News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraqi Security Forces Take Huge Steps Forward
School’s in Session: Troops Visit Two Southern Baghdad Schools
Tikrit Law School affiliates with Baltimore Law School
Insurgent safe house, house-borne IED blown up (Arab Jabour)
An Nasiriyah SWAT captures high-level IED facilitator, four others
Coalition forces target foreign terrorist facilitators, car-bombers, propaganda cells
Coalition forces find weapons caches with help from local Iraqis; 18 suspects detained
Business Leaders Help Revitalize Iraq
Mosul Passenger Terminal Ready for Flights

Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghan Security Forces Prove Themselves
Medical Outreach Treats 450 Afghans

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Sri Lankan Homicide Attack Caught on Camera - PHOTOS (Warning: Disturbing Images)
U.S. Withdraws U.N. Mideast Peace Resolution
Colombia videos reveal rebel hostages alive in jungle - Video

Supporting Our Heroes
Hollywood honorary mayor to visit troops
Pilot Program Saves Time, Speeds Veterans' Benefits

Other Military News
Supporters Rally for Army-Navy Game
Sealift of Life-Saving MRAP Vehicles Begins
Bush Visits Pentagon, Speaks On Defense Budget Shortfall -
Photos - Video
Army Funds Crunch Would Affect Installations Worldwide

Religion of Peace??
Thousands in Sudan Call for British Teddy Bear Teacher's Execution - PHOTOS
Teacher hidden as Sudan mob urges death

Worldwide Wackos
Chavez Counters After Student Protests - VIDEO - PHOTOS
Chavez backers rally for charter changes
Chavez threatens to cut U.S. oil supply over vote
Iran says it will safeguard nuclear rights
EU-Iranian talks break up; no compromise (Does this surprise anyone??)

Homegrown Moonbats
"Lions for Lambs" fails to roar for United Artists

Politics / Government
Suspect Arrested inCampaign Hostage Siege
Hillary traveling to thank cops, meet staffers - VIDEO - PHOTO ESSAY
POLL: GOPers 'Crowded at the Top' in New Hampshire - POLL: Clinton Narrowly Leads Democrats - Results (pdf)
Democrats tout their electability in 2008
Clinton, Giuliani give rivals reason to hope
Short voting gap shapes presidential race - Video
Presidential race turns a negative page
Dems fault own party in pitch to leaders
Congress pushes controls over Marianas
Paulson works with industry on loan plan
Emergency responders face deep aid cuts
Dems reach deal on energy bill
Putin's party heads for landslide as campaign ends - Video
Bhutto gears up for Pakistani poll - Video

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Show seeks to love match migrants and U.S. citizens

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Four Suspects Arrested in Sean Taylor's Murder
'Thrill Kill' Teens in Court - Cops: teen helped in slaying to settle $100 debt
Holloway Suspects to Be Released

Cops Say Body Found During Search Matches Description of Missing Student
Body of Missing Pregnant Woman Found Buried in Wildlife Refuge
Four Detained in Sean Taylor Homicide
Man Charged With Attempted Murder for Slipping Abortion Drug to Girlfriend to Cause Miscarriages
Police Say Body Found is Missing Kansas Porn Star Student
Report: Rodney King Shot in the Face
Ex-Boyfriend Kills Hugging Mom, Daughter as Toddler Watches
Man Charged After Student Dragged 13 Miles
Georgia Mom Charged With Fatally Stabbing Her 2 Toddlers in Store Bathroom
Vick Dogfighting Co-Defendants Sentenced to Prison
U.S. Student to Remain Jailed in U.K. Coed's Death
Stacy Peterson's Family Wants Lie Test for Hubby - VIDEO
U.S. sues ship and pilot for San Francisco spill
Jurors in Canada serial killing case get choices
Lawyer for Astor's son pleads not guilty
Taser probe: Trooper acted reasonably
Autopsy slated for secret porn star
Suspect in trouble before hostage drama

Adventures in Political Correctness
School Omits Christmas from December Calendar

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Porn-Site Virus Forces PC Users to Pay Up
YouTube Restores Account of Egyptian Blogger
Facebook alters notifications after privacy furor
Talk show lineup
Facebook revamps new advertising system
Reporter gets circumcised to fight AIDS
Video: Julia Roberts chases paparazzi

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
Waiting Too Long to Have Sex Linked to Sexual Dysfunction Later in Life, Study Says
U.S. Seeks New Eyes From Space
Bush announces Africa trip, presses for AIDS funds
Stem cell innovators find a way to cut out cancer
Mobile phone death a ruse - Video
Space Station lab will boost Europe's status in space

Mother Nature
Strong earthquake hits Indonesia's Aceh
After fires, Calif. rain mudslide threat

Oddities
Child's ID Bracelet Missing for Decades is Discovered in Gizzard of Minnesota Chicken
Scientists Turn Cockroaches Into Zombie Slaves
Mafia boss arrested while watching Mafia TV show
Officials in tears over comatose croc
Footprints seen around Mt.Everest stoke Yeti mystery

Fox News
Two Trains Collide in Chicago, Five Critically Injured
FOXBusiness: Can Mortgage Plan Save Borrowers?
3 Cheerleaders Die in Alabama Crash, 4 Others Hurt
Report: 'Bisexual' MTV Star Tila Tequila Is Straight

Reuters
Daredevil Evel Knievel dies after long illness
Witherspoon, Jolie top list of high-paid actresses
Mexican muralist Rivera wins back fame over Kahlo
Dow, S&P 500 gain on housing plan as Nasdaq dips - Video
Dollar rallies on month-end deals as yen stumbles
Dell shares tumble on profitability concerns
Homebuilder shares up on hope for subprime deal
Bonds flat to lower, but November a banner month
Girding for a fight
Emerging markets key for industrials
Treasury near subprime aid deal
Motorola CEO Zander to be replaced by COO Brown
Exit of Cruz leaves few women execs on Wall Street
Citi sees strong growth in Taiwan business in 2008
Alaska gets 5 applications for natural gas
Lennar forms venture with Morgan Stanley Real Estate

AP World News
Blast shakes Ukrainian mine
Stocks mostly higher to cap week
Writer who sued over Da Vinci Code dies

CENTCOM: News Releases
BLACK LIONS ARREST ALLEGED EXTREMIST LEADERS
COALITION FORCES TARGET FOREIGN TERRORIST FACILITATORS, CAR-BOMBERS, PROPAGANDA CELLS; ONE TERRORIST KILLED, 17 SUSPECTS DETAINED

USJFCOM
Capability development leadership to change
More about Capability Development
USJFCOM readies for Joint Task Force Senior Medical Leadership Seminar - podcast
USJFCOM garners cutting edge technology award - podcast
New USJFCOM super computer will enhance command efforts - podcast
Command continues preparations for multinational effort
More about Multinational Experiment 5

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Rural Community All Smiles About New Healthcare Center
Iraqi Army seizes counterfeit money (eastern Baghdad)

DefenseLink
IRAQ NEWS
Soldiers’ Trust Contributes to Success

MILITARY NEWS
Pentagon’s Homeland Defense Office Matures
Military Must Understand, Master Change

HUMANITARIAN RELIEF
Bangladeshis Thank U.S. Sailors, Marines
Experience Lends Lessons to Bangladesh Relief

WHY WE SERVE
Chef Happiest at Sea

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Holiday Gifts for Troops

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
1167 - Northern Italian towns form the Lombardi League.
1626 - Pasha Muhammad ibn Farukh, tyrannical Governor of Jerusalem, is driven out.
1640 - Portugal regains independence after 60 years of Spanish rule.
1641 - Massachusetts becomes the first colony to give statutory recognition to slavery.
1742 - Empress Elisabeth orders the expulsion of all Jews from Russia.
1783 - Charles and M.N. Roberts ascend 2,000' in a hydrogen balloon.
1804 - Emperor Napoleon marries Joséphine of Martinique.
1821 - Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) proclaims its independence from Spain.
1824 - The House of Representatives begins to end the election deadlock between John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Harris Crawford and Henry Clay - Adams is eventually declared President.
1831 - The Erie Canal closes for an entire month due to cold weather.
1835 - Hans Christian Andersen publishes his first book of fairy tales.
1843 - The first chartered mutual life insurance company opens
1864 - Raid at Stoneman: Knoxville, TN to Saltville, VA; Skirmish at Millen Brutal, GA.
1868 - John D. Rockefeller begins his anti-oil war.
1878 - The first White House telephone is installed.
1887 - The Sino-Portuguese treaty recognizes Portugal's control of Macao.
1891 - James Naismith creates the game of basketball.
1896 - In New York, the first certified public accountants receive their certificates.
1903 - "The Great Train Robbery", the first Western film, is released.
1906 - In Paris, Cinema Omnia Pathe, the world's first cinema, opens.
1909 - The Carlisle Trust Company in PA is the site of the first Christmas Club payment.
1913 - In Pittsburgh, the first drive-up gasoline station opens; Ford introduces the continuous moving assembly line (it produces a car every 2 hrs 38 minutes)
1918 - The Danish parliament passes an act granting independence to Iceland; in Belgrade, the Serbian-Croatian-Slovic kingdom is proclaimed.
1919 - Lady Nancy Astor is sworn in as the first female member of the British Parliament.
1921 - The first U.S. helium-filled dirigible makes its maiden flight.
1925 - The Treaty of Locarno is signed.
1929 - Edwin S. Lowe invents the game of BINGO.
1933 - Rudolf Hess and Earnest Röhm become ministers in Hitler's government.
1936 - Bell Labs tests a coaxial cable for TV use.
1939 - SS-Führer Himmler begins the deportation of Polish Jews.
1941 - The U.S. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) organizes; the British cruiser Devonshire sinks the German sub Python; Japanese emperor Hirohito signs a declaration of war.
1942 - Gasoline is rationed in the U.S.
1943 - FDR, Churchill and Stalin agree to Operation Overlord (D-Day).
1948 - The Arabic Congress names Abdullah of Trans Jordan, King of Palestine.
1951 - The Golden Gate Bridge closes due to high winds.
1954 - Nationalist China and the U.S. sign a dike agreement.
1955 - Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to move to the back of the bus she is riding on.
1958 - In Chicago, Our Lady of Angels School burns, killing 92 students and 3 nuns.
1959 - 12 nations sign a treaty for the scientific peaceful use of Antarctica; the first color photograph of Earth is received from outer space.
1964 - Martin Luther King speaks to J. Edgar Hoover about his slander campaign.
1965 - The airlift of refugees from Cuba to the U.S.begins.
1967 - Queen Elizabeth inaugurates the 98-inch (249-cm) Isaac Newton telescope.
1969 - The U.S. government holds its first draft lottery since WWII.
1971 - The People's Republic of South Yemen renames itself the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.
1974 - A Boeing 727 crashes in Upperville VA, killing 92.
1975 - U.S. President Gerald Ford visits the People's Republic of China.
1976 - Angola is admitted to the U.N.
1978 - President Carter more than doubles the size of the national park system.
1980 - The U.S. Justice Department sues Yonkers, citing racial discrimination.
1983 - Rita Lavelle, former head of the EPA, is convicted of perjury.
1987 - Digging begins to link England and France under the English Channel (the Chunnel).
1988 - 596 are dead after ca yclone hits Bangladesh; half a million are left homeless; Benazir Bhutto is named the female PM of a Muslim country (Pakistan).
1989 - East Germany drops the communist monopoly from its constitution; U.S.S.R. President Mikhail S. Gorbachev meets Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.
1990 - British and French workers meet in the English Channel's tunnel; Iraq accepts G.H.W. Bush's offer for talks; Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia hold their first joint session.
1991 - The Ukranian people vote for independence; the U.S.' 75th manned space mission (STS-44 - Atlantis 10) lands.
1992 - Two C-141B Starlifters collide in Montana and crash, killing 13; Amy Fisher is sentenced to 5-15 years for shooting Mary Jo Buttafuoco.
1994 - PTL leader Jim Bakker is released from jail.
1997 - Westinghouse formally changes its name to CBS.

Birthdays
1671 - Francesco Stradivari, Italian violin maker
1726 - Oliver Wolcott, judge / signer of the Declaration of Independence
1826 - William Mahone, Confederate Major General
1832 - Archibald Gracie, Jr., Confederate Brigadier-General
1835 - Micah Jenkins, Confederate Brigadier-General (Led Hoods Division at Chickamauga)
1844 - Alexandra, Danish princess/Queen of Great Britain & Ireland
1873 - Charles JM Ruys de Beerenbrouck premier of Netherlands (1918-25, 29-33)
1878 - Arthur B. Spingarn, NAACP chairman (1940-65)
1899 - Robert Welch, founder of the John Birch Society
1912 - Minoru Yamasaki, architect (World Trade Center, New York)
1919 - Anne Cox Chambers , U.S. ambassador to Belgium (1977-81)
1923 - Stansfield Turner, CIA director
1932 - Robert T. Herres, USAF / astronaut
1935 - Woody Allen, a.k.a.Allen Stuart Konigsberg, actor (Annie Hall)
1940 - Richard Pryor, comedian/actor (Lady Sings the Blues, Stir Crazy)
1942 - Peter Kalikow Queens NY, real estate developer/publisher (New York Post)
1945 - Bette Midler, singer (Wind Beneath My Wings) / actress (Beaches, First Wives Club)
1951 - Alexander Panayotov Aleksandrov, cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-5)

Passings
0660 - Eligius/Eloy, French bishop of Tournay-Noyon/saint
1135 - King Henry I of England (first king that could read)
1374 - Magnus Eriksson, kKing of Norway/Sweden
1417 - Walraven I. van Brederode, viceroy of Holland
1515 - Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (el Gran Capitán), Spanish general
1521 - Leo X (Giovanni de' Medici), Pope (1513-21)
1530 - Margaretha of Austria, governess of the Netherlands
1633 - Isabella of Austria, infante of Spain/governess in Holland
1797 - Oliver Wolcott, U.S. judge / signer of the Declaration of Independence
1825 - Aleksandr I. P. Romanov, czar of Russia (1801-25)
1842 - Philip Spencer, first U.S. naval officer condemned for mutiny, hanged
1887 - Albertus J. Duymaer van Twist, Governor-General of the Dutch-Indies
1934 - Sergei M. Kirov, Josef Stalin's collaborator, assassinated in Leningrad
1939 - Max Fiedler, composer
1947 - Aleister Edward S. Crowley, British occultist
1971 - Arthur B. Springarn, NAACP chairman (1940-65)
1972 - Antonio Segni, Italian PM/President (1955-57, 59-60, 62-64)
1973 - David Ben-Gurion, founding father of Israel
1974 - Stephen Gill Spottswood, U.S. bishop / NAACP chairman
1987 - Donn Fulton Eisele, Colonel USAF/astronaut
1991 - George Joseph Stigler, U.S. economist (Nobel 1982)
1996 - Barbak Karmal, politician

Reported Missing in Action
1965
McCormick, John V., USN (MI); A4C shot down, remains returned April, 1988

Reitman, Thomas Edward, USAF (MN); F105D crashed

1966
Nicotera, Carl, US Army ; PRG says DIC December, 1966 (discrepancies in record)

1969
Rogers, Billie Lee, USN (IN); CVA-61, drowned

Labels: Headlines, History