News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraqi National Police Learn Valuable Skills, Graduate Leadership Training Course
Iraqi Leaders Commit to Unity During Summit
Soldiers Show Iraqi Children How to Stay Healthy

Operation Enduring Freedom
Gates says NATO must fill gaps in Afghan force

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Lawmakers launch waterboarding investigation - Video
Waterboarding Works? - Dems unhappy with CIA chief's testimony('Cause they've been lying about what they knew, and 'cause they didn't want to hear that it works.)
Questions linger after Hayden testimony
Two Blasts Kill 26 in Algiers PHOTOS: WARNING
Terror Surveillance Court Won't Release Wiretap Papers
NYC shuts 9/11 remains sifting facility

Supporting Our Heroes
Return to Sender (I understand the reason for this one)
Giving the Gift of Raw for Christmas: Wrestling Superstars Visit Troops

Other Military News
U.S. deaths in Afghanistan, region

Religion of Peace??
Netherlands Prepares for Anti-Muslim Film

Worldwide Wackos
Gaddafi accuses Europeans of abusing immigrants
Venezuela's Chavez again demands Spain apology
Bush demands Iran explain nuke program

Politics / Government
Romney Runs Immigration Ad Against Huckabee, Weighs How Negative To Go
Huckabee Grows Iowa Lead, Romney Strong in N.H.
George Bush loses close run for "Foot in Mouth"
Congress stymied as politicians bicker
Contenders face back-to-back Iowa debates - Video
Huckabee's 1992 words get new attention
Ukraine's Tymoshenko to continue fight for PM post

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Pastor: Stacy Peterson Told Me Drew Killed 3rd Wife
Colorado Church Gunman Sought Revenge After He Was Kicked Out of Missionary Training
Police: Colorado Church Gunman Killed Self - PHOTOS
Gunman may have warned of 2nd attack
Drew Peterson Launches Defense Fund Site - Pastor: Stacy Told Me Drew Killed 3rd Wife
Ohio Attorney Found in Georgia Says She Made Up Kidnapping, Had a 'Meltdown'
Naomi Campbell Mugged at Zeppelin Concert
Cops: 6 Las Vegas Teens Shot Getting Off School Bus
Boys, 11 and 14, Charged With Sex Assault on Woman
Cannibal Suspect Hangs Himself by Belt in Jail Cell, Dies
Canada serial killer sentenced to life in jail - Video
Ex-worker in Houston police lab indicted
Ex-FBI agent pleads guilty to abduction
7 N.J. troopers suspended in sex case

U.N. News
Bush condemns Myanmar crackdown after U.N. report

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Alex Trebek suffers mild heart attack
Hmm. How does my hair look, Mr. Robber?

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
Best Meteor Shower of 2007 Peaks Dec. 13
Human Evolution Seems to Be Accelerating
U.S. teen drug use down, but problems remain: survey
Mammogram accuracy varies by radiologist: study
Dave Matthews Band and Van Halen join ringtone rush
Microsoft releases Office update ahead of schedule
NASA plans shuttle fuel tank test
Bird flu case suspected at S.Korea poultry farm
U.S., China joust over forex policy, food safety
Retailers to sell TV converter boxes
Energy source of northern lights found

Mother Nature
Deadly Ice Storm Leaves Millions in the Dark - PHOTOS
Thousands shiver after Midwest ice storm
Arkansas Boy, 5, Kills 445-Pound Black Bear
Bali talks sour - Blogs: Posts from Bali
Ominous Arctic melt worries experts (They neglect to mention that Arctic ice has been above normal for several years)

News from My Neck of the Woods
FAA: Jets never in danger at JFK airport

Oddities
Good First Step - Shoe baron leaves state nest egg
Fan Falls to His Death During Football Game
Diners Sit Next to Corpses at Indian Cafe
Man Spends Four Days Trapped in a Bathroom
McDonald's Fines Customers Who Take Too Long to Eat
Toddler Gets Jammed in Airport Conveyor Belt
Prisoner gets compensation over cockroaches
Race car driver taxi driver to catch flight

Fox News
FOXBusiness: Fed Disappoints; Dow Falls 294 Points
FOXBusiness: Fed Lowers Key Rate by 0.25 Percent
Report: A-List Celebrity Pet Store Buys from Puppy Mills
Pop Tarts: Keira Knightley Can't Keep Her Clothes On
TV's Lifelong Bachelor Scott Baio Finally Gets Hitched
The Office Holiday Party: Food, Drinks and ... Sex? The Pros and Cons of Hooking Up at a Company-Sponsored Event
Guatemalan Lawmakers Tighten Adoption Laws

Reuters
Investors dump stocks after Fed's modest rate cut - Video
Peru's Fujimori gets 6 years prison for burglary - Video
Panel makes crack term guidelines retroactive
World Chefs: Arzaks humble about haute cuisine
Without writers, TV loads up on reality, reruns
"Into the Wild" leads Critics' Choice nominations
Dollar trims losses vs yen after Fed disappoints
Oil rises as ice, fog slow U.S. crude flows
Manitowoc rises after raising guidance
Stocks fall as modest Fed rate cut disappoints - Video
Stock returns seen slowing till 2020
Audio: Casting doubt on Fed decision
Stock market will rally in 2008: Evergreen
FTSE falls as investors punish banks ahead of Fed
Citigroup names Pandit CEO, Bischoff chairman
Wells Fargo chief sees momentum for deals
PIMCO's Gross: Fed funds headed to 3 pct
Buffett says economy close to recession
Ford says open to partnerships in emerging markets

AP World News
Hogan prays things get better for family
MLB reviews draft of Mitchell's report
Balloons for teacher travel 900 miles
Paparazzi sues Brosnan in shoving match
Bobby Petrino resigns as Falcons coach
Stern won't punish Isiah Thomas, Knicks
McFadden, Tebow lead AP All-America team
Steelers DE Smith out with torn biceps

CENTCOM: News Releases
COALITION FORCES DISRUPT AL-QAEDA OPERATIONS; ONE TERRORIST KILLED, 19 DETAINED
SEVERAL MILITANTS KILLED, 10 DETAINED, TWO WOUNDED CIVILIANS FOUND AFTER HELMAND OPERATION
TALIBAN EXTREMISTS DETAINED IN KANDAHAR PROVINCE
5 IRAQI DETAINEES KILLED IN ROCKET ATTACK
PRESS RELEASE: COALITION PRECISION STRIKE KILLS SEVERAL MILITANTS

USJFCOM
U.S. Joint Forces Command, IBM sign new cooperative research and development agreement
More about CRADAs
Ribbon cut for new SOCJFCOM headquarters - podcast
Newsmaker Profile: SOCJFCOM Commander Army Col. Wesley Rehorn - podcast
More about SOCJFCOM
Capability development leadership to change
More about Capability Development

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Coalition forces capture Special Groups leader, 11 detained (Baghdad)
Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda operations; one terrorist killed, 19 detained
Fewer indirect fire attacks in Baghdad, more caches found
Task Force Iron Soldiers attacked (Salah ad Din Province)
Ibn Sina Hospital begins 3rd year of Iraqi Trauma Training
5 Iraqi detainees killed in rocket attack (Baghdad)

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
Defense Department Notifies Congress of Furlough Moves - Video

IRAQ NEWS
Basra to Soon Come Under Iraqi Control
Iraq Operations Net Key Suspects

FACE OF DEFENSE
Army Chef Spices Up 'Grill Sergeants'
Cancer Didn't End Dream of Military Service

MILITARY NEWS
Iraq Command Dedicates Studio to Fallen Marine
All Components Meet November Recruiting Goals

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Korean Engineers Meet Goal, Go Home

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
From Wine to Phone Cards
Computers Boost Morale

WHY WE SERVE
Iraq Alters Big City Marine

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
0384 - St. Damasus I ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1572 - Spanish troops begin siege of Haarlem
1620 - 103 Mayflower pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock
1688 - King James II arrested
1710 - Battle of Villa Viciosa (France beat Habsburgers)
1718 - Battle at Frederikshall Norway
1719 - 1st recorded display of Aurora Borealis in US (New England)
1792 - France's King Louis XVI went on trial, accused of treason
1816 - Citizens of Geneva thwart Savoyard invaders; Indiana becomes the 19th US state
1844 - 1st dental use of nitrous oxide, Hartford, CT
1872 - 1st Black US Governor took office, Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback (Louisiana)
1882 - Boston's Bijou Theatre, 1st American playhouse lit exclusively by electricity, gives its 1st performance, Gilbert & Sullivan's "Iolanthe"
1893 - 11 fishing ships wash up at Wadden Sea, 22 killed
1899 - 2nd defeat of "Black Week" - Battle of Magersfontein - Boer leader Cronjé vs General Methuen
1901 - Marconi sends 1st transatlantic radio signal, Cornwall to Newfoundland
1903 - British forces under MacDonald & Young march into Tibet
1906 - US President Roosevelt attacks abuses in the Congo
1909 - Colored moving pictures demonstrated at Madison Square Garden, New York NY
1916 - David Lloyd George forms British war government
1917 - 13 black soldiers hanged for alleged participation in Houston riot; German-occupied Lithuania proclaims independence from Russia
1919 - Boll weevil monument dedicated in Enterprise AL
1928 - Buenos Aires police thwart an attempt on President-elect Herbert Hoover
1930 - Bank of the United States opens in New York NY
1931 - British Statute of Westminster gives complete legislative independence to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Newfoundland; Japan leaves the Golden Standard
1937 - Italy withdraws from League of Nations
1939 - New anti Jewish measurements in Poland, proclaimed
1940 - Russian General Zhukov warns of German assault
1941 - Germany & Italy declare war on US; Japanese occupy Guam; Dutch government in London declares war on Italy; Japanese attack Wake Island (only failed WWII-landing)
1942 - Australian/Dutch guerrilla troops evacuated to Timor near Australia
1944 - Surprise attack on House of Keeping Axe, 29 prisoners freed
1945 - Het Parool publishes 1st Captain Rob-strip
1946 - UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) established (Nobel 1965); Spain suspended from UN
1951 - Joe Dimaggio announces his baseball retirement
1953 - KTVA TV channel 11 in Anchorage (CBS) becomes Alaska's 1st TV station
1954 - USS Forrestal christened in Newport News VA
1956 - Anti-Russian demonstrates in Stettin & Wroclaw Poland
1958 - Upper Volta (now Bourkina Fasso) gains autonomy from France; 4th (last) Dutch government of Drees falls
1960 - Black Sunday - Riot in Algiers, 114 die
1961 - Adolf Eichmann is found guilty of war crimes, in Israel; JFK provides US military helicopters & crews to South Vietnam; SST prototype "Concorde" 1st shown (France)
1967 - 6.5 earthquake in West India, 170 killed; People's front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) established
1969 - Libya adopts constitution
1972 - Astronauts Cernan & Harrison become 11th & 12th on the Moon
1973 - West German chancellor Willy Brandt normalizes trade with Czechoslovakia
1978 - 6 masked men bound 10 employees at Lufthansa cargo area at New York Kennedy Airport & made off with $5.8 million in cash & jewelry
1979 - Great Britain grants independence to Zimbabwe (Rhodesia)
1981 - Spacelab I arrives at Kennedy Space Center; UN Security Council chose Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru as 5th Secretary-General; Argentine President/General Roberto Viola flees
1983 - 1st visit to Lutheran church by a pope (John Paul II in Rome)
1984 - Mauretania military coup under Colonel Maawiya Ould Sid'ahmed Taya
1985 - Computer store owner in Sacramento CA killed by package bomb
1986 - South Africa censors press
1990 - 13 die in 83 vehicle accident in Chattanooga TN (I-75), due to fog; US 69th manned space mission STS 35 (Columbia 11) returns from space
1991 - William Kennedy Smith found not guilty of rape
1992 - Nor'easter storm hits New York, doing $650 million+ worth of damage
1993 - Eduardo Frei elected President of Chile
1994 - Russian troops pull inside Tsjetsjenië
1997 - Federal judge orders Microsoft not to bundle IE4 in Windows

Birthdays
1475 - Leo X (Giovanni de' Medici), Pope (1513-21)
1781 - Sir David Brewster, Scottish physicist/inventor (kaleidoscope)
1797 - Hiram Paulding. Union Rear-Admiral
1835 - Adolf Stoecker, German anti semite/PM
1836 - Jan Boissevain, Dutch politician/ship owner
1863 - Annie Jump Cannon, US stellar spectroscopist (Harvard-classification)
1882 - Fiorello La Guardia (Mayor-NY, 1933-45)
1911 - Nagib Machfus, Egyptian writer (Nobel 1988)
1936 - Hans van den Broek, Dutch foreign minister (-1992)
1937 - Adrian J. Vlok, South African NP-minister of Law & Order (1986- )
1939 - Tom Hayden, 60's activist/Mr Jane Fonda/(Representative-CA)
1941 - Max Baucus (Senator-MT)

Passings
0711 - Justitianus II, emperor of Byzantium, dies at about 42
1282 - Llywelyn ab Gruffydd, monarch of North Wales (1246-77); Michael VIII Paleologus, Byzantine emperor (1259-82)
1573 - Alardus/Eilard de Waterlant. duke of Alva, hanged
1582 - Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, marquis of Soria, dies at about 75
1595 - Philip III van Croij, prince of Chimay/general, dies at 69
1610 - Forges Dimitri, czar of Russia, murdered
1686 - Louis II Condé, duke of Bourbon, dies at 65
1718 - Charles XII, King of Sweden (1697-1718), shot dead
1756 - Theodor A. Freiherr von Neuhoff, German adventurer/king
1899 - Andrew "Andy" Wauchope, British general-major, dies in battle; Lord Winchester British marquis/major, dies in battle
1994 - Stanislaw Maczek Polish/British general-major (WWII), dies at 102; Yao Yilin, Vice PM of China (1979)
1996 - Robert Bromston Thesiger Daniell, soldier, dies at 95; W.G.G. Duncan-Smith, fighter pilot, dies at 82

Reported Missing in Action
1964
Tadios, Leonard M., US Army (HI); DIC March, 1966

1965
Horsky, Robert Milvoy, USAF (IA); C123K shot down, remains recovered June, 1974

McKnight, George Parker, USAF (LA); C123K shot down, remains recovered June, 1974

Salinas, Mercedes Perez, USAF (TX); C123K shot down, remains recovered June, 1974

Stewart, Donald David, USAF (NC); C123K shot down, remains returned June, 1974

1966
Alfred, Gerald O., Jr., USAF (WA); F4C shot down, possibly ejected at sea

1968
Galbraith, Russell D., USAF (OH); RF4C shot down

Labels: Headlines, History