News of Note:
Student Suspended:
School reduces suspension over Iraq call - after a flood of emails and phone calls.

Freedom Spreading:
Women activists in Kuwait demand rights - from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

V-E Day:
Prince to lead VE Day commemoration - from Ananova
Honoring WWII Vets - from Fox News

War on Terror:
Zarqawi Compound Raid Nabs 54, Kills Six - from Fox News
Coalition Captures Zarqawi Associate - from the Department of Defense
Terrorist Leadership Diminishing in Iraq - from the Department of Defense
Zarqawi Loses Support Among Iraqis - from the Department of Defense



JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Iraq blasts kill 22, including 2 Americans
Bush to honor the fallen soldiers of WWII
WHO asks Islamic nations for polio funds
Family of beheaded American seeks solace
U.S. band gives outdoor concert in Cuba
Airports not rushing for private screeners
Ministers urge N. Korea on nuclear talks


The US News: Iraq News
Iraqi PM says all Cabinet vacancies filled
American security guards among those killed in massive Baghdad explosion
Iraq, Jordan vow to fight terrorism
Iraqi kidnappers give ultimatum for Bay Area captive
Turkish - Arab Economic Forum
Suicide Bombers Strike in Central Baghdad, Agreement Reached on Six Cabinet Positions
US Marine from Camp Lejeune killed in central Iraq
Iraqi cabinet under pressure as bombers kill 67


Various Sources
SUV convoy explodes in Baghdad, 22 killed
Iraq agrees cabinet posts; Baghdad bomb kills 17


Fox News
Volcker Lawyer Asks U.N.to Block U.S. Subpoenas
Afghan Blast Kills U.N. Worker
Nixon Probe Leader Dies
Biden Scolds Rice on Bolton
U.S. Band Plays Gig in Cuba
Exiled Leader Back in Beirut
Asian, European Nations Urge North Korea on Nuke Talks
Myanmar Explosions Kill 11
Dems Kicked Out of Church
Iraqis Shore Up Cabinet Posts
Iraqi Ministry Official Assassinated

Video
Bombs Explode, Bodies Found


Department of Defense
ON THE GROUND
'Immersion:' Next Best Thing to Being There — Story
U.S. Pilots Train Iraqis to Fly C-130 Hercules — Story
Combat Medics Keeps Soldiers Healthy — Story
Mechanic Reunites with Parents on Television — Story

IN IRAQ
Coalition Helps Rebuild Mosque, Buildings
Soldiers Help Ensure Agricultural Success
Joint Force Eliminates Lines at Gas Pumps
Helicopters Move Targets to Firing Range
Soldiers Shepherd Sheep to Needy Families
Military Working Dogs Essential Tool in Iraq
Intel Specialists Focus on Insurgent Strategy

IN AFGHANISTAN
Medical Logistics Unit Wraps Up Deployment
Communications Platform Proves Its Worth
'White Devils' Recon Khost Province

FACE OF DEFENSE
Pendleton Sergeant Volunteers to Serve in Iraq — Story

MILITARY NEWS
Military to Improve Training
DoD Committed to Childcare Needs
'Geospatial Intel' Saves Lives
War Game Contemplates 'What If'
Pentagon Honors Award Winners
National Guard, Reserve Update
HONORING THE FALLEN
Soldiers Pay Tribute to Fallen MP — Story


Weather
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


Today in History
1360 - The English and French sign the Treaty of Brétigny.
1541 - Hernando de Soto discovers the Mississippi River.
1639 - William Coddington founds Newport, RI.
1792 - The US establishes the military draft.
1794 - The US Post Office is established.
1846 - The first major battle of the Mexican War is fought in Palo Alto, Texas.
1858 - John Brown holds an antislavery convention.
1861 - Richmond VA, becomes the Confederacy's capital.
1864 - Battle of Antietam (Spotsylvania Court House / Laurel Hill) in Virginia.
1895 - China cedes Taiwan to Japan, under the Treaty of Shimonoseki.
1916 - In Fort Douaumont, a German munitions bunker explodes.
1919 - A Navy seaplane makes the first transatlantic flight take-off.
1941 - The German Q-ship Pinguin sinks in the Indian Ocean.
1942 - The first twilight baseball game in 24 years raises $60,000 for the Navy Relief Fund (The Dodgers beat the Giants, 7-6).
- The Battle of the Coral Sea ends; a Japanese air attack sinks the aircraft carrier Lexington.
1942 - In the Crimea, the Germans begin their summer offensive.
1943 - British Admiral Andrew B. "ABC" Cunningham, Commander-in-chief of the Mediteranean fleet, orders the Allied navy to "Sink, burn & destroy; let nothing pass" in order to prevent Axis forces on the verge of surrender from leaving North Africa
1944 - 33 communist resistance fighters are sentenced to death
- the U-575 sinks the Asphodel
1945 - Canadian troops move into Amsterdam
- The Chinese counter attack at Tsjangte, supports by 14th air fleet
- Near Berlin, German General Von Keitel surrenders to Marshal Zhukov
- V-E Day - Germany signs an unconditional surrender
1949 - West German constitution approved
1958 - In Peru, US Vice President Nixon is shoved, stoned, booed & spat upon by protesters. 1960 - The USSR resumes diplomatic relations with Cuba.
1961 - Alan Shepard receives the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
1962 - The first launch of an Atlas Centaur occurs.
1967 - Muhammad Ali is indicted for refusing induction in the US Army.
1970 - Construction workers break up an anti-war rally in Wall Street, New York City.
1972 - At Lod International, Tel Aviv, Palestinian terrorists capture a Sabena aircraft.
1973 - Indians holding Wounded Knee, South Dakota, surrender after a 10-week standoff.
1980 - The World Health Organization announces smallpox has been eradicated.
1984 - The USSR announces it will not participate in the Summer Olympics, in Los Angeles.
1987 - Gary Hart quits the US Democratic presidential race because of the Donna Rice affair.
1991 - CIA director William H. Webster resigns
1994 - President Clinton announces that the US will no longer repatriate boat people.
1996 - South Africa adopts a permanent post-apartheid constitution.


Birthdays
1753 - Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla, father of Mexican independence.
1810 - James Cooper, Union Brigadier General.
1833 - Frank Wheaton, Union Brevet Major General.
1836 - Bryan Morel Thomas, Confederate Brigadier General.
1884 - Harry S. Truman, 33rd US President
1925 - Ali Hassan Mwinyi, President of Tanzania.
1928 - Theodore Sorensen, JFK's advisor, and author of 1000 Days.
1936 - Neville Purvis, British Vice Admiral, Chief of Fleet Support.
1937 - Dennis DeConcini (Senator-AZ).
1937 - Michael Simmons, Air Marshal, British Ministry of Defense.
1941 - James A. Traficant, Jr. (Representative-OH).
1952 - Charles J. Camarda New York, Ph.D/astronaut
1963 - Clemens Lothaller Austria, cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-13 backup)