In Al Anbar province, where so much progress has been made, there nevertheless exists the risk that it could all be lost.

American forces have gone to great lengths to stress the need for the Iraqis to take an active role in securing Hit, and the Iraqis have responded. But when they're doing what they're supposed to be doing, we'd better be doing the same.

Even if that means making a difficult call, and a risky arrest.

Michael Yon has the riveting story of one American LTC who did just that.

Don't miss Michael Yon's The Final Option

Labels: Al Anbar, Iraq, Michael Yon

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Invitation to Attack?
Online goof threatens new U.S. Embassy in Iraq
Sunnis, GIs Team Up Against Al Qaeda
Turkish Forces to Cross Into Iraq for Kurdish Guerrillas
Bush tells Talabani US firm on Iraq aid

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Border Guard Ignored TB Warning
Inspector: Infected traveler looked healthy (Great. So what happens when this genius decides that someone driving a truckload of explosives doesn't 'look like a terrorist'?)
Fighting Intensifies in Lebanon
Lebanese army pounds militants at Palestinian camp - Video
Kidnapped Reporter Appears in Video
Shooting, Bomb Blast Kills 18 in Thailand
More abductions in Nigerian oil delta, siege ends
Mugabe says Zimbabwe security forces on high alert

Troops on Trial
Airman Testifies to Drunken Threesome

Worldwide Wackos
Korean Talks End Without Agreement
U.S. warns travel to Venezuela could be risky (Gee, ya think?)

Politics / Government
Zoellick likely to be approved as World Bank chief
Iran promises to discuss nuke activities
White House follows new path to secrecy

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Jack Kevorkian to Be Released From Prison
"Dr. Death" set to speak out after prison release
Cop Sues McDonald's Over Slimy Sandwich
Russia says Britain politicizing poisoning case
Indictment in Columbia grad student rape
2 women sentenced in Western arsons
TB quarantine raises legal questions
Woman sues eHarmony for discrimination
Internet videos to vie for Daytime Emmys

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Media watchdog wants action after record Iraq toll (I love it. Our Soldiers die, and no one's for taking the gloves off. But now that REPORTERS are dying, well, NOW we've got to take action!)
Bancroft family to meet with Murdoch

Science / Medicine / Technology
Fugitive TB patient asks for forgiveness - Video
Abuse of prescribed slimming drug seen in HK
China goes on offensive after food safety scares
China shares bird flu sample, first time in year-WHO

Mother Nature
Wildfires Rampage in Northwest
Bush climate plan "the classic U.S. line": EU
Moratorium on commercial whaling upheld

Oddities
Bosnian in legal row over cow falling in mass grave

Other News of Note
UK profs reject plan to spy on students

Fox News
Eternal City, Eternally Stoned
Calif. Boy Wins National Spelling Bee
NEWS IN PHOTOS: Images of Today's News

Reuters: Top News
S.Africa hospitals hit as public servants strike
Japan PM names new minister amid pension furor
Arroyo says Asian region safe with security pact
Ukraine leader extends deadline on poll after talks
Tamagotchi virtual pets set for movie debut
Bangladesh snake charmers dance to a new tune
Chinese groove at Forbidden City jazz festival
Police drummer rips band's "lame" concert
Oil eases below $68 after Nigeria protest ends - Video
Before the Bell: Dow Jones shares gain
S&P 500 ends at record, Dell jumps after hours - Video
Stronger start tipped for Wall St as data dominates
Dollar hits near-4-month high vs yen before U.S. data
Job growth seen perking up
The "quant" challenge
Fed's Kroszner says inflation still his main worry
Russia to decide TNK-BP's Kovykta fate on Friday
Bancrofts to discuss Dow Jones bid with News Corp
Cadbury to cut costs as drinks sale nears: source
Citigroup may list Japan unit in July: magazine
Dell profit beats Street; to cut 10 pct of jobs

AP World News
LeBron, Cavaliers 1 win from NBA finals
Calculus next for spelling bee winner
Utility worker killed at school event
Obituaries in the news

Military.com
Have You Spy Spoken Today?
DT: Night Vision Blowback
Sneak Peek: Army Wives on TV
Ace the ASVAB
Clint Eastwood Used His GI Bill
Simplify Your Transition
Movie Review: Knocked Up

CENTCOM: News Releases
SIX TERRORISTS KILLED, VBIED DESTROYED, 18 SUSPECTS DETAINED

USJFCOM
Noble Resolve 07-1 yields new opportunities for experimentation - podcast
USJFCOM testing Sense Through Structures capabilities - podcast
Liveblogging: Joint Urban Warrior 07
U.S. Joint Forces Command, Marines begin Joint Urban Warrior 07

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Joint operation successful in Al Kut
Iraqis taking the security lead
Engineers complete water pump stations in Mosul

DefenseLink
Secretary Calls Iraq Losses ‘Painful, Personal’
Political Climate Shouldn’t Affect Iraq Assessment
Asia Remains Critical to U.S. Security Interests
More Time May Be Needed for Iraq Assessment
Odierno: Time, Patience Needed for Surge Payoff
Video Clip: Lt. Gen. Odierno on new strategy in Iraq
Reconciliation Needed for Peace in Iraq

More Headline News
Afghan Police Detain Taliban Commander
Navy to Lead Gulf of Guinea Security Initiative
Five U.S. Soldiers Killed in Chinook Crash

Military News
Wright Flight Program Takes Youth to New Heights
Officials Identify Navy Pilot Missing from Vietnam War
Video: Maryland Guard Troops Deploy

War on Terror
Militia Commander’s Capture Highlights Iraq Operations
Troops Continue to Adapt
Soldiers Killed, Wounded In Iraq
U.S., Iraqi Troops Seize 47

America Supports You
Grant Helps Group Expand Services to Troops, Families
Golf Tourney Honors Troops
Girl Scouts Support Troops
Pace, NASCAR Honor Troops
Photos: Pace, NASCAR Honor Troops

Transformation
Marines Practice Communication Skills
Navy Names Combat Logistics Ship
'Hellions' Take Off at Whiting

Face of Defense
Navy Was Natural Choice
‘Mail Call’ More Frequent
Wedding Via Teleconference
Reserve Chief Is Business Savvy

DefendAmerica
NEWS UPDATES
Iraq Review May Need More Time - Story

ON THE GROUND
Iraqi, Coalition Forces Open Municipal Center - Story
Movie Theater Helps Marines Relax in Haditha - Story
Civil Affairs Help Make a Difference for Iraqis - Story
Marine Engineers Hone Demolition Skills - Story

IN IRAQ
Iraqis Take the Lead in Security Operations
Operation Scimitar Cuts Down Insurgent Activity
Commander Moves with Mobile Assault Platoon

IN DJIBOUTI
Medical Techs Keep Troops Mission-Ready
New Water Drilling Rig Arrives In Djibouti
German Navy Donates Vehicles, Suppport

IN AFGHANISTAN
Task Force Anzio Takes on New Command
Medevac Crews Provide Life-Saving Support
Hard Work Creates Progress in Border Provinces
Coalition Forces Defuse Soviet–era Bomb

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
1638 - The first earthquake recorded in the U.S. occurs at Plymouth, Mass.
1774 - The British government orders the port of Boston closed.
1789 - The first U.S. Congressional Act (administering oaths) becomes law.
1792 - Kentucky becomes the 15th U.S. state.
1796 - Tennessee becomes the 16th U.S. state.
1813 - Capt John Lawrence says, "Don't give up the ship."
1843 - Sojourner Truth leaves NY become an antislavery activist.
1861 - The first Civil War skirmish occurs at Fairfax Court House, Va; The U.S. and The C.S.A. stop mail interchange.
1862 - General Robert E. Lee takes over as Commander of the Confederate forces, after Joe Johnston is wounded at Seven Pines.
1864 - Battle of Cold Harbor, VA.
1868 - In Austin, the Texas constitutional convention meets.
1869 - Thomas Edison patents the voting machine.
1877 - U.S. troops are authorized to pursue bandits into Mexico.
1939 - The British sub "Thetis" sinks in Liverpool Bay with 99 aboard.
1941 - Germany bans Catholic publications.
1947 - The OPA disbands (issued WW II rationing coupons).
1958 - Charles de Gaulle becomes premier of France.
1962 - Oscar 2 (ham radio satellite) is launched into orbit; USAF Major Robert M. White takes his X-15 to an altitude of 40,420 meters.
1970 - Soyuz 9 is launched into orbit for 18 days.
1980 - CNN begins broadcasting.
1991 - In the Phillipines, Mount Pinatubo erupts - the first time in 600 years.

Birthdays
1814 - Union General Philip Kearney
1825 - Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan (cavalry)
1831 - Confederate General John B. Hood
1907 - Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine
1928 - Georgi T. Dobrovolsky, cosmonaut (Soyuz 11)

Passings
1823 - Louis Nicholas Davout French field marshall
1864 - Solomon George Washington Dill, white Civil Rights hero, assassinated by white terrorists in his home in SC.
1968 - Helen Keller
1987 - Rashid Karami Lebanon, PM of Lebanon ten times

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Crosby, Frederick P., USAF (FL); RF8A hit by ground fire, crashed and exploded; KIA, body not recovered

1966
Borling, John L., USAF (IL); F4C shot down; Released by DRV February, 1973 - still serving in the USAF as of 1996; alive and well as of 1998

Myers, Armand J., USAF (OR); F4C shot down; Released by DRV February, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

1971
Andrade, Father, Civilian Priest (France); Released

Magers, Paul G., US Army (NE); AH1G shot down; KIA, body not recovered

Wann, Donald L., US Army (OK); AH1G shot down; KIA, body not recovered

1975
McDonald, Herman; AWOL, returned to US, discharged

Labels: Headlines, History