NEW FRIENDS — U.S. Army Sgt. John Roger from Plaquemine, La., makes some new friends in Baghdad, Iraq, March 16, 2005. The civilian and military operations noncommissioned officer for A Company 1st Battalion, 156th Armor Regiment was involved in the distribution of hundreds of items to locals in the community; items that were donated by people in the United States. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Erin Robicheaux

JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Palestinian groups to honor cease-fire
AP: Terrorists train for seaborne attacks


Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
U.S. general: Iraq insurgency on decline
Annan wants Syria to pull out of Lebanon
Palestinian groups to honor cease-fire
Sharon hails Palestinian truce statement
Groups make progress on new Iraq gov't
Syria ends first phase of Lebanon pullout


CENTCOM
IRAQ POLICE GRADUATE 144 FROM BASIC TRAINING


Katu.com
Intelligence chiefs comment on U-S terror threat
Army general predicts slow U-S withdrawal from Iraq
CIA director defends U-S interrogation practices


The US News: Iraq News
Berlusconi denies Iraq pullout reversal
22 million Iraqis included in food coupon program
Iraqis Say Italians Aren't Cooperating in Kidnapping Investigation
Iraq war proponent to head World Bank


Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Iraqis mark historic Day 1 of parliament


CNN.com
Whistle-blower: 'Gaping holes' in oil-for-food
U.S. sees improved human rights in China
Disputed 9-11 flag auction back on


Fox News
Blast in Afghan City Kills Five
Rice Praises Afghan Democracy
'Positive Step' in Mideast
Landmine Blast Kills U.S. GI in Afghanistan
Syria Done With First Phase of Redeployment
Agents: Al Qaeda Hindered
Marines Ambushed in Afghanistan
Afghan Baby Survives Surgery in U.S.
British Worker Murdered in Afghan Capital


Department of Defense
Global Posture Will be 'Unprecedented' — Story
War Creates Paradigm for Guard, Reserve — Story
Myers: Talks Further U.S.-Saudi Military Ties — Story

COMMENTARY
The Significance of Our Cause, By U.S. Army Lt. Col. Bobby Mundell - Story

ON THE GROUND
Support Battalion Convoys Take to Open Road — Story
'Rough Riders' Push Through Ambushes
Troops, Iraqis Secure Bicycle Championships — Story
Risky Business: Troops Search for Explosives — Story

IN IRAQ
Soldiers Use Medical Training to Assist Others
Airmen Keep Iraqi Airways Clear

IN AFGHANISTAN
Doctors Give Afghan Girl Reason to Smile
Civil Engineers Prepare to 'Close the Gaps' at Bagram

IN KYRGYZSTAN
Traffic Management Airmen Keep People, Cargo Moving

FACE OF DEFENSE
Single Mother Deploys to Support Iraqi Freedom — Story

Teen Inspires Expressions of Thanks — Story

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
New Iraqi Police Officers Graduate
U.S. Soldiers Rescue Hostage
Bush: Coalition Buoyed by Courage
Officials Outline Success Factors
OIF Coalition Remains Strong
Myers Discusses Iraq Progress
Chairman Visits 3rd ID Troops
Success in Iraq - DoD Fact Sheet
Year in Review 2004 Fact Sheets (pdf)
Iraq Daily Update
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Troops Assist After Bombing
Myers: Optimism Apparent
Photos: Chairman Visits Afghanistan
Chairman Visits Transformed Nation
Training Prepared Deployed Unit
General Reflects on Achievements
Troops Work to Stabilize Region
Afghans Praise U.S. Airmen
Defense Leaders' Views on Afghanistan
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
McHale Talks Homeland Defense
Risk Management Vital to Security
Myers Thanks Egyptians for Help
Cavalry Supports Border Mission
Support Group Part of Unit Success
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Officials Talk Missile Defense
Programs Ease Force Stress
Rehab Means Lives Can Go On
Wolfowitz Top Choice for Bank Post
Base Closure Panel Nominated
National Guard, Reserve Update


Today In History
1167 - The Franks meet the Syrians in the Battle of El-Babein, Egypt
1190 - Crusaders kill 57 Jews in England
1229 - Emperor Frederick II of Germany crowns himself king of Jerusalem
1438 - Albrecht II von Habsburg becomes king of Germany
1582 - Prince Willem of Orange is injured in battle at Antwerp
1766 - The British Parliament reinstitutes the Stamp Act
1793 - In the 2nd Battle at Neerwinden, Austria defeats France
1818 - Congress approves the 1st government service pensions
1865 - Battle of Wilson's raid in AL
1865 - The Congress of the Confederate States of American adjourns for the last time
1871 - In Paris, the Communards revolt
1890 - In Massachusetts, the 1st US state naval militia is organized
1915 - The British are defeated in a failed attack in Dardanelles
1915 - The Bouvet, a French battleship, explodes, killing 640
1915 - Turkey defeats the Allies in the Canakkale (Trojan) Sea
1918 - The Socialist Youth organizes in Amsterdam
1922 - Mohandas K. Gandhi is sentenced to 6 years for disobedience
1940 - Mussolini joins Hitler against France & Britain
1944 - Nazi forces occupy Hungary
1945 - 1,250 US bombers attack Berlin
1945 - US Task Force 58 attacks targets on Kiushu
1948 - France, Great Britain & Benelux sign the Treaty of Brussels
1949 - The NATO treaty is ratified
1952 - Communist offensive in Korea
1955 - I Hatojama is recognized as premier of Japan
1959 - President Dwight D Eisenhower signs the Hawaii statehood bill
1962 - Algerian War ends after 7½ years of fighting and 250,000 killed
1963 - The Supreme Court, in the Miranda Decisionrules that defendants must have lawyers
1974 - Most Arab oil producing nations end the oil embargo against the US
1975 - The Kurds end their fight against the Iraqi army
1977 - The US restricts citizens from visiting Cuba, Vietnam, N Korea & Cambodia
Vietnam turns over MIA's to the US
1979 - In Iran, fighting breaks out between Kurds & Iranians
1990 - In the 1st free elections in the German Democratic Republic, Conservatives beat the Communists

Birthdays
1609 -Frederick III, king of Denmark & Norway
1782 - John Caldwell Calhoun Abbeville SC, Andrew Jackson's Vice President
1899 - Lavrenti Beria,Stalin's chief of Soviet secret police
1928 - Fidel V Ramos, President of the Philippines
1931 - Howard Coble, Representative, NC
1932 - F. W. de Klerk, President of South Africa
1933 - Unita Blackwell, 1st African-American mayor in Mississippi
1946 - Michael Reagan, talk show host, son of Ronald Reagan
1947 - Steven H Schiff, Representative, NM
1954 - James F Reilly II, PhD/astronaut