News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Gallery owner battles for art in Baghdad
Iraqi Shiites and Sunnis criticize Kurds
Iraqi Army Distributes Wheelchairs to Those Most in Need
Coalition Forces Find Prison Facility, Weapon Caches in Diyala; 15 Detained
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces uncover weapons cache (Balad)
IED attack targets Baquba school
Coalition forces disrupt criminal element networks, armed man killed (Baghdad)
MND-North Soldiers attacked by an IED (Ninewah)

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Olmert: Unauthorized West Bank Settlements a 'Disgrace'
Report: Al Qaeda is Building a White Army of Terror
Intel Czar Considers Waterboarding Torture
U.S. missionary held in Chad to be freed soon: group
Israel to get "smarter" U.S.-made bombs than Saudis
Israel-Palestinian final status talks start Monday

Troops on Trial
Marine Murder Suspect Sighted - PHOTOS - VIDEO
Report: 121 veterans linked to killings (Gotta love the media - having a hard time criticizing active troops? No problem - just dig up some dirt on the veterans!)

Worldwide Wackos
Bush Urges Arab Allies To Unite Against Iran Threat - PHOTOS
Iran to Disclose Nuke Activities (Riiiiiiiiight...)
Iran: U.S. Spreading Anti-Iranian Sentiment (We'd need to?)

Homegrown Moonbats
Anti-War Billionaire George Soros Funded Iraq Study

Politics / Government
Giuliani Works Sunshine State
Transcript: Giuliani on FOX News Sunday
Barack Obama proposes $75 billion stimulus plan
McCain and Romney in tight Michigan race
Clinton battles to keep black support
Behind Nevada casino walls is a political fight
Most presidential hopefuls antitrust moderates
Vt. gay marriage debate tamer this time
Clinton says rival raising race issue
East African bloc calls for Kenya vote probe - Video
Sarkozy confirms plans for UAE nuclear deal: paper

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Mexican teenager hurt in incident at U.S. border

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Pennsylvania Man Avoids Criminal Charge for Paying Ticket With Obscene Check
Cops Shoot, Kill Man Who Stole Patrol Car
Cops: Dad Sodomized Teen Stepson to Avenge Rape of Daughter
2nd Body Found in Search For Kids Thrown Off Bridge
Ariz. Serial Rape Suspect Arrested, Linked by DNA
Fan Sues Yankees for Fraud Over Steroids Allegations
Unconscious Ohio Man Charged With Killing Wife, 4 Kids
South African police chief quits as Interpol president
Indonesian activist's murder unpunished
Web, crackdowns weakening Mafia's grip

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Former Holloway Suspect Tosses Wine in Face of Reporter on TV Show
WEBCAMS AROUND THE WORLD: African Safari

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
Car makers unveil their latest models
The 2008 Detroit Auto Show Goes Green
GM Lets Consumers Test Hydrogen-Powered Fuel-Cell Cars
Chevy, Mazda, Win Car, Truck of the Year
Scientists Grow Beating Rat Heart in Lab

Mother Nature
Columbus Zoo Pays to Keep Largest Snake in Captivity on Permanent Display

News from My Neck of the Woods
Patriots tame Jaguars to remain on perfect track

Oddities
Man Dies After Trying to Slide Down Escalator Rail

Fox News
2 Men Paddle Kayak 2,000 Miles From Australia to New Zealand
'Lazy Portfolios' Sparkle In '07, But New Year Brings Adjustments
Six Strategies You Must Know When You're New on the Job

Reuters
Doctor gives Suharto "only 50-50 chance" - Video
French govt move to ban Monsanto GMO draws fire
Porn industry seeks recognition with annual awards
New look, old skills at Ferre men, Emporio on slopes
No glitz as Hollywood awaits Globes amid strike
Nicholson, Freeman lead box office with comedy
Boeing wins Gulf Air 787 order worth up to $6 bln
VW has record sales, ponders N. American plant
Dollar may finally find reprieve in 2008
GM to cut production if demand worsens: exec
Ford chairman pleased with plans to return to profit
BMW sees no signs of U.S. demand slowdown
Anheuser-Busch may help S&N bid for BBH: report
Chrysler bets big on revamped Ram pickup
Bank results may drag stocks even lower - Video
RIM downgraded on U.S. worries as stock declines
More management changes at Starbucks
Gold hits record high near $900 on safe haven bids
U.S. recession worries hit crude prices
Citi shares rise 3.5 percent on capital hopes
Wall St stocks drop as consumers cinch belts - Video
Compuware has lower-than-expected quarterly profit
Rising costs push up oil futures curve

AP World News
New Orleans nurses turn home into clinic
Odds are growing for economic recession
Woman, 4 children die in Texas fire
Ohio plane crash victims identified
David Alan Grier now a father
Subject of 'Friedman' film loses appeal

CENTCOM: News Releases

USJFCOM
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Mission Rehearsal Exercise commences - podcast
2007 -- The Year in Review - photos
U.S. Joint Forces Command, IBM sign new cooperative research and development agreement
More about CRADAs

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Bush Thanks U.S. Troops in Kuwait, Predicts Victory Against Terrorism
Task Force XII Soldiers Train for Worst Case Scenario
Coalition forces targets foreign terrorists, propaganda and IED cells; 13 detained
Tips lead to destruction of booby-trapped houses during Operation Phantom Phoenix (Himbus)

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
Mullen: More U.S. Troops Could Have Major Impact
Mullen Urges Productive Role for Iran
Pacific Commander to Visit China

IRAQ NEWS
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Says America Must Stay With Fight
New Effort Leaves 'No Holes'
Iraqis Celebrate Police Day
U.S. Breaks Al Qaeda Stronghold

MILITARY NEWS
Guard May Not Hold Recruits to Contracts
All Active Services Meet December Recruiting Goals
Program Shows Promise in Army Recruiting
Most Air Force F-15s Get Green Light to Fly Missions

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Troops Find Terrorists' Munitions Hidden in School
Afghan Villagers Get Health Care

WHY WE SERVE
Army Major Wants to Share Her Story

FACE OF DEFENSE
Soldier Survives Cancer, Joins His Unit in Iraq

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Group Offers Military Families Financial Help

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
0888 - Duke Odo becomes king of West-France
1099 - Crusaders set fire to Mara Syria
1547 - Earl Henry Howard of Surrey sentenced to death
1559 - Elizabeth I crowned queen of England in Westminster Abbey
1610 - Galileo Galilei discovers Callisto, 4th satellite of Jupiter
1621 - Jan Pieterszoon Coen's fleet sets sail to Moluccas (from Jacarta)
1695 - Jonathan Swift ordained an Anglican priest in Ireland
1733 - James Oglethorpe & 130 English colonists arrive at Charleston, SC
1794 - Congress changes US flag to 15 stars & 15 stripes
1830 - Great fire in New Orleans thought to be set by rebel slaves
1849 - Vancouver Island granted to Hudson's Bay Co
1854 - Anthony Foss patents the accordion
1863 - Chenille manufacturing machine patented by William Canter, New York City, NY; Thomas Crapper pioneers one-piece pedestal flushing toilet
1865 - Federals attack Fort Fisher, NC
1869 - National convention of Black leaders meets in Washington, DC
1874 - US troops land in Honolulu to protect the king
1888 - National Geographic Society founded (Washington DC)
1894 - Revolution in Sicily crushed by government troops
1898 - Emile Zola publishes his open letter (J'accuse) in defense of Captain Alfred Dreyfus in Paris
1908 - French pilot Henry Farman is 1st European to fly roundtrip
1915 - Earthquake in Avezzano Italy kills 30,000; W. Churchill presents plan for assault on Dardanelles
1920 - New York Times editorial (falsely) reports rockets can never fly
1922 - Conference of Cannes concerning German retribution payments ended
1924 - Nationalist Wafd-party wins Egyptian parliament elections
1927 - US & Mexico battle over oil interests
1930 - "Mickey Mouse" comic strip 1st appears
1935 - Plebiscite in Saar, indicates a desire (90.3%) to join Nazi Germany
1939 - Belgian premier signs Burgos-treaty for trade relations with Franco
1942 - German U-boats begin harassing shipping on US East Coast; Henry Ford patents a method of constructing plastic auto bodies; Interallied war trial conference publishes St James Declaration
1943 - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives in Casablanca; Hitler declares "Total War"; Russian offensive at Don under General Golikov; US infantry captures Galloping Horse-ridge Guadalcanal
1951 - German General F Christian freed early from Dutch prison; 9 Jewish Kremlin physicians "exposed" as British/US agents; known as the Doctors' Plot
1953 - Gas explosion in Belgium coal mine kills 14; Marshal Josip Tito chosen president of Yugoslavia
1954 - Military rule in Egypt; 318 Mohammedan Brotherhood arrested
1957 - Wham-O Company produces the 1st Frisbee
1958 - 9,000 scientists of 43 nations petition UN for nuclear test ban
1959 - De Gaulle grants amnesty to 130 to Algerian death row convicts; King Boudouin promises Belgian Congo independence
1966 - 1st Black selected for Presidential cabinet (LBJ selects Robert C. Weaver-HUD)
1967 - Coup in Togo
1968 - Beginning of Tet-offensive in Vietnam; Minnesota North Stars center Bill Masterton fatally injured (dies on 15th)
1979 - Charlie Daniels hosts the Volunteer Jam
1979 - YMCA files libel suit against Village People's YMCA song
1980 - Head of narcotic brigade arrested for drug smuggling in Belgium; Togo's constitution becomes effective
1982 - Air Florida 737 takes off in a snowstorm, crashes into the 14th St Bridge in Washington, DC, & falls into the Potomac River, killing 78
1982 - Hank Aaron & Frank Robinson elected to Hall of Fame
1983 - AMA urges ban on boxing, citing Muhammad Ali's deteriorating condition
1985 - 99-year-old Otto Bucher scores a hole-in-one at Spanish golf course; Express train derails in Ethiopia, kills at least 428
1986 - Bloody coup overthrows government of South Yemen
1987 - W. German police arrest Mohammed Ali Hamadi, suspect in 1985 hijacking
1988 - Supreme Court rules (5-3) public school officials have broad powers to censor school newspapers, plays & other expressive activities
1989 - "Friday the 13th" virus strikes hundreds of IBM computers in Britain; Jerry Parks, Oklahoma defensive back, charged with shooting a teammate; Ruins of Mashkan-shapir (occupied 2050-1720 BC) found in Iraq; Subway gunman Bernhard Goetz begins 1-year jail sentence; Computers across Britain hit by "Friday the 13th" virus
1990 - 1st elected US black governor inaugurated (Douglas Wilder-Virginia)
1991 - UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar meets with Saddam Hussein in Baghdad; 42 killed in exhibition soccer match in Johannesburg South Africa; President Mario Soares of Portugal re-elected
1992 - US serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer pleads guilty but insane
1993 - STS-54 (Endeavour) launches into orbit
1994 - Italian government of Ciampi resigns; Tonya Harding's bodyguard, Shawn Eric Eckardt & Derrick Brian Smith arrested & charged with conspiracy in attack of skater Nancy Kerrigan
1995 - 26 HNL teams unanimously ratify agreement to end NHL strike; America3 becomes 1st all-female crew to win an America's Cup race

Birthdays
1381 - St Colette, abbess/reformer (Poor Clares)
1505 - Joachim II Hector, ruler (Brandenburg)
1807 - Napoleon Bonaparte Buford, Union Major General
1808 - Salmon P. Chase (Senator) cabinet member, 6th Chief Justice (1864-73)
1812 - Humphrey Marshall, Confederate Brigadier General
1815 - William Henry French, Union Major General
1835 - Gustaaf Rolin-Jaequemyns. Belgian jurist/minister of the Interior
1864 - Wilhelm K.W. Wien, German phyicist (Nobel 1911)
1869 - Emanuele F. Duke of Aosta, Italian General (WWI)/fascist
1898 - Pedro de Teixeira, de Mattos Dutch diplomat
1919 - Robert Stack, actor (Eliot Ness-Untouchables, Airplane, Unsolved Mysteries)
1936 - Edward R. Madigan (Representative-IL)
1937 - Hajé J. Schartman, Dutch MP (CDA)
1949 - Brandon Tartikoff, TV exec (NBC); Rakesh Sharma India, cosmonaut (Soyuz T-11)
1955 - Titus M. Mafolo, South African journalist/ANC-leader
1961 - Julia Louis-Dreyfus, comedienne (SNL, Seinfeld, Day by Day, Soul Man, Troll)
1966 - Tabitha Stevens, fictional character (Bewitched)

Passings
0533 - Remigius van Reims, 1st bishop of Reims (459-533)/saint, dies about 96
0858 - Aethelwolf, King of Wessex (Battle at Aclea)
0888 - Charles III the Fat One, King of Franconia/Roman emperor
1049 - Derrick IV, Count of Holland (1039-49), dies in battle
1177 - Hendrik Jasomirgott Babenberg Duke of Austria
1307 - Arnoud van Foreest, Dom deacon of Utrecht
1330 - Frederick (III) the Handsome, duke of Austria/German anti-king, dies
1691 - George Fox, founder of Quakers, dies at 66
1797 - Elisabeth C. von Brunswick-Bever,n wife of Frederick II, dies at 81
1879 - W.F. Hendrik, the Navigator prince of Netherlands/viceroy of Luxembourg, dies at 58
1914 - Bernardus H. Heldt, Dutch MP, dies at 72
1929 - Wyatt Earp, US marshall (OK Corral), dies at 80
1934 - Jean-Baptiste Marchand, soldier/explorer (Sudan), dies at 70
1947 - Veit Valentin, German/US historian (German People), dies at 61
1962 - Ernie Kovacs, comedian, dies in a car crash in West Los Angeles, at 42
1963 - Leonardus G. Kortenhorst, Dutch MP (KVP), dies at 76
1978 - Hubert Humphrey (Senator-MN, Vice President), dies at 66
1986 - Abdel Fattah Ismail, President of South-Yemen (1969-80), murdered
1988 - Chiang Ching-kuo, President of Taiwan (1978-88), dies at 81
1993 - Rene Pleven, PM of France (1950-51, 51-52)
1994 - Johan J. Holst, Norwegian minister of defense/foreign affairs, dies at 56

Reported Missing in Action
1961
Duffy, Charles J.; possibly dead

1967
Cronin, Michael P., USN (PA); A4E shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Captain - alive as of 1996, when he was active in getting the "War Crimes Act of 1996" passed

Turley, Morvan Darrell, USAF (MO); F100D shot down - remains recovered October, 1967

1969
Eaton, Norman D., USAF (OK); B57 shot down (pilot)

Labels: Headlilnes, History