News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Hunt for GIs Widens - Force of 4,000 troops 'will not stop searching'
Blasts Rock Baghdad Green Zone During Blair Visit
U.S. Embassy in Iraq to Be World's Largest Ever
At least two missing U.S. soldiers alive: general
Blair tells Iraq no regrets in final visit - Video

Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghanistan Takes Government to Its People
ANP, Coalition Forces Fend Off Enemy Attack Near Sarkoni
ANP, Coalition Forcces Work Hand-in-Hand to Render Safe Soviet-era Bomb
Helmand Operation Targets Taliban
U.S. Forces Not Involved in Kandahar Shootings

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Aussie Al Qaeda Supporter Moved Home
Russia Spying on U.S. at Cold War Levels?
Lebanese army battles militants at Palestinian camp
Israel hits Hamas targets, killing three in Gaza
Palestinian truce begins to take hold

Supporting Our Heroes
Soldier's mom champions health screening

Other Military News
N.J. fire stokes tensions near air range
Snowbirds pilot was to wed next month

Religion of Peace??
Musharraf: Islamic militancy rising

Worldwide Wackos
Iran announces atom progress
Harsh words for Iran at Mideast forum
Venezuelans march to support TV station

Homegrown Moonbats
'Sicko' Shows Michael Moore's Maturity as a Filmmaker (Ummmm....yeeeeaaaaah...)
Former President Carter Blasts Bush

Politics / Government
Gingrich: Challenge 'Radical Secularism'
Obama "counting" on young voters in New Hampshire
Retirement, health reform may be delayed: senator
Clinton: 'Obligation' to aid New Orleans
G-8 leaders stress support for Africa
Former presidents avoid politics at UNH

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Bush Praises Senators for Immigration Deal
Bush wants immigration battle resolved
Mexican families face difficult choice
Immigration heats up South Carolina GOP

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
S.C. Constable's Corpse Found?
Bound Boy's Daycare Death
Australian Court Rules Woman Must Pay for Tossed Engagment Ring
Vegas Cops Hold Nameless Suspect
Thief Hit by Bus as He Flees NYC Store
Court: Fiancee Must Pay for Chucked Ring
Classmate's Hammer Attack Leaves Beverly Hills Girl With Head 'Shaped Like a Football'
Vigil Marks Birthday of Missing Illinois Mom
Texas to release 226 juvenile prisoners

U.N. News
Darfur rebels say government shells water station

Science / Medicine / Technology
Blue Light Babies

Mother Nature
Illinois Zoo Searches for Missing Eagle Egg
Crews Gain on 4,000-Acre Arizona Wildfire
Escaped gorilla back in his enclosure
Thousands flock to see wayward whales
Firefighters gain control of wildfires

Oddities
First Female Gondolier Causes Stir Among Male Colleagues in Venice

Other News of Note
Preakness Ends Triple Crown Thoughts - PICS
Russia says thwarts plot to kill ally of Putin
8 Russian reporters resign in protest
Commemorative coin honors Little Rock 9

Fox News
Pop Tarts: Jessica Simpson and John Mayer Split, Reports Say

Reuters: Top News
France concerned by Colombian plan to free hostages
Vietnam elects National Assembly in new trade era
Landis denies doping charges at Malibu hearing
Bollywood's top director longing to act in films
Spreading the New Orleans experience - by golf cart
U2 goes 3D and rocks Cannes
DiCaprio to polluters: go green now
Stocks to fly on M&A; oil lurks
Yen steady after China widens yuan band
Stocks rally on M&A, consumer data; Dow at record
EnerNOC Inc. jumps nearly 25 pct in debut
Oil stocks rise - M&A or sector back in favor?
Signs point to good news on economy
China deja vu, but investors stay calm
No names yet for World Bank chief: Kimmitt
Alcoa plans Alcan aerospace and auto sales: source
China's shadow hangs over German G8 meeting
Russia not to allow state companies to default: Gref
AQuantive deal spurs debate on Microsoft and Yahoo
Clear Channel agrees to raised $19.6 bln bid

AP World News
Katrina victim Fats Domino performs
McCartney: I don't read divorce coverage
U2 rock Cannes before 3D film screening
Higher education sees rise in dishonesty

Military.com
Poll: Was DoD Right to Block Sites?
Get What You Got Coming
PGA Helps Wounded Vets Hit 'Em Long
You Don't Have to Hate Civilians
Test: Are You Special Ops Material?

CENTCOM: News Releases
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR MAY 17
TRIBAL ELDERS SURROUND INSURGENTS
SIX SECRET CELL TERRORISTS DETAINED
IRAQI ARMY, EOD PREVENT CAR BOMB TRAGECY IN BAYAA
COALITION FORCES DISCOVER EFP CACHE, TIP LEADS TO SECOND EFP CACHE SITE

USJFCOM
U.S. Joint Forces Command, Marines begin Joint Urban Warrior 07 - podcast
Unmanned vehicle management system capability under evaluation - podcast

DefenseLink
Chairman Still Motivated, Inspired by Troops
‘Surge’ Progress Will Be Evident by September
U.S., Iraqi Units Continue Search for Soldiers
Pace Speaks on Leadership at Grad School
Impatience in Iraq Troubles Commandant
Fallujah Success Attributed to Troop Surge
Troops: Armed Forces Day Really Does Matter
Open House Showcases Military Technology
Open House Previews New Flight-Themed Stamps

More Headline News
Council Checks Out Mine-Resistant Vehicles
Resources, Not Content, Drive Web Decisions
DoD Calls for Service Reports on Reserve Needs

Military News
'Time' Magazine Honors Army Ranger
'American Idol' Contestant Returns to Navy Base
Army Officers Earn Leadership Awards
National Guardsmen Help Battle Wildfires
Airmen Strengthen Kyrgyzstan Ties with Project

War on Terror
Two Car Bombs Prevented
Insurgents Killed, Detained
Three Soldiers Killed in Iraq
Al Qaeda Chief Foe of Anbar

America Supports You
Bookseller Makes Donation
Military Golf Program
DVD Drive for Troops
Group Shows Gratitude

Transformation
Thinking Lean, a Must for Force
Navy Launches USNS Byrd
New Tactical Vehicle Rolls Out
Navy Names New Destroyers
Hangar Aids Painters' Capabilities

Face of Defense
TV Brings Family Together
Doc to Join Medical Corps
Sailor Shares Iraq Experiences
Doc Receives Honor

DefendAmerica
BLOGGERS' ROUNDTABLE with U.S. NAVY Rear Adm. Elizabeth Hight
Resources, Not Content, Drive Web-Use Decisions - Story - Audio

NEWS UPDATES
Search Continues for Soldiers - Story

ON THE GROUND
Marine Cooks Up Morale, Troop Welfare in Iraq - Story
Instructors Spend Free Time Helping Troops - Story
Iraqi Security Forces Show Mettle Under Fire - Story
Marines, Sailor Make Post More Comfortable - Story
Band of Sisters Plays Key Role in Iraq Security - Story

IN IRAQ
Air Cavalry Offers 24-hour Support During Search
Tribal Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Unity
Army Brigade Readys Helo for Medical Missions
Troops Test Their Chemical Training in Iraq
Injured Iraqis Recover With Aid from U.S. Military
Iraqi Air Force Performs Double-Patient Transfer
Baghdad Residents Get Free Medical Care

IN DJIBOUTI
Task Force Showers Orphans With Supplies
Liaison Officer Builds Cohesive Relationship
Djiboutian Institute of Arts Embraces Americans

IN AFGHANISTAN
Coalition Forces Diffuse Soviet–era Bomb
U.S. Airmen Mentor Afghan Depot Personnel
Anthrax Vaccine Becomes Mandatory for Some

DefendAmerica Week in Review
Sunday - Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday

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
'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: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama


Today in History:
1303 - The Treaty of Paris restores Gascony to the British, following the 100 Years War.
1310 - Shoes are first made for both right & left feet.
1704 - Elias Neau forms a school for slaves in New York.
1775 - Mecklenburg County, North Carolina declares its independence from Britain.
1845 - The first legislative assembly convenes in Hawaii.
1861 - Kentucky proclaims its neutrality in the Civil War.
1864 - Battle at Ware Bottom Church VA, results in 1,400 killed or injured.
1868 - The Republican National Convention meets in Chicago, and nominates Grant for President.
1874 - Levi Strauss markets blue jeans with copper rivets - cost is $13.50 / dozen.
1875 - International Bureau of Weights & Measures established by treaty
1892 - German, Italy, and Austria-Hungary form the Triple Alliance.
1902 - The U.S. military occupation of Cuba (since January, 1899) ends.
1916 - Codell, KS is hit by a tornado; it is also hit on the same date in 1917 & 1918)
1917 - The Turkish Government authorizes Jews to return to Tel Aviv & Jaffa.
1918 - Launch of the first electrically propelled warship, the New Mexico.
1926 - Congress passes the Air Commerce Act, requiring licensing of pilots & planes.
1927 - Charles Lindbergh takes off from New York to cross the Atlantic; the Treaty of Jedda grants Saudi Arabia independence from Great Britain.
1932 - Amelia Earhart leaves Newfoundland; the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
1939 - Pan Am begins regular transatlantic airmail and passenger service across the North Atlantic.
1940 - Igor Sikorsky unveils his invention, the helicopter.
1941 - Germany invades Crete.
1942 - The U.S. Navy first permits black recruits to serve.
1944 - The U.S. Communist Party dissolves.
1948 - The Israeli Air Force is first used, and achieves its first war victory against Syria.
1954 - Chiang Kai-shek becomes president of Nationalist China.
1959 - Japanese-Americans regain their citizenship.
1961 - A white mob attacks "Freedom Riders" in Montgomery, AL.
1969 - In Vietnam, U.S. troops capture Hill 937 - Hamburger Hill.
1970 - 100,000 march in New York in support of U.S. policies in Vietnam.
1971 - The Pentagon reports that blacks constitute 11% of the U.S. soldiers in southeast Asia.
1978 - 3 PFLP members kill a police officer near El Al airlines in Orly Airport, Paris.
1980 - 710 families in the Love Canal area, near Niagara Falls, are evacuated.
1985 - The FBI arrests John A. Walker, Jr., later convicted of spying for the U.S.S.R.
1985 - Israel exchanges 1150 Lebanese/Palestinian prisoners for 3 Israeli soldiers; the U.S. begins broadcasts to Cuba on Radio Marti.
1989 - China declares martial law in Beijing.
1990 - The Hubble Space Telescope sends its first photographs from space.
1991 - The Soviet parliament approves a law allowing citizens to travel abroad.
1992 - India launches its first satellite independently.
1993 - 1993KA, a ten-meter meteor, comes within 150,000 km of Earth.

Birthdays:
1759 - William Thornton, architect, U.S. Capitol building
1768 - Dolley Dandridge Payne Madison, U.S. First Lady
1828 - Union Brigadier General James William Reilly
1881 - Wladyslaw Sikorski, Polish Premier, WWII general
1895 - Reginald J. "R" Mitchell, English aviation manufacturer (Spitfire)
1908 - Jimmy (James Maitland) Stewart, actor (Mr Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life)
1913 - William Hewlett, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard Co
1921 - John Harrison, British Vice Admiral/surgeon; John Marchi (Representative-R-NY)
1923 - Hugh Beach, British General
1925 - D. French Slaughter, Jr. (Representative-VA)
1934 - Alexei A. Leonov, cosmonaut (Voskhod 2, Apollo-Soyuz)
1944 - David M. Walker, Captain USN/astronaut (STS 51-A 30, 53, 69)
1945 - Harold E. Ford (Representative-TN); Nikolai Nikolayevich Fefelov, Russian colonel/cosmonaut; Wally Herger (Representative-CA)
1948 - John R. McKernan, Jr. (Representative / Governor-ME); Samuel Gejdenson (Representative-CT)
1949 - Nick Joe Rahall II (Representative-WV)
1951 - Michael D. Crapo (Representative-ID); Thomas D. Akers, Major USAF/astronaut (STS 41, 49, 61, 79)
1954 - Galina Vasilyevna Amelkina, doctor/cosmonaut

Passings:
1471 - Henry VI, King of England / France
1506 - Christopher Columbus, explorer, dies in poverty in Spain
1622 - Osman II, Sultan of Turkey
1648 - Wladyslaw IV, King of Poland
1834 - Marquis de Lafayette, French general
1996 - Lewis B. Combs, Naval commander/civil engineer

Reported Missing in Action:
1967
Frits, Orville B., US Army (CA); Remains recovered May, 1967

Grammar, William Michael, USMC (OK); Remains recovered May, 1967

Keefe, Douglas O’Neil, USMC (SC)

Maddox, Notley Gwynn, USAF (IL)

Milligan, Joseph E., USAF (NJ); Released by DRV February, 1973 – alive in 1998

Smith, Homer L., USN (WV); Remains returned March, 1974

Vanloan, Jack L.,USAF (OR); Released by DRV March, 1973 – alive and well in 1998

1968
Lehrman, Ronald J., US Army (OK); Released by Sihanouk June, 1968

Robertson, John H., USArmy SF (AL)

Tester, Jerry A., US Army (NC); Released June, 1968

1972
Williams, James W., USAF (TN); Released by DRV March, 1973 – alive and well in 1998

Labels: Headlines, History