Mrs G's Dawn Patrol

• North Korea an 'imminent threat'

  North Korea poses more of a nuclear threat than Iran, the head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog has told CNN. "In Korea, it is an absolutely black hole," Mohammed ElBaradei says.

• Bush vows to support N. Ireland peace

  WASHINGTON -- President Bush and members of Congress yesterday pledged their support for peace in Northern Ireland and for the family of slain Irishman Robert McCartney, calling for an end to violence by the Irish Republican Army and justice for McCartney, whose murder has been blamed on the IRA.

• Pentagon Invites Allies For First Time To Secret Talks Aimed At Sharing Burdens

  The Pentagon has for the first time invited foreign allies into classified discussions that will shape America's military missions and combat forces for years to come, with the goal of identifying tasks that would become the responsibility of other nations and no longer the burden of the United States.

• Iraqi press pokes fun at politics

  Iraq's National Assembly adjourned within about 90 minutes of opening to great fanfare Wednesday. A day later, Iraqi newspapers poked fun at what many of the new publications called a hasty retreat of the country's political leaders after they had heralded a new era of democracy.

• Single Mother Deploys in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Cpl. Nicole Anderson, avionics technician, Marine Light /Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, began making her rounds in January to family and friends with her 2-year-old son before she deployed to Iraq. As the day to depart grew near she began to pack while her son curiously looked on, wondering what was happening. <...>

  When the time came for the squadron to deploy, Anderson had a choice. She was scheduled to return to her original unit and leave the Marine Corps this fall, but chose to stay with the HML/A-269 for this deployment to Iraq.

• A Haircut In Iraq Can Be The Death Of The Barber
  

  ...In southern Baghdad, the hazards of life have come to this: gangs of militant Islamists are warning barbers that it is haram - forbidden - to shave men's beards or do Western-style haircuts. As many as 12 barbers have been killed, Iraqi officials say, including five in one day in late January. With little hope of police protection, most now refuse to offer the offending cuts, and have placed prominent signs in their front windows saying so.

• Fake Cable Labeled Writer A Spy For Iraq
  

  Someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to produce a document accusing journalist and activist William Arkin of serving as a spy for Saddam Hussein.

• Sizable Cut In U.S. Forces In Iraq Called Possible In '06

  The Army's second-ranking general said Thursday that the number of American troops in Iraq would probably decline by early 2006, largely because of post-election progress in combating insurgents and training more Iraqi troops to take over security duties.

• Afghan generals praise contributions of Robins Airman

  Several Afghan officers visited here March 10 to recognize an Airman for helping establish a computer network system for the Afghan military. <...>

  "It was reassuring being out with the people and seeing how nice they are," he said. "You don't hear much about Afghanistan on the news because it's going so well over there. One of the things they worry about most is that we will leave."

  
  
  • Long-term U.S. bases possible in Afghanistan
    

    America's top general said yesterday that Afghanistan is secure and the United States is considering keeping long-term bases here as it repositions its military forces around the world.

• Ukraine Admits Exporting Missiles To Iran And China
  

  Ukraine has admitted that it exported 12 cruise missiles to Iran and six to China amid mounting pressure from other countries to explain how the sales occurred.