WHITE HOUSE - President Bush says the American intelligence community must implement more reforms in order to meet the challenges of the war on terrorism.
Mike McConnell becomes America’s national intelligence director at a crucial time.
The retired vice admiral and former head of the National Security Agency is charged with coordinating the work of more than […]

HOUSTON - Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon is sending more than 3,000 troops to two states on the US border, across from the US state of Texas. The military deployment is part of the anti-organized crime effort he began shortly after taking office on December 1 of last year.
In all 3,300 Mexican soldiers, sailors and federal […]

By Mark Ellis
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News ServiceLAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIFORNIA (ANS) – A large white banner—some 200 feet in length—greeted them upon arrival in Cuba, reading “Socialism or Death!” The stark message was a reminder of a faded revolution and its leader now in their twilight years. Yet a small team of American ministry leaders came […]

WASHINGTON - Saudi Arabia played a leading role recently in brokering a deal for a Palestinian coalition government that is to include members of the rival Fatah and Hamas factions.  Regional analysts have expressed guarded optimism that the Mecca Agreement following the negotiations might bring calm to violence-torn Gaza.
Jordanian journalist Rana Sabbagh calls Saudi Arabia […]

SHEIKHAN, IRAQ - Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region has been relatively free of the sectarian fighting that has crippled the rest of the country, but a rare attack by Sunni Kurds on a religious group called the has local leaders working to ease tensions.
The problems started last week in the village of Sheikhan, when, villagers say, […]

WASHINGTON — The Czech Republic and Poland on February 19 voiced willingness to host parts of a U.S. missile-defense system on their territories — prompting a warning from a top Russian military official.
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek made the announcement in Warsaw following talks with his Polish counterpart Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
“Both of our countries are now […]

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – Iraqi and coalition forces captured 61 suspected terrorists, destroyed five improvised explosive devices and seized several weapons caches during operations across Iraq in the past four days.
Today, special Iraqi army forces, along with coalition forces, destroyed a car rigged with an explosive device and captured seven suspected terrorists during a […]

WASHINGTON - The New York Times is reporting that U.S. intelligence officials believe senior al-Qaida leaders operating from Pakistan have re-established a chain of command over their worldwide terror network.
The newspaper cites anonymous U.S. intelligence and counter-terrorism officials, saying there is mounting evidence that Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, have been building […]

WASHINGTON - For most of his career (35 years, 3 months and 21 days), Colin Luther Powell served in the army. That’s why he has always identified himself as a soldier. “I’ll never not be a soldier,” Powell says. “You can’t serve 35 years and say you are no longer a soldier. So the Army […]

WASHINGTON - The emerging popularity of first-term Democratic Senator Barack Obama has led this month to the launching of his presidential candidacy for 2008 and campaign visits to early party primary states.  In many ways, the African-American Obama is believed to have the appeal to bridge racial differences and win enough white votes to make […]

WHITE HOUSE - Leading Democrats in the U.S. Senate say they will continue to look for ways to pressure the Bush administration to change course in Iraq. Bush administration officials are urging lawmakers to think long and hard before taking action. 
Debate on Capitol Hill has centered in recent days on a symbolic resolution expressing disapproval […]

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries 
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (ANS) – Security in Jerusalem has been raised to the second highest alert level as a precaution against unrest around the Temple Mount.
A story issued by United Press International (UPI) said, “After some of the worst rioting in Jerusalem in several years, 3,000 police officers were on guard […]

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators opposed to sending thousands more American troops to Iraq narrowly failed Saturday to move a nonbinding resolution, expressing disapproval of President Bush’s plan, to a formal debate and vote. The measure failed to win the necessary 60 out of 100 votes in the Senate, falling four votes short.
In a rare Saturday […]

JERUSALEM - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has begun a new peace mission to the Middle East. There are low expectations after Palestinian moderates and militants agreed to join forces in a national unity government.
Secretary Rice arrived in Jerusalem to prepare for a rare summit on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and […]

ROME - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Friday in Rome that any upcoming attacks from the Taleban would be dependent on outside support. Speaking after a meeting with the Italian prime minister, Mr. Karzai vowed such attacks would be countered with “vigor and force.”
President Karzai said a spring offensive by the Taleban “depends on the […]

WASHINGTON — Vietnam veterans will be gathering in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, March 17, 2007, to protect the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) and other war memorials from desecration by protesters attending a so-called antiwar rally being held that day adjacent to The Wall. The veterans intend to prevent a recurrence of what happened at […]

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate is to hold a procedural vote on a nonbinding resolution expressing disapproval with President Bush’s decision to send more troops to Iraq in a rare Saturday session. The action comes a day after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the measure in a symbolic rebuke to the president’s Iraq policy. 
Among […]

$17.5M Tribal College Initiative Will Build Intellectual Capital
DENVER — The American Indian College Fund (Fund) is at the forefront in promoting higher education for American Indians. For Kyla Young, this meant receiving a scholarship in just the nick of time in 2006: she only had $18 left in her bank account. For Dr. Daniel Wildcat, […]

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – The U.S. military’s goal in laying out the case against Iranians helping U.S. enemies in Iraq is to “stop these people from killing our troops, period,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.
Gates and Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke during […]

WASHINGTON - As American troops battle Islamic extremists in Iraq and Afghanistan and try to bring stability to the region, here at home the Pentagon is reaching out to Arab and Muslim Americans, trying to interest them in joining the U.S. military. At least 15,000 Muslims, including about 3,500 Arab-Americans, are already in uniform. In […]

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he is concerned to find Iranians involved in some of the explosives aimed at coalition troops in Iraq. But he added that he does not know whether the Iranian government is behind it.
Defense Secretary Gates told reporters at the Pentagon Thursday there is evidence of Iranian involvement […]

WHITE HOUSE - President Bush says the United States and NATO will stage a spring offensive in Afghanistan against terrorists and Taleban fighters.
President Bush says, in coming months, as a spring thaw melts the snow and ice in Afghanistan, NATO will go on the offensive.
“The Taleban and al-Qaida are preparing to launch new attacks,” he […]

George Washington to be First in Historic Presidential $1 Coin Series
WASHINGTON — The United States Mint today released into circulation the new George Washington $1 Coin, the first in a series of $1 coins honoring former United States Presidents.
The George Washington $1 Coins are legal tender and can be used for commerce and collecting. All […]

CAPITOL HILL - U.S. lawmakers are considering legislation that would bar U.S. companies from profiting from the use of foreign sweatshops and other unfair labor practices abroad.  A Senate panel conducted a hearing on the issue Wednesday.
Members of a Senate subcommittee heard first hand from those who witnessed abuses at overseas factories that produce goods […]

WHITE HOUSE - President Bush says he is convinced an elite Iranian military unit with government ties is putting weapons in the hands of Iraqi insurgents. Mr. Bush says he does not know for sure if Iran’s top leaders are involved. 
The weapons in question include the deadly roadside bombs that can pierce armor, and have […]