Iraqi men sit under the shade of a tent during a recruiting event for the Iraqi police at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock

Iraqi men climb into a five-ton truck to be transported to the next part of their screening during a recruiting event for the Iraqi police at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock

Iraqi men sit on a bench waiting to be x-rayed for weapons during a recruiting event for the Iraqi police at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock

A local Iraqi man is tagged with a number during a recruiting event for the Iraqi police at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Garrick St. Romain, with the 415th Military Intelligence Battalion, Louisiana Army National Guard, takes a local Iraqi man's photo during a recruiting event for the Iraqi police at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock

Iraqi men wait to start the physical fitness part of their screening during a recruiting event for the Iraqi police at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock

Iraqi men perform sit-ups for the physical fitness part of their screening during a recruiting event for the Iraqi police at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock

Iraqi men perform push-ups for the physical fitness part of their screening during a recruiting event for the Iraqi police at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock

Iraqi men wait to be transported to the next part of their screening during a recruiting event for the Iraqi police on Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 12, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock

NIGHTLIGHT — U.S. Army soldiers attached to Mortar Platoon, Alpha Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment fire an illumination flare over Mosul, Iraq, from Forward Operating Base Marez, Iraq, Aug. 10, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Sam Kilpatrick

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Jordan sends ambassador to Iraq

Operation Enduring Freedom
Coalition Defends Attack in Paktika

Homeland Security / War on Terror
ABC News says Pakistanis arrest al Qaeda commander
Feds outline case against fundraisers
Letter threatens to blow up Taj Mahal

Mid-East Ceasefire
'We Fought For Nothing'
Israeli troops angry over gear, tactics
Video: Mideast Turmoil - Leaving Lebanon
Lebanese Troops Begin Patrol at Israeli Border
UN wants European troops in Lebanon - Video
Israeli aircraft attack eastern Lebanon: source - Video
Mass funerals held in southern Lebanon

NSA / CIA
Bush predicts courts will uphold security wiretaps - Video

Worldwide Wackos
Back to Normal?
Raul Castro: Normalized Cuba-U.S. Relations Still Possible
Bush warns North Korea on possible nuclear test

Politics / Government
Neb. state auditor jumps to Democrats

U.N. News
Khartoum pressured to accept UN force

Fox News
Stocks End Week Strong
Ford to Slash Production; Partially Shutter Factories
Kidnapped Journalist's Wife Pleads for His Release - Video: 'I Want Him Home'
NASA to Swap Out Bolts on Shuttle Atlantis
Love Climbs Leaderboard- Complete PGA Coverage

Reuters: Top News
AIDS conference closes with blast at South Africa - Video
Green by Necessity
Singapore turns to biodiesel
Taking a dive on metals demand
Brazil's Lula widens lead as TV ads start
Russia hands over fisherman's body after shooting
Energy, health costs mask strong US economy: Paulson
AIDS conference closes with blast at South Africa
Dell a contrast with resurgent HP

AP World News
Study: Decorated needles calm patients
Klum says she wants 'a lot of children'
Marion Jones failed initial drug test
Ford announces deep production cuts
Ohio State streaks to top of AP poll
Yanks pound Sox in 1st game of twin bill
FDA says viruses safe for treating meat
Philbin competes for 'Best Regis' award
Dow closes up 47 on investor optimism
Charges dropped in 2005 Fla. plane crash

Military.com
Boeing Confirms C-17 Shutdown
Lebanese Troops Make Return to Border - Video
Award No Mirage for Vegas Casino

CENTCOM: News Releases
U.S. MILITARY TASK FORCE TO SUPPORT FLOOD VICTIMS IN ETHIOPIA

MOST SUCCESSFUL IRAQI POLICE RECRUTING DRIVE

IRAQI FORCES CAPTURE TERRORIST FACILITATOR IN ASH SHARQAT

LOCAL LEADERS MEET WITH ISF, MND-B SOLDIERS DURING OPERATION TOGETHER FORWARD, DISCUSS PROGRESS, STABILITY

MND-B SOLDIERS SEIZE WEAPONS, MUNITIONS

IRAQI FORCE CAPTURE INSURGENT WEAPONS DEALER

COALITION SOLDIER KILLED NEAR ASADABAD

ISF, MND-B SOLDIERS CONDUCT CORDON, SEARCH OF AN OFFICE OF THE MARTYR SADR

ISF, MND-B SOLDIERS BRINGS POSITIVE CHANGE TO BAGHDAD BY WAY OF OPERATION TOGETHER FORWARD

USJFCOM
Initial trial of Urban Resolve 2015 wraps up - podcast

Department of Defense
NEWS UPDATES
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
Iraqi Farmers Union Holds First Election - Story
Iraqi, Coalition Squelch Violence in Ameriya - Story
A-10 Thunderbolts Surge for Afghan Offensive - Story

IN IRAQ
Iraqi Brigade Takes Lead in Mahmudiyah
Winning Hearts, Minds With a Medical Project
More Police in Iraqi Town Increases Security
Securing Baghdad No Short-term Operation

IN AFGHANISTAN
Chief Master Sgt. Praises Afghan Progress
Security Forces ‘Fly Away’ to Support Mission

BACKGROUND
IRAQ
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (PDF)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Weekly Reconstruction Report (PDF)
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Casualties - 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
1099 - Crusaders defeat the Saracens in the Battle of Ascalon.
1263 - King James I of Argon censors Hebrew writings.
1787 - W. Herschel discovers Saturn's moon Enceladus.
1812 - The USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides") defeats the British warship Guerriere.
1909 - The Indianapolis 500 Speedway holds its first race.
1934 - The Plebiscite in Germany approves sole executive power for Adolph Hitler.
1942 - 5,000 Canadian and 1,000 British soldiers raid Dieppe, France. 4,000 of them are killed, wounded, or captured by the Germans in a matter of hours.
1954 - Ralph J. Bunche is named undersecretary of the U.N.
1981 - Two U.S. Navy F-14 's shoot down two Soviet-built Libyan SU-22's.
1985 - Japan launches the Susei, its second probe of Halley's Comet.
1988 - At 11:00 p.m. EDT, Iran and Iraq begin a cease-fire after 8 years at war.
1989 - Tadeusz Mazowiecki is elected - the first non-communist president of Poland.
1991 - A coup in the U.S.S.R. deposes Mikhail Gorbachev.

Birthdays
1646 - John Flamsteed, first English astronomer royal
1785 - Seth Thomas, pioneer in the mass production of clocks
1870 - Bernard Baruch, financier/presidential adviser
1871 - Orville Wright, aviator
1878 - Manuel Quezon, first president of the Philippine Commonwealth (1935-42)
1907 - Thurston Morton (Sen-KY, 1957-1969)
1934 - David F. Durenberger, (Sen-MN)
1935 - F. Story Musgrave,M.D. / astronaut (STS 6, 51-F, 33, 44)
1946 - Charles F. Bolden, Jr., astronaut (STS 61C, 31, STS 45); Bill Clinton, 42nd US President.
1948 - Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson ("Tipper" Gore - wife of Al Gore, VP to President Clinton)

Passings
14 - Octavian (Augustus) Roman general, emperor
1493 - Emperor Frederick III of Germany (1440-1493)

Reported Missing in Action
1968
Collins, Theothis, USMC (NJ); KIA (explosive device), body not recovered

Hoffman, Terry Alan, USMC (IN); CH46D shot down (crewmember), remains returned/buried 1994

1969
Bohlig, James Richard, USMC (CA); F4B did not return from night mission (pilot, w/Morrissey), KIA, body not recovered

Flanigan, John N., USMC (FL); F4B shot down (radar intercept officer, w/Smith), remains returned 1989 - ID'd June, 1997

Morrissey, Richard Thomas, USMC (NY); F4B did not return from night mission (pilot, w/Bohlig)

Smith, Robert N., USMC (PA); F4B shot down (pilot, w/Flanigan)

1972
Behnfeldt, Roger Ernest, USAF (OH); RF4C shot down (pilot), remains returned September, 1987

Shingaki, Tamotsu, USAF (HI); RF4C shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Major - alive as of 1998