U.S. Army Spc. Toby Cagle shows an Iraqi Army soldier the proper way to hold the weapon during close quarters combat training at Forward Operating Base McHenry, Iraq, Jan. 2, 2006. U.S. Army soldier from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky., are training Iraqi army soldiers on basic rifle marksmanship. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Timothy Kingston


U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Bryson K. Jones, G3 combat photographer, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, aims in down range and fires off rounds at a range at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, Jan. 14, 2006. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Michael J. O'Brien


U.S. Army Spc. James Kalkstein participates in a raid on Bayji Island, Iraq, Jan. 15, 2006. Kalkstein is assigned to Headquarters Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jose Ferrufino


U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Edward Smith and Iraqi police officers perform a sweep across a field during an operation in the Zafaraniyah District, Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 16, 2006. The Iraqi police and U.S. Army soldiers are looking for weapons caches suspected to be hidden in the area. Smith is assigned to Bravo Battery, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Teddy Wade


U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Castello patrols a field during an operation in the Zafaraniyah District, Iraq, Jan. 16, 2006. Castello, assigned to Bravo Battery, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, is working with the Iraqi police to find hidden weapons caches. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Teddy Wade


U.S. Army Spc. Shawn Aiken, a medic with Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, poses for a photo with children during a dismounted patrol in Mosul, Iraq, Jan. 18, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. James H. Christopher III


U.S. Army Spc. James Close watches for threats during a joint U.S. and Iraqi army foot patrol in Mosul, Iraq, on Jan. 21, 2006. Close is attached to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. John M. Foster


U.S. Army Pfc. Tony Medina, assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, provides security during a dismounted patrol in Mosul, Iraq, Jan. 21, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. James H. Christopher II


U.S. Army 1st Lt. Paul Waldoff, 2nd Platoon leader, Bravo Troop, 1st Battalion, 71st Cavalry Regiment, gives an Iraqi boy a soccer uniform and soccer shoes in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 21, 2006. Waldoff knew the boy was a soccer fan and had the uniform sent from the United States. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin L. Moses Sr.


U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Richard Schuster, with Bravo Company, 4th Brigade, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, climbs through a window of a ruined building during a sweep for weapons and items used for making improvised explosive devices in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 23, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. William Servinski II



photos from Defend America

IRAQ PATROL — U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Goodson, assigned to 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, conducts a foot patrol during a sweep in search of possible weapons caches in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 23, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Teddy Wade

News of Note
Challenger: 20 Years Later
A Teacher's Life Honored

Palestinian Elections
Violence Dominates
Hamas, Fatah clash after vote
US to review Palestinian aid policy - Play Video
Reactions after Hamas Victory
Gunmen briefly take over Palestinian parliament - Video

Operation Iraqi Freedom
'Last Chance' for Peace Activist Hostages in Iraq
Sunni Arab Leader Condemns Police Raids

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Officials Say Standoff Bandits Used Mexican Army Vehicles
U.S. Seeks Eight Tied to Passport Ring

Military News
Pentagon Probes 82nd Airborne Over Gay Porn Claims

Supreme Court
Senate GOP Moves Toward Alito Confirmation
Senate Democrat says can't block Alito - Video

Politics
Polls: Bush Holds Steady
Bush Tightens Belt - Budget to propose major cuts

Oddities
And the most important trait in a mate is...
Man with 11-woman commune had stun gun?

Fox News
Town Gathers to Mourn Children Killed in Crash
Arctic Ice Slams Alaskan Road
Pharmacists Sue Drug Store Over Birth Control Policy
Video: Husband of Slain Woman, Baby to Return to U.S.
Kwan Skates Into Olympics
SPORTS NEWS AND SCORES

Reuters: Top News
Most Americans want Bush to reveal lobbyist ties: poll
Slim chance for Iran to avoid Security Council: Straw
Chinese New Year - On the train as 144 million travel for holiday
Slim chance for Iran to avoid Security Council: Straw
Most Americans want Bush reveal lobbyist ties: poll
NYSE chief stays mum on LSE merger speculation
Bush urges full probe of Hariri murder - Video
US wants Japan support on Iran: Kimmitt
US should retain military threat on Iran: McCain
Alaska volcano erupts after 10 days of quiet
'Darling' rare rhino makes California public debut
Los Angeles sues over 'Grand Theft Auto' game
It's humans vs wildlife in booming American West
Gates cash kick-starts $31 bln TB funding drive
Fruit and vegetables cut stroke risk: study
Jolie and Pitt at World Economic Forum
Mozart's 250th Birth Anniversary
South Africa mountain blaze tamed
Four die in Mexico shootout
Mittal bids $23 billion for Arcelor
Japan must open markets more for foreign firms: Kimmitt
Guidant deal has $800 mln termination fee: filing
Dillard's to record $30 mln loss in fourth-quarter
Guidant deal has $800 mln termination fee - filing
CBS sees annual profit, revenue increase
Weisel faces delicate dance in pricing own IPO
EXCO Resources sets IPO at 50 mln shares
Hollis-Eden up 19 pct on nuclear preparedness talk
Stocks close higher on earnings, rate outlook Video
Take-Two shares fall 16 pct on analyst downgrade
Halliburton plans KBR IPO, says probes resolved
DeVry shares jump after strong 2nd-qtr earnings
On the Radar: Regional banks

AP World News
Iran Claims U.S., Britain Fomenting Unrest
Four Hostages Released Unharmed in Haiti
4,000 Firefighters Prep for Lunar New Year
European Leaders Remember the Holocaust
Souvenirs Hot With Venezuelan Activists
Belarus Leader Orders Ban Against Protests
Mexican Police Say Anger Spurred Killer
U.N. Says Attacks Unabated in Darfur
Chavez Says He Will Jail U.S. Spies
Chinese Celebrating New Year in New Style
Danish Trade Group Challenges Newspaper
Honduras Inaugurates New President
Iran, Georgia Strike Gas Deal Amid Crisis
Amour Rules in France but Weddings Don't
U.N. Chief Asks U.S. to Give Iran Reactors

Military.com
Nevada Site Tests 'Dirty Bomb' Sensors
Murtha: Troops Out of Iraq by Year's End
DOD Preserves Option of Future C-17 Buys

CENTCOM: News Releases
7-10 CAVALRY SOLDIERS FIND LARGE CACHE
MND-B SOLDIERS DETAIN SUSPECTED TERRORISTS, FIND WEAPONS CACHE
SHEIKS MEET WITH 2ND BCT COMMANDER
SUSPECTS CAPTURED THROUGHOUT NORTHERN IRAQ
DETAINEES RELEASED FOLLOWING CRRB REVIEW
IRAQI SECURITY FORCES TAKE CONTROL OF MNDCS BATTLESPACE
SUFFICIENT TROOP STRENGTH IN IRAQ

Department of Defense
Defense Increases Steps to Counter WMD - Story
Iraqi Soldiers Seek Captive U.S. Journalist - Story
Iraqis Take Security Lead in 2 Provinces
Efforts in Tal Afar Have Restored Hope, Life - Story Transcript Video
Coalition Strong Heading into Fifth Year - Story

ON THE GROUND
Task Force Pacemaker Vital to Afghan Ops - Story
Iraqi Villagers Dedicate New Irrigation Pump - Story
Humvee Rollover Simulator Aims to Save Lives - Story

IN IRAQ
Video: Humanitarian Mission to Village of Agar Goof
Marine 'Banshees' Wrap Up Iraq Deployment
U.S., Iraqis Clean Up Neighborhood for Hajj

IN AFGHANISTAN
New Hospital Symbolizes Afghan Progress

IN SOUTHWEST ASIA
Italian Pilot Deploys With U.S. Forces

FACE OF DEFENSE
Corpsman Earns Bronze Star - Story (pictures posted here)

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Rumsfeld, Military Leaders Thank Civilian Leaders for Troop Support - Story
Fund Helps Military Families

TOP NEWS
IRAQ
Iraqi Insurgents Battle Al Qaeda
Casey: Many Opportunities Ahead
Suspected Terrorists Detained
420 Detainees Released
Abizaid Talks Stabilization Efforts
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
Germany Donates 10,000 Pistols
Humanitarian Efforts Underway
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Bush Stresses Transformation Gains
DTRA Opens New Headquarters
Marine SOC Will Enhance Readiness
Bush: Surveillance Saves Lives
Governors Visit Deployed Troops
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Army Divorce Rates Drop
QDR Will Focus on Capabilities
Defense Review Gives Snapshot
Navy, Coast Guard Attack Piracy
Rumsfeld Topic: Army Capabilities
Study: Reserve, Guard Earn More
National Guard, Reserve Update

CASUALTIES
Defense Officials Identify Casualty - Story

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
1077 - Pope Gregory VII pardons German emperor Heinrich IV
1099 - 1st Crusaders begins siege of Hosn-el-Akrad Syria
1495 - Pope gives his son Cesare Borgia as hostage to Charles VIII of France
1547 - 9-year-old Edward VI succeeds Henry VIII as king of England
1561 - By Edict of Orleans persecution of French Huguenots is suspended
1613 - Galileo may have unknowingly viewed undiscovered planet Neptune
1689 - English parliament ends king Charles II reign
1788 - Lord Gordon found guilty of libel of queen of France
1807 - London's Pall Mall is 1st street lit by gaslight
1821 - Bellingshausen discovers Alexander Island off Antarctica
1824 - William Kneass becomes 3rd US chief engraver (1824-40)
1848 - King of Naples grants his subjects a constitution
1858 - John Brown organized raid on Arsenal at Harper's Ferry
1860 - Britain formally returns Mosquito Coast to Nicaragua
1864 - Battle of New Bern, NC
1865 - President Jefferson Davis names 3 peace commissioners
1871 - Paris surrenders to Prussians
1878 - 1st telephone exchange (New Haven CT); George W Coy hired as 1st full-time telephone operator; Yale Daily News published, 1st college daily newspaper
1881 - Battle at Laing's Neck Natal - Boers beat superior powered British
1902 - Carnegie Institute founded in Washington DC
1904 - 1st college sports letters given to Seniors who played on University of Chicago's football team are awarded blankets with letter "C" on them
1909 - US military forces leave Cuba for 2nd time
1915 - 1st US ship lost in WWI, William P. Frye (carrying wheat to UK); US Coast Guard created from Life Saving & Revenue Cutter services; US President Wilson refuses to prohibit immigration of illiterates
1916 - 1st Jewish Supreme Court justice, Louis Brandeis, nominated; German colony of Cameroon surrenders to Britain & France
1918 - Strike on Berlin ammunitions factory; Trotsky becomes leader of Reds
1927 - Serbian-Croatian-Slavic government of Oezonowitsj falls
1928 - Christopher Hornsrud chosen PM of Norway at age 101
1932 - 1st US state unemployment insurance act enacted-Wisconsin; Japan occupies Shanghai
1933 - French government of Paul Boncour falls; German government of Von Schleicher falls
1934 - 1st US ski tow (rope) begins operation (Woodstock VT)
1935 - Iceland becomes 1st country to legalize abortion
1942 - General Timoshenko's troops move into Ukraine; German troops occupy Benghazi Libya
1944 - 683 British bombers attack Berlin; U-271 & U-571 sunk off Ireland
1945 - General "Vinegar Joe" Stillwell & truck convoy reopen Burma Road to China; Dutch airplanes dump pamphlets on Java; Swedish ships bring food to starving Netherlands
1949 - UN Security council condemns Dutch aggression in Indonesia
1950 - Preston Tucker, auto maker, found not guilty of mail fraud
1956 - Elvis Presley's 1st TV appearance (Dorsey Brothers Stage Show)
1958 - Construction began on 1st private thorium-uranium nuclear reactor
1959 - Soviet Union wins 62-37 for 1st international basketball loss by US
1960 - 1st photograph bounced off Moon, Washington DC
1961 - Republic of Rwanda proclaimed
1970 - Lubomír Strougal succeeds Cernik as premier of Czechoslovakia
1981 - William J Casey becomes the 13th director of CIA (until 1987)
1982 - US General Dozier freed from Red Brigade of Padua Italy
1986 - 25th Space Shuttle (51L)-Challenger 10 explodes 73 seconds after liftoff
1988 - Canada's Supreme court declares anti-abortion law unconstitutional
1990 - East German agreement to form all-party government
1991 - Dictator Siad Barre flees Somalia, ending 22 year rule

Birthdays
1457 - Henry VII Pembroke Castle, 1st Tudor king of England (1485-1509)
1578 - Cornelis Haga, Dutch lawyer/ambassador to Constantinople (1611-39)
1600 - Clement IX [Giulio Rospigliosi], 238th pope (1667-69)
1693 - Anna "Ivanovna," tsarina of Russia (1730-40)
1717 - Mustapha III, Sultan of Turkey (1757-74)
1768 - Frederick VI, Danish king (1808-39); lost Norway to Sweden (1814)
1784 - George HG Earl of Aberdeen, English Secretary of State
1815 - Andrew Jackson Hamilton, Union Brigadier General
1818 - George Sewall Boutwell, Union MC
1822 - Alexander MacKenzie, 2nd PM of Canada (1873-78)
1825 - George Edward Pickett, Confederate Major General
1828 - Thomas Carmichael Hindman Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1868
1831 - Henry Brevard Davidson Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1899
1833 - Charles George Gordon London England, military hero/general (China, Khartoum)
1841 - Stanley, British journalist/explorer (found Livingston in Africa)
1865 - Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg, 1st President of Finland (1919-25)
1909 - Lionel KP "Buster" Crabb, British diver (WWII-George Medal)
1918 - Trevor Skeet, British MP
1922 - Robert W. Holley, biochemist, worked with RNA (Nobel '68)
1924 - Frank R. Lautenberg (Senator-NJ)
1927 - James Callaghan, British MP
1928 - Martin Sinnatt, Major-General/Secretary (Kennel Club); Slade Gorton (Senator-WA)
1930 - David Morris, British MEP
1931 - Timothy Kitson, British MP
1932 - Thomas J. Bliley, Jr. (Representative-VA)
1936 - Alan Alda [Alphonso D'Abruzzo], actor (Hawkeye Pierce-M*AS*H)
1939 - John M. Fabian, Colonel USAF/astronaut (STS 7, STS 51G)
1944 - James Cran, British MP
1945 - Nick Raynsford, British MP
1948 - Mamoru Mohri Yoichi-machi, astronaut (STS 47)
1949 - Thomas J. Downey (Representative-NY)
1950 - David Carl Hilmer, Colonel USMC/astronaut (STS 51-J, 26, 36, 42); Glyn Ford, British MEP
1951 - Gordon Prentice, British MP

Passings
0814 - Charlemagne, German emperor/Roman Emperor (800-814), dies at 71
1119 - Gelasius II [Giovannis Caetani], pope (1118-19), dies
1256 - Willem II, Earl of Holland/German emperor (1238, 47-56), dies at 22
1547 - Henry VIII, King of England (1509-47), dies at 55
1612 - Thomas Bodley, diplomat/founder (Bodleian Library), dies
1621 - Paulus V [Camillo Borghese], 233rd pope (1605-21), dies at 68
1687 - Johannes Hevelius, astronomer (star cataloger), dies on 76th birthday
1725 - Peter I "the Great" Romanov, czar of Russia, dies at 52
1895 - François Certain de Canrobert, French marshal, dies at 85
1939 - William Butler Yeats, Irish poet (Nobel), dies in France at 73
1959 - Joseph Sprinzak, Speaker of Israel Knesset (1949-59), dies at 73
1975 - Antonin Novótny, Czechoslovakian President (1957-68), dies at 70
1980 - Jimmy Durante, comedian (Jimmy Durante Show), dies at 86
1986 - Christa McAuliffe astronaut/teacher; Ellison S. Onizuka, Major USAF/astronaut; Francis R. Scobee, USAF/astronaut; Gregory B. Jarvis, payload specialist/astronaut; Dr. Judith Arlene Resnik, astronaut; Michael J. Smith, Commander USN, astronaut; Ronald E. McNair, astronaut - all killed in the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster
1995 - James P. Grant, US director of UNICEF (1980-95), dies at 72

Reported Missing in Action
1966
McPherson, Fred Lawer, USAF (CA); A1E shot down - remains returned June, 1983

1967
Biediger, Larry W., USAF (TX); F105D shot down, - remains returned June, 1983

Thornton, William D., US Army (NY); drowned, body not recovered

1968
Benge, Michael, Civilian; Agency for International Development; released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Singson, Wilfredo D., USMC; AWOL

1970
The following USAF personnel reported MIA when their HH53B was shot down during a search and rescue mission:
Anderson, Gregory L. (IL); passenger, KIA, body not recovered

Bell, Holly G., (TX); pilot - remains returned May, 1989

Leeser, Leonard C. (NY); crewman

Pruett, William D. (VA); crewman

Shinn, William C. (CA); crewman

Sutton, William C. (NC); crewman

Also reported MIA this day in 1970 (the plane the HH53B was looking for):
Mallon, Richard J., USAF (OR); F105G shot down - remains returned May, 1989

Panek, Robert J., Sr., USAF (IL); F105G shot down - remains returned April, 1989