DISTANT DETONATION - U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Nyx Zaid Nieves Lopez rolls tape while a U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal team uses a radio detonation unit to explode charges set on unspent munitions that were left over from the Iran-Iraq war along with other weapons seized from insurgents by the Iraqi police in Kirkuk, Iraq, Dec. 13, 2008. Lopez is a videographer with Joint Combat Camera at Forward Operating Base Warrior in Iraq. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian L. Short

Labels: Explosive Ordinance Disposal, FOB Warrior, Iraq, Joint Combat Camera, Kirkuk, military cameramen, military photographers, photos, USAF

News of Note
'Tis the Season
Video: And Finally... Holiday Gift Guide
Travel Picks: Top 10 unusual stores for holiday gifts
Iraqi Logistics System Takes Shape, Boosts Efficiency
NORAD Prepares for 50th Year of Tracking Santa

Operation Iraqi Freedom
Shoe-Throwing Journalist 'Appears Beaten' - PHOTOS
Palestinian Offers Shoe-Throwing Reporter a Bride
Report raps ex-White House pair on Iraq claims
Freedom of the Press in Sadr City

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Jury in Fort Dix Trial Scheduled to Resume Deliberations
Rockets, Gunfire on Gaza Border as Ceasefire Ends
U.S. not ready for cyber attack

Welcome Home!!
Lithuanians Conclude Mission in Iraq

Troops (and Contractors) on Trial
Blackwater radio logs: Guards took incoming fire

Supporting Our Heroes
Gold Star Mom heads to Guantanamo Bay!
Celebrities, Volunteers Assemble Care Packages

Other Military News
Russia to Cut Arms if U.S. Drops Missile Defense
China Sending Ships to Battle Somali Pirates - PHOTOS

Worldwide Wackos
Israel Urges Russia Not to Sell Weapons to Iran

Politics / Government
Mideast Donors Big on Bill Clinton's List - LIST
End to Mideast Cease-fire Poses Challenge for Obama
Watergate 'Deep Throat' W. Mark Felt Dies at 95 - PHOTOS
Emanuel 'Spoke Directly' to Blago About Senate Seat
Deference to Feds Could Slow Blago Impeachment Push
Illinois AG: Blago Can't Use Taxpayer Funds for Defense
Legal fight planned over Ill. governor wiretaps
Obama plans week's 5th news conference for Friday
Bush, Abbas to assess negotiations with Israel
Auto Aid Announcement Imminent
Coleman's Lead in Senate Race Down to 2 Votes
Obama promises to bolster financial regulation - Video
Obama starts to put stamp on Fed with Tarullo - Video
Obama spurs EU on economy
Obama defends choice of pastor for invocation
Saudis, Indians among Clinton foundation donors
Schwarzenegger to veto Democrats' budget plan
Sharpton takes Caroline Kennedy to lunch in Harlem

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Ultimate Fighter, Wife Found Shot Dead in Bed
Did Madoff Pull Off Ponzi Scheme Alone?
Alleged Scheme Could Cost IRS up to $17B
After shock, Madoff fraud victims struggle to cope - Video
Did Bernard Madoff act alone? Investors doubt it
Mass. investor saw inside Madoff scam
Caylee Tipster Questioned; Cops Find Bones - PHOTOS
Anthony Defense Wary of Evidence Tampering
NASCAR settles $225 million suit with ex-official

U.N. News
U.N. divided over gay rights declaration
US balks at backing condemnation of anti-gay laws

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Man wins first case vs China's "human flesh search engine"

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
Real-Life 'Da Vinci Code' Found on Back of Masterpiece
'Audio Aquarium' Technology Helps Blind 'See' Fish
Solar Flare Could Cripple Communications in '12 - VIDEO
Daddy day-care: dinosaur fathers guarded the eggs
Shocking study finds most will torture if ordered
Mineral points to Martian water suitable for life
Experts urge safety probe of plastics chemicals
Fatal attraction: How leukemia seduces blood cells
Japanese group asks Google to stop map service
U.S. government lab, 14 firms team up on lithium battery
U.S. not ready for cyber attack
Government website rates nursing homes
Portable devices give "cloud" computing new clout
More than 54 million disabled in U.S., census says
Electric cars no panacea
Shocking study finds most will torture if ordered
Panasonic to spend at least $4.5 billion to buy Sanyo

Mother Nature
Las Vegas gets record Dec. snowfall, 3.6 inches
Pet lovers protest cats on the menu in China
River pilot's jealousy linked to massive oil spill
Three Gorges Dam tested as water rises
Coal should be warming concern: scientists
EU draws closer to finalizing new pesticides law
African ministers say share water to combat hunger - Video:

News from My Neck of the Woods
NY man charged with insider trading on wife's info
NY man pleads guilty to YouTube baby food threat

Oddities
Duggar Family Welcomes 18th Child - PHOTOS
Tumor Removed From Newborn's Brain Contained Foot
NASCAR Settles $225M Racial, Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Church Threatens to 'Out' Sins
More? What the Dickens are you talking about?
Carla Bruni wins damages for nude handbag
Snowfall buries skiers' credit crunch fears
Father offers daughter to shoe-thrower
Lawyers turn to Facebook to serve legal papers
Burger King Launches 'Flame'-Broiled Body Spray
Shooting victim goes to work with bullet in head
Officers: Pierced 'gothic kittens' marketed on Web

Fox News
FOXBusiness: GM, Chrysler Finance Units May Merge
Toyota Vehicle Operations to Post First Ever Loss
Will Smith: Suicide, Career And Otherwise
David Letterman Gets Jen Aniston's 'Naked on GQ' Tie

Reuters
Tsvangirai threatens to suspend Zimbabwe talks
Protesters battle Greek police, flights grounded - Video
From bridges to police: U.S. draws up stimulus plan
Morning Call: Losses at the open
Paulson vague on auto bailout
Economic crisis claims Detroit GP
China's struggle
China tries to lure "sea turtles" home
Video: China grads feel job chill
BOJ cuts rates and pumps funds to fight credit crunch
JP Morgan CEO and Citi's Rubin won't seek bonuses: report
Oil touches fresh 4-year below $36
Global stocks fall on oil and U.S. concerns - Video
Taking on the tomcats
Emerging SE Asia haunted by corruption
The green-collar economy
Fed's greatest bubble of all
GM and Chrysler seen near loan deal Video
Oil price has found floor: OPEC president
GMAC bank bid may fail: report
S&P says GE triple-A could be at risk
BofA to shelve $3 billion CCB share sale plan: report
Dassault Aviation signs $2.26 billion Thales stake deal
General Growth puts more high-end malls on sale
"Doubt" tops SAG film nominees amid strike talk - Video
"Benjamin Button" took decades to reach big screen - Video
Metallica on fire at L.A. show - Video
Golden Globe contenders a complicated bunch
Critics weigh in on year's best films
Caution: Wine label hazardous to your funny bone
Video: Traditional Paithani saris
Manning leads Colts to comeback win
Roy explodes for 52 in Blazers' win
Yankees introduce new aces Sabathia and Burnett
Detroit Grand Prix dropped from Indy schedule
Sixers' Brand out for a month with shoulder injury

Associated Press
Paulson: 'Orderly' auto bankruptcy might be best
Ed McMahon, wife have no plans to move from home
Sundin picks Canucks over Rangers, agrees to deal
Conklin, Datsyuk lead Wings to 6-0 win over Sharks
Official: Clemens' trainer cooperated under threat

NewsBlaze
MND-B Soldiers provide over watch for SoI payday activities
Tribal Sheiks Meet in Suleikh to Discuss Issues
Soldiers' Angels and Patriot Guard
Iraq News
Read about Operations in Iraq
FOB Warhorse Memorial Photos
Videos
California Heading for a Financial and Fiscal Armageddon

CENTCOM
Odierno: Troops out of Iraqi cities by summer
Iraqi bomb experts gain independence
General cites 'monumental' changes during time in Iraq
Iraqi pilots fly night missions
New plant means fresh water for Sadr City

USJFCOM
Command begins new capability development on three projects
USJFCOM fires unit helps training center improve joint training for Army units
More about Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team
U.S. Joint Forces Command clarifies Joint Operating Environment 2008
Command releases report examining the future - Read the report
USJFCOM, NATO reach historic first for simulation federation

Multi-National Force - Iraq
Bawi Water Pump, Filter Facility Opens in Salman Pak
Tribal shaykhs meet in Suleikh to discuss issues
Prime Minister addresses British troops in Iraq
Sustainers assist the Iraqi Army with a master driver program
ISF demonstrates integrated training facility�s capabilities
Coalition forces further degrade AQI in central Iraq: 11 suspects detained

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
Gates Urges Direct Dialogue With President-elect on Iraq
Gates Asks for Guantanamo Closure Plan
Chinese Plans to Fight Piracy Welcomed
Chairman Takes Pulse of U.S. Forces, NATO Commands in Afghanistan
Mullen Sees Golden Mosque Rise Again - Photos
Supply Line Viable Despite Breaches
Agencies Receive Kudos for Cutting Costs
Gates Cites Appreciating Limits as Guide

IRAQ NEWS
U.S. Marines Bring Medicine, Security
Iraqi Forces En Route to Self-Sufficiency
Coalition, Iraqi Forces Capture 24

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Attack Helicopters Join Afghan Air Corps
Afghan Commandos Detain Insurgent Leader

MILITARY NEWS
No Fancy Venues, But the USO Stars Rock - Photos

NATIONAL GUARD
National Guard to Support Inauguration

AROUND THE SERVICES
Army Cadets Work to Improve Physical Eval Boards
Marines Tackle Pre-deployment Training at Quantico
Trident Submarine Wraps Up Maiden Deployment
Air Force C-17 Revolutionizes Logistics in Antarctica

FACE OF DEFENSE
Soldier Continues Holiday Tradition from Afghanistan

Weather
Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Gitmo

Today in History
0401 - St Anastasius I ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1055 - Seldjuken under Toghril Beg occupy Baghdad
1154 - King Henry II of England crowned
1562 - Battle at Dreux: Anne de Montmorency & huguenots under Condé captured
1686 - Robinson Crusoe leaves his island after 28 years (as per Defoe)
1688 - King James II's wife & son flee to France
1732 - Benjamin Franklin (under the name Richard Saunders) begins publication of "Poor Richard's Almanack"
1776 - Thomas Paine published his 1st "American Crisis" essay, in which he wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls"
1777 - Washington settles his troops at Valley Forge PA for the winter
1788 - Chinese troops occupy capital Thang Long Vietnam
1795 - 1st state appropriation of money for road building, Kentucky
1823 - Georgia passes 1st US state birth registration law
1828 - South Carolina declares the right of states to nullify federal laws
1835 - HMS Beagle/Charles Darwin approaches New Zealand
1842 - US recognizes independence of Hawaii
1843 - Charles Dickens publishes "A Christmas Carol" in England
1854 - Allen Wilson of Connecticut patents sewing machine to sew curving seams
1861 - Battle of Black Water
1862 - Skirmish at Jackson/Salem Church TN (80 casualties)
1867 - Victims of "Angola Horror" burned to death (Angola NY)
1871 - Albert L Jones (New York NY), patents corrugated paper
1884 - Italy recognizes King Leopold II's Congo Free State
1888 - Stanley's expedition reaches Fort Bodo, East-Africa
1907 - 239 workers die in a coal mine explosion in Jacobs Creek PA
1910 - 1st city ordinance requiring white & black residential areas (Baltimore); Rayon 1st commercially produced, Marcus Hook PA
1918 - Robert Ripley began his "Believe It or Not" column (New York Globe)
1919 - American Meteorological Society found
1928 - 1st autogiro (predecessor of helicopter) flight in US
1934 - Japan agress to fleet treaty of 1922 & 1930
1939 - Russian air & ground attack against Finnish positions near Summa
1941 - German submarine U-574 sinks; Hitler takes complete command of German Army; US Office of Censorship created to control info pertaining to WWII
1943 - Military coup in Bolivia
1945 - Austrian Republic re-establishes
1946 - War breaks out in Indochina as Ho Chi Minh attacks French in Hanoi
1948 - 2nd political action of Java/Sumatra
1950 - General Eisenhower named NATO commander; Tibet's Dalai Lama flees Chinese invasion
1951 - Nazi General Christiansen leaves Netherlands
1958 - 1st radio broadcast from space (recorded Christmas message by President Eisenhower: "To all mankind, America's wish for Peace on Earth & Good Will to Men Everywhere")
1960 - Fire aboard USS Constellation, under construction in Brooklyn (50 die); Mercury-Redstone 1A reaches 210 km in test flight
1961 - British government begins decimal coin system; Indonesian President Sukarno proclaims general mobilization
1962 - Nyasaland secedes from Rhodesia & Nyasaland; Transit 5A1, 1st operational navigational satellite, launched
1963 - Zanzibar becomes independent from UK
1965 - French President De Gaulle re-elected (Mitterrand gets 45%)
1971 - NASA launches Intelsat 4 F-3 for COMSAT Corp
1972 - Grenada adopts constitution
1974 - Nelson A Rockefeller sworn-in as the 41st Vice-President
1975 - John Paul Stevens becomes a Supreme Court Justice
1976 - President Brezhnev receives his 5th Lenin order
1980 - Iran requests $24 billion in US guarantees to free hostages
1985 - STS 61-C scrubbed at T -13 seconds because of SRB auxiliary power problem
1986 - USSR frees dissident Andrei Sakharov from internal exile
1988 - NASA unveils plans for lunar colony & manned missions to Mars; Unexploded WWII bomb found in Frankfurt, Germany-5,000 evacuated
1991 - Boris Yeltsin takes control of Kremlin

Birthdays
1036 - Su Tung-p'o China, poet/essayist/painter/calligrapher
1683 - Philip V Versailles France, King of Spain (1700-24, 24-46)
1814 - Edwin M[cMasters] Stanton Ohio, US Secretary of War (1861-65)
1817 - James Jay Archer Brigadier-General (Confederate Army) died in 1864
1819 - James Clifford Veatch Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1895
1821 - Mary Ashton Livermore American reformer/women's suffrage leader
1824 - Hercules Robinson Ireland, South Africa Commissioner (1880-89, 1895-97)
1837 - John Carpenter Carter Brigadier-General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
1852 - A[lbert] A Michelson Strelno Prussia, US physicist (Nobel 1907)
1884 - Antonín Zápotocky premier/President of Czechoslovakia
1891 - Edward Bernard Andre Maria Raczynski Poland, president-in-exile (1979-86)
1906 - Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev Ukraine, 1st Secretary of the Community Party/President of the USSR (1964-82)
1926 - Jeanne Kirkpatrick US ambassador to UN
1943 - William De Vries Brooklyn NY, surgeon-inventor (Symbion artifical heart)
1951 - Fred W Leslie Ancon Panamá, PhD/astronaut (STS 73)

Passings
0401 - Anastasius I Bishop of Rome (399-401)
1370 - Urban V [Guillaume de Grimoard] 1st Avignon Pope (1362-70)
1804 - Mary Bright British PM Rockingham
1915 - Alois Alzheimer German neurologist (first described Alzheimer's Disease), dies at 51
1953 - Robert A Millikan US physicist (Nobel 1923), dies at 85
1968 - Norman Thomas founder (ACLU)/Socialist Party (1926-55), dies at 84
1977 - Nellie Taylor Ross 1st woman governor, dies at 101

Reported Missing in Action
1968
Payne, Norman, US Army SF (OH); disappeared after his unit was ambushed

1971
Forame, Peter C., US Army (VA); OH6A shot down (w/Skiles)

Johnson, Kenneth R., USAF (MN); F4D shot down (w/Vaughan)released by DRV March, 1973 – retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive as of 1998

Poynor, Daniel R., USAF (OK); F4D shot down (w/Thomas), remains ID’d June, 1995

Skiles, Thomas W., US Army (WY); OH6A shot down (w/Forame)

Thomas, Leo T., Jr., USAF (KY); F4D shot down (w/Poynor), remains ID’d June, 1995

Vaughan, Samuel R., USAF (SC); F4D shot down (w/Johnson), released by DRV March, 1973 – alive and well as of 1998

1972
The following USAF personnel reported MIA when their B52D was shot down:

Alexander, Fernando (TX); released by DRV March, 1973 – retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

Barrows, Henry C., (NJ); released by DRV March, 1973 – retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

Brown, Charles A., Jr. (MA); released by DRV March, 1973 – retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive as of 1998

Cooper, Richard W., Jr., (MD); navigator, presumed KIA

Poole, Charlie S., (LA); tailgunner, presumed KIA

Wilson, Hal K., (NY); released by DRV March, 1973 – retired as a Major - alive and well as of 1998

Labels: Headlines, History