Hamed al-Khoudari, left, governor of Iraq’s Qadisiyah province, and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin III, commander of Multinational Corps-Iraq, sign the official document to return control of the Qadisiyah province back to its government during a ceremony in Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, July 16, 2008.
Gas pump prices will be headed back down after the November elections are completed.
You read it here.
U.S. Marines and Malaysian army rangers wade ashore at a beachhead during an amphibious exercise as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, CARAT 2008, Bukit Tioman Darat, Malaysia, July 15, 2008.
CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States and several Southeast Asian nations to build relationships and enhance operational readiness.
PUSAN, Republic of Korea (July 17, 2008) The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is moored during a scheduled port visit to Pusan, Republic of Korea.
The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on a routine deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility U.S.
Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chad A. Bascom (Released)
A soldier assigned to the 41st Fires Brigade overlooks the courtyard and gets a bird’s eye view during the opening of the al Kut Youth Center, at Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, July 9, 2008.
Christopher Payne Jr. enjoys his new home in the Operation Homefront Village serving Washington’s Water Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., July 15, 2008.
The village offers transitioning wounded warriors rent-free housing while they recuperate at one of the medical facilities.
Photo courtesy of Operation Homefront
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U.S. Army Sgt. Daryl Williams takes the oath of enlistment from his hospital bed at the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, July 9, 2008.
Williams is assigned to the Scout/Sniper Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Allshouse prepares to raise the national ensign as the USS Ronald Reagan pulls into Busan, Korea, for a routine port visit, July 14, 2008.
The USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on deployment in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility operating in the Western Pacific and Indian oceans.
NORFOLK, Va. (July 16, 2008) The French nuclear attack submarine FS Amethyste (S 605) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk after completing patrol operations in the West Indies.
Amethyste is making a four-day port call before joining the Theodore Roosevelt Task Group for Joint Task Force Exercise 08.4. starting next week.
U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelvin Edwards (Released)
July 17, 2008
The Rapid Decline of the New York Times
By Thomas Lifson
It’s about as much fun being a newspaper publisher as an airline president these days, so Arthur Ochs “Pinch” Sulzberger, Jr. of the New York Times deserves our sympathy.
Last quarter’s earnings were dreadful.
Earnings per share from continuing operations were down almost 75% from the previous quarter as newspaper advertising revenue declined over 10% — a decline which according to the May earnings report accelerated to 11.9%.
Just last week, Lehman Brothers forecast that in a year, its common stock would decline in value by almost half.
Pinch is trying to save the independence of the family-controlled publishing concern (regarded within the family as a public trust), but in the process has put a legendary newspaper empire on a path of decline, eating into capital to pay dividends to the shareholders, paying off employees who accept buyouts, and hoping that the comparatively small internet operations of the company will someday grow enough to balance the decline of the newspaper business.
If he succeeds, the New York Times Company will end not with a bang, but a whimper: Liquidated with all stake holders addressed, if not fully content.
It is a dreadful comedown for a career that began almost regally.
Read more here.
WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced expanded deployment that will bring Advanced Technology X-ray (AT) and Passenger Imaging to 21 of the nation’s busiest airports by the end of 2008. TSA also plans to purchase and deploy approximately 300 additional AT X-rays and 80 Passenger Imagers, bringing the total to 900 AT and 120 Passenger Imaging units nationwide in 2009.
“This major step up in technology coupled with our enhanced security training for our officers will elevate security across the board,” said Kip Hawley, TSA administrator. “AT X-ray and Passenger Imaging technologies greatly enhance our ability to find small improvised explosive device (IED) components made of common items, which remain the greatest threat.”
Read more here.
U.S. Marines aboard an M1A1 Abrams tank drive through the Jazeerah Desert in Iraq, July 4, 2008.
The Marines presence disrupts enemy operations and prevents foreign fighters from entering the area.
The Marines are assigned to a ground combat element with Alpha Company, 4th Tank Battalion, Task Force Mech, Multinational Force West.
Aircraft are readied for launch off the bow catapults of the USS Ronald Reagan during night flight operations, Pacific Ocean, July 11, 2008.
The USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on a routine deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac
Sgt. Kayla M. Wendt, a 23-year-old from Bennett, Iowa, and supply chief with Maintenance Company, 1st Supply Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, smiles as actor Gary Sinise signs a photo, July 13.
Sinise met with service members at a recreation center and joined them for breakfast the next day during his stay in Camp Taqaddum.
Photographer: Lance Cpl. Cindy Alejandrez, 1st Marine Logistic Group Public Affairs.
Read more here:
American Forces Press Service News
None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them. -- C.C. Colton
