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BAGHDAD (Army News Service, April 7, 2006) – A battalion-sized task force of approximately 700 Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, is providing additional security and support in southern Baghdad. Task Force 2-6 is currently working with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, to mitigate terrorist activity as the Iraqi parliament begins selecting the new government. “We were called to Iraq to assist Multi-National Division – Baghdad, to provide support to Operation Scales of Justice here in southern Baghdad,” said Maj. Jeff Grable, executive officer, 2nd Bn., 6th Inf., 2nd BCT, 1st Ar....

New analysis says global warming boosts hurricanes 19:00 16 March 2006 NewScientist.com news service Fred Pearce Renewed claims that global warming is driving the increased number of high-intensity hurricanes across the world were published on Thursday. The new study comes from researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, US. In September 2005 – days after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans – Peter Webster and Judy Curry claimed that the number of intense hurricanes across the world had almost doubled over the past 35 years, and that this was due to rising sea temperatures. The study was attacked for...

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – (Army News Service, Dec. 22, 2005) – Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston brought his Sergeant Major of the Army’s Hope and Freedom Tour 2005 to Bagram Airfield Dec. 17. Joining him on this tour was Sergeant Major of the Army Reserves Michele Jones, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John Estrada, Keni Thomas, Mark Wills, Craig Morgan, Al Franken, Traylor Howard, SoulJahz, two Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and members of the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own”. “I just want the service members to know that they aren’t forgotten, and that someone cares about them and...

After almost two years without a contract for police officers, the San Jose City Council on Tuesday voted 10-1 to approve an agreement that would pay experienced officers more than $100,000 in 2007. The contract also enables officers to retire after 30 years at 90 percent of their final salary, matching most public safety agencies in the state. Until now, maximum pensions for officers were 85 percent of final pay. While the contract is not final until officers approve it, Don DeMers, president of the Police Officers Association, which represents 1,344 sworn officers, said his union board unanimously backs it....

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2005 – Stability operations are now a major priority for the Defense Department, on par with combat operations, and will receive more planning and funding, two DoD officials said here today. The officials were explaining DoD Directive 3000.05, which was signed Nov. 28. The directive provides guidance on stability operations and assigns responsibility for planning, training and preparing to conduct and support stability operations. The origins of the directive come from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said Jeffrey Nadaner, deputy assistant secretary of defense for stability operations. Before Sept. 11, many people within DoD thought of...

AL-HERI, Syria - Syria has increased military posts and patrols along its border with Iraq and stopped thousands of infiltrators from entering into the war-torn country, a top military officer said Friday. The Syrian officer's comments came during a rare government-orchestrated media tour along the 370-mile border that appeared aimed at deflecting U.S.-led criticism that Damascus doing to little to stop militants from entering Iraq. Syrian forces have increased their border outposts from 547 to 557 since June, with each position having eight to 10 soldiers, said the officer, who identified himself only Brig. Gen. Amin. Syria has also caught...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2005 - After circling the globe more times than she can count, taking musical headliners around the world to entertain U.S. servicemembers in remote locations, the driving force behind the "Stars for Stripes" program said it's easy to stay pumped up about the effort. Stars for Stripes President and Chief Executive Officer Judy Seale (right) hugs country music legend Charlie Daniels following a Stars for Stripes concert at the Association of the U.S. Army annual meeting in Washington Oct. 4. Photo by Donna Miles (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The Stars for Stripes program brings...

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Oct. 4, 2005) -- Clapping, singing, and even dancing sounds like something that would be taking place in the halls of a huge musical auditorium, but for service members here, it is inside of a plywood building where their celebration occurs. The Camp Taqaddum gospel band, made up of 15 service members from the Marine Corps, Army, and Navy, performs in front of a respectively large crowd of worshippers every week at the Taqaddum chapel. Members of the band believe their role plays a huge part in laying the foundation of an enthusiastic worship environment for attendees,...

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget plan for eliminating an $8 billion state deficit relies on substantial borrowing and fund-shifting that is already angering local school and transportation officials. The proposal, to be released Monday, calls for at least $2.5 billion in borrowing, diverting transportation funds to pay for other programs, and loading school districts with $1.1 billion in new pension costs, administration officials said. As details of the spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1 began to trickle out Wednesday night and Thursday, they drew scrutiny from fiscal analysts. ``There's an old maxim: If you are faced...

<p>It's going to cost a little more to play at Mickey's house.</p> <p>Beginning Sunday, Disneyland and California Adventure will increase the admission price to $49.75 for guests over 10 years old -- a jump of $2.75, or nearly 6 percent, Disneyland Resort announced.</p>

'Crystal Meth' Use Boosts STD Rates Among Gay Men Thu Mar 11, 11:47 PM ET By Randy Dotinga HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, March 11 (HealthDayNews) -- Crystal methamphetamine -- or "speed" -- seems to be a driving factor behind higher rates of sexually transmitted disease among gay and bisexual men. In one study from San Francisco, gay men who visited a health clinic were twice as likely to be infected with the AIDS virus if they had recently used the illegal drug. And they were nearly five times as likely to be diagnosed with syphilis. Armed with the new statistics, federal...

<p>North Korea has admitted reprocessing 8,000 fuel rods from its Yongbyon nuclear reactor to boost its nuclear capabilities in response to threats from the United States.</p> <p>In a rare interview, Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su Hon told CNN of the move, saying North Korea's nuclear deterrence was not intended to attack other countries, but as a means to safeguard the country's territory.</p>