JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Report: N. Korea not interested in talks
China's official news agency cited an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry spokesman as saying on Saturday that Pyongyang is not ready to return to six-party nuclear disarmament talks and does not want direct meeting with the United States.

Bombers kill at least six people in Iraq
Four suicide bombers blew themselves up in Iraq on Saturday, killing at least six people, as Shiite Muslim worshippers around the country celebrated the holiest day of the year, one day after at least 36 people were killed in a string of attacks.

USS Jimmy Carter to be commissioned
The USS Jimmy Carter enters the Navy's fleet as the most heavily armed submarine ever built, and as the last of the Seawolf class of attack subs that the Pentagon ordered during the Cold War's final years.

Allies seek peace, stability in East Asia
Shared concern about China and its threat to use force against Taiwan are drawing Japan and the United States closer in their determination to maintain peace and stability in East Asia.


Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Car Bomb Kills at Least 7 in Baghdad
A suicide car bomb exploded during a religious commemoration outside a mosque in western Baghdad Saturday, killing at least seven people, as Shiite Muslims celebrated their holiest day of the year, officials said. The blast came one day after insurgents killed 36 in a string of attacks. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

Three Killed, 37 Wounded in Baghdad Suicide Attack
A suicide bomber on a motorbike blewhimself up among a crowd of mourners near a Shi'ite Muslimmosque in Baghdad on Saturday, killing three people andwounding 37, hospital and police sources said. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

Blast Hits Baghdad on Shiites' Holy Day
An explosion near a funeral in western Baghdad on Saturday caused an unknown number of casualties, police said, amid tightened security for Shiite Muslims marking their holiest day of the year. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq


Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Car bomb kills at least 7 in Baghdad
A suicide car bomb exploded during a religious commemoration outside a mosque in western Baghdad Saturday, killing at least seven people, as Shiite Muslims celebrated their holiest day of the year, officials said. The blast came one day after insurgents killed 36 in a string of attacks. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on 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
Tight Security for Shiite Holy Day
Deadly Blasts Target Shiites in Baghdad
Fast Facts: Deadly Attacks in Iraq
Video Shows Kidnapped Reporters
Shiites Reserved on Ashoura Holiday
Fatal U.S. Military Accidents Up in Iraq


From the Department of Defense
Pentagon Leaders Discuss War on Terror
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2005 —There's steady success in the global war on terror, but it's a war the United States can't fight alone, and one in which the U.S. military depends on its partners in government, senior Pentagon officials told civilian leaders visiting here today. Story

Hearing Focus: Care for Guard, Reserves
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2005 — While peak combat readiness is a persistent goal of America's armed forces, much less has been made of the state of the military's medical readiness, especially with regard to support systems and processes for returning National Guard and Reserve personnel wounded in the global war on terror. Story

Detainees Get 'First-Rate' Medical Care
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Feb. 18, 2005 — In every case, enemy combatants held here receive medical care that is "as good as or better than anything we would offer our own soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines," the general in charge of the U.S. detention facility here said. Story

Navy Dentist Stays Busy at Detainee Camp
Coast Guard Protects Guantanamo Waterways

ON THE GROUND
Teams Measure Success by Lives Saved
BALAD, Iraq, Feb. 18, 2005 — The 716th Ordnance Company at Logistics Support Area Anaconda has the daunting task of getting up close and personal with the devices designed to kill soldiers and the demand for their expertise has only increased. Story

Morale, Welfare, Recreation Program a Hit
CAMP PATRIOT, Iraq, Feb. 18, 2005 — Soldiers with some free time at Camp Patriot have no excuse to be “barracks rats,” thanks to people like Tony Aguilar, a native of Dallas who is also known as “Big Tony” and “Tony the Tiger.” Story

U.S., Coalition Troops Support Kabul School
KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 18, 2005 — Children at a local school will have it a little easier carrying books and supplies to and from school thanks to U.S. and coalition military personnel efforts supporting Operation School House and Operation Educate. Story

Korean Hospital Treats 130,000th Patient
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Feb. 18, 2005 — For almost two years, the soldiers of the Korean Hospital here have been providing medical support to Afghans and coalition members and after many months of hard work and dedication, they reached the achievement of treating 130,000 patients. Story

IN IRAQ
Marines Improve Safety in Ramadi
Post Flips Switch on New Power Milestone
Marines Visit Farming Village, Harvest Goodwill
Battalion Marines Open Doors in Fallujah

IN AFGHANISTAN
Soldiers, Airman Boost Morale During 'Off Time'
Tiger Soldiers Provide Construction Security
Combat Postal Unit Helps Redeploying Troops

IN KUWAIT
Small UAV Provides Eyes in the Sky for Battalions

WHY I SERVE
Soldier Extends to Stay in Iraq With New Unit
ASAD, Iraq, Feb. 17, 2005 — What's a police officer from Marietta, Ga., doing in the dusty desert regions of the Middle East? Extending her tour. "I wanted to be in the thick of it," said Army Sgt. Beth A. Bedore, a native of Saginaw, Mich. Story

Family Support Groups Honored
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2005 — The Defense Department today recognized what one official called a "key component" to mission readiness that greatly enhanced the deployability of Guard and Reserve forces. Story

Bed Bath & Beyond, USO Team Up
Clubs to 'Ham it Up' for Troops
Group Supports Stennis Sailors
Salute Our Services' Expands

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

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
3 Soldiers Killed; Mosque Attacked
Forces Cornerstone of Security
Rumsfeld, Myers Describe Enemy
Police Foil Kidnapping, Attack
Iraqi Ships to be Built in Baghdad
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
Feith: Policy Promotes Security
Rice Outlines State's Budget
System Helps Track Detainees
Patience Vital in Terror War
Negroponte Nominated for Post
Civilians Put Language Skills to Use
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Idaho Reservists to Deploy
Future Military Doctors Hone Skills
Deployed Troops Get Tax Options
National Guard, Reserve Update

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Army Casualties
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2005 — Defense Department officials today identified two soldiers who died supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Story