WASHINGTON - Military members will receive a 3 percent pay raise as President Bush urges Congress to revise some provisions regarding Iraq contained in the fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - The Arab Jabour Governance Center, which will be the headquarters for the Arab Jabour Governance Council and local groups, is open.

WASHINGTON - An audio tape released by Osama bin Laden Dec. 30, 2007, purports that al Qaeda does not kill innocent civilians, but the terrorist network’s actions in Iraq contradict this claim, a coalition spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan element led by 203rd Commando Kandak conducted a series of raids throughout the Sabari district in Afghanistan’s Khowst province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq captured a suspected insurgent leader during operations to disrupt criminal networks in the Husseiniyah area.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan - A team of airmen and soldiers help deployed servicemembers battle stress at Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan, and at some 20 surrounding forward operating bases.

MANNHEIM, Germany - For the first time in the European military theater, a cyber-threat intelligence cell has been created specifically to detect, monitor and combat malicious digital infiltrations on military computer networks.

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is looking for eligible students to apply for its 2008 scholarships.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Air Force Tech. Sgt. Stephen Thackery is part of an HH-60 Pave Hawk unit that flies alongside Army aircraft to provide medical treatment and evacuation in Afghanistan.

TAQADDUM, Iraq - Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Robert Sanders is an operations chief who uses his diverse background to help to bridge the cultural gap between U.S. troops and Iraqis.

WASHINGTON - A Virginia group is putting technicians wounded while disposing of explosive ordnance in touch with their families to help with their recovery.

KAPISA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. soldiers helped local Afghans celebrate the opening of the Aftabachi Girls’ School in the Aftabachi Village during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “They don’t have enough schools around here, so this one’s a big one for them," said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Henry L. Rodriguez.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 14 suspects during anti-al Qaeda operations in central and northern Iraq.

BAGHDAD - Fourteen Iraqis have begun working in the Defense Reutilization Material Office yard to reduce damaged and unusable vehicles into scrap metal. The metal will be sold to an outside business and eventually end up in an Iraqi foundry.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed several enemy fighters and detained nine others in an operation to disrupt Taliban leadership and weapons-facilitation networks Dec. 27 in Afghanistan’s Zabul province.

WASHINGTON - Military spouses now have access to more educational scholarships, thanks to a new partnership.

WASHINGTON - Coalition troops killed 11 insurgents and captured 19 others during separate operations in Iraq, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and U.S. security forces detained two suspected terrorist bombers and seized a weapons cache during separate operations in Afghanistan.

BALAD, Iraq - Iraqi police and U.S. special operations forces seized two suspected extremists believed to be complicit in the kidnapping of three U.S. soldiers in early May, U.S. military officials said.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st "Ironhorse" Brigade Combat Team have seen progress in the security situation over the past 15 months, going from 150 enemy attacks per week for their first two months in Iraq to about 10 significant events per week.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The assistant commandant of the Marine Corps made a quick stop at Camp Eggers Dec. 26 and passed a message from a modern-day Marine Corps hero’s family to Marines serving in and around Afghanistan’s capital city.

BAGHDAD - For an Army staff sergeant deployed to Iraq, his quest to make a positive impact during his tour of duty took him to Iraqi neighborhoods and schools.

WASHINGTON - Having been ejected from Baghdad and its environs during the surge of forces, al Qaeda in Iraq is attempting to re-establish itself in regions north of the capital city, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Air Force Staff Sgt. Erik Ryland helps save lives by inspecting ammunition.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces conducted an operation to detain Taliban extremists in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained one suspect during operations targeting al Qaeda in central Iraq.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Coalition and Afghan national security forces delivered tons of humanitarian aid to hundreds of villagers in Nangarhar province. The forces delivered more than two tons of blankets, flour, rice, prayer rugs, toys and other items.

WASHINGTON - An Oklahoma woman who helped her Iraq-veteran son deal with post-traumatic stress disorder has created a foundation to help more veterans and their families readjust.

ADIL, Iraq - Iraqi troops and U.S. Army soldiers and delivered backpacks to school children at the Kawaryzmi Primary School in Adil earlier this month.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi people increasingly are siding with the coalition against extremists in their country, a unit commander there said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Thousands of miles away from home, airmen in Afghanistan still found ways to celebrate the holiday season.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A small, blinking Christmas tree sits in the dining facility. Aside from a few other lights, it is the only symbol of Christmas on Forward Operating Base Wolverine, in Afghanistan's Kunar province.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan - The holiday season began early for the military postal service on Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan. At the beginning of November, the number of packages and letters being handled tripled and was expected to peak during the days surrounding Christmas. Officials expect the rush continue through the end of January.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Military men and women in eastern Kunar province were surprised by a visit from the Army’s top enlisted soldier and several celebrities at the remote Camp Blessing, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Violence is down about 60 percent in Iraq since the June troop surge, and the top military commander in Iraq said he wants the trend to continue in 2008.

ROTA, Spain - If they made movie starring Robin Williams about this year’s Chairman’s USO Holiday Tour it could be titled: “Good Morning, Arifjan, CampVirginia, Taqqadum, Ramadi, Tikrit, Balad, Kabul, Kandahar, Manas, Aviano, Rota.”

WASHINGTON - President Bush used his weekly radio address to thank America’s servicemembers who will spend Christmas far away from their homes and loved ones.

WASHINGTON - Recently returned combat veterans said they found that Americans long to hear firsthand accounts about duty on the front lines without media filters.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department today topped its year-end goal of delivering 1,500 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles to troops in the Afghanistan and Iraq.

CAMP WILSON, Afghanistan - Coalition and Afghan soldiers are well-equipped, but the Afghan police need more help.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England thanked a group of servicemembers who have completed nationwide speaking tours as part of the “Why We Serve” public-outreach program.

MANAS, Kyrgyzstan - Constantly evaluating U.S. strategy in Afghanistan makes sense given the unpredictability of the area and the enemy, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - The $70 billion in emergency funds approved by Congress has sidestepped the need for the Army to issue furlough notices during the holiday season, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

BASTOGNE, Belgium - Sixty-three years after the Battle of the Bulge, standing next to the killing field in Belgium where he once found himself face-down in the snow surrounded by the dead and dying, Ted Paluch had a chance to honor those fallen comrades.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - While most soldiers are tucked in their beds for the night, a mail handler deployed in Iraq is waiting for the mail to arrive.

KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea - Airmen from Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, completed an 11-day air combat training exercise with sailors flying F-18 Hornets at Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Japan.

WASHINGTON - In his annual holiday message, President Bush thanked servicemembers and their families for their sacrifices.

WASHINGTON - Members of North American Aerospace Defense Command are gearing up to track Santa Claus’ travels on Christmas Eve, providing detailed information about his whereabouts on the command’s Web site and through a toll-free telephone line.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces brightened the lives of Afghan adults and children alike with a wave of humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces killed one suspected terrorist and detained 24 others in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - After visiting some 50 countries during his first year running the Defense Department, Secretary Robert M. Gates said he has yet to find one that doesn’t want to work with the United States.

WASHINGTON - Ongoing Multinational Force Iraq operations against terrorists are focused in the country’s northern provinces, where al Qaeda activity is heavy.

KABUL, Afghanistan - More than 600 military men and women stood for hours in the cold for a live USO show highlighted by Kid Rock and Robin Williams at Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARDEZ, Afghanistan - As he sat eating breakfast Dec. 7, Air Force Staff Sgt. Eric Eberhard had no idea that he was just hours away from a struggle to save the life of the airman sitting next to him.

WASHINGTON - An Illinois-based group is working to honor one soldier by supporting many other servicemembers.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen brought the Chairman’s USO Holiday Tour to Afghanistan. A C-17 carrying Robin Williams, Kid Rock, Lewis Black, Lance Armstrong and Miss USA Rachel Smith landed in snow at Kabul International Airport.

WASHINGTON - One year into the job, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’s pleased with the turnaround in Iraq and particularly proud of speeding up the timetable for getting mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles to deployed troops and instilling changes in how the military treats its wounded troops.

WASHINGTON - A Congressionally-appointed group of experts released its findings after a year-long diagnosis of the military’s health care system.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - As the holiday season approaches, many soldiers would like more than anything to receive just one simple present: the chance to be with family and loved ones.

WASHINGTON - The Army’s assignments branch is reaching out to soldiers who have not deployed to combat in an effort to relieve those who have gone repeatedly.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Fort Bragg, N.C., will receive about 1,400 more soldiers as part of the Army's "Grow the Army" stationing plan.

WASHINGTON - The decrease in violence in Baghdad’s northern and western outskirts has created a sense of stability and economic activity that Iraqis view as a presage to the return of normalcy.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured a suspected “special groups” leader during operations yesterday in the northern Baghdad area.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - U.S. and Afghan soldiers handed out stuffed animals, blankets and coats to Afghan villagers in an operation named for an Army major’s childhood toy.

WASHINGTON - President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates thanked Congress for approving emergency defense spending, but both men said more money is needed to prosecute the war on terror and other defense operations.

WASHINGTON - Christmas came early to several camps in Kuwait, thanks to Bank of America.

WASHINGTON - A new Defense Department program is helping civilian employees injured in job-related accidents and illnesses return to work.

WASHINGTON - Citing the many gains achieved by the military over the past year, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates thanked America’s men and women in uniform for their service in a holiday message.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - The 1st Cavalry Division passed control of Multinational Division Baghdad to the 4th Infantry Division during a ceremony at Camp Liberty.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Airmen of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing helped give the gift of freedom to residents of the village of Musa Qalah.

SOUTHWEST ASIA - A deployed airman joined an elite group of aviators after flying 200 combat missions and reaching 1,500 combat hours.

WASHINGTON - The Turkish government provided “ample notification” of plans to conduct air strikes against Kurdish rebel positions in northern Iraq, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters.

WASHINGTON - The Army’s new plan for stationing its growing number of troops will affect 380,000 soldiers and family members and cost more than $66 billion in construction projects through 2013.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HERO, Afghanistan - Airmen in a medical mentoring team here have been working hard to ensure the successful opening of an Afghan National Army hospital.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is expected to top its year-end goal of delivering 1,500 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles to Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Targeted operations by coalition and Iraqi forces, along with attitude shifts by local citizens against al Qaeda in Iraq, are taking a toll on insurgent efforts.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - There must be a “full and complete” partnership between coalition and Iraqi security forces for success in the country, the coalition’s day-to-day commander of ground operations in Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - It’s too soon to start celebrating the Senate’s action to add $70 billion for Iraq war funding to the omnibus spending bill, the Pentagon press secretary told reporters.

RAMADI, Iraq - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Ramadi, Iraq, and said he’s amazed at the differences from a year ago.

WASHINGTON - No injuries to marine mammals have been attributed to sonar use since the Navy began taking additional steps to minimize harm to such animals, a Navy official said.

WASHINGTON - The latest quarterly report on the situation in Iraq notes significant improvement across nearly every major category measured.

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. - A disabled Iraq war veteran thought he was going to pick out colors and tiles for a bathroom remodel, but instead was surprised with the keys to a new home.

WASHINGTON - Extremists are intimidating Iraqi citizens less and less, thanks to security improvements in the country, a unit commander there said.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - In today’s world of technologically advanced aviation, Army pilots alone cannot keep AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters operational without ground crews.

PEORIA, Ariz. - Arizona cable subscribers will soon have better access to military news thanks to an agreement between an Arizona city and a national cable provider.

TAQQADUM, Iraq - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he is firmly committed to allowing conditions on the ground in Iraq to dictate his future advice.

TAQQADUM, Iraq - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff fondly remembers the smiles USO entertainers brought to the faces of his crews, and he is seeking to spread those smiles around Iraq.

BASRA, Iraq - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael G. Mullen stopped in Basra, Iraq, and spoke to British commanders about the recent transfer of the province to Iraqi control.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued his holiday message, thanking military members and families for their service and asking that others remember their sacrifices.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Northern Command is cementing a vast network of relationships critical to protecting the homeland against attacks or natural disasters and providing a unified response should one occur.

WASHINGTON - A new Defense Department report reflects military needs and goals in acquiring improved unmanned systems.

CAPIRO, Honduras - U.S. servicemembers from Joint Task Force Bravo took to the mountains around Soto Cano Air Base to deliver food and supplies to Hondurans living off the beaten path.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - A master driver at Camp Victory, Iraq, became a licensed personal trainer in 2001 and has been helping others achieve a healthy lifestyle ever since.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed more than 21 insurgent fighters and dismantled roadside bombs in Afghanistan, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces killed five suspected terrorists, detained 30 others and destroyed insurgent tunnels and weapons in Iraq over the past three days.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - In a first for Afghanistan’s Kapisa province, the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team unveiled a new women’s shelter here Dec. 13.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - Concerned local citizens near Bawi, Iraq, handed over a large weapons cache to soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, Dec. 16.

WASHINGTON - This holiday season, the American Red Cross will make sure holiday greetings generically addressed to wounded troops at military medical facilities will find a home.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Army National Guard Spc. Michael Lucas received an extra-special homecoming from Iraq when he and his family were selected for the ABC-TV reality show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

BAGHDAD, Iraq - This month, Kazim, a village contractor, with help from U.S. Army civil affairs officials, is working to restore the drinking water supply for the Iraqi town of Sedamine and four surrounding villages.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition troops detained two suspected Taliban members, seized weapons caches, and administered vital medical treatment to bombing victims in Afghanistan over the past week, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed six suspected terrorists, detained 29 others and destroyed five weapons caches in Iraq over the past five days, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Halfway through the rollout of the Defense Travel System, officials say it’s streamlining the travel process while improving service.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Paratroopers from Company D, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), also known as “The Rock,” visited a school nestled along the banks of the Pech River in Bar Narang, Afghanistan, earlier this month.

WASHINGTON - America’s wounded troops are getting the best medical care possible, and the country is committed to ensuring the bureaucratic system serves them equally well, President Bush said.

WASHINGTON - Military families now can access military-supplied air transport to travel to their official “homes of record” located outside the continental United States when their sponsors are deployed for 120 days or more.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FORTRESS, Afghanistan - Cooks at a forward operating base in Afghanistan bring a personal touch to their duties to keep their fellow soldiers' morale high.

WASHINGTON - Joint Chiefs Chairman Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen said U.S. troops are performing “magnificently,” but added that he is concerned about stress on ground forces.

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - It was time to rock out at the Camp Arifjan logistics base in Kuwait, as the USO Holiday Tour entered high gear.

WASHINGTON - Mike’s Guardian Eagle Foundation offers financial aid to military members and their families.

BASRA, Iraq - Multinational Division Southeast relinquished control of Iraq’s Basra province to the Iraqi government. “This event ensures the progress of the abilities of Iraqi armed forces in training, efficiency and personal integrity,” the Iraqi national security advisor said.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Fifteen Iraqi children can get around easier, thanks to the new wheelchairs they received earlier this month at the Radwaniyah Palace Complex Civil-Military Operations Center.

WASHINGTON - Working with Iraqi forces and citizens, coalition forces in Baghdad have made significant progress against al Qaeda.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Entertaining troops for six years in a row, the 2007 Hope and Freedom USO Tour brought its show to soldiers in Baghdad.

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael G. Mullen is bringing United Service Organizations entertainers to visit with troops in seven countries in the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe.

WASHINGTON - In a Dec. 16, 2007 statement, U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander, and Patricia A. Butenis, chargé d'affaires, said "the United States and Multinational Force Iraq welcome the transfer of security responsibility in Basra province to Iraqi responsibility as a positive step on the path to Iraq's self-reliance."

ARLINGTON, Va. - In a few hours in freezing temperatures, about 3,000 volunteers placed more than 10,000 balsam fir wreaths with blazing red bows on graves at Arlington National Cemetery.

WASHINGTON - President Bush used his weekly radio address to call on Congress to pass critical funding for the war on terror before the Defense Department is forced to begin furloughing civilian employees.

WASHINGTON - A local butcher in Iraq is back to work in a new shop with plenty of customers and plans to expand, thanks in part to small grants to local business owners to jump-start their operations.

WASHINGTON - Beleaguered by surge-fortified Iraqi and coalition forces, al Qaeda and other extremists also are quickly losing any influence they may have had among the local populace.

WASHINGTON - Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter and Army Secretary Pete Geren sent letters to installation commanders, telling them to prepare for possible furloughs due to a lack of funding for the global war on terror.

WASHINGTON - President Bush reported to Congress on the scope of overseas deployments to support the war on terror, emphasizing that he’ll direct additional measures as necessary to ensure the United States can protect its citizens and interests.

WASHINGTON - Active military elements are preparing to assist federal emergency responders to help beleaguered Midwest residents cope with the effects of recent massive ice storms, a senior U.S. military officer told Pentagon reporters.

WASHINGTON - Terrorists in Iraq are preying on the country’s juveniles, a top Army commander there said.

WASHINGTON - Staten Island residents sending mail to servicemembers are getting help from a local troop-support group.

EDINBURGH, Scotland - The United States will prepare an integrated plan to examine alliance goals in Afghanistan and set out a roadmap for allies to follow, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Edinburgh, Scotland.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition troops conducted follow-up operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, after week-long clashes with Taliban fighters largely cleared the area of insurgents.

WASHINGTON - More than 200 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles were loaded onto a ship operated by Military Sealift Command bound for Iraq and Afghanistan.

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Americans in Afghanistan helped the Afghan Border Police in eastern Khowst improve their capabilities by training them to effectively fire Soviet-designed machine guns.

COMBAT OUTPOST CLEARY, Iraq - Soldiers attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a health clinic in Wahida, Iraq, and marked the occasion by providing free medical attention to citizens.

WASHINGTON - Six members from three generations of Tabitha White’s family have served in the military, so her service in the Marine Corps is a point of pride she takes seriously.

WASHINGTON - Santa’s USO elves will host about 2,000 troops slated to transit through Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport before catching flights home to their families and loved ones.

Arlington, Va. - More than 140 National Guard members responded to a band of deadly mid-December storms from eastern Texas into northern New York and New England. Inch-thick ice brought down trees and power lines, leaving thousands in need of emergency assistance.

WASHINGTON - Ongoing U.S. military efforts to disrupt insurgent operations in and around Baghdad are garnering continued success, a senior military officer posted in Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - There’s no set limit on how long the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior program will provide one-on-one service to severely wounded soldiers and their families, a U.S. Army official said.

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Coalition mentors recently guided the Afghan Border Police in Khowst province to make notable improvements at a border control point.

EDINBURGH, Scotland - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and R. Nicholas Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland, for meetings with allies working in Regional Command South in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Top U.S. military and diplomatic leaders in Iraq condemned a car-bomb attack that targeted civilians in Amarah.

WASHINGTON - Officials are calling 40 reports of sexual assault at the U.S. service academies during the 2006-2007 school year a sign that programs designed to encourage victims to report are working.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department report concludes that the service academies have made “great progress” in establishing prevention and response programs for sexual harrasment and violence.

BUTGENBACH, Belgium - U.S. Army Garrison Heidelberg leaders and staff members retraced the route of the 6th Panzer Army’s thrust into Belgium, seeing where soldiers thwarted Hitler’s plan to split the Allied advance into Germany and capture the port of Antwerp, Belgium.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - U.S. soldiers are bringing supplies to Iraqi veterinarians to help them get back to work.

RAMADI, Iraq - For Army Spc. Gerald Bradner, serving in Iraq is a way to relate to family members.

WASHINGTON - The Army has not made a formal proposal to cut its order for mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, but officials are looking at the service’s long-term need.

WASHINGTON - The singer-songwriter known as Five for Fighting will give away some 200,000 free CDs for U.S. troops.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will travel to Edinburgh, Scotland, for meetings with allies with troops in southern Afghanistan.

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Troops in Kosovo had a chance to enjoy a live telecast of a National Hockey League game that featured pictures of themselves. “I e-mailed everyone I know,” said Army Lt. Col. Elaine Berkowitz.

WASHINGTON - A Congressional Research Service report confirms the Defense Department estimate for when the Army and Marine Corps will be forced to furlough civilians and shutter bases.

WASHINGTON - A lack of supplemental war funding from Congress would affect U.S. training efforts for Afghan soldiers and police, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told federal legislators.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 14 terrorists and detained 13 suspected insurgents during operations targeting al Qaeda networks in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Most servicemembers will receive a higher housing allowance in 2008 with the average increase more than doubling over last year.

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - The 4th Infantry Division began deploying to Kuwait in early November for final preparations before taking over as the headquarters element of Multinational Division Baghdad.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces treated more than 700 Afghans during a Dec. 7-8 medical operation. It was "an overwhelming success,” an Afghan soldier said. “We are trying to limit the Afghans’ suffering.”

NANGARHAR, Afghanistan - Army Pfc. Sarah Becker has spent most of her year deployed as an Army medic gaining the respect of soldiers across Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.

WASHINGTON - Taliban attacks have picked up in Afghanistan this year, but the group is growing weaker.

WASHINGTON - Efforts to stabilize Afghanistan are achieving “solid results,” but the mission isn’t over, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told U.S. legislators.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has officially notified Congress that the department will begin the furlough process for some civilian employees.

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. - Kyle Causey fulfilled a lifelong dream when he left Massachusetts for Texas to attend Air Force Basic Military Training. It took him more than six years, and he had to defeat cancer to reach this milestone.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq killed one terrorist, captured another and detained 30 suspects.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan - Engineers from the Republic of Korea will return home after completing their mission in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A Chilean winery, through its U.S. marketer, is helping to make sure servicemembers stationed away from home this holiday season can stay in touch with loved ones.

WASHINGTON - For the sixth month in a row, all services -- active and reserve -- made their recruiting goals.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Multinational Corps Iraq dedicated its new broadcast studio to a Marine public affairs officer killed last year in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Military officials encouraged the Senate to ratify a treaty that would guarantee aspects of vital passage and overflight.

WASHINGTON - Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, will be turned over to Iraqi provincial control in two weeks.

WASHINGTON - Army Sgt. 1st Class Brad Turner serves a new recipe for entertainment during “The Grill Sergeants," a cooking show on the Pentagon Channel.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Commanders of two coalition task forces met with Afghan government officials to discuss rebuilding infrastructure and developing health care in the country’s Parwan province.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces targeted insurgent networks in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, killing several militants and detaining 10 others.

WASHINGTON - Positive trends in Iraq’s Anbar province are permanent, the commander of coalition forces in western Iraq said.

BAGHDAD - A soldier in Iraq now serves under a military dentist who treated his parents at a refugee camp in the Philippines a quarter century ago.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured several wanted individuals and dozens of additional suspects during operations targeting al Qaeda networks throughout Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq are getting help from local concerned citizen groups in what officials say is the most effective way to stem violence.

BAGHDAD - Soldiers from Multinational Division Baghdad conducted a health fair for students at the Al Aflaph elementary school in the Salhiyah neighborhood of Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Violence in Iraq has been stabilized enough to allow governmental, economic and social advances to move forward, a Multinational Corps Iraq official said.

SCHWEINFURT, Germany - A pilot program is assessing soldiers returning to Germany from Iraq for possible mild traumatic brain injury.

WASHINGTON - Many deployed servicemembers have received a morale boost thanks to computers donated by a Michigan-based group.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pressed for multilateral cooperation to better protect the Persian Gulf region from destabilizing forces.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Iraq’s neighbors must help the country succeed as a peaceful, stabilizing force in the region, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on the international community to keep up its pressure on Iran.

WASHINGTON - A survivor of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, said it's important to remember the lessons the nation learned.

WASHINGTON - The Army is getting ready to launch a new pay and personnel system next year that will streamline personnel processes and integrate the active-duty, National Guard and Army Reserve components.

WASHINGTON - Though U.S. officials now believe Iran stopped its nuclear weapons program four years ago, the jury is still out on the extent to which Tehran is influencing the battlefield in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Commanders in Iraq have adjusted the force posture and will continue to make assessments before the next redeployments.

WASHINGTON - As ground forces in Iraq make more progress against insurgents, Army aviation assets back them up with crucial mobility, medical and combat support.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition soldiers foiled a Taliban ambush in the Kariz-e Sadeqin area of Afghanistan’s Farah province.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Army Staff Sgt. Obinna Awusah’s peers say he goes the extra mile to accomplish a mission and always places the needs of others before his own.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and seven additional suspects during an operation to disrupt al Qaeda networks in Iraq’s capital city.

BAGHDAD - U.S. soldiers handed out $10,000 in micro-grant funds to an Iraqi small business and a home for mentally handicapped children.

MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan - Nearly 40 Afghan soldiers and policemen have completed the first of five training phases to learn to safely handle unexploded ordnance.

WASHINGTON - Transitioning from military to civilian life can be daunting for some, but one group is helping to streamline the process.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will encourage closer cooperation to promote security in the Persian Gulf region at the fourth annual Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.

WASHINGTON - Marine Cpl. Sean M. Henry is telling the military’s story to the American public as part of the Defense Department’s “Why We Serve” public outreach program.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates commemorated a historic date in U.S. naval history -- Pearl Harbor Day -- at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command headquarters in Bahrain.

WASHINGTON - A cadre of military officers with special foreign language training and cultural expertise are helping the U.S. military bridge gaps between American allies and local foreign populations.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is prepared to defend the United States and support civil authorities in ways not even thought of a decade ago.

WASHINGTON - Reported murders in a region adjacent to Baghdad on the city’s eastern boundary have dropped to levels not seen in two years.

WASHINGTON - Throughout the Middle East, the U.S. Navy provides vital medical support to U.S. troops serving in the war on terror.

WASHINGTON - As Iraqi police forces grow, the coalition is focusing on organizational strategies to sustain officers and departments for the long-term.

WASHINGTON - A focus on security in local areas has brought about an improvement in security throughout Iraq, and officials believe the country’s economy needs to follow a similar track.

WASHINGTON - The USS Essex and the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit were part of a “friendship-building event” with Cambodia.

BAGHDAD - Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 19 suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda activities along the Tigris River Valley in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The National Fatherhood Initiative is looking for a few good military fathers for the 2008 NFI Lockheed Martin Military Fatherhood Award.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited the USS Vicksburg in Bahrain to tour the vessel, meet its crew and thank them for their service in the Persian Gulf region.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials lauded 16 of its workers for being everyday heroes in overcoming disabilities.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said the broad perspectives he’s received in Iraq over the last two days have convinced him Iraq is on the right track.

BAGHDAD - Violence in Iraq has dropped significantly in recent months, but it’s too soon to declare the home stretch in U.S. operations, the commander of Multinational Forces Iraq said.

BAGHDAD - Iraqis have once again begun to fill the market streets of a northeastern Baghdad neighborhood.

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - First lady Laura Bush attended a special event at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., to learn about challenges facing military youth and to let them know they’re not forgotten.

WASHINGTON - State and Defense department officials signed a joint memorandum that will increase coordination concerning private security contractors in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Improved conditions in Iraq and a desire to remain a light, mobile force caused the Marine Corps cut its order for mine-resistant, ambush–protected vehicles, a decision that included careful assessment of its effect on safety of deployed forces, the commandant of the Marine Corps said.

WASHINGTON - The idea of Marine units moving into Afghanistan to replace Army units is off the table for now.

WASHINGTON - Though the rapid growth of Iraq’s Interior Ministry has posed challenges, the Iraqis are forging ahead with the process and seeing progress.

WASHINGTON - As negotiations on Kosovo’s “final status” are expected to reach a political stalemate, a top commander in NATO’s Kosovo Force said his troops are prepared for any potential conflict.

BAGHDAD - Field commanders deployed throughout Iraq gathered in Baghdad to tell Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates that the U.S. strategy in Iraq is working and to urge vigilance in seeing it through.

WASHINGTON - The United States-Peoples’ Republic of China annual defense consultative talks ended with the two nations agreeing to increase military-to-military ties.

BAGHDAD - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talked with Iraqi leaders and U.S. commanders in Iraq to explore ways to maintain and build on recent momentum.

WASHINGTON - Several militants were killed during a coalition operation to disrupt foreign-fighter and weapons facilitation networks in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

BAGHDAD - Coalition forces detained 10 suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt al Qaeda operations in central and northern Iraq.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Air Force Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, commander of Air Force Reserve Command, arrived at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, with more than 25,000 pounds of supplies for Afghan families, collected by his wife, Jan.

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Soldiers who mentor border police in Afghanistan's Khowst province find there is plenty of action, variety and adaptation involved in sharing their skills.

WASHINGTON - Moderate Muslims held in coalition detention centers in Iraq are turning in radical Muslim detainees on a daily basis.

WASHINGTON - NATO aims to render the Taliban and other extremists in Afghanistan irrelevant by establishing a security landscape that allows the creation of news jobs and bolsters faith in national institutions.

WASHINGTON - In an effort to lift spirits and say “thank you” during the holiday season, 10 Washington-area chefs presented recovering servicemembers and their families with a mouth-watering meal.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates reaffirmed U.S. support for Afghanistan and praised the progress made by Afghan forces.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pointed to the new national intelligence estimate as evidence that non-military means are the best way for the U.S. to deal with Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Coalition forces detained four suspected militants during an operation to disrupt extremist networks in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province..

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 25 suspects during operations designed to disrupt al Qaeda operations in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces have made significant recent gains against al Qaeda.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited Afghanistan’s Khowst province to see firsthand “a model of concerted counterinsurgency effort, the synergy that comes from an integration of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ powers.”

WASHINGTON - Some Army civilians may get layoff notices before Christmas because emergency war funds have not been approved.

WASHINGTON - The new national intelligence estimate on Iran’s nuclear program proves Iran is still a threat to world peace, President Bush said.

BAGHDAD - Soldiers of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, were on hand to reopen the Baghdad Zoo's latest projects: an indoor horse stable and a children’s swimming pool.

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Mentoring Afghan national security forces puts coalition soldiers everywhere in Afghanistan, which means a lot of wear and tear on their vehicles. But that’s not stopping them.

BAGHDAD - When Sgt. Jason Stisser, of Troop O, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, found out he was coming back to Iraq, he quickly brushed up on his Arabic.

WASHINGTON - A new intelligence estimate that says Iran stopped its covert nuclear weapons program in 2003 is good news, but also presents cause for concern.

WASHINGTON - Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division have "lifted the blanket of fear” that al Qaeda imposed on the Sunni communities under its protection.

MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan - Coalition mentors stationed in northern Afghanistan continue to take interest in the country’s future by investing time and money in the “younger generation.”

SOUTHWEST ASIA - More than 1 million leaflets were pushed out of a 40th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130 Hercules over 10 designated drop zones in Iraq, urging local citizens to provide information on three top leaders of an armed insurgent militia

WASHINGTON - The United States-Peoples’ Republic of China Defense Consultative Talks got under way at the Pentagon in the shadow of China’s refusal to let U.S. ships make port calls in Hong Kong.

WASHINGTON - For the past four years, the Community Ballet Association of Huntsville, Ala., has recognized the sacrifices of servicemembers past and present with a special performance of the holiday classic "The Nutcracker."

WASHINGTON - Congress needs to act soon to approve emergency funding for troops in the war on terror, President Bush said.

WASHINGTON - President Bush told 200 military children gathered in the East Room of the White House for a holiday party that he admires their parents and is grateful for their service.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials announced the deployment of five National Guard brigade combat teams to begin in summer 2009.

WASHINGTON - The nation's top enlisted member credits a first sergeant's willingness to "Check It" with saving his life in Iraq.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Several militants were killed during a coalition operation targeting Taliban command-and-control networks in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained seven suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda operations in Tarmiyah, Iraq.

BASRA, Iraq - Army Maj. Rick Smith’s job in Iraq includes coordinating and building relationships between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the British army.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Afghanistan to get a face-to-face assessment from commanders about conditions on the ground.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The sacrifice and shared understanding among military spouses was the focus of the third “SpouseBuzzLive” conference near Fort Bragg, N.C.

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates traveled to Djibouti to see firsthand how to prevent terrorism in the Horn of Africa.

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Congress must act quickly to approve a bill to fund troops fighting in the war on terrorism.

BALTIMORE, MD - The U.S. Naval Academy is celebrating Navy's historic sixth straight win over Army after a 38-3 victory in the 108th Army-Navy football game in Baltimore, Dec. 1.