MISSILE LAUNCH
The USS Lake Erie launches a Standard Missile-3 at a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph over the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 20, 2008. The objective was to rupture the satellite's fuel tank to dissipate the approximately 1,000 pounds of hydrazine, a hazardous material which could pose a danger to people on Earth, before it entered into the Earth's atmosphere. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy
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Labels: missile, photos, ships, US Navy, USS Erie

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom / PKK News
Report: Rebels Say They Shot Down Turkish Helicopter
Suicide bomber kills 40 in Iraq: police
8 more Turkish soldiers killed in Iraq
Adhamiya Council Meets, Chooses Leaders
Task Force Rogue Scouts Patrol Mansour Daily, Stand Ready to React
Al-Qaida in Iraq Intelligence and Suicide Operations Facilitator Killed
60th Street Progress Continues: More Than 50 Shops Open
Soldiers Search Houses in Rathwaniyah for Weapons, Explosives
‘Sons of Iraq’ Tips Lead to Weapons Find in Jabr Al Ansari

Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghan woman and child killed in U.S.-led operation
Pakistan Taliban warn new government to keep clear
A Suicide Bomber Targets Afghan Soldiers in Eastern Afghanistan, No Casualties
Nature of Conflict in Afghanistan Changing

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Military: Fighting Kills 40 in Northern Sri Lanka
White House says phone wiretaps back on "for now"
Teams formed to push Mideast peace talks
Romania base suspected CIA prisoner site

Other Military News
Kosovo statehood delicate for NATO force

Worldwide Wackos
Castro Rejects Political Change (Stunning, I know)
'Raulistas' Expected to Back Raul Castro
Iran: Blame U.S. for No Response on Alleged Nuke Work

Politics / Government
Ralph Nader Announces He Will Run for President
'Shame on You, Barack' - VIDEO
Obama: McCain Puts Lobbyists 'in Charge'
Hillary Defends Bill on Racial Issues
Key Figures Dispute Roles in '99 McCain Meeting
In Texas, Clinton has history and Obama has buzz
Huckabee lingers on the set of 'SNL'
Conservatives say Obama lacks patriotism
Serbia: US 'culprit' in Kosovo violence (Yup, it's all our fault)
Looting or rebellion? Log on and decide (Looting)
Pakistan's ousted rulers to cooperate
Greek Cypriots vote in presidential election
Kremlin ruler or Putin's puppet: Who is Medvedev?
Chad rebels seek foreign support for new elections
North Korea's music tugs at heart, defends nation - Video

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
3 Children Dead in Murder-Suicide
Classes Resume Monday at NIU After Shooting
Cops: Mom Taught 4-year-old Lesson in Marijuana
Woman Drives With Boyfriend Clinging to Car Roof
Man accused of stealing 7-year-old's ID
Thousands mourn slain college student
LAPD arrest Japanese man in 1981 murder

U.N. News
Darfuris caught in crossfire as Sudan bombs rebels

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Former TV Anchor Charged With Theft Found Dead
Deadline in Viacom, Google copyright suit extended

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
China gene experts search for answers on diabetes
FDA OKs Genentech's Avastin for breast cancer
Energy storage nears its day in the sun
Samsung Electronic says a laptop battery melts
Sony to buy LCD TV panels from Sharp: source
Amazon nuts help fuel first biofuel flight
First Commercial Flight Powered by Biofuel Takes Off

Mother Nature
Skier Survives After Being Buried by Avalanche

Oddities
Restaurant Owner Claims Record with 134-Pound Burger
Man Buys Strands of Washington's Hair for $17G

Other News of Note
Artist Kills Herself After Aborting Twins
Illinois Girl, 12, Saves Siblings From House Fire

Fox News
At Least 18 Killed in India as Bus Plunges Into River

Reuters
Dark films and politics loom over Academy Awards
Jakarta hotel shows kids how to make their own beds
Beijing police clamp down on "Bird's Nest" tourists
"Juno" delivers top prize at indie film awards
Lindsay Lohan, Eddie Murphy share worst film awards
UBS denies report Ospel set to leave after one year
Connecting credit dots prolongs crisis
Dubai ruler fund shuns U.S.; eyes India, China instead
China eyes slower money, credit growth in 2008
Germany says WestLB may take 5 years to fix: report
Saudi 2008 inflation unlikely to fall
3Com rebuff due to "complexities" and costs: Huawei
China's noodle makers vie for share of $13 bln market
Stocks set to weigh recession odds
Talk of bond insurer rescue spurs late stock rally - Video
Fed's Fisher warns on growth but wary of inflation
Credit turmoil has helped emerging markets: Dbank
Any Lehman writedowns would be below $15 bln: source
Oil rises near $99 on colder U.S. weather
Revisions show slower wholesale inflation
GMOs seen gaining global acceptance

AP World News
Oscar gets final polish before big show
Vols knock off Memphis, poised for No. 1
Lakers hammer Clips for 7th straight win
Georgia couple win $270 million lottery
Wladimir Klitschko wins unification bout
Lohan thriller named worst at Razzies

News Blaze
'I want my highlights back'
PHOTOS: Outpost grooming
Stryker Soldier serves proudly in Iraq
PHOTOS: MND-B Soldiers provide security at Hospital
Texas School Children Meet Iraqi Sheik
More Iraq
Read about Operations in Iraq
FOB Warhorse Memorial Photos
Videos

CENTCOM: News Releases
Feb. 22 Statement from Multi-National Force - Iraq commending cease-fire extension
Successful operations target top Taliban leader
Civilians targeted in northern Iraq
Coalition forces identify terrorist killed in Feb. 17 operation

USJFCOM
SOCJFCOM continues to ready warfighters for global operations - podcast
More about SOCJFCOM
Phase one of Multinational Experiment 5 wraps up
More about Multinational Experiment 5
Joint Knowledge Online extends cultural awareness training for U.S. Forces Korea - podcast
Newsmaker Profile: Director of Joint Training Army Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya - podcast

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Coalition forces target Baghdad, Diyala terrorist networks; one killed, four detained
Coalition forces disrupt terrorist operations; three killed, 25 detained
1 Iraqi killed, 17 wounded in grenade attacks (Rashid)
MND-B Soldiers detain 2 suspected Special Groups criminals (Saba al-Bour)
Coalition forces discover disguised truck-bomb (Mosul)
MND-B Soldiers detain suspected Special Groups criminal (Saab al Bour)

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
U.S., Australia Reinforce Defense Relationships
Mullen Addresses Rapid Change, Other Challenges
Apolitical Military Fundamental To Democracy, Chairman Says

MILITARY NEWS
Partnership Helps Army Reserve, Private Sector Recruit Young Talent

IRAQ NEWS
Security Gains Boost Iraqis' Confidence in Future
Multinational Force Hails Cease-Fire Extension
Coalition Forces Kill Six Terrorists, Detain Six Suspects
Combined Forces Pave Way for Village Prosperity

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Initiative Seeks District-by-District Police Reform

FACE OF DEFENSE
Medically Retired Soldier Wants to Return to Iraq

WHY WE SERVE
Sailor Shares Insights

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Capitals Host Troops

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

Today in History
0303 - 1st official Roman edict for persecution of Christians issued
1208 - St. Francis of Assisi, 26, receives his vocation in Portiuncula, Italy
1389 - Battle at Falköping - Danes defeat King Albert of Sweden
1496 - England's Henry VII ends commercial dispute with Flanders
1510 - Pope Julius II excommunicates the republic of Venice
1525 - Battle at Pavia - Emperor Karel V's troops beat French king, François I caught taken / 8700 killed
1527 - Ferdinand of Austria crowned as King of Bohemia
1528 - János Zápolyai, Hungarian king, recognizes Sultan Suleiman's suzerainty
1530 - 1st imperial coronation by a Pope, Charles V crowned by Clement V
1538 - King Ferdinand of Austria & King János Zápolyai of Hungary sign Peace of Grosswardein
1541 - Santiago, Chile founded by Pedro de Valvidia
1582 - Pope Gregory XIII announces New Style (Gregorian) calendar
1708 - Prince Johan Willem Friso sworn in as viceroy of Groningen
1779 - George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes from British
1786 - Charles Cornwallis appointed Governor-General of India
1793 - French troops conquer Breda
1803 - Supreme Court 1st rules a law unconstitutional (Marbury vs Madison)
1807 - 17 die & 15 wounded in a crush to witness execution of Holloway, Heggerty & Elizabeth Godfrey in England
1821 - Mexico gains independence from Spain
1836 - 3,000 Mexicans attack 182 Texans at the Alamo, lasts 13 days
1839 - Steam shovel patented by William Otis, PA
1848 - King Louis-Philippe abdicates, 2nd French republic declared
1855 - US Court of Claims established for cases against the government
1857 - 1st perforated US postage stamps delivered to the government
1863 - Arizona Territory created; Forrest's raid on Brentwood, TN
1864 - Battle of Tunnel Hill, GA (Buzzard's Roost)
1868 - House of Representatives vote 126 to 47 to impeach President Andrew Johnson; 1st US parade with floats (Mardi Gras-Mobile AL)
1881 - De Lesseps' Company begins work on Panamá Canal
1888 - Louisville, KY becomes 1st government in US to adopt Australian ballot
1891 - French troops under Captain Archinard occupy Diéna, West Sudan
1894 - Nicaragua captures Tegucigalpa, Honduras (National Day, sort of)
1895 - Cuban war of independence begins
1902 - Battle at Yzer Spruit - Boer General De la Rey beats British
1903 - US signs agreement acquiring a naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
1917 - German plan to get Mexican help in WWI exposed (Zimmerman telegram); Russian revolution breaks out
1918 - Estonia declares independence from Russia
1920 - Peace treaty gives Estonia independence
1921 - 1st transcontinental flight in 24 hours flying time arrives in Florida
1923 - Flying Scotsman goes into service; Mass arrests of Mafia in US
1924 - Greek parliament proclaims republic
1924 - Mahatma Gandhi released from jail
1933 - Final demonstration of German communist party in Berlin; League of Nations tells Japanese to pull out of Manchuria
1938 - Du Pont begins commercial production of nylon toothbrush bristles
1940 - Frances Langford records "When You Wish Upon a Star"
1941 - 43 Geuzen resistance fighter trial opens in the Hague; Anti Nazi meeting at Noordermarkt Amsterdam
1942 - Voice of America begins broadcasting (in German)
1943 - General Bradley flies to Algiers; Texas League announces it will quit for the duration of WWII
1944 - Argentina coup by Juan Peron minister of war
1945 - Egypt & Syria declares war on Nazi-Germany; Manila freed from Japanese; Nazi occupiers begin state of siege
1946 - Juan Peron elected President of Argentina
1948 - Communist Party seizes complete control of Czechoslovakia
1949 - V-2/WAC-Corporal 1st rocket to outer space, White Sands NM, 400 km; Israel & Egypt sign an armistice agreement
1950 - Labour wins British parliamentary election
1955 - Pact of Baghdad between Iraq & Turkey signed
1960 - Italian government of Segni falls
1961 - Explorer (10) fails to reach Earth orbit
1965 - East German President Ulbricht visits Egypt
1966 - Coup ousts President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana
1968 - 1st pulsar discovered (CP 1919 by Jocelyn Burnell at Cambridge); US troops reconquer Hue Vietnam
1969 - Mariner 6 launched for Mars fly-by
1970 - 29 Swiss Army officers die in avalanche (Reckingen, Switzerland)
1971 - Algeria nationalizes French oil companies
1974 - Pakistan officially recognizes Bangladesh
1976 - Cuba adopts its constitution
1976 - Leonid Brezhnev opens 25th congress of CPSU; President Carter announces US foreign aid will consider human rights
1979 - Highest price ever paid for a pig, $42,500, Stamford, TX; War between North & South Yemen begins
1981 - Jean Harris is convicted of murdering Scarsdale diet doctor Tarnower; Britain's Prince Charles announces engagement to Lady Diana Spencer
1984 - Iraq resumes air attack on Iran
1985 - Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev crowned King of Nepal
1986 - Voyager 2, 1st Uranus fly-by; Texas Air buys Eastern Airlines for $676 million
1987 - Radio personality Larry King suffers a heart attack
1988 - Supreme Court votes 8-0 Jerry Falwell cannot collect for Hustler parody
1989 - 150-million-year-old fossil egg (oldest dinosaur embryo) found
1989 - US Boeing 747 loses parts of roof over Pacific, 9 die
1991 - US & Allies begin a ground war assault on Iraqi troops
1996 - Cuba downs 2 US planes
1997 - Deng Xiaoping, leader of China, cremated (died Feb 19th)
1997 - South Africa announces it is constructing largest modern day blimp
2002 - XIX winter Olympics closes in Salt Lake City, UT

Birthdays
1500 - Emperor Charles V, King of Spain (1516-56)/Holy Roman Emperor
1536 - Clement VIII [Ippolito Aldofireini], last Counter-Reformation pope (1592-1605)
1545 - Don John of Austria, the elder, Austrian general
1547 - Jan of Austria, Spanish military man/land guardian of the Netherlands
1557 - Matthias C. Sarbiewski [Sarbievius], Polish Jesuit / poet / Holy Roman emperor (1612-19)
1684 - Catherine I, Empress of Russia 1725-27
1786 - Wilhelm Karl Grimm, German story teller (Grimm's Fairy Tales)
1809 - Edwin H.K. Freiherr von Manteuffel, governor/viceroy (Elzas-Lutherian)
1811 - Edward Dickinson Baker, Union Major General
1824 - John Crawford Vaughn, Confederate Brigadier General
1827 - Charles Davis Jameson, Union Brigadier General
1831 - Georg Leo earl von Caprivi, German chancellor/premier of Prussia
1833 - Eduard earl von Taaffe, Austrian premier (1868-93)
1838 - Thomas Benton Smith, Confederate Brigadier General
1885 - Admiral Chester Nimitz, USN (commanded Pacific fleet in WWII); Joseph Sprinzak, Speaker of Israeli Knesset (1949-59)
1898 - Kurt Tank, German WWII aircraft designer
1924 - William Pillar, British Admiral
1926 - Reginald Freeson, British MP
1929 - David Houston, Major-General/Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland
1931 - Inge Bernstein, British judge; Lev Vasilyevich Vorobyov, cosmonaut
1932 - Andrew Jacobs, Jr. (Representative-IN)
1934 - Bettino Craxi, Italy's 1st socialist premier (1983-87)
1937 - Jerry Wiggin, British MP
1942 - Joe Lieberman (Senator-CT)
1955 - Steven Jobs cofounder of Apple Computer
1972 - Manon Rheaume, 1st female NHLer (Tampa Bay)

Passings
1563 - François Guise, French General/duke, assassinated at 44
1815 - Robert Fulton steamboat pioneer
1829 - Auguste Chouteau, St. Louis co-founder
1944 - Leo H.A. Baekeland, Belgian/US chemist (bakelite), dies at 80
1945 - Ahmed Maher Pasha, Egypt's PM, assassinated in parliament
1953 - Karl R.G. von Rundstedt, German General-field marshal (Ardennes), dies at 77
1975 - Nikolai A. Bulganin, marshal/premier of USSR (1955-58), dies at 79
1990 - Malcolm Forbes CEO (Forbes Publishing), dies of a heart attack at 70; Sandro Pertini, President of Italy (1978, 85), dies at 93
1994 - Lores Bonney, aviator, dies at 96
1998 - Henny Youngman, comedian (Take my wife please), dies at 92

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Frakes, Dwight Glenn, USN (CA); A3B shot down, got tangled in chute and sank, KIA, body not recovered

1966
Hetrick, Raymond H., USAF (PA); A1E shot down

1968
Friese, Laurence V., USMC (SD); A6A shot down (w/Marvel), released by DRV March, 1973 - transferred to the Navy after his return, and retired as a Commander - alive and well as of 1998
Marvel, Jerry W., USMC (IN); A6A shot down (w/Friese), released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - deceased May, 1995

Labels: Headlines, History