MUDIQ, Iraq - 2nd Lt. Jon M. Mueller, a 29-year-old platoon commander, patrols by a mosque near Mudiq, Iraq, Nov. 8. Mueller and other Marines of Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment were there to keep the roads safe with their vehicle checkpoints. Mueller is from Denver and serves under Regiment Combat Team 5 and will be conducting operations for the next several months.
Photo by Cpl. Ray Lewis

Michael Fumento has written an excellent article about the progress U.S. troops are making in Ramadi - a city full of daunting challenges, long-standing social sytems, and numerous dangers:

Last spring I visited Fallujah and the surrounding area for the second time and Ramadi for the first time, writing articles on each in these pages. I noted that Fallujah had clearly become more violent, but that this wasn't particularly alarming considering that about half of the population had returned and with it some of the enemy who could hide among them. Further, security in parts of the city was being turned over to the Iraqi Army (IA) and Iraqi Police (IP). Obviously this was a positive development, but when the IA or IP take over an area, the bad guys fiercely try to demoralize them and drive them out.

Ramadi was a different situation entirely. AP's Todd Pitman, with whom I was embedded, correctly noted that the "sheer scale of violence in Ramadi is astounding." And Pitman specializes in going to violent places. Leaving your base camp ("going outside the wire") during daytime practically guaranteed an attack. I went on two patrols and we got hit both times. The military says Ramadi "remains the most contentious city right now inside Iraq."

The article is beyond compelling - make sure to check it out.

(Thanks to Tony for the tip).

Tammy sends this picture of her Hero:




This is a picture of my Husband Travis and our son Brody. This was the day that Travis left to Iraq. We miss and love him so much and can't wait to have him in our arms again.

Please everyone let's pray for all of the soldiers over in Iraq, until they all come home.

Thanks and God bless.

Sincerely,
Tammy S------


Tammy, thank you for sending this wonderful picture (I love Brody's t-shirt). Our thanks to your family for all you do for all of us.

Travis, thank you for everything you do. Keep Your Helmet On - Take care, and stay safe.

Nellis kicks off first Aggressor 101 class
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) -- Thirty-five new Air Force "aggressors" graduated Nov. 17 from the first Aggressor 101 training course conducted by the 57th Adversary Tactics Group here.
Full Story

Lauren sent a message and some links to pictures of our favorite little ballerinas -

Hello all!

Below are four links to pictures of our little Camp Lejeune ballerinas. Not all of the pictures are in yet, but these are some of the cute ones. Thank you all again for helping to make our upcoming December recital a success. We look forward to the May recital too, and thank you again for the donations coming in for that one as well.

Your thank you cards from the girls go out in the mail on Monday!

You can view photos here, here, here, and here.

Thank you again to all who donated to help these ballerinas and their families have a very special day.

WEAPONS INSPECTION — U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Justin Geers, left, second squad leader, Detachment 7, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, inspects weapons at Victory Base, Iraq, Nov. 11, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Steve Cline

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Syria Wants Iraq Pullout Timetable
U.S., Iraqi Forces Battle Insurgents in Baqouba
Insurgent Battle in Baquoba Kills 18 Iraqis
Syria offers Iraq support amid new violence - Video
Kissinger: Iraq military win impossible
At least 112 die in attacks across Iraq
45 Iraqis Killed; Two Iraqi Ministers Survive Attacks
McCain: More Troops Needed in Iraq - Video

Homeland Security / War on Terror
West fighting terrorism properly now, Blair says - Video
Six Investigated in Germany for Alleged Airplane Plot

Other Military News
Rangel: Bring Back the Draft

Mid-East Ceasefire / Hamas Rising / Israel at War
Israel Calls Off Airstrikes Due to Human Shields

Religion of Peace??
Indonesians Protest Ahead Of Bush Visit to Jakarta - VIDEO
Bush Calls Jakarta Protests Sign of Healthy Democracy - VIDEO
Police Warn of Bomber During Anti-Bush Protests

Worldwide Wackos
U.S. Urges China to Press N. Korea on Nukes
Bush urges Hu and Putin on North Korea and Iran

Politics / Government
Sen. Kerry still considering 2008 White House bid
Kerry: 'Botched' war joke won't hurt me
Hoyer claims no 'bad blood' with Pelosi
Bush opens stock exchange in Vietnam
U.S. Mint to Add Presidents to Dollar Coins

Oddities
Stomach pains rumble thief's loot hideaway
Brazilians in fuss over claim puppies born to cat
Gender-bending boy fruit flies fight like girls

Other News of Note
U.K. Cops: Russian Ex-Spy Allegedly Poisoned
Muslim feminists in NY want to start Koran council
U.S.and Russia sign bilateral WTO deal - Video
Paraguay ex-president's corruption trial suspended
APEC denounces North Korea test, vows to combat terror - Video
India test-fires nuclear-capable missile

Fox News
Cruise Ship Docks for Cleaning After 700 Sickened
Report: Firefighters Overrun by 90-Foot-Tall Flames
Stampede at Middle School in China Kills 6 Children
Nintendo Wii Game Console Goes On Sale in U.S.
Suspect in Hospital After Wounding Secret Service Agent in Maryland Mall
Katie Holmes' Missing Days

Reuters: Top News
New Orleans eyes hurricane season's end with relief
Calls for climate change action at Asia-Pacific summit
Crowds gather to buy Nintendo's Wii
Yahoo internal memo urges major shake-up, job cuts
Cruise, Holmes marry in Italian castle
O.J. Simpson's lawyer upset about book deal
Oil slips toward $58
Freeport-McMoRan to buy Phelps
Forex-Dollar inches up versus yen
Stocks to track Black Friday sales
Activating a passive play
Signs of a growth rally
Freeport-McMoRan to buy Phelps
Blackstone has takeover plan for Equity Office -WSJ
Delta Air Lines won't seek white knight
Bids expected for Putnam Investments this week-WSJ
U.S. firms may take stake in Reliance Comm unit, newspaper says
Top economies upbeat, call for FX flexibility

AP World News
Freeport-McMoRan buying major copper co.
Fans lament access to Cruise wedding
Several affiliates balk at Simpson show
Cowboys hand Colts 1st loss 21-14
Soriano, Cubs agree on 8-year deal
Piano tower would give Boston a lift
McNabb goes down as Eagles fall 31-13
McNabb done for the year with torn ACL
California to restrict ocean fishing
Study: TV's youth obsession backfiring
Ohio St.-Michigan still 1-2 in AP Top 25
Electronic medical records use may rise
'Happy Feet' dances to top of box office
U.S. retail gas prices rise slightly
Cranberries spread into products aplenty
Top-ranked Federer wins 3rd Masters Cup
More rights urged for birth mothers

Military.com
Defense Tech Digs Kit Up!
Advisors: Practice, Practice, Practice

CENTCOM: News Releases
EIGHT TERRORISTS KILLED, WEAPONS CACHES DESTROYED

TWO TERRORISTS KILLED NEAR BAGHDAD

ISF, Coalition Forces find AIF cache complex

IRAQI POLICE AND CF DISCOVER AND DISARM ROCKETS

MND-B SOLDIERS SEIZE LARGE WEAPONS CACHE IN SOUTHWEST BAGHDAD

USJFCOM
Milestone reached in development of Cross Domain Collaborative Information Environment - podcast
Liveblogging: Unified Endeavor 07-1
Omni Fusion ties Army into UR 2015 - podcast

Department of Defense
NEWS UPDATES
President: United States, Asia Face Common Threat of Terrorism - Story
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
Baghdad Teaching Hospital Aids Infant Survival - Story
Aircraft Continue Missions Over Afghanistan - Story
Troops to Get Hot Traditional Holiday Meals - Story

IN IRAQ
Soldiers Help Deliver Supplies to 2,000 Orphans
International Zone Soldiers Run Marathon for Vets
Iraqi Soldiers Begin Sweep in Northern Iraq
1st Cavalry Division Takes Reins in Baghdad
Maintenance Marines Provide Needed Protection
Turkey-based Airmen Saving Troops' Lives in Iraq
Iraqi Mayor Writes New Chapter of Success
Operating Base Units Receive Combat Patch

IN AFGHANISTAN
Engineers Dodge Explosives to Provide Services
Afghan Officer Saves Governor, Coalition Soldiers
Coalition Sponsors Chamkani Sports Tournament
Afghan Reconstruction Projects Continue
Turkey to Open Provincial Reconstruction Team

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 Army 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

National Hurricane Center

Today in History
1272 - Edward I proclaimed King of England
1637 - Peter Minuit & 1st Swedish immigrants to Delaware sail from Sweden
1780 - Britain declares war on Holland
1789 - New Jersey becomes 1st state to ratify Bill of Rights
1829 - Jews are expelled from Russia's Nikolayev & Sevastopol
1862 - The Confederate army of Tennessee, organizes under General Braxton Bragg
1866 - The 1st national convention of Grand Army of the Republic (veterans' organization); Howard University is founded (Wash, DC); Pierre Lalemont patents the rotary crank bicycle
1888 - William Bundy patents the timecard clock
1894 - The US intervenes in Bluefields, Nicaragua
1910 - Revolution broke out in Mexico, led by Francisco I Madero
1914 - The US State Department starts requiring photographs for passports
1917 - The Ukrainian Republic is declared
1919 - 1st municipally owned airport in the US opens in Tucson, AZ
1931 - Commercial teletype service begins
1938 - 1st documented anti-Semitic remarks over US radio (by Father Coughlin)
1942 - The NHL abolishes regular season OT until WW II is over
1943 - US forces land on Tarawa & Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Island
1945 - 24 Nazi leaders are put on trial at Nuremberg, Germany
1947 - "Meet the Press" makes its network TV debut on NBC
1947 - Britain's Princess Elizabeth, marries Duke Philip Mountbatten; UN General assembly begins debate on printing their own stamps
1953 - Scott Crossfield in a Douglas Skyrocket becomes the 1st to break Mach 2 (1300 MPH)
1959 - UN adopts the declaration of children's rights
1962 - The US lifts the blockade of Cuba
1977 - Egyptian President Sadat becomes the 1st Arab leader to address the Israeli Knesset
1980 - Steve Ptacek in the Solar Challenger makes the 1st solar-powered flight
1983 - 100 million watch ABC-TV movie "The Day After," about nuclear war
1986 - UN's WHO announces 1st global effort to combat AIDS
1990 - Thatcher fails to defeat Heseltine's bid for party leadership; The US' 68th manned space mission STS 38 (Atlantis 7) returns from space

Birthdays
1602 - Otto von Guericke, inventor (air pump)
1620 - Peregrine White, son of William & Susanna White, born aboard Mayflower
1726 - Oliver Wolcott (Ct-Gov), signed Declaration of Independence
1761 - Pius VIII, 253rd Roman Catholic pope (1829-30)
1841 - Sir Wilfrid Laurier, 7th Canadian PM (1896-1911)
1886 - Karl von Frisch, zoologist/bee expert (Nobel 1973)
1889 - Edwin Hubble, astronomer (discoverer of galaxies, red shift)
1909 - Alan Bible (Sen-NV)
1917 - Robert Byrd (Sen-WV)
1925 - Robert Francis Kennedy(Sen-NY) AG; assassinated
1929 - Dick Clark, TV host (American Bandstand)
1942 - Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (Sen-DE)
1946 - Judy Woodruff, newscaster (McNeil Lehrer Report)

Passings
1910 - Leo Tolstoy Russia, author (Anna Karenina), dies at 82
1975 - General Francisco Franco Spain's dictator, dies in Madrid at 82
1985 - Bill Scott cartoon voice (Mr Peabody, Bullwinkle), dies at 65

Reported Missing in Action
1967
Butler, William W., USAF (CA); F105D shot down; released by DRV March, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Criner, Norbert B., USAF; F100F shot down; released by DRV March, 1973

Martin, John M., USAF (PA); F4C shot down

1969
Baldridge, John Robert, Jr., USAF (TN); O2A shot down (w/Renelt)

Renelt, Walter A., USAF (SD); O2A shot down (w/Baldridge)

1972
Breuer, Donald C., USMC (NY); F4J shot down