Man, all that energy people were spending wondering what that smell was in Manhattan a little while ago. They finally said it was coming from New Jersey, but no one could point to a specific cause.

Well, I know what it was - it was the New Jersey legislature. How do I know? Well, this sure stinks (from the Washington Times):

New Jersey to veterans: Drop dead?
By Cal Thomas
Tuesday, January 16, 2007

"to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan"

There has never been a more succinct statement about the obligation and privilege the nation has to care for its military veterans than that brief clause in Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. But the New Jersey legislature thinks setting aside a day on which to remember those who have bought our freedom with their blood is not as important as it used to be.

New Jersey legislators have unanimously passed a measure that includes a provision to remove the state mandate to teach about Veterans Day in the public schools. And not only Veterans Day; the bill would also remove requirements to teach about Columbus on Columbus Day, the Pilgrims around Thanksgiving Day, and even Commodore John Barry Day, which commemorates the Revolutionary War hero for whom a bridge is named, which spans the Delaware River to connect Bridgeport, N.J., to Chester, Pa...

Read the rest, if you think you can stomach it, at the Washington Times.

Oh, and in case you'd like to let the New Jersey legislature know how you feel about this malodorous move, you can do so here.

Members of the band, “Raw Material,” entertain the Soldiers of the 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, as they crammed into a small chapel for a night of music, Jan. 14. Raw Material is made up of Soldiers from 389th Army Material Command Band and play a variety cover songs ranging from Rage Against the Machine to Tina Turner. (U.S. Army photo by Chaplain (Capt.) Soon Jung, 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 011707-01
Jan. 17, 2007

By Spc. Ryan Stroud
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

MUQDADIYA, Iraq (Jan. 15, 2007) -- Sounds of rock, pop and rhythm and blues music filled the cold Iraqi night sky as Soldiers from the 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, crammed into a small chapel for a night of music provided by the 389th Army Material Command Band, ‘Raw Material,’ Jan. 14.

The band made the stop at Forward Operating Base Normandy, in the Diyala province in Iraq, during their tour to provide entertainment to the Soldiers who’s FOBs are not normally visited by entertainment guest.

“We have deployed many times and have noticed that many FOBs are not getting any musicians or entertainers,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Moyer, Raw Material’s non-commissioned officer in charge.

“The big entertainers go to the big areas, such as FOB Anaconda and Bagdad, and we wanted to go to smaller FOBs and bring entertainment to those who might not get the chance to see those acts,” he added.

The band, who specializes in many different styles of music, performed a long set of cover songs from some of today’s top artist like Christina Aguilera and Kelly Clarkson, along with rock songs from harder bands, such as Rage Against the Machine, said Moyer.

“This time around, we wanted to do some harder material,” continued Moyer. “We’ve covered Rage Against the Machine and Drowning Pool, but we also have been performing old R&B like Tina Turner and Chaka Chan.”

“Our set-list evolves from what we think the Soldiers want to hear in the field and from our own personal musical backgrounds,” said Sgt. Joseph Krafft, 389th AMC. “Since we have people who like different types of music, we all influence the set-list in different ways.”

“A lot of what our group performs also depends on the vocal styling’s we have to work with from our singers,” added Moyer. “We try to integrate as many genres of music into our set.”

“We are a multi-functioning band,” he continued. “We perform concerts, ceremonies and some of us break off to form jazz combos and other entertainment group. We have rock groups, country bands and other groups, all to entertain the Soldiers who give their all everyday.”

Raw Material, who consists of percussion, brass, keyboards and electric guitars, played for hours to a crowd of dancing Soldiers. Their mission to entertain and raise the morale of the Soldiers was achieved.

“It was entertaining,” said Pfc. Lucas Shawgo, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6-9 ARS. “It brought some needed morale out here and people were having a decent time relaxing and dancing. It was pretty good.”

“It was nice to see entertainment at a small FOB,” said Pfc. John Thomas, HHT, 6-9. “It seems like bigger FOBs always get the visitors so it was nice to have someone come out here and be recognized.”

Both Soldiers agreed they liked that Raw Material mixed up their set-list, contributing different styles for different people.

“I liked that they mixed it up a lot,” said Thomas. “They had something for everyone.”

“I think it was pretty good that they played an assortment of music,” added Shawgo. “Not everyone likes the same thing but they played something for everyone.”
Both Moyer and Krafft said playing for the Soldiers is always a pleasure and one of the most fulfilling parts of their jobs.

“Coming out here and playing for those Soldiers who are out there everyday on convoys or conducting raids; it’s a great feeling,” Moyer said. “Just to see them having fun, smiling and letting go a bit, it make the whole band feel great.”
“We really try to bring joy to the Soldiers through our music,” he added.

“This is the most important and most satisfying part of our job,” said Krafft. “Coming out here and providing entertainment for those who are out on the front lines, it feels good. This is the best part of what we do.”


Members of the band, “Raw Material,” entertain the Soldiers of the 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, as they crammed into a small chapel for a night of music, Jan. 14. Raw Material is made up of Soldiers from 389th Army Material Command Band and play a variety cover songs ranging from Rage Against the Machine to Tina Turner. (U.S. Army photo by Chaplain (Capt.) Soon Jung, 6-9 Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

Jan. 19, 2007
Submitted on: 01/18/2007
Story ID#: 2007118183140

By Lance Cpl. James Green, MCRD San Diego

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO (Jan. 19, 2007) -- Marines who graduate today from the rigorous 13-week training cycle of Marine Corps boot camp possess three values that set them apart from who they used to be.

The Marines of Company L were introduced to these values before stepping on the yellow footprints. They heard them when they sat down with their recruiter and memorized their definitions before departing for boot camp.

“(The core values) are the foundation of which Marines are made,” said Sgt. Matthew A. Montgomery, Recruiting Substation West Las Vegas, Recruiting Station San Diego, 12th Marine Corps District.

Montgomery said without honor, courage and commitment — the core characteristics of a Marine — an individual cannot consider himself a Marine at all.

“When individuals become Marines, they no longer represent themselves. They represent their entire organization,” said Montgomery.

According to the Navy and Marine Corps core values card, honor is having integrity, responsibility and accountability.

Honor is upholding the name and values of what an individual stands for. Montgomery said by living his life by the strict standards of the core values, he has stayed out of trouble and is able to be a positive role model for the young men and women he recruits.

The core values card states that courage is doing the right thing, in the right way, for the right reason.

Many times during recruit training a recruit will face a challenge he believes is impossible to accomplish. But, after completing what his mind told him he could not do, he feels a sense of triumph which instills in him the courage he needs to be a United States Marine, said Isaac S. Orta, senior drill instructor, Platoon 3245, Company L.

Commitment is being devoted to the Corps and to fellow Marines. It is being 100 percent willing and able to take a task and stick with it until it is complete, according to Montgomery.

“All three of the core values are equally important,” said Montgomery, a Danville, Ind., native. “Different circumstances call for one to take precedence over the other two, but in the end they all make up the mental and moral character of a Marine.”

In boot camp, recruits endure mental and physical challenges, which call for them to rely on the core values, said Orta.

“Whether it is on the battlefield or here in garrison, the core values are used in every aspect of a Marine’s life,” said Orta. “Everyone was raised different, and core values give a Marine the baseline on how to treat people and treat themselves.”

Orta, a San Antonio native, said that all of the Marines he has worked under have taught him something about the core values and how to put them into practice in his own life.

For more than 231 years, the Marine Corps has remained the world’s finest fighting force because of the strict standards Marines choose to uphold, said Montgomery.

The pride that comes with honor, courage and commitment is a pride that never fades, even years after a Marine leaves active duty. The core values are the bedrock elements that make Marines stand out as the few and the proud in America, Montgomery added.

AL ASAD, IRAQ – Marines with RCT-2’s TRAP platoon recently used the base flight line for a training exercise. Since the regiment’s arrival in-country, this was TRAP’s first opportunity to practice with actual helicopters. Photo by: Cpl. Adam Johnston, Submitting Unit: 2nd Marine Division, Date:01/19/2007

Read the story associated with this photo

Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commander Multi-National Division – North and 25th Infantry Division discusses Ninewa Province’s successes and challenges during a meeting with the Ninewa Provincial Governor Duraid Kashmoula Jan. 11 in Mosul, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Roderick Cunningham, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 011407-23
Jan 17, 2007

Ninewa Province viewed as shining star of Iraq

By Maj. Roderick Cunningham
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

MOSUL, Iraq – The Multi-National Division – North commander and the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division commander met with Ninewa Provincial leadership to discuss the success and challenges of the province Jan 11.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commander of MND-N, Col. Stephen Twitty, commander of 4-1 Cavalry, Ninewa Provincial Governor Duraid Kashmoula, and Provincial Director of Police Maj. Gen. Wathuk shared their thoughts of the current situation and future of the three prominent cities and the remainder of Ninewa Province.

Mosul, the largest city discussed during the meeting, with roughly 1.8 million people, is situated in the northern region and is the second largest city in Iraq. Tal Afar has about 80,000 citizens and lies in the western portion of the province; and Qayyarah, which houses roughly 50,000 residents is south of Mosul located in the Tigris River Valley.

The meeting revolved around several topics, however, the recurring themes were violence in the streets, security, and how anti-Iraqi forces are brought to justice when captured.

“Yes, there is violence in this city. But, there is violence in American cities that have nearly two million people in their population as well,” said Mixon.

Recognizing the similar levels of violence in a comparable city in America, Twitty paints an optimistic picture of the current state of Mosul and Ninewa Province.

“Amidst the turmoil and issues that persist in Iraq, there is a semblance of peace and normalcy in the north. Ninewa’s leadership works hard to provide its citizens security, build its economy, and implement programs that will continue to keep sectarian violence from the province,” said Twitty. “One thing we cannot do is attempt to put an American standard on any Iraqi city,” said Twitty. “We have to remember that this country lived under a dictator for more than 30 years. The major and significant difference between U.S. cities and Mosul is the use of improvised explosive devices, rocket-propelled grenades, and other military – grade weapons. Anti-Iraqi forces persist in their attacks, but the Iraqi security forces, consisting of the Iraqi Army, border patrol and police, continue to quell those attacks daily,” Twitty continued.

Both Kashmoula and Wathuk agreed that their police and army are trained; they have enough equipment to do their jobs, and are securing their streets, cities, and province.

“This province has more than 18,000 police and 20,000 Iraqi Army soldiers who provide security for its citizens,” said Kashmoula. “Both the 2nd and 3rd Iraqi Army Divisions have demonstrated that they are fully capable of assuming counter-insurgency missions by taking over operations in east and west Ninewa province. They conducted transfer of authority ceremonies, putting them under the control of Iraqi Ground Forces Command instead of Coalition Forces,” he continued.

Mixon said he believes that with so many Iraqi security forces now working to secure their own cities in the province, it shows the diligence of the local government.

“The leaders of this province continue to make progress standing up security forces to maintain domestic order and deny terrorists from using Mosul and the other cities as a safe haven,” said Mixon.

Everyone agreed that by working together, once captured, those terrorists would be prosecuted and brought to justice, despite past problems within the Iraqi judicial system.

Both the governor and police chief said they are working together in an effort to ensure Ninewa’s judicial system and jails work to support the citizens of the province.

“The lawyers refused to go to court so I picked them up myself and took them to the courthouse. This act broke the strike of the other lawyers, allowing court to go on as planned,” said Kashmoula.

“We received three convictions; one got 30 years, another 15 years, and the third was released. Six others were prosecuted and received the death penalty,” he added.

“I applaud the success earned by the government, police, and army of Ninewa Province,” said Twitty. “They are dedicated to bringing peace to the area and they set the standard for all of Iraq.


Col. Stephen Twitty, commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (right), discusses security with Provincial Director of Police Maj. Gen. Wathuk (left) during a meeting Jan.11 in Mosul, Iraq.

The memorial, held Jan. 18 at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, for four Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based out of Fort Bliss Texas, who were killed by an improvised explosive device Jan. 15. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sipp, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)


Soldiers line up to pay their respects during a memorial ceremony held Jan. 18 at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, for four Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based out of Fort Bliss Texas, who were killed by an improvised explosive device Jan. 15. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sipp, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)


Sgt. Ron L. Verhine, combat medic, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (left) and 1st Lt. Thomas Peabody, armor officer, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (right) mourn the loss of four 2-7 Cavalry Soldiers during a memorial ceremony Jan. 18 at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq. The four were killed by an improvised explosive device Jan. 15. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sipp, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)


A large number of Iraqi Army commanders and soldiers attend the memorial ceremony held Jan. 18 at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, for four Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based out of Fort Bliss Texas, who were killed by an improvised explosive device Jan. 15. An Iraqi interpreter, Salwan D. “Jacob” Shamoon, was also killed in the attack. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sipp, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)


Lt. Col. Marvin A. Hedstrom, commander, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Cook, command sergeant major, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (right) mourn the loss of four 2-7 Cavalry Soldiers during a memorial ceremony Jan. 18 at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq. The four were killed by an improvised explosive device Jan. 15. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sipp, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)


The memorial, held Jan. 18 at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, for four Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based out of Fort Bliss Texas, who were killed by an improvised explosive device Jan. 15. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sipp, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)


Photos of Sgt. Ian C. Anderson, a native of Prairie Village, Kan., and Spec. Mathew T. Grimm, a native of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., two of the four Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based out of Fort Bliss Texas, who were killed by an improvised explosive device Jan. 15., are adorned with unit coins and a Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medal during a memorial ceremony held Jan. 18 at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sipp, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)


Photos of 2nd Lt. Mark J. Daily, a native of Los Angeles, Calif., and Staff Sgt. John E. Cooper, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, two of the four Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based out of Fort Bliss Texas, who were killed by an improvised explosive device Jan. 15., are adorned with unit coins and a Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medal during a memorial ceremony held Jan. 18 at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sipp, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)

Warbird in Flight
A 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-52 Stratofortress departs on a counter-sea training mission during one of the final sorties of a five-month deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Jan. 15. The counter-sea exercise concluded a five-month deployment to Andersen AFB in which the 23rd EBS flew over 200 missions, logged nearly 1,600 hours and dropped 750 munitions. The B-52s were at Andersen promoting regional security and preserving regional stability while providing the U.S. Pacific Command commander a continuous bomber presence in the region. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Master Sgt. Don Perrien)

An Iraqi policeman keeps an eye on one of the bridges his boat unit is tasked with protecting during a patrol on the Tigris River on Jan. 7. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Elisandro Diaz, USN


By Petty Officer 2nd Class Elisandro Diaz, USN
Special to American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, Jan. 18, 2007 – Keeping the Tigris River free from criminal activity is the mission of a unique group of Iraqi policemen.

The policemen belong to the Baghdad River Patrol Station, located along the eastern banks of the Tigris River. From there, police conduct surveillance and establish a presence on fast patrol boats, said Iraqi Police Col. Alaa, the station’s commander.

“Our primary mission is of a humanitarian nature,” Alaa said.

To combat the transport of weapons and illegal contraband, the policemen take certain measures in their daily patrols. One critical tactic used by the river police to deter crime on the river is to secure and protect boat docks from infiltration by insurgents and criminals.

Just as boat docks play a critical function for the police, they have also benefited criminal elements, Alaa explained. Insurgents and criminals have used the docks as staging areas to commit crimes and then use them as escape routes to evade capture after the crime, he said.

“We have seen evidence of terrorists that have used the boat docks to launch mortar and rocket attacks. We have found many spent casings,” Alaa said.

The docks also have helped the Iraqi army during joint operations with the Iraqi police, Alaa said. The army recently cordoned off and searched a Baghdad area, looking for insurgents. During the mission, the army secured an area to the east of the river and searched in the river’s direction. The Iraqi river patrol provided security of the docks and denied access to the river, Alaa said. He also said the docks have been used to unload soldiers for joint exercises between the army and the police.

The police unit is training eight Iraqi army personnel to navigate riverboats in Mosul and Habbaniyah as part of their joint efforts with the army, Alaa said.

Alaa explained that the security of the Tigris depends greatly on the continuous monitoring that his trained and experienced men provide. The policemen monitor the river from their 10 checkpoints along the riverbanks and by boat teams traveling up and down the 100-kilometer section of their jurisdiction. He also gives credit to the local citizens who help his policemen.

“Many residents call us to report people doing bad things,” he said.

The police have come a long way in the last two years, Alaa said. One of the station’s successes has been the size of its police force. After the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, the police station personnel disbanded. “I was the very first to show up for duty, and then others started to come back to where we now have 267 policemen,” he said.

Alaa said there is a constant police force of 80 men at the station during each of the station’s three shifts. In addition to strong personnel numbers, equipment and training also have improved. Coalition forces have provided boats and training that have enabled policemen to expand their skills and capabilities, he said.

Alaa said the most important benefit of the training is the men’s increased self-confidence.

On a fundamental level, he explained, the rule of law and respect for human rights are the guiding principles that underlie the manner in which the police force interacts with the community it serves.

“Three years ago, anyone could be picked up by the police at any time without just cause. Now there is rule of law, and citizens have rights that the police respect,” Alaa said.

Another improvement that has made operations more efficient is the communication system the police use. They share the same communications system with the land-based police stations, allowing real-time coordination of activities in the surrounding jurisdictions.

“We can hear the same messages that other stations get and can respond quickly because of this. When people call the police, their call gets routed to the police station nearest to them,” Alaa said. This integrated communications system ensures the police in all jurisdictions are “providing faster response times and the prevention of duplicate actions from other police stations while keeping them informed should they be needed,” he said.

Alaa said the security and safety of the river is his men’s responsibility and privilege.

“They have sworn an oath to make the river safe, ensuring a future of peace for their families and Iraq,” he said.

(Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Elisandro Diaz is assigned to Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq Public Affairs.)


An Iraqi policeman from the Baghdad River Patrol Station protects the rear of another boat as the two-boat team patrols the Tigris River during a mission Jan. 7. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Elisandro Diaz, USN


An Iraqi police officer from the Baghdad River Patrol Station monitors the riverbank as his unit patrols the Tigris River on Jan. 7. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Elisandro Diaz, USN


Iraqi police patrol boats travel down the Tigris River past one of the bridges it is tasked with protecting while conducting a patrol Jan. 7. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Elisandro Diaz, USN


Related Sites:
Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq

Manama, Bahrain (Jan. 18, 2007) – Secretary of Defense Robert Gates receives a briefing from Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Vice Adm. Patrick Walsh, at its headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, Jan. 18, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2007 – Following President Bush’s recent announcement on the new strategy for Iraq, Defense Department officials have emphasized the importance of heightened support to military families throughout the nation.
Michael L. Dominguez, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, met Jan. 11 with 22 support organizations to discuss how to further help military families.

“As additional forces deploy in support of the new strategies in Iraq, programs and policies at home will immediately respond to the needs of families,” Dominguez said. “These families will need grassroots support, as many are National Guard and reserve and are distributed across many states rather than on or near military installations.”

Dominguez recognized that military families play an important role in national security. “(Support organizations) deliver services so essential and capture information about what needs to be done. I asked you to attend today to hear your ideas,” he said.

“Military families also serve,” he said, as he asked the organizations for their continued support. “They have a patriotic and noble spirit, but their sacrifices are greater than ever with change in deployments.”

The Defense Department is first targeting ways to address the needs of family members of the Minnesota National Guard. The state is the first affected by the new war strategy. Identical services also will be provided to later affected communities.

Military family assistance counselors will provide ongoing support by coordinating local resources, identifying needed services, and helping spouses and children to develop coping strategies, Dominguez said.

To better help families of servicemembers, DoD has dedicated a section on the “Military OneSource” Web site, www.militaryonesource.com, to community and military support organizations. Groups can announce events on the site that help connect families with support groups within their communities.

Although family issues such as financial stability and emotional challenges are being addressed, focus is also being put on child care and child well-being.

In addition to Military OneSource, the DoD’s America Supports You program serves as a conduit for connecting individuals to service organizations. The program has more than 230 grassroots support groups dedicated to providing for the needs of servicemembers and their families available through its Web site, www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.

Organizations present at the meeting were:

-- Air Force Association,
-- American Red Cross,
-- American Legion,
-- Armed Services YMCA,
-- Army Emergency Relief,
-- Association of the U.S. Army,
-- Boys and Girls Clubs of America,
-- Enlisted Association of the National Guard,
-- Fleet Reserve Association,
-- Marine Corps Reserve Association,
-- Marine Corps League,
-- Military Officers Association of America,
-- National Association for Uniformed Services,
-- National Enlisted Reserve Association,
-- National Guard Association of America,
-- National Military Family Association,
-- Navy League of the United States,
-- Navy Marine Corps Relief Society,
-- Noncommissioned Officers Association of the United States of America,
-- Reserve Officers Association,
-- United Service Organizations, and
-- Veterans of Foreign Wars.


Related Articles:
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University of Miami ‘Adopts’ Sailors


Related Sites:
America Supports You
Military OneSource

BATON TRAINING — U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Roy Buchanan teaches Iraqi police officers how to use a baton. The 2/150th Field Artillery Unit of the Indiana National Guard spent most of 2006 helping train police officers in Mosul, Iraq. U.S. Army Courtesy Photo

News of Note
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U.S., Iraqi Forces Nab Al-Sadr Aide
Al-Sadr to Italian Newspaper: I Think I'm Being Targeted
VIDEO: Senators Propose Bill Condemn Iraq Troop Surge
Bush on Iraq plan: "I believe it will work"
Iraqi forces need more guns so U.S. can exit: PM - Video
Iraq rebel army expressing siege mentality
Soldier to Plead Guilty in Iraq Rape

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Detainee Trial Plan Sets High Bar for Defense
Pentagon sets rules for terrorism suspect trials
Gonzales defends Bush's revised domestic spying
Gaza violence scares away foreign aid, media
Hezbollah image suffers in south Lebanon village

Other Military News
Israeli Court Allows Woman to be Inseminated With Dead Soldier's Sperm Without His Written Consent (Is it just me, or does anyone else have a problem with this headline?)
Pentagon Recants 'Canadian' Spy Coin Report
China Successfully Tests Anti-Satellite Missile

Religion of Peace??
Australian Muslim Cleric Sparks Outrage

Worldwide Wackos
North Korea Claims 'Agreement' Reached in Nuke Talks
How Kim Jong Il Bilks U.N. - Aid agency concealed scamming since 1999
North Korea Claims Progress in Nuke Talks
Gates: Iranians 'overplaying their hand'
Iran takes tough stand over nuclear row

Homegrown Moonbats
ACLU Sues Bar for Ban on Dreadlocks

Politics / Government
Who Needs '100 Hours'?
'We have delivered on the promise,' Pelosi says
House seeks more oil royalties, kills tax breaks
U.S. tells China concerned by satellite-killer test
Senate passes Democrats' ethics bill
Rocker's inaugural act creates stir

Immigration / Border Control
Bush Mulls Pardon for Border Agents
Convicted Border Agents Start Serving Federal Prison Sentences
Driver Gets Life for Human Smuggling Deaths

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment
Subway Restaurant Worker Charged With Murder of Kansas College Student
Missouri Kidnap Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Abducting Ownby; Other Parents Assume Abuse
Cops: Mom Sold Daughter, 8, to Man for Sex
Missouri Kidnap Suspect Pleads Not Guilty; Prosecutor Says Devlin Confessed - VIDEO
'Live Tax-Free or Die'
Kidnapped teen was abused-parents tell Oprah

U.N. News
Somalia has best chance for peace in years: UN
Sanctions could escalate Iran standoff: ElBaradei
UN weighs peacekeepers across border from Darfur

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Families Allege Sex Assaults in MySpace Suits
Fox News offers audio feed on cell phones
Colbert, O'Reilly face off on both shows

Science / Nature
1918 Flu That Killed Millions Hijacked Victims' Immune Systems
Icy Storms Kill 66 Across 9 States - PHOTOS
NASA spacecraft nears close encounter with Jupiter
Global biotech crop acres grow as debate persists
At least 21 killed as storms lash N.Europe - Video
Ice-glazed Texas and Oklahoma shiver

Oddities
Authorities Investigate Case of Woman Dying After Water-Drinking Contest
Family sues radio station after woman dies
9-Year-Old Steals Car, Catches Plane
'Half-Animal' Woman Is Discovered After Spending 19 Years Alone in Cambodian Jungle
Double Dragon: Fossil of Prehistoric Reptile With Two Heads Discovered in China
Pregnant Teens Stage Frying Pan Attack
Police catch sneaker peeker
Mirror, mirror on the wall, is this dress for me?

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Holocaust survivors owed as much as $175 bln: study
Report: China palace Starbucks may close

Fox News
MLB Owners Warned: Play Ball in 'Roid Probe
Prosecutors in HP Spy Case Offer Plea Deal
Washington Runaway, 9, Steals Car, Sneaks Onto Flight to Texas
Hugh Hefner May Want More Kids ... With Playboy Playmate and 'Girl Next Door' Holly Madison
Britney Spears 'Fed-Up' With K-Fed. Or Not
Kentucky Plane Crash Transcripts Show Pilots Violated Cockpit Rules Against Nonessential Chatter

Reuters: Top News
Oil prices soft above $50 on high U.S. crude stocks
Desk of the future will charge electronic devices
Solar power eliminates utility bills in U.S. home
Caffeine may ease post-workout pain: study
Texas study suggests link between pollution, cancer
DiCaprio says Scorsese deserves an Oscar
Chip, energy stocks drag markets lower
IBM shares drop
Oil prices soft above $50 on high U.S. crude stocks
Supply angst pushes nickel to new record high
Dollar near 4-year high vs yen
Yen talk unlikely to spark rally
Perfectly organized
IBM profit rises 11 percent but shares drop
GE to buy Abbott diagnostics units for $8.13 billion
Toyota to recall 533,000 Sequoias, Tundras in U.S.
Schneider Electric Q4 sales beat forecasts
Bernanke: Budget action needed before "storm"
Hilton plans Waldorf-Astoria in Beverly Hills

AP World News
Killer indicted in Idaho abductions
Couples betting 7/7/07 is lucky for love
Serena's improbable run continues
Smith, Dungy eye Super Bowl history
Rite Aid shareholders OK Eckerd deal
Interest rates, Apple lead to sell-off
Inflation moderates in 2006, wages up
Oil briefly falls below $50 per barrel
5 finalists named for Grammy contest
Millions in Katrina aid still available

Military.com
Op-ed: Buy American or French?
Blog: Whiny Women vs. Real Women
Advisors: Hometown Deprivation Syndrome
Military Money Questions? Ask June!
Podcast: Playboy and the Nude Airman

CENTCOM: News Releases
COALITION FORCES REQUEST ACCESS, ENTER SUDANESE EMBASSY
12 SUSPECTS SEIZED IN EAST BAGHDAD
IRAQI ARMY PATROL TURNS THE TABLES ON AMBUSH

USJFCOM
Training comes to a close in exercise for Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa - podcast
Liveblogging: Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Mission Rehearsal Exercise 07-1
USJFCOM hosts first-responder focused modeling and simulation demonstration event

Department of Defense
Stability & Security in Iraq Report (pdf)
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
U.S. Official Talks Economics with Iraqi Leaders - Story
Troops Overseas Celebrate King’s Birthday - Story
Iraqi Army Boot Camp Trains New Recruits - Story
Iraqi Army Patrol Turns the Tables on Ambush - Story

IN IRAQ
Iraqi City Rebuilds Police Force After Uprising
Soldiers Surprise Iraqi Troops With Goodwill Visit
Security Operations Continue in Al-Doura
Iraqi Neighborhood Chosen for Renovation
Number of Iraqi Police Recruits Skyrocket
Undersecretary Tours Iraqi Fertilizer Plant
Iraqi Cops Take Lead With a Little Help
Four-Legged “Troops” Sniff Out Explosives

IN AFGHANISTAN
Volunteers Spark Warmth at Burn Center
U.S. Air Assets Support Strike in Afghanistan
U.S. Air Force Engineer Helps Afghans Rebuild
Afghans Graduate From Agricultural Course

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

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

Philippines
Baler Radar Site Catanduanes Radar Site Manila

South Korea
Cheju Upper/Radar Chonju Chunchon Inch'on Kunsan Masan Mokp'o
Osan Pusan Seoul Suwon Taegu Taejon Tonghae Radar Site Ulsan Yosu

* If you're deployed, and want to see your location's weather listed here, please email me! *

Today in History
0379 - Theodosius installed as co-emperor of East Roman Empire
0973 - Pope Benedictus VI elected
1419 - French city of Rouen surrenders to Henry V in Hundred Years War
1493 - France cedes Roussillon & Cerdágne to Spain by treaty of Barcelona
1668 - King Louis XIV & Emperor Leopold I sign treaty dividing Spain
1746 - Bonnie Prince Charlie's troops occupy Stirling
1770 - Battle of Golden Hill (Lower Manhattan)
1793 - French King Louis XVI sentenced to death
1795 - Democratic revolution in Amsterdam ends oligarchy
1806 - Britain occupies the Cape of Good Hope
1808 - Louis Napoleon signs 1st Dutch aviation law
1825 - Ezra Daggett & nephew Thomas Kensett patent food storage in tin cans
1833 - Charles Darwin reaches Straits Ponsonby, Fireland
1839 - Aden conquered by British East India Company
1840 - Antarctica discovered, Charles Wilkes expedition (US claim)
1853 - Napoleon III marries Eugénie de Montijo
1861 - Georgia becomes 5th state to secede; MS troops take Fort Massachusetts an Ship Island
1862 - Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky (Fishing Creek, Logan's Crossroads)
1863 - General Mieroslawski appointed dictator of Poland
1865 - Union occupies Fort Anderson NC
1885 - Battle at Abu Klea Sudan 800-1000 killed
1899 - Anglo-Egyptian Sudan forms
1903 - 1st regular transatlantic radio broadcast between US & England
1910 - Germany & Bolivia ends commerce/friendship treaty; National Institute of Arts & Letters incorporated by Congress
1913 - Raymond Poincaré installed as President of France
1915 - 1st German Zeppelin attack over Great Britain, 4 die; Neon Tube sign patented by George Claude
1917 - Silvertown Essex's ammunition factory explodes; 300 die
1918 - Soviets disallows a Constitution Assembly
1920 - Alexandre Millerand forms French government; US Senate votes against membership in League of Nations
1921 - Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras & El Salvador sign Pact of Union
1922 - Geological survey says US oil supply would be depleted in 20 years
1927 - British government decides to send troops to China
1929 - Acadia National Park, Maine established
1937 - Millionaire Howard Hughes sets transcontinental air record (7h28m25s)
1938 - GM began mass production of diesel engines
1939 - Ernest Hausen of Wisconsin sets chicken-plucking record-4.4 seconds
1941 - British offensive in Eritrea; British troops occupy Kassalaf Sudan
1942 - Japanese forces invade Burma; Titus Brandsma (Carmelite priest) arrested by German occupiers for speaking out against Nazism as a "lie" and "pagan"
1943 - Joint Chiefs of Staff decide on invasion in Sicily
1947 - SS Himera runs aground at Athens, kills 392
1950 - Maiden flight by Canada's Avro Canada CF-100 military plane
1952 - PGA approves allowing black participants
1955 - 1st Presidential news conference filmed for TV (Eisenhower); "Scrabble" debuts on board game market
1960 - Eisenhower & Premier Kishi sign US-Japanese Security pact
1966 - Indira Gandhi elected India's 3rd prime minister
1970 - Nixon nominates G Harrold Carswell to Supreme Court (fails)
1972 - Sandy Koufax, Yogi Berra, & Early Wynn elected to Hall of Fame
1974 - Belgium government of Leburton falls
1975 - 4 mail truck assault on El Al B-747 in Paris, escape to Iraq
1977 - President Ford pardons Iva Toguri D'Aquino (Tokyo Rose); World's largest crowd-12.7 million-for Indian religious festival
1978 - Judge William H. Webster appointed head of FBI
1979 - John N. Mitchell (former AG) released on parole from federal prison
1981 - Muhammad Ali talks a despondent 21 year old out of committing suicide; US & Iran sign agreement to release 52 American hostages
1982 - Heater explodes at Star Elementary School-Oklahoma, kills 6 kids & teacher
1983 - Klaus Barbie, SS chief of Lyon in Nazi-France, arrested in Bolivia
1984 - California Supreme Court refuses to allow quadriplegic Elizabeth Bouvia to starve herself to death in a public hospital, she appeals and is later granted the right to die
1986 - Israeli premier Simon Peres visits Netherlands; Spain recognizes Israel
1987 - Guy Hunt becomes Alabama's 1st Republican governor since 1874
1988 - "48 Hours" premieres on CBS-TV
1989 - President Reagan pardons George Steinbrenner for illegal funds for Nixon
1993 - Israel recognizes PLO as no longer criminal; Robert M. Gates ends term as 15th director of CIA; STS-54 (Endeavour) lands

Birthdays
0570 - Mohammed Islamic, prophet (Koran)
1200 - Dogen Kigen, Zen teacher, 1st patriarch of the Japanese Soto
1544 - Francis II de Valois-Angoulême, King of France (1559-60)
1736 - James Watt, inventor (steam engine); Laurens P. van de Spiegel, Dutch regent/secretary of State 1787-95
1749 - Isaiah Thomas, US printer/editor/publisher/historian
1802 - (Jean) Silvain van de Weyer, 1st Belgian minister of Foreign affairs (1831)
1807 - Robert Edward Lee Stratford VA, Confederate General-in-Chief
1809 - Edgar Allan Poe, author (Pit & the Pendulum)
1813 - Sir Henry Bessemer, engineer/inventor (Bessemer engine)
1816 - Henry Gray, Confederate Brigadier General
1820 - John Haskell King, Union Brevet Major General
1830 - George Blake Cosby, Confederate Brigadier General
1863 - Werner Sombart German fascist (Juden und das Wirtschaftsleben)
1869 - Alfred R. Zimmerman, mayor (Rotterdam 1906-22)/Director (League of Nations)
1892 - Olafur Thors, Icelandic PM (6 times, 1942-63)
1904 - James Winston Watts developer (Frontal Lobotomy)
1905 - Oveta Culp Hobby, government official/newspaper publisher/CEO (Houston Post)
1912 - Leonid V. Kantorovich, economist (Nobel); Francis David Charteris Earl of Wemyss & March/Scottish landowner; Jean G.H. "Sjeng" Tans, Dutch socialist democratic chairman (1965-69)
1920 - Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, 5th Secretary-General of UN (1982-91)
1924 - 7th Earl of Carnarvon, English large landowner
1931 - Robert MacNeil, news anchor (NBC Weekend News 1965-67); Ron Packard (Representative-CA)
1938 - Denny Smith (Representative-OR)
1940 - Barend J. du Plessis South African minister of Finance
1944 - Dan Reeves, NFL Coach (New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons)
1946 - Alexandr Vladimirovich Shchukin, Russian cosmonaut; Dolly Rebecca Parton, country singer (Dolly, 9 to 5)
1947 - Ann Compton, news reporter (ABC TV)

Passings
0639 - Dagobert I, King of Austrasia/Soissons/Burgundy/Neustrië
1479 - Johan II, King of Aragón/Navarra, dies at 81
1547 - Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, army commander/poet, beheaded at 29
1549 - Barthout van Assendelft, 1st land advocate of Holland
1629 - Abbas I, Shah of Persia (1588-1629), dies at 57
1927 - Charlotte, princess of Belgium/Empress of Mexico (1864-67), dies at 86
1980 - William O. Douglas, Supreme Court Justice (1939-75), dies at 81
1982 - Leopold Trepper Polish/Israeli spy (WWII), dies at 77
1990 - Herbert Wehner German ex-communist/chairman (1958-73), dies at 83
1993 - Reginald Lewis CEO (Beatrice), dies of brain cancer at 50

Reported Missing in Action
1967
Ashby, Donald R., Sr., USN (VA); F4B shot down and crashed in water, KIA, body not recovered

Brady, Allen C., USN (VA); A6A shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Captain - alive and well as of 1998

Ehrlch, Dennis Michael, USN (NJ); F4B shot down over water, KIA, body not recovered

Jayroe, Julius S., USAF (SC); F4C shot down (w/Kramer), released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

Kramer, Galand D., USAF (OK); F4C shot down, released by DRV February, 1973 - retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive as of 1998

Yarbrough, William P., Jr., USN (TX); A6A shot down (w/Brady) - remains returned August, 1985

1968
Johnson, William D., US Army (NC); disappeared during ambush

Murray, Patrick Peter, USMC (MN); A6A shot down (w/Wallace), remains returned April, 1986

Wallace, Hobart McKinle, Jr., USMC (WV); A6A shot down (w/Murray)

1974
Kosh, Gerald E.; released January, 1974