News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq: Truck Bombings in Fallujah Kill at Least 10
Drama offers comprehensive look at dictator's reign
Iraqi, Coalition Forces Distribute Meals to Sadr City Families
Scouting Program Takes Life in Iraq

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Modern Pirates / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
$1,250 to Be Martyred
Grenade Discovered Outside Mumbai Hospital
Pakistan Vows 'Strong Action' Against Mumbai Plotters
ON THE SCENE: Fury at Pakistan - PHOTOS (GRAPHIC)
Cruise passengers describe "cheeky" pirate attack

Other Military News
Russia to Send Warship Through Panama Canal
Using Economic Collapse to Improve National Defense
Kansas picked for biodefense lab

Worldwide Wackos
Report: Israel Preparing to Strike Iran Without U.S. Consent

Politics / Government
Congresswoman Mistakenly Hangs Up on Obama
County Declares 'Barack Obama Day' a New Holiday
Obama names Richardson as Commerce Secretary
Putin upbeat on Obama
Obama to uphold U.S. Taiwan policy, says envoy
Video: Obama taps Richardson for Commerce
Clinton's Indonesian ties may face scrutiny
Senate Democrats will pack plenty of muscle
Obama is delivering diversity, but some seek more
Remarks by Secretary Rice at NATO Headquarters in Brussels
Victorious Chambliss looks for bigger role in GOP
What will Arnold Schwarzenegger's next role be?
Palin files late disclosure for free 2007 trips
Canadian PM Vows to Fight Ouster Effort

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Imprisoned, Shackled Teen Climbed Out of Window to Escape Captors, Authorities Report
Florida Woman Says She Saw Missing Tot Caylee Anthony at Orlando Airport
Hudson Murders Allegedly Crime of Passion - PHOTOS
Bond denied for suspect in Hudson family killings
Cops: Woman Found Infested by Maggots May Not Survive
32 Kids Seized From Evangelist Compound - PHOTOS
Arab-American hate crimes down after 9/11
Family of man trampled at Wal-Mart sues retailer
Defense seeks minimum 6-year term for O.J. Simpson
Feds nix plan to sell Detroit houses tied to drugs
Mark Ruffalo's brother shot in head Beverly Hills

Adventures in Political Correctness
Report: School Cancels Traditional Christmas Play for Muslim Eid Celebrations

U.N. News
Did the United Nations Unjustly Partition Palestine?

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Google Phone Alerts of Flu Risk in Area
CNBC may cut 80 jobs: report
Aussie dad's "tough love" inspires Facebook group
O'Brien out at CNN as network ends space mission
Icahn says opposes partial sale of Yahoo

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
Louisiana Unseats Mississippi as Unhealthiest State
3 Obese Americans Move to China, Shed 427 Pounds
Zimbabwe in National Emergency Over Cholera Epidemic
New fabric can wipe away toxic chemicals: study
Arctic tundra emits methane even in winter
Rocket company sells discount rides to space
Swedish researchers create body-swap illusion
Study illuminates star explosion from 16th century
Smartphone sales growth slowed in Q3: Gartner
Notebook PC weakness seen hurting chipmakers
Nokia says to get royalty payments from RIM
Cutting costs but still want a fancy phone?
Video: Beauty and the PC

Mother Nature
Obama climate goals not enough: China, India
EPA eases rule on mountaintop coal mining debris
EU ends biofuel battle, nears green energy deal
Man-made noise in world's seas threatens wildlife
Arctic tundra emits methane even in winter
Video: Butterflies find a sanctuary

News from My Neck of the Woods
Ex-NY Gov Spitzer to write column for Slate.com

Oddities
Self-Embedding Disorder: Teens Putting Nails, Paper Clips in Bodies, Study Finds
Fisherman Finds Long-Lost Class Ring in 8-Pound Bass
Forget socks, adopt a koala for Christmas
Swedish researchers create body-swap illusion
Austrian moped thief aims to clear conscience after 25
Obama, Gates held secret talks at fire station
Belarus banks told report customers causing panic

Other News of Note
Record number of Americans using food stamps: report

Fox News
U.S. May Lower Mortgages
Harvard Endowment Loses $8 Billion Amid Crisis
Autos May Go Bankrupt for Bailout
UAW Makes Key Concessions
Bailout Lacks Support
POWER TRIP BLOG: Trackin' Down the Big 3 Chiefs
Oil Prices Fall to 3-Year Low of $45 on Bleak Economy
Illinois Bus Carrying Students Collides With Semitrailer
Pop Tarts: Nudity the Norm in Heidi Klum's House

Reuters
China decries Dalai Lama's demands for autonomy
Thai king fails to make speech - Video
WITNESS: Counting bodies on Congo's front line
Lil Wayne and Coldplay lead Brit-heavy Grammy field
China urges U.S. to tame crisis
Timeline: Economies in recession
ECB poised to cut rates sharply
Bank of England seen slashing rates
Blog: November of misery for M&A
Bankruptcy for bailout?
Detroit demise would hit Asian rivals
Detroit model is outdated: auto exec
Congress briefed by auto companies
Auto woes leave Mexico in the balance
GM, Chrysler considering bankruptcy to get bailout: report
Detroit demise would hit, not help, Asian rivals
Layoffs mount as crisis drags on
Oil down to $46 after nearly four-year low
Citigroup top execs ready to forego bonuses: report
Australians told to take a break for the economy
Xbox forecast
Sirius XM sees fourth-quarter growth
Credit cards unkindest cut
EU prosperity at stake over crisis
CDS market: contributor, not cause
Dollar demise much exaggerated
Costco November sales fall 3 percent
Credit Suisse to cut 5,300 jobs after $2.5 billion loss
Hewlett-Packard looks to leasing to prime sales
Mattel wins permanent injunction vs MGA in Bratz case
Panasonic sweetens Sanyo bid, Goldman may counter
Saab seeking external financing for R&D
Funds forced to redraw China property deals as IPOs sour
"Office" scores touchdown on NBC's midseason lineup
Recession-hit Americans flocking to movies
Sundance Film Festival unveils competition films
Drama offers comprehensive look at dictator's reign
London and Seoul no longer so costly for expats: survey
Less sex, more housework for retired Americans
La Scala prepares for gala with budget night
Just a minute with: Michael Sheen on real people roles
Video: Pay-what-you-want tourism
Cavs win 10th straight at home in Knicks blowout
Raptors fire Mitchell after rout by Nuggets
Knicks rated most valuable team again: Forbes
De La Hoya trained for King Kong not "little Manny"

Associated Press
Wall Street points to lower open
Poll: Calif. gay marriage ban driven by religion
Giants: Pierce called trainer after shooting
European markets surge ahead of rate decisions
Online Money: Fidelity expands online news focus
Conservatives form rival group to Episcopal Church
Tar Heels & Hansbrough impressive vs. Michigan St.
Judge blocks suspensions of Vikings' Williamses
Avery apologizes for comments about ex-girlfriends
Red Sox give AL MVP Pedroia a 6-year, $40.5M deal
NY Public Library displays rare Rowling book

NewsBlaze
Military Observes Warrior Care Month
Semper Fred 5K Added to Weekend Events at Marine Corps Historic Half marathon
Soldiers' Angels and Patriot Guard
Iraq News
Read about Operations in Iraq
FOB Warhorse Memorial Photos
Videos

CENTCOM
Colonel notes absence of tensions as elections near
Doctors, midwives learn maternity tips
Gates: Afghan support makes economic sense
Children return to refurbished kindergarten
Soldiers train Iraqi bomb disposal technicians

USJFCOM
USJFCOM, NATO reach historic first for simulation federation
Joint fires assessment teams help Army improve joint training
More about Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team
Multinational conference focuses on joint solutions

Multi-National - Force Iraq
Canal Refurbishment Highlights $50 Million Iraqi Project
Sadr City Residents Clean Up, Take Pride in Their Neighborhoods
Clean water - a first for millions of Sadr City residents
Four terrorists killed, 32 detained as AQI continues to crumble
Azerbaijanis end mission at Haditha Dam
Terrorists target IP checkpoint
Push cart explodes near school

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
Gates Will Lead New Obama Team at Defense Department
Mullen, Pakistani Officials Meet to Discuss Mumbai Terror Attacks
U.S. Commits to Reducing Collateral Damage from Cluster Bombs

IRAQ NEWS
Forces to Solidify Security Gains in Iraq
Iraqi Citizens Assist Coalition Forces

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Afghan Army’s 205th Corps Earns Praise
Coalition Forces Bridge Communities
Coalition, Afghan Forces Kill 10, Detain Seven

FACE OF DEFENSE
Army Soldier Finds Lesson in Recovery

AROUND THE SERVICES
Army Vice Chief of Staff Urges Innovation
Chief of Naval Operations Visits Chile
U.S. Marines Salute Azerbaijani Counterparts
Air Force Academy Honors Past Graduates

MILITARY NEWS
Missing Pilot’s Wife to Tell Story of Journey Home
Country Star Supports Troops Through Music
Financial Road Show Heads to Washington State
New Social Media Platform Helps Troops Relocate

WARRIOR CARE
Scholarships Help Wounded Veterans
Guard Develops Blast Injury Database
Sailors Unite for Suicide Prevention

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
0771 - Karel, the Great, becomes king of all France
1110 - The Syrian harbor city Saida (Sidon) surrenders to Crusaders
1197 - Crusaders wound Rabbi Elezar ben Judah
1259 - English King Henry III and French King Louis IX sign the Treaty of Paris.
1489 - At the Battle of Baza, the Spanish army captures Baza from the Moors.
1534 - Turkish sultan Suleiman occupies Baghdad.
1563 - The Council of Trent holds its last session, after 18 years.
1619 - America's first Thanksgiving Day.
1655 - Middelburg, Netherlands forbids the building of a synagogue.
1674 - Father Marquette builds the first dwelling in what is now Chicago.
1680 - A hen in Rome lays an egg imprinted with a comet not seen until December 16th.
1691 - Emperor Leopold I takes control of Transylvania.
1745 - Bonnie Prince Charles reaches Derby.
1783 - General Washington bids his officers farewell at Fraunce's Tavern, in NY.
1791 - Britain's "Observer," the oldest Sunday newspaper in the world, is first published.
1798 - Rebellious Flemish farmers occupy Hasselt.
1812 - Peter Gaillard of Lancaster, PA patents a horse-drawn mower.
1816 - James Monroe is elected as the 5th U.S. President.
1829 - Britain abolished "suttee" in India (widow burning herself to death on her husband's funeral pyre).
1832 - The French army begins bombing the citadel of Antwerp.
1833 - The American Anti-Slavery Society is formed by Arthur Tappan in Philadelphia.
1843 - In Massachusetts, Manila paper (made from sails, canvas and rope) is patented.
1844 - James K. Polk is elected as the 11th U.S. President.
1851 - French President Louis Napolean Bonaparte's forces crush a coup d'etat.
1864 - Romanian Jews are forbidden to practice law; Battle of Waynesborough, Brier Creek, GA.
1867 - The Grange is organized to protect farm interests.
1875 - William Marcy "Boss" Tweed (NYC-Tammany Hall) escapes from jail.
1889 - Stanley's expedition reaches Bagamoyo, in the Indian Ocean.
1890 - Willem III, Dutch king, is buried.
1899 - The 56th U.S. Congress (1899-1901) convenes.
1905 - The British government of Balfour resigns.
1908 - Haiti's President General Alexis Nord flees from a military coup.
1915 - F.F. Fletcher is the first admiral to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor; the Ku Klux Klan receives a charter from Fulton County, GA.
1918 - The Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) is proclaimed; President Wilson sails for the Versailles Peace Conference in France, becoming the first chief executive to travel outside the U.S. while in office.
1922 - Lucille Atcherson becomes the first woman officer in the U.S. foreign service.
1930 - The French government of Tardieu falls.
1933 - FDR creates the Federal Alcohol Control Administration.
1935 - At St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia, 1,200 enroll in an anticommunism class.
1941 - Nazi ordinances place the Jews of Poland outside the protection of the courts.
1942 - James Hoey becomes the first alien on foreign soil to be granted U.S. citizenship; FDR orders the dismantling of the Works Progress Administration; U.S. bombers strike the Italian mainland for the first time in WWII.
1943 - FDR, Churchill, and Turkish President Inönü meet for the second Conference of Cairo; the Yugoslavian resistance forms a provisionary government under Dr. Ribar.
1944 - Germans destroy Rhine dikes, flooding Betuwe.
1945 - The Senate approves U.S. participation in the U.N.
1951 - Superheated gases roll down Mount Catarman in the Philippines, killing 500.
1952 - Killer fogs begin in London England, and "Smog" becomes a word; Walter P. Reuther is chosen as chairman of the CIO.
1957 - At St. John's, England, two commuter trains collide in heavy fog, killing 92.
1958 - Dahomey (Benin), and the Ivory Coast become autonomous within the French Community; the Finnish government of Fagerholm resigns.
1961 - Tanganyika becomes the 104th member of the U.N.
1963 - Aldo Moro forms the Italian government.
1965 - Gemini-7 is launched with two astronauts aboard (Borman and Lovell); two passenger planes collide above Danbury, CT, killing 4.
1974 - A Dutch DC-8 charter plane crashes in Sri Lanka, killing 191 Muslim pilgrims.
1975 - Six South Molukkans occupy the Indonesian consulate in The Hague, killing one person.
1977 - Jean-Bedel Bokassa, ruler of the Central African Empire, crowns himself.
1978 - Dianne Feinstein is named as San Francisco's first female mayor; Pioneer Venus-1 goes into orbit around Venus; Dutch War criminal Pieter Menten is freed.
1981 - According to South Africa, Ciskei gains independence - it is not recognized as an independent country outside South Africa; President Reagan allows the CIA to engage in domestic counter-intelligence (Order No. 12333).
1982 - China adopts its constitution.
1983 - U.S. jet jet fighters strike Syrian anti-aircraft positions in Lebanon.
1984 - Hijackers commandeer a Kuwaiti airliner.
1985 - President Reagan appoints Vice Admiral John Poindexter as security adviser.
1986 - NASA launches Fltsatcom-7.
1990 - Iraq announces it will release all 3,300 Soviet hostages.
1991 - Muslim Shiites release the last U.S. hostage Terry Anderson (held for 6½ years); Pan American World Airways ceases operations.
1992 - U.S. Troops land in Somalia.
1996 - NASA's first Mars rover is launched from Cape Canaveral.

Birthdays
1443 - Pope Julius II, (1503-13), patron of Michelangelo, Bramante, Raphael
1584 - John Cotton, Puritan clergyman in Massachusetts Bay colony
1812 - Elias Smith Dennis, Union Brevet Major General
1818 - William Wing "Old Blizzards" Loring, Confederate Major General
1865 - Edith Louisa Cavell, British nurse (WWI)
1881 - Erwin von Witzleben, German fieldmarshal (July 20th plot)
1892 - Francisco Franco (y Bahamonde), general / dictator of Spain (1936-75)
1905 - Emilio Médici, President of Brazil (1969-74)
1908 - A.D. Hershey, U.S. biologist, worked with bacteriophages (Nobel 1969)
1910 - Ramaswamy Venkataraman, President of India (1987-92)
1928 - Russell L. Rogers USAF / astronaut (X-20)
1932 - Roh Tae Woo Taegu, President of South Korea (1988-93)
1933 - Horst Buchholz, German actor (Magnificent 7, Raid on Entebbe, Sahara)
1934 - Wink (Winston Conrad) Martindale Jackson, TV host (Tic-Tac-Dough, Can You Top This)
1936 - Larry Davis, blues singer / guitarist
1938 - Andre Marrou, Libertarian presidential candidate (1992)
1944 - Dennis Wilson, drummer/vocalist (Beach Boys)
1948 - Roberta Lynn Bondar, astronaut (STS-42)
1952 - Ronald Michael Sega, Ph.D. / astronaut (STS-60, 76)
1973 - Tyra Banks, model/actress (Fresh Prince of Bel Air)

Passings
0771 - Karloman II, French king of Burgundy
0811 - Charles, eldest son of emperor Charles the Great
1137 - Emperor Lotharius III of Supplinburg (1125, 33-37)
1182 - Henry, Earl of Gelre/Zutphen (1141/79-82)
1334 - John XXII (Jacques Duèze), Pope (1316-34)
1371 - Reinald III (the Fat Duke), Duke of Gelre (1343-61); Stefanus X, Uros V, King of Serbia (1355-71)
1514 - Richard Hunne, English "heretic," suicide (?)
1807 - Prince Hall, activist / Masonic leader
1923 - (Auguste-) Maurice Barrès, French writer / parliament leader
1943 - Carlo Mierendorff, German politician / antifascist
1948 - Karl Bonhoeffer, German psychiatrist / neurologist
1952 - Karen Horney German/U.S. neo-freudian psycho analyst
1967 - Bert Lahr (Irving Lahrheim), comic (Cowardly Lion - "Wizard of Oz")
1969 - Fred Hampton, U.S. Black-Panther leader, murdered
1975 - Hannah Arendt, German/U.S. sociologist
1976 - Benjamin Britten, British composer (Beggar's Opera, War Requiem)
1978 - Samuel Abraham Goldsmith, Netherlands / U.S. physicist
1980 - Francisco Sá Carneiro, PM of Portugal (1980) in an air crash
1984 - John Rock, American co-developer of the birth-control pill
1993 - Frank Sturgis, watergate burglar; Frank V. Zappa, musician / composer (Mothers of Invention, Thingfish)
1994 - Jakob Kaplan, French head rabbi (1955-81)
1995 - Itzhak Rabin, PM of Israel (1968-73), assassinated
1996 - Basil Nield, judge/politician; Muriel Monkhouse, Red Cross worker

Reported Missing in Action
1967
Collins, Arnold, USMC (NY); KIA, body not recovered

1970
Green, George C., Jr., US Army SF (IN); recon team attacked at LZ, KIA, body not recovered

Labels: Headlines, History