Free Republic

BEIRUT, Lebanon - The Lebanese government unanimously agreed Monday to send 15,000 soldiers to south Lebanon if Israeli troops withdraw, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said. Earlier in the day, the Lebanese army called up reserve soldiers in a move linked to the possible deployment on the border if a cease-fire agreement is reach to end nearly four weeks of fighting between Hezbollah guerrillas and Israeli forces.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2006 – Organizational changes in the military continue in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina response, the Army general who was second in command of the military's Katrina task force told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee here yesterday. "Under our new organization, you will have defense coordinating officers and their staffs located within the 10 (Federal Emergency Management Agency) regions," said Army Brig. Gen. Mark Graham, deputy commanding general of the 5th U.S. Army. He said having these officers permanently in place in each of FEMA's regions would allow for better preparation for future...