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The power is out in Northern California. More than 1 million Californians are now without electricity, one of modern life’s essentials that is frequently taken for granted. The blackout was done on purpose—to prevent sparks from powerlines that could ignite deadly wildfires. Before planned blackouts are through in two or three days, as many as 3 million Californians may go without power. On the surface, the blackout and its causes are simple to understand. But the deeper causes are complicated, span decades of public policy, and dozens of overlapping unintended—and intended—consequences of decisions, both related and unrelated. The wind in...

Many conservatives aren’t exactly fans of Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, as he has a tendency to more often than not side with the bipartisan establishment over the GOP base on a number of issues. But he has been coming around a bit more lately, becoming more outspoken in his support of President Donald Trump and vociferously calling out misdeeds and wrongdoing where it is patently obvious. For example, check out his rather pointed line of questioning during Monday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz and FBI Director Christopher Wray to discuss the...

A Route Clearance Team with the 77th Armored Regiment inspects a Maysan province road for threats while on patrol, recently. The 30-foot remote controlled arm of the Buffalo Mine Resistant Clearance Vehicle provides increased safety to operators inside. Photo by 2nd Lt. Juan Torres Jr., 4th Brigade Combat Team. FOB HUNTER — Combat engineers with Task Force Saber recently performed their final route clearance mission in Maysan, then headed to Basrah to do the same. "It is our job to focus on the road and make sure it's safe for travel," said Pfc. Jeffrey Bernier, a combat engineer from Lebanon,...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama sought to reassure Americans on Wednesday he was making progress tackling the economic crisis and in fixing the U.S. image abroad, but urged patience. "We are off to a good start. But it is just a start," Obama told a White House news conference as he assessed his first 100 days in office and promised to keep up the whirlwind pace. "I am pleased with our progress, but I am not satisfied." Buoyed by high public approval ratings, Obama focused on the jam-packed policy agenda he has pursued since his January 20 inauguration, topped...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE AIRBORNE, Afghanistan, March 9, 2009 – Flexing for the first time the massive military muscle now deployed to this area, coalition forces cleared one of its most troubled insurgent hotspots, sending a forceful message to insurgent fighters here that the coalition will go wherever, whenever it wants. Army Lt. Col. Kimo Gallahue, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment commander, talks to the Afghan National Army brigade commander during clearing operations in the Tangi Valley in Afghanistan’s Wardak province, March 7, 2009. Forces pushed deep into the valley, which has long been an insurgent hot spot. DoD photo...

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's efforts to clear the skies over its polluted capital are having an effect, officials said on Friday, insisting that Beijing's air would be safe for Olympic athletes despite persistent smog over the city. Beijing authorities have taken cars off the road and opened new subway lines in the past week, in addition to halting some construction and suspending factory production, in a last-ditch effort to ensure clear skies when the Games open on August 8. "For the effects of the measures we have taken to be increasingly felt, we will have to make continued efforts," Du...

BASRA, Iraq – Operation Sawlat al-Fursan, or Charge of the Knights, lead by the 1st Iraqi Army Division, a battalion from the 14th IA Division, and two Iraqi National Police battalions, continued searching and clearing operations in Abu Al Khasib of Basra, Iraq May 31. The Iraqi Army led the sweep from early May 31 to early June 1. Two Iraqi National police battalions followed as a support component searching for criminal elements and weapons caches. The National IP detained one suspect and discovered a cache of 52 AK-47 assault rifles and one sub-machine gun. Coalition Forces from the U.S....

SAMARRA — Paratroopers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, have been patrolling and operating in Samarra for more than one year and recently supported the Iraqi security forces in a clearing operation to rid the city of the al-Qaida presence terrorizing Samarra and its citizens. The operation was dubbed “Operation Jalil” in honor of Col. Jalil Nahi Hasoun, Samarra’s former police chief, who was killed May 6, 2007, during a suicide car bomb attack. The operation led Maj. Gen. Rashid al-Helfy, commander of Iraqi security forces in Samarra, his men, and paratroopers of Company C to the...

There was no hearts and minds, or infrastructure rebuilding efforts, during this particular engagement. Everything was leveled. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdvKkaKFQXw

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2007 – Iraqi security and coalition forces began a major operation to clear al Qaeda from western Ramadi in Iraq’s Anbar province, military officials reported today. Task Force 1-9 Infantry and Iraqi army soldiers and police began offensive operations this morning to establish and maintain security in downtown Ramadi. "This operation will benefit the people of Ramadi by establishing security and providing basic services and necessities," Army Col. John Charlton, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, said. "Al Qaeda has intimidated the people of Ramadi through murder, kidnapping and the destruction of their...

Iraqi army soldiers take lead on Riyadh mission. RIYADH, Iraq, March 21, 2007 — The Iraqi army soldiers’ flashlights pierce the darkness as they search the Riyadh marketplace for any wires or materials that may indicate the emplacement of an improvised explosive device in the area. Following close behind are U.S. soldiers from D Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, who work closely with the Iraqi army to conduct searches of various parts of the city. "The IA (Iraqi army) is making strong improvements with the command, from the top down, with putting the right men into the right job...

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2007 – More than 600 Multi-National Division Baghdad soldiers and 550 Iraqi security forces began a clearing operation in the eastern Baghdad district known as Sadr City today, military officials reported. Meanwhile, operations in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq over the last few days have resulted in numerous terrorists being killed or detained and the discovery of large weapons caches. In Sadr City, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, with two Stryker companies from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, began...

CAMP LIBERTY — The Iraqi Security Force and Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers began clearing operations in the Shaab and Ur neighborhoods of the Adhamiyah security district Wednesday. “We’re conducting detailed searches in areas that are known, or suspected to harbor terrorists,” said Col. Steve Townsend, commander of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. “All areas will get thorough assessments – patrol down every street, talk to every shop owner and engage the populations at every opportunity to get atmospherics of the area.” Soldiers from the 3rd SBCT and elements from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd...

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq (Army News Service, Dec. 29, 2005) – Iraqi and U.S. Army Soldiers are clearing the streets of known insurgents in western Ramadi. During operations Dec. 27-28, 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Division Iraqi soldiers working alongside of Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (28th Infantry Division) detained five targeted insurgents, to include Jassim Mohammed Fayadh, a high value insurgent leader, allegedly responsible for financing terrorism in the Tammim neighborhood and known to have supplied arms and munitions to Al Qaeda in Iraq. “Our battalion has been working in western Ramadi with the Coalition...

Brisbane, Australia: Metal Storm has released information regarding a successful firing of the Area Denial Weapon System (ADWS) Capability Demonstrator which was undertaken at the Port Wakefield Proof and Experimental Range near Adelaide, Australia. The ADWS consortium project is sponsored by the Australian Department of Defence, and led by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), and includes Metal Storm as a major consortium member. Tenix Defence Industries was a significant contractor to the project. Australia is signatory to the 1997 Ottawa Treaty that bans the use of Anti-Personnel Land Mines (APL). Through the banning of APLs, the Australian Defence...

VENTURA, Calif. - A man who bulldozed more than 300 oak trees on his property could face more than 3 years in jail after he was convicted on criminal charges. William Kaddis, 58, could also face fines of nearly $100,000. He also was convicted Friday of illegally keeping 62 dogs on his property in the town of Ojai, altering a stream without permission and filing a false police report. The oak trees, protected under a 1992 Ventura County law, were destroyed sometime before October 2001. "This was the largest rape of land in the history of Ventura County, and if...