JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Bush, Putin to meet in Slovakian capital
President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to announce new measures to combat nuclear terrorism and to better safeguard nuclear arsenals, administration officials said Thursday ahead of a summit between the new leaders.

Iraqi TV airs tape of purported confession
The Syrian intelligence officer who appeared on the U.S.-funded Iraqi state television station had a stark message about the insurgency — he'd helped train people to build car bombs and behead people.

U.S.: Suspect in Bush plot not tortured
A Virginia man accused of plotting with al-Qaida to kill President Bush should be held indefinitely, federal prosecutors said Wednesday in court filings that also rejected his contention that he was tortured while held in Saudi Arabia.


CBS News: Iraq Crisis
Training Iraqi Teams In Mosul
Lara Logan gets a dramatic look at how the Green Berets are helping create and train Iraqi SWAT teams in the dangerous city of Mosul -- and in the process, changing the face of the military police. CBS News: Iraq Crisis


Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Allawi Forming Coalition to Fight for PM
Ayad Allawi, the secular interim prime minister, said Wednesday he's putting together a coalition to try to hold onto the job in the next government and block the candidate of the dominant Shiite political alliance. Kurdish parties also weighed in with demands for top posts, setting up a possible showdown over the role of religion in a new Iraq. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

Car Bomb in Iraq City of Tikrit Kills 10, Wounds 25
A suspected suicide car bomberblew up his vehicle at a police station in the northern Iraqcity of Tikrit on Thursday, killing at least 10 people andwounding 25, police and hospital officials said. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

No Charges to Be Brought in Iraq Insurgent Death
Military investigators have decided there is not enough evidence to bring formal charges against aMarine who killed an unarmed Iraqi while his unit searched aFallujah mosque, CBS reported on Wednesday. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

U.S. Marines Use Air Strikes in Iraq's Anbar Area
U.S. forces used warplanes and anAC-130 gunship as they stepped up operations against insurgents in the restive western Anbar province, the U.S. military saidon Thursday. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq


The US News: Iraq News
U.N. envoy meets Jafaari in Baghdad
The top U.N. envoy to Iraq has discussed political developments with the man who might become that nation's next prime minister. [in The US News] The US News: Iraq News

Car bombs, shootings kill 5 in Iraq
Two car bombings in Iraq killed three people, including a U.S. soldier in the city of Tuz and two civilians in Mosul, CNN reported Wednesday. [in The US News] The US News: Iraq News

Iraqi Girl To Undergo Heart Surgery At Rainbow Babies
NewsChannel5's Linda Passariello reported that surgeons will operate on 6-year-old Shayan Thursday. The surgery will fix a hole in her heart.Born with a hole in her heart and a narrow pulmonary artery... [in News Channel 5] The US News: Iraq News

3-NATO summit opens with Iraq, Afghanistan on agenda .....
BRUSSELS, February 24 (Online): The NATO summit meeting opened here with its training mission in Iraq, peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and the future of the alliance high on the agenda, reports... [in Pak Tribune] The US News: Iraq News

RAK Crown Prince receives Iraqi Ambassador
Feb 23, 2005 - 06:54 - RAK Crown Prince receives Iraqi Ambassador Ras Al Khaimah, Feb. 23, 2005 (WAM) -- Ras Al Khamiah Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, received here tod... [in Emirates News Agency] The US News: Iraq News

Kurds, Sunni group back likely Iraq PM Jaafari
BAGHDAD: Kurdish groups and a Sunni Arab party said on Wednesday they were ready to cooperate with Ibrahim Jaafari, who has been anointed by the election-winning Shiite list as its candidate for prime... [in Daily Times] The US News: Iraq News

Soldier from Iraq-bound brigade killed
DARWIN'S Iraq-bound 1st Brigade is mourning the death of a fellow soldier in a crash on an outback road. A military truck overturned near Barrow Creek north of Alice Springs as two soldiers were ta... [in The Daily Telegraph] The US News: Iraq News

In Fallujah's wake, marines go west
Three weeks after Iraq's elections, US forces are still leading the fight in Anbar, the most dangerous of the country's 18 provinces. Marines have launched operations in at least three other provincia... [in Christian Science Monitor] The US News: Iraq News

New Australian Troops In Iraq Will Be Ready -Official
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)--Australia's defense chief vowed Thursday that additional troops the prime minster has committed to send to Iraq would be ready for battle despite a defense department repor... [in Morning Star] The US News: Iraq News

On mosque patrol in Baghdad with the 1-7 Cav.
Carnage in Iraq BAGHDAD, Iraq; Feb. 18, 2005. The mission brief was simple: mosque monitoring. Twelve American GIs, an Iraqi interpreter, and a reporter climbed into three armored Humvee "gun trucks"... [in MSN Slate] The US News: Iraq News

Bush Defends War on Iraq While in Europe
Speaking to about 3,000 U.S. troops and their families at Wiesbaden Air Base, Bush called the U.S.-led invasion that created tensions with many European allies "a decisive moment in the history of fre... [in Yahoo] The US News: Iraq News

Bush Thanks U.S. Troops for Extended Iraq Tours
WIESBADEN, Germany (Reuters) - President Bush told a roaring crowd of U.S. veterans of the Iraq war on Wednesday "America stands with you," and thanked them for serving in extended tours. On a nine... [in Reuters] The US News: Iraq News


Ananova: War In Iraq
MPs approve anti-terror powers
MPs backed controversial new powers to deal with terror suspects. They voted 309-233 in favour of the Prevention of Terrorism Bill. Ananova: War In 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
Bush, Putin Strike Nuke Deal
Iraq Car Bomb Blast Kills 15
Alleged Syrian Agent on Tape
Israeli Police Brace for Resistance to Gaza Pullout
Sevan Asks for More Time in Oil-for-Food Response
Iraqi TV Shows Alleged Syrian Confession
Al-Jaafari Welcomes Allawi in PM Race
Bush to Address Slovakia
Chalabi May Get Senior Iraqi Cabinet Post
Battle-Weary Unit Welcomed Home


From the Department of Defense
President Thanks Germany-Based Troops
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2005 — "Job well done!" President Bush told troops recently returned from deployments to Iraq today at their home station, Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Germany. Story

First Lady Praises Soldiers, Families
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2005 — For U.S. troops fighting the war on terror, "heroism with a human touch is part of the mission," first lady Laura Bush told troops and their families at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, during a visit Feb. 22. Story Remarks

Australia to Send More Troops to Iraq
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2005 — Noting that Iraq is at "a tilting point," Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced plans to send more troops to Iraq. Story

Abizaid Compares Iraq, Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2005 — Having visited both Iraq and Afghanistan during the past couple of weeks, Army Gen. John Abizaid said there are both similarities and differences in the current situation in both countries. Story

ON THE GROUND
Iraqi Brigade Takes Control of Area, Future
KHADAMIYA, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2005 — Iraqi and Coalition Forces made history Feb. 21 when the 40th Iraqi National Guard brigade officially assumed control of their area of operation, according to U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division officials. Story

Soldiers Tackle Challenges of Fuel Run Mission
AL ASAD, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2005 — Running supplies under the cover of darkness from one country into a combat zone is dangerous enough, but adding to the load and delivering it in less time than initially designed is almost unheard of, unless you are a soldier in the 1297th Corps Support Battalion, 561st Corps Support Group. Story

Effort Cleans Streets, Removes Health Hazards
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2005 — Today, the $2.7 million sewage and wastewater project at Al Ameen, east of Baghdad, stands as a shining example to the rest of Iraq. The new system replaces open slit trenches and malfunctioning lagoons and provides an operable sanitary sewage system. Story

Troops Provide Aid to Snowbound Afghans
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Feb. 23, 2005 — In a 40-person, 16-vehicle convoy Feb. 16, U.S. soldiers and airmen from Bagram traveled over 30 miles into the Afghan mountains, delivering humanitarian aid to two snowbound villages. Story

IN IRAQ
Marine Receives Bronze Star Medal for Valor
Joint Program Trains Iraqi Security Forces
Army Corps of Engineers, Italians Assist Iraqi Police
Corps of Engineers Rebuilds Schools Across Iraq
Teams Measure Success by Lives Saved

IN AFGHANISTAN
U.S. Soldiers Give 'Gift of Life' to Afghan Boy
MPs Maintain Presence in Afghan Community
U.S., Coalition Troops Support Kabul School

IN KUWAIT
Marine Squadron Trades Flight Deck for Flight Line

IN THE PERSIAN GULF
Bonhomme Richard Chases Pirates in Gulf

FACE OF DEFENSE
Deployed Repair Technician Enjoys Duty Rigors
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2005 — Being wounded in action is a fear of most deployed soldiers. However, there are are other life-threatening emergencies, like heart attacks or strokes, that don't stop in a combat zone. And because of that, U.S. Army Spc. Bryan King, a 26-year-old medical equipment specialist deployed to Iraq, takes his job very seriously. Story

HOMECOMING
Photos: Fargo Homecoming: Engineer Battalion Returns

Mountain Climb Salutes Troops
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2005 — "I know it's tough over there, and I wanted to show my appreciation by doing something tough here," said Doug Moss, a former Marine and now a Web designer at the Pentagon. What Moss and a friend did was climb New Hampshire's Mount Washington on one of the coldest days of the year. Story

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
Task Force Liberty Soldier Killed
Iraq Daily Update
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Troops Work 'Inside the Wire'
Bush: NATO 'the' Vital Relationship
Global Posture Realignment Needed
Measures Protect Against Threat
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Group Helps Families Cope
Defense Dept.: No Flights Over Iran
Scam Targets Grieving Families
National Guard, Reserve Update

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Marine Casualty
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2005 — Defense Department officials announced the identity of a Marine who died supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Story