Quote of the Day
"We have met the enemy and they are ours..."
-- Oliver Hazard Perry

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Moussaoui: 'I Am Al Qaeda'
USS Cole Plotter on Loose
Pro-Syrian, Anti-Syrian Leaders Cooperate

Other Military News
Army recruit is finally accepted, tattoo and all
Report: Brit's mistakes not to blame for U.S. Air Force crash
Civil War soldiers suffered stress disorders, too

Cartooning Muhammad
'Cartoonish' Protests
Bush Wants Saudis to Ease Tensions
Denmark warns its expats as cartoon protests rage
Controversial Cartoons Stir Media Debate
Prophet drawings spur more protests
Furor over drawings shocks Danes' belief in their self-image

Hamas Rising
Hamas says it expects to head new Palestinian govt
Israeli Banker Sees Ties With Palestinians
They voted for Hamas, but were surprised by its victory
In talks, Egypt urges moderation by Hamas

Politics
Bush's 2007 Budget Boosts Defense Spending- Video: Bush Budget
Attorney General Defends NSA Wiretap Program- Video: Question Time
Louisiana governor vows 'hardball' with Washington
Treasury says extending tax cuts would cost blns

Oddities
Potato danger: you want collision with that?
Well, just as long as they're acting mature...
Rats smell in stereo, study finds
Crocodile throws itself into path of car, dies
New game: Catch a lobster by the claw
You save my life, I'll save yours

Other News of Note
Chavez Warns U.S. on Oil
Yahoo, AOL to ChargeE-Mail Senders Postage

Fox News
Burning Down the O.C. - Fires burn national forest near Anaheim
Patient Shows Off New Face- Video: A New Face
Stocks to Watch: Coke
Scott King Lies in Honor - Viewing an Icon
L.A. Jails on Lockdown
90.7 Million Watch Super Bowl
Private Eye to the Stars Pleads Not Guilty
Video: High-Speed Chase
SPORTS NEWS AND SCORES

Reuters: Top News
Celebrities model for Fashion Week - Play Video
Israel kills Palestinian militant as raids escalate - Video
China urges further talk to resolve Iran issue
"Lost world" found in Indonesian jungle
Can Couric become new generation's Cronkite?
Space artist paints worlds no one has ever seen
Drug combination prevents HIV infection in monkeys
Rise in uterine cancer in women over 60 - report
Pirate DVDs mock Chinese government's "Geisha" ban
Coca-Cola profit falls, hurt by repatriation charge
General Motors board votes to halve dividend-paper
IBM says alters silicon behavior to power new chip
Port. Telecom opens up 22 pct after takeover bid
Sonae launches buyout bid for PT Multimedia
Citigroup software analyst to be Ingres Corp CFO
Crocs boosts IPO to $19-$20/share
Stock index futures ease, GM eyed
Apple shares extend decline after January high
US Steel up on report it might be takeover target
Activision falls on Inet, Raindance up
Intuitive Surgical shares dive on competition rumor
Limits of outsourcing
China names and shames 11 industrial polluters
IBM says alters silicon's behavior to power new chip
IBM creates chips for faster wireless data

AP World News
Iran Tells Nuke Agency to Remove Cameras
Haiti Prepares for Presidential Election
Bus Crash Kills 12 Tourists in Rome
Rebels Kill Seven Security Forces in Nepal
Arias Holds Slight Lead in Costa Rica Vote
Cuba Raises Flags Near American Mission
Harper Sworn in As Canada's 22nd PM
Young Nepali Bard Sings of Revolution
Japan's Prison Population Aging Rapidly
Northern Ireland Negotiations Resume

The Seattle Times
After welcoming evacuees, Houston copes with spike in crime
Royal Caribbean orders world's largest passenger ship
Ferry survivors' stories of crew bungling fuel anger, calls for investigation
Enthusiasm high for Haiti presidential vote
Private eye charged with spying on stars

Chicago Sun-Times
Gold Coast wants musicians to tone it down
Police: Deadly pain-killer being sold as heroin
4 U.S. presidents expected for King funeral
City to pay man hurt in Bulls celebration $1.75 mil.
Internet pictures get students punished
Gov aims to give nursing a shot in the arm
Did lawyer claim he was Red Cross official?
1 ambulance diverted every minute in U.S.
Friedan remembered for starting a revolution
Menominee tribe in Wis. to revitalize sturgeon spearing
Judge opens manslaughter hearing with 'Go Seahawks'
Skakel mum on 2 men's identities

Boston Globe: World
Iran decision limits UN agency's access
Canada's new team delivers surprises

Military.com
Four Marines Killed in Iraq
Military Force an Option Against Iran
Military Budget Grows, but Troops Shrink
States Eye Picketing at Soldiers' Funerals
Military Ties Warm Between US, Vietnam
Air Force Budget Boosts Unmanned Aircraft

CENTCOM: News Releases
MND-B SOLDIERS DETAIN SUSPECTS, ELIMINATE ROADSIDE THREATS

Department of Defense
Bush Sends Budget Request to Congress - Story
Budget Proposal Helps Ensure National Security
Plan Outlines Strategy for War on Terror
Nations Must Cooperate to Win Terror War - Story Photos
Coalition Achieving Goals in Afghanistan - Story
Karzai: Terrorist Attacks Show Desperation
Katrina Lessons Improve Response Capability - Story

ON THE GROUND
Wounded Warrior Spouses Offer Support - Story
Iraqis Bring Combat Experience to Training - Story

IN IRAQ
Iraqi Soldiers Learn From Transition Teams

IN AFGHANISTAN
20 Troops in Afghanistan Now U.S. Citizens

FACE OF DEFENSE
Mother, Sons Serve in Terror War - Story

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Special Valentine's Day Serenade - Story
NCO Spearheads Wheelchair Effort

TOP NEWS
IRAQ
Troops Graduate Leadership Course
Forces Detain 10 Suspects
Detainees Freed; Victims Rescued
IED Found; Bridge Bomber Nabbed
4 Insurgents Killed; Weapons Seized
Cheney Notes Political Progress
Iraqi National Police on Right Path
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq (pdf)
Multinational Force Iraq
Eye on Iraq Update (pdf)
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (pdf)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
U.S. Troop Killed in Lagham Province
Eight Detained in Fighting
Diplomats Visit Panjshir PRT
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Interpol Issues Alert for Terrorists
Surveillance Goal: Prevent Attacks
Rumsfeld: Terror War Is War of Wills
Budget Includes Iraq, Afghan Funds
Efforts Hamper al Qaeda Goals
CENTCOM Group Plans Future Ops
Rumsfeld Notes Terrorists' Failures
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Navy P-3 Assists in Ferry Rescue
Top NCOs Meet With Counterparts
Photos: Rumsfeld in Munich
Bush Cites DoD Innovation Role
Rumsfeld Discusses Latin America
Medal of Honor Exhibit Unveiled
National Guard, Reserve Update

Weather
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

Gitmo

Today in History
0590 - Pelagius II ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1301 - Edward of Caernarion (later Edward II) becomes 1st prince of Wales
1522 - Treaty of Brussels Habsburgers split into Spanish/Austrian Branches
1550 - Giovanni Maria del Monte elected Pope Julius III
1569 - King Philip II forms inquistion in South America
1613 - Michail Romanov (16) becomes czar of Russia
1653 - Nicolas Fouquet appointed superintendent of Finance of France
1668 - Dutch Prince William III dances in premiere of "Ballet of Peace"
1792 - Austria & Prussia sign anti-French covenant
1795 - 11th Amendment to US Constitution ratified, affirms power of states; Dutch Prince William V accepts British occupation of Dutch Indies
1812 8.2 earthquake shakes New Madrid MO; this is the last of Midwest quakes (see 12/16)
1812 - Lord Byron makes his maiden speech in House of Lords
1831 - Belgium adopts its Constitution
1862 - Federal fleet attack on Roanoke Island, NC
1864 - Federal troops occupy Jacksonville, FL
1881 - Battle at Ingogo, Transvaal Boers beat superior British forces
1883 - Lieutenant-Colonel Borgnis-Desbordes founds Fort Bamako Niger
1891 - Great Blizzard of 1891 begins
1900 - Labour Party forms in England; British troops vacate Vaal Krantz, Natal
1904 - Baltimore catches fire (1500 buildings destroyed in 80 blocks)
1905 - Dominican Republic signs treaty turning over customs collection to US; Oklahoma admitted to statehood
1915 - 2nd Battle of Masurian Lakes German armies surrounded a Russian army
1924 - Mussolini government exchanges diplomats with USSR
1928 - 1st solo England to Australia flight takes off (Bert Hinkler)
1933 - Colonial troops in Suriname kill 2 demonstrators; Social-Democrat meeting in Berlin "As thousands cheer" Marxism is dead
1935 - Monopoly invented by Charles Darrow symbol Rich Uncle Pennybags
1936 - A flag is authorized for the Vice President
1940 - British railroads nationalized; Walt Disney's 2nd feature-length movie, "Pinocchio", premieres (New York NY)
1943 - Shoe rationing begins in US (may purchase up to 3 more pairs in 1942)
1944 - Germans launch counter-offensive at Anzio, Italy
1945 - General Douglas MacArthur returns to Manila; President Truman appoints Irwin C. Mollison judge of US Customs Court; US 76th/5th Infantry divisions begin crossing Sauer

1946 - Filibuster in US Senate kills FEPC bill
1947 - Arabs & Jews reject British proposal to split Palestine
1948 - Omar Bradley succeeds Dwight Eisenhower as Army Chief of Staff
1950 - Georges Bidault forms French government; Senator Joe McCarthy finds "communists" in US Ministry of Foreign Affairs; US & Great-Britain recognize Bao Dai Vietnamese regime
1958 - Dutch auto-transmission car DAF 600 introduced
1959 - Cessna lands in Las Vegas after 65 d without landing (refuels in air); Castro proclaims new Cuban constitution
1960 - Old handwriting found in at Qumran, near the Dead Sea
1962 - Gas explosion in Luisanthal coal mine Voelklingen Germany kills 298; President Kennedy begins blockade of Cuba
1964 - The Beatles land at New York's JFK airport, for their 1st US tour; Cassius Clay becomes a Muslim & adopts the name Muhammad Ali
1965 - US begins regular bombing & strafing of North Vietnam; Operations begin at Grupo Folklorico Antiyano on Curaçao
1969 - Al-Fatah-leader Yasser Arafat becomes president of PLO
1971 - Women win the right to vote in Switzerland
1973 - Senate creates Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities
1974 - Grenada gains independence from Britain (National Day); Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" opens in movie theaters (I love that movie)
1976 - World's largest telescope (600 cm) begins operation (USSR)
1977 - Soyuz 24 launches with 2 cosmonauts
1978 - Ethiopian offensive in Ogaden desert
1979 - Neptune becomes farthest planet from the sun in our solar system (will remain that way for 20 years); Colonel Benjedid Chadli succeeds President Boumédienne in Algeria
1982 - Luis A. Monge elected President of Costa Rica
1983 - 1st female secretary of transportation sworn-in (Elizabeth Dole)
1984 - Bruce McCandless makes 1st untethered space walk (US)
1985 - "New York, New York" becomes the official anthem of New York, NY
1986 - Haiti's President-for-Life Jean-Claude Duvalier flees to France - Henri Namphy becomes leader of Haiti; Philippine Corazon Aquino defeats incumbent dictator Ferdinand Marcos but fraudulent returns gave the election to Marcos
1990 - Karachi police kill 22 anti-nationalistic demonstrators
1990 - USSR Communist party agrees to allow opposition political parties
1991 - Jean-Bertrand Aristide sworn in as Haiti's 1st elected president
1998 - 18th Winter Olympics games open at Nagano Japan

Birthdays
1478 - Sir Thomas More, lawyer/lord chancellor of England/saint (Utopia)
1556 - Maria van Nassau, Dutch countess of Buren
1688 - Maria Louise van Hessen-Kassel [Marijke Meu], princess of Orange
1693 - Anna Ivanova Romanova, empress of Russia (1730-40)
1740 - Adam-Philippe Custine, French earl/General/MP
1812 - Charles Dickens, novelist (Oliver Twist, Tale of 2 Cities)
1817 - Frederick Douglass, 1st high ranking Black in US government; Leroy Pope Walker US lawyer/Confederate minister of War (1861)
1834 - Dmitri I. Mendelejev, Russian chemist (devised Periodic Table)
1837 - Sir James Augustus Henry Murray, created Oxford Dictionary
1839 - Nicolaas G. Pierson, Dutch banker/Suriname premier (1897-1901)
1842 - Alexandre Ribit, premier (France)
1867 - Laura Ingalls Wilder, children's book author (Little House on Prairie)
1872 - Nikolaos "Sokrates" Politis, Greek lawyer/diplomat/foreign minister
1877 - Julius Curtius, German minister of Foreign affairs
1896 - Harold Hoffman, (Governor-New Jersey)
1899 - Arvid Pelshe, Latvian Communist leader, CPSU Politburo member
1906 - Henry P'u-i, last emperor of China, puppet emperor of Manchukuo
1921 - Bryan Woods, soldier/clerk
1924 - Cathy Long (Representative-LA, 1985-86)
1926 - Konstantin Petrovich Feokistov, cosmonaut (Voskhod I)
1932 - Alfred M. Worden, Colonel USAF/astronaut (Apollo 15)
1935 - Herb Kohl (Senator-Wisconsin)
1942 - Ton [ACHM] de Kok, Dutch MP (CDA)
1944 - Berend baron van Voorst tot Voorst, Dutch foreign state secretary (CDA); Berry [AH] Esselink Dutch MP (CDA)
1944 - Michael A. Andrews (Representative-TX)
1963 - Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, Lieutenant Commander USN/astronaut

Passings
0590 - Pelagius II, Gothic Pope (579-90), dies from plague
1609 - Ferdinand I, cardinal/ruler of Toscane
1857 - Félix PBOG Earl of Merode, Belgian minister of War, dies at 65
1865 - John Henry Winder, US Confederate Brigadier-General/provost marshal, dies at 64
1878 - Pius IX "Pio Nono", [Giovanni Ferretti], Pope (1846-78), dies at 85
1920 - Alexander Koltsjak Admiral/leader Russian counter-revolutionary, executed
1933 - Albert György Earl Apponyi Hung minister of Education, dies at 86
1937 - Elihu Root, US Minister of War/Foreign affairs (Nobel 1912), dies at 91
1959 - Daniel F. Malan, premier of South Africa (1948-54), dies at 84
1960 - Igor V. Kurtshatov, Russian nuclear physicist, dies at 57
1961 - Louis-Ferdinand Céline, French physician/author/anti-Semite, dies at 67
1967 - Henry Morgenthau, US minister of Finance (devaluated dollar), dies at 74
1979 - Josef Mengele, concentration camp doctor, drowns
1994 - Maarten Vrolijk, Dutch Social-Democrat minister (CRM 1965-66), dies at 74; Richard Bissell, US under director of CIA, dies at 84

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Dickson, Edward A., USNR (PA); A4E shot down, KIA, body not recovered

1966
Crayton, Render, USN (GA); A4E shot down, released by DRV February, 1973 (injured) - retired as a Captain - alive and well as of 1998

1968
The following US Army SF personnel reported MIA when NVA forces assaulted the Lang Vei camp:
Brande, Harve G. (CA); released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Hanna, Kenneth (CS)

Holt, James W. (AR)

Lindewald, Charles W., Jr. (IN)

McMurry, William G. (AZ); released by PRG March, 1973 - retired as a Master Sergeant - alive as of 1998

Moreland, James L. (CA)

Phillips, Daniel R. (PA)

Thompson, Dennis L. (OR); released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Also reported MIA this day in 1968:
Smith, Maynard Lee, USN (KS); drowned, remains recovered August, 1974

1969
Deleidi, Richard A., USMC (CA); F4J shot down, KIA, body not recovered