JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Second phase of vote count begins in Iraq
Under the watch of armed Western security guards and monitors, Iraqi election workers are doing a second count of the country's historic vote, tapping at computer keyboards and sifting through bags of tally sheets.

Military death benefit called too narrow
Lawmakers and military officials said Tuesday that President Bush's proposal to boost government payments to families of U.S. troops killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and other war zones was a good start but too narrow.

Abu Ghraib guard pleads guilty in abuse
Sgt. Javal Davis knew all along he was wrong to step on the hands and feet of prisoners at Abu Ghraib on a warm night in November 2003. None of his superiors told him to do it, he said, he simply snapped under job stress.

'Nonsense to pull Iraq troops out'
Some of the 170,000 US and other foreign troops could be out of Iraq after the end of this year, the nation's interim president said. Ananova: War In Iraq


Ananova: War In Iraq
Terror suspect 'C' is freed
The terror suspect known as "C" has been freed after being interned under the Government's anti-terror legislation for more than three years, Home Office sources said. Ananova: War In Iraq

MoD names Iraq plane crash victims
Nine RAF personnel and a soldier feared dead after an RAF Hercules crashed in the Iraqi desert have been named by the Ministry of Defence. Ananova: War In Iraq


Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Blair: Unclear what caused plane crash
Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday it was still unclear what caused a British military transport plane to crash in Iraq with the presumed loss of all 10 servicemen on board. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq

Iraqi president: U.S. troops should stay
Iraq's president said Tuesday it would be "complete nonsense" to ask foreign troops to leave the country now, although some could depart by year's end. Officials began the final vote tally from elections to produce a government to confront the insurgency. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq


The US News: Iraq News
Mideast Governments and Newspapers Concerned by Low Sunni Turnout in Iraqi Elections
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Middle Eastern governments say they hope to establish good relations with whatever leadership emerges from Iraq's landmark election but expressed concern over the low Sunni Muslim ... [in Tampa Bay Online] The US News: Iraq News

Militants Say They Are Holding Iraq Troops
Print this story. A branch of the group led by Iraq's most feared terrorist has announced in a video obtained Tuesday that it is holding four Iraqi National Guardsmen and that they will be punish... [in Tuscaloosa News] The US News: Iraq News

Iraq, Iraqi exiles around world vote in homeland's historic ...
[Iraq News]: Iraqis day of overseas voting Sunday, with Australia extending voting at one station because of a riot and bomb scare, and Iraqi exiles streaming [in Keralanext] The US News: Iraq News

Al Qaida Failed To Halt Iraqi Election Despite Attacks On Polling ...
Three Iraqis were killed in a bomb blast in the town of Samarra, north of Baghdad and another four Iraqis were killed in the town of Mahmudiyah, south of [in Watchman Herald] The US News: Iraq News

Plan To Pay More To GI Survivors
(AP) President Bush will propose a dramatic increase to $250,000 in government payments to families of U.S. troops killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and in future combat zones. The plan to in... [in CBS News] The US News: Iraq News

Iraqi Vote May Not Resolve Sunni Dilemma
Hailed the world over as a triumph of democracy, the vote is unlikely to bring into the fold a group that could prove crucial to peace in Iraq. Already there are strong indications Iraq's majority Shi... [in Yahoo] The US News: Iraq News

Iraq urged to unite after election success as count goes on
Click to enlarge BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has urged his countrymen to unite following the election lauded by world leaders as an historic breakthrough that should not be under... [in AFP via Yahoo] The US News: Iraq News

Final Count Under Way in Iraq's Historic Election
By Matt Spetalnick BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi poll workers began a final ballot count on Tuesday after al Qaeda vowed to pursue its "holy war" despite failing to deter millions of Iraqis from voting... [in Reuters] The US News: Iraq News

Iraqi vote over, sides still in flux
Baghdad, Iraq - The ballots are still being counted, but the hard bargaining to form a new Iraqi government has already begun. Less than a day after millions of Iraqis flocked to the polls, the leader... [in Denver Post] The US News: Iraq News

Soldier Who Lived in Jacksonville Dies in Iraq Attack
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A Navy sailor who lived in Jacksonville before joining the military was killed in an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, the Department of Defense said. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kei... [in Tampa Bay Online] The US News: Iraq News

Iraqi-American Voters Celebrate Election
AP Photo MIPS103 By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press Writer IRVINE, Calif. (AP) - Wahab Murad, 43, flew in from Denver with his 20-year-old son, Dana, to cast absentee ballots in Iraq's first indep... [in Guardian] The US News: Iraq News


Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Al Qaeda Vows to Fight on in Iraq
Al Qaeda vowed to pursue "holy war" inIraq on Monday after failing to wreck elections, and PrimeMinister Iyad Allawi urged rival ethnic and religious groups tounite after the first multi-party vote in 50 years. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

Arab Leader: Iraq Elections Just One Step
Iraq's election was a step in the right direction for peace and stability in the Middle East but it was only a first step, the head of the Arab League said Monday. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq

Iraq Insurgents' Failure Raises Questions
They sent nine suicide bombers, killed more than 40 people, claimed to have shot down a British military plane and threatened to wash the streets with blood.Insurgents' threats against Iraq's historic... [in Gadsden Times] The US News: Iraq News

Disgruntled Sunnis Could Thwart Iraq Constitution
Iraq's minority Sunni Arabs mostlyspurned Sunday's election, but they still have the power toblock any new constitution not to their liking. Yahoo! News: War with Iraq


From Fox News
Transcript: Rumsfeld Talks Iraq
CIA Scrubs Reports on Iraq's Weapons
Transcript: First Lady Pleased With Iraq Vote
Chertoff Denies Justifying Torture
Bush Presses Leaders for Iraq Support
Bush Presses Leaders for Iraq Support
President Prepares for State of the Union


From the Department of Defense
Leaders Seek to Increase Survivors' Benefit
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2005 — Pentagon leaders and Capitol Hill legislators want to increase the current available combined government death benefit for families of fallen servicemembers by about $250,000. Story

Ambassador Sees Unifying Effect in Iraq
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2005 — The fact that Iraq's Jan. 30 national assembly election was on time and successful may bring prior skeptics on board as the country continues on the road to democracy, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq said Jan. 31. Story

Iraq Begins Next Phase After Election

ON THE GROUND
Forces Uncover Weapons in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2005 — Coalition forces in Afghanistan found six more weapons caches Jan. 30, military officials reported from the Afghan capital of Kabul. Afghan police found a cache in Kabul province and turned the weapons over to coalition forces. Story

Materials From Bosnia Bases Being Reused
EAGLE BASE, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Feb. 1, 2005 — U.S. Army troops aren't the only American assets pulling out of the Balkans. The installation facilities are literally being "pulled out" as well and sent to Iraq to be used in the global war on terror. Story

Soldiers Make a Difference One Step at a Time
TALLIL, Iraq, Feb. 1, 2005 — U.S. Army Capt. Adil B. Elnour, an artillery officer of the New Hampshire National Guard’s 197th Field Artillery Brigade, used to measure the success of his mission by hitting a target located miles away. Today he measures the success of his job in Iraq by the number of smiles he and his soldiers receive. Story

Australian Troops Lend Medical Services
LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, BALAD, Iraq, Feb. 1, 2005— A team of 20 Australian soldiers work alongside U.S. airmen and soldiers treating injured people here. Australian Air Force, Army and Navy personnel have joined with their American counterparts to provide expert medical and nursing services in support of coalition efforts. Story

Engineer Detachment Deploys to Iraq
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 1, 2005 — Family members and post leaders gathered at the Sam Houston Club, Jan. 29, to bid a fond farewell to soldiers from the 425th Engineer Detachment, who left shortly after for a yearlong deployment in Iraq. The reservists’ mission is to drill wells for service members and Iraqi citizens. Story

IN IRAQ
Soldiers Conduct Operation Keystone Sweep
Rebuilding Effort Targets Energy Needs

IN AFGHANISTAN
MPs Train, Observe Afghan Police in Action
Retention Experts Explain Options to Troops

FACE OF DEFENSE
Firefighter Becomes Marine
PARRIS ISLAND, S.C., Feb. 1, 2005 — "I wanted a chance to gain better leadership during my time off, so I joined the Marine Corps," said Pfc. Katrina Marie Helleson on why she joined the Marine Corps Reserve. Story


Company Offers Voice Messaging
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2005 — Though letters, text e-mail, and telephone calls are the most popular ways for deployed servicemembers and their families to communicate, a telecommunications company in Cleveland is offering yet another option. Story

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
Iraq Daily Update
Year in Review 2004 Fact Sheets (pdf)
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghans Field Tsunami Mission
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
National Guard, Reserve Update


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