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BAGHDAD, Sep. 3, 2006 – Soldiers from 1st Iraqi Army Division assumed control of the Abu Ghraib prison here from U.S. Army Task Force 134 in a ceremony here Sept. 1. Iraqi soldiers will provide security for the facility – now vacant -- until the Ministry of Justice dispatches its own security detail. “Returning the empty prison to the control of the Ministry of Justice clearly says that enforcement of the rule of law is a cornerstone of the constitutional government of Iraq,” said Col. Monam Hashim Fahed, the Iraqi battalion commander. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2006 – U.S. European Command will assume command of U.S. military forces operating off the coast of Lebanon and in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the organization’s commander said here today. Marine Gen. James L. Jones, speaking at a Pentagon news conference, said European Command elements will assume command of the operations in that area from U.S. Central Command Aug. 23. European Command has supported U.S. Central Command in the effort. Central Command originally received the mission because Lebanon is in that organization’s assigned area of operations. But Central Command also is responsible for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan...

KABUL, Afghanistan — Army Col. William E. Bulen assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Afghanistan Engineer District from outgoing Commander Army Col. Christopher J. Toomey on Aug 2 during a change of command ceremony here. Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry, commander of Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan, presided over the transfer of leadership while Master Sgt. Eric O. Johnson, AED’s Command Sergeant Major, oversaw the exchange of colors. Lt. Gen. Eikenberry used the occasion to reflect on America’s continued commitment to Afghanistan illustrated in the District’s work. “As we look to improve Afghanistan’s infrastructure, AED is helping to lead...

British general takes command and promises ruthless strikes on Taliban · 18,000-strong force ready for first land operations · Nato troops take charge of most of Afghanistan Richard Norton-Taylor Tuesday August 1, 2006 The Guardian (UK) A British general yesterday took command of an expanded Nato force in Afghanistan, vowing to "strike ruthlessly" against the Taliban as the west's military alliance prepared to conduct land combat operations for the first time in its 57-year history. Lieutenant General David Richards, commander of Nato's international security assistance force, Isaf, based in Kabul, took over a multinational force in southern Afghanistan where British,...

British general takes command of US troops By Ahmed Rashid in Lahore (Filed: 31/07/2006) A British general will command American troops for the first time since the Second World War when Nato takes charge of the mission to pacify southern Afghanistan today. Lt Gen David Richards Lt Gen David Richards, Britain's most experienced officer in developing world arenas, assumes control of a merged Nato and US force that will grow from 9,000 to 18,000. It is one of the largest and toughest missions the alliance has faced, covering six southern provinces and extending its authority to almost all of the...

Nurture Takes the SpotlightDecoding the environment's role in development and disease Christen Brownlee Identical twin sisters Elizabeth and Eleanor (not their real names) say that when they entered the world on November 19, 1939—Elizabeth first, then Eleanor 8 minutes later—their mother was rather shocked. She'd been expecting just one baby, not two. But that day, she made a vow: The girls would always be treated the same, so that there would be no competition between them. POSTER CHILDREN. Illustrating how epigenetics can control physical traits, the slimmer and browner of these mice, carrying a gene called agouti, were born to...

'Darwin's tortoise' takes her secrets to the grave at the age of 176 By Mark Chipperfield in Sydney (Filed: 24/06/2006) Harriet, a 23st Galapagos tortoise, has died in a Queensland wildlife park at the age of 176, carrying to her grave the mystery of her origins. John Hangar, a senior veterinarian at the Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast, said the reptile suffered a heart attack on Thursday. "Harriet sadly died last night after, thankfully, a very short illness," he said. "She had a heart attack and passed away quietly overnight." Harriet made it into the Guinness Book of World...

University of California officials have formed search committees for three new administrative posts to help improve fiscal oversight and management following a compensation controversy. The new positions are a chief operating officer and a chief financial officer who will oversee non-academic functions within the UC Office of the President and a compliance officer who will ensure that university practices and policies are followed. A number of reviews into UC pay practices found that administrators routinely circumvented or ignored policies in order to secure better salary deals for top executives. Salary ranges for the jobs are still being finalized, a university...

LAS VEGAS (Army News Service, June 12, 2006) – Members of Las Vegas's 6th Recruiting Brigade celebrated the Army’s 231st birthday a few days early at the Arena Football League’s Arena Bowl June 10. In pre-game festivities, 48 newly enlisted Soldiers were sworn into the Army by U.S. Army Accessions Commander Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp. “Our mission is recruiting, and today we’re here to help educate and create awareness about the opportunities the Army offers,” said Col. Stephen Wilkins, commander of the 6th Recruiting Brigade. “It’s a good reminder to the public of the freedoms and democracy that we...

U.S. Army   Sgt. 1st Class Javier Molina Artillery Sergeant Takes Aim at Education By Staff Sgt. Nicholas Lutton 345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan, June 12, 2006 — On a day full of wind and dust here, education might be the furthest thing from most soldiers’ minds. However, for Sgt. 1st Class Javier A. Molina, a Salerno Education Center teacher, it is at the forefront of most of his work today. “The soldiers are very excited about classes being held on the gun-line, “ said Molina, gunnery sergeant for 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery...

CAMP HABBINYAH, Iraq, June 7, 2006 — The 1st Iraqi Army Division officially assumed control of territory in the vicinity of Habbaniyah, June 2. In a ceremony with the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, the 1st Iraqi Army has taken the lead and will operate in the area. The Iraqi unit is now responsible for planning and executing their own operations in Habbaniyah, Iraq, located between the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi. "Working side by side with the Iraqi Army was a great experience for my soldiers. This transfer is another step to a free Iraq." U.S. Army...

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2006 – A group of wounded and active-duty servicemembers, retirees and family members launched the second leg of their cross-country bike trek from the Pentagon parking lot today. Steve Nardizzi, executive director of Soldier Ride, explains the brakes on the handcycle to Elmer Dinglasan, a Navy corpsman participating in the second leg of Soldier Ride 2006, from Washington, D.C., to Camp Lejeune N.C. This leg of the ride took off from the Pentagon parking lot May 14. Photo by Sgt. Sara Wood, USA  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The group is part of Soldier Ride...

Albania takes Guantanamo Uighurs The Uighurs have been at Guantanamo for years Five Chinese Muslim men have been released from the US detention centre in Guantanamo Bay and flown to Albania for resettlement, the US says. US officials had concluded the ethnic Uighers represented no danger but did not want to return them to China for fear they would face persecution. Uighurs are seeking a homeland in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang. The US State Department called Albania's offer to resettle the men, "an important humanitarian gesture". The five men were among around 20 Chinese Uighurs held at Guantanamo...

4/28/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Fighters are in the air 24 hours a day, providing constant support to ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Without midair refueling, that coverage would be lost. The 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron provides fuel to those thirsty fighters as they keep troops on the ground safe, said Lt. Col. Brou Gautier, 340th EARS commander. “Our mission is simply to refuel the various aircraft supporting coalition ground forces,” Colonel Gautier said. “The fuel we provide to the close-air-support team increases loiter times, which in turn, allows a smaller force to be more effective over...

MINA SALMAN, Bahrain, April 24, 2006 – Pakistan today became the first regional country to command a combined task force in the Middle East in the war on terror. Pakistani Rear Adm. Shahid Iqbal received command from Dutch Commodore Hank Ort during a ceremony aboard the HNLMS De Zeven Provicien in the harbor here. Iqbal will command the force for the next six months. American, French, German, British, Dutch, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, Spanish, Italian, Turkish and Portuguese ships have participated in the force. Japan has provided logistical support to the effort. "I, my team, and the Pakistan navy, feel...

Col. Michael Dixon holds the flag of the Provisional Unmanned Aerial Systems Training Battalion, as Lt. Col. Ronald Myers, left, and Command Sgt. Maj. Raleigh Matthews unfurl the banner at Wednesday's activation ceremony on Fort Huachuca's Rugge-Hamilton Airfield. In the background, one of the company commanders and a first sergeant of the new battalion unfurl their units guidon. (By Bill Hess-Herald/Review) Herald/Review FORT HUACHUCA — As of Wednesday, the Army’s intelligence-gathering unmanned aerial systems are now part of the Aviation Warfighting Center at Fort Rucker, Ala. But the initial operation and maintenance of the pilotless planes will not be...

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jeremy Holmes 1st Lt. Jordan Holmes  B-52 Pilot Takes on Fuel from Little Sister’s Plane over Afghanistan By Master Sgt. Scott King 40th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, April 12, 2006 — Over the skies of Afghanistan, during a combat mission, one B-52 pilot got a surprise of a lifetime – “hooking” up with family. “I was surprised to hear her voice,” said Capt. Jeremy Holmes, 40th Air Expeditionary Group B-52 aircraft commander. “To make absolutely sure it was her, without throwing out any names over the radio, I asked if there...

ANTIOCH, Calif. - A man who was evicted from the house he rented for years allegedly took revenge on his landlords by dumping the home's hoarded contents _ five-gallon buckets of cookies, canned food, old batteries and puzzle pieces _ on the front lawn and in the backyard. The homeowner, Ann Stevenson, said she rented the house to Lloyd Annesley and his partner, Margaret McCoy, with a subsidized rent as a favor to the longtime family friends. After McCoy died, Annesley learned he would have to move and his relatives helped him dump the debris before they abandoned the property...

NORWALK, Ohio - The woman accused of locking some of her 11 adopted, special-needs children in cages cried on the witness stand Wednesday as she denied that she and her husband were cruel to his biological children or that he touched a daughter inappropriately. Sharen and Michael Gravelle have pleaded not guilty to several charges, including child endangerment, in a separate criminal case. Prosecutors accuse the couple of locking the adopted children in cages to discipline them, and they want Huron County to take permanent custody of the youngsters, who have been in foster care since the enclosed beds were...

Schools close as week-long Arctic storm takes hold By Auslan Cramb Scottish Correspondent (Filed: 01/03/2006) More than 150 schools were closed yesterday and dozens of roads were blocked by snow as Arctic weather hit parts of Britain. Walkers brave the elements at Scarborough, North Yorks, where a severe weather warning had been issued While many central areas enjoyed uninterrupted winter sunshine, the north of Scotland and the East Coast experienced some of the heaviest snowfall of the winter. The northerly air stream, which is expected to last for most of the week, hit Orkney and Shetland, where all schools were...