, Feb. 17, 2005 — The elections in Iraq were a significant accomplishment for the citizens of that nation, and Iraqi forces have come a long way, but the Iraqi people need the continuing help of coalition forces to combat the forces of extremism, said U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid. Story

ON THE GROUND
Future Military Doctors Hone Field Skills
CAMP BULLIS, Texas, Feb. 17, 2005 — Fourth-year medical students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences were called in to treat patients during a 72-hour training exercise. Story

Camp Provides Example in Joint, Cooperative Training

Post Flips Switch on New Power Milestone
BALAD, Iraq, Feb. 17, 2005 — Logistics Support Area Anaconda slid into the second phase of the power production project with the opening of the roughly 24 megawatt power plant Feb. 12. Story

Tiger Soldiers Provide Construction Security
FORWARD OPERATING BASE TIGER, Afghanistan, Feb. 17, 2005 — Troops ensure engineers working on the Tarin Kowt road in southern Afghanistan are able to do their jobs. Story

Combat Postal Unit Helps Redeploying Troops
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Feb. 17, 2005 — Redeploying servicemembers rely on soldiers from the 841st Adjutant General Company (Postal), U.S. Army Reserve, to help them send their personal items home. Story

IN IRAQ
Marines Visit Farming Village, Harvest Goodwill
Battalion Marines Open Doors in Fallujah
Marines' KC-130J Joins Mission in Iraq
Bavarian Chancellery Hosts Soldiers' Families

IN AFGHANISTAN
Soldiers Provide Relief to Storm Victims
Expeditionary Logistics Team Carries the Load
Troops Help Afghans Endure Cold Weather

FACE OF DEFENSE
New Treatment Helps Marine Heal
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Feb. 17, 2005 — Gloves cover Sgt. Charles J. Rhinehart's burned hands as he removes his shoe and a brace on his right foot. He crawls into a long metal capsule like an astronaut before putting on a mask to supply pure oxygen to his lungs. This is a daily routine for the Marine, who was wounded in Iraq. Story

Bed Bath & Beyond Teams With USO
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2005 — Bed Bath & Beyond has teamed with United Service Organizations to show that it, too, supports U.S. troops. Story

Clubs to 'Ham it Up' for Troops
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2005 — Ham radio operators and amateur radio clubs plan to "Ham It Up for the Troops" on May 28 during the second annual Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day. Story

Group Supports Stennis Sailors
Salute Our Services' Expands
Sailor Starts up NASCAR Season
'Hero Card' Thanks Servicemembers

Special Report - Iraqi Elections
Shiia Slates Win, Call for Unity
Commentary: Leaving Fear Behind
Fact Sheet: Transitional Admin Law
Fact Sheet: Candidate List Regulations

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
Police Foil Kidnapping, Attack
Iraqi Ships to be Built in Baghdad
Vehicle Accident Claims 2 Soldiers
Police Commandos Lead the Way
Four Soldiers Killed
Recruitment Drive Draws Thousands
Iraq Daily Update
Year in Review 2004 Fact Sheets (pdf)
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Missing Aircraft Search Continues
Enduring Freedom Marks 3 Years
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Negroponte Nominated for Post
Civilians Put Language Skills to Use
CIA, FBI Chiefs Categorize Threat
Detainees Live in Varied Conditions
U.S. Maritime Forces Play Vital Role
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Deployed Troops Get Tax Options
Military Can Fulfill Mission
Rumsfeld Discusses War Costs
Rumsfeld Outlines Progress, Future
'Devil Docs' Deploy to Iraq
National Guard, Reserve Update