Armed gunmen tried to rob Iraq's central bank today. The gunmen battled security forces for hours Sunday. The attack on the back coincided with bombs that ripped through a nearby area and killed at least 24 people according to the L.A. Times. Take a look:
Massive Truck Bomb Attack on Pakistan Marriott Hotel
A huge explosion from a truck bomb destroyed part of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday. This Marriott Hotel is frequented by foreigners. CNN reports that 57 people were killed including two Americans. 266 people were injured in the massive blast. You can see the huge crater from the blast here on a Telegraph article. The Christian Science Monitorsays the main suspect is the Pakistani Taliban. Below is a news video report from the AP.
In this video from the Associated Press troops in Afghanistan remember the events of September 11th, 2001. This year in Afhganistan has been a tough one for U.S. troops and coalition forces. 191 troops have been killed in Afhganistan through August which is nearly as much as the tally in 2007. You can see a page about 9-11 remembrances here including the 2008 Tunnel To Towers Run.
In an emotional exchange, Hezbollah handed over coffins containing the bodies of two captured Israeli soldiers in exchange for Lebanese prisoners held by Israel. Lebanon declared a holiday to celebrate the occasion. Reuters says Isrealis view it as a painful necessity.
Grim Milestone: 4,000 U.S. Troops Killed in Iraq War
A roadside I.E.D. killed four U.S. soldiers on Sunday. This brought the U.S. death toll in Iraq to 4,000. A Reuters story said that the White House called the 4,000 milestone a "sober moment."
President George W. Bush is saddened by the loss of 4,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and will focus on ensuring the U.S. succeeds in the 5-year-old conflict, the White House said on Monday.
"It's a sober moment, and one that all of us can focus on in terms of the number of 4,000," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said after a roadside bomb in Iraq killed four U.S. soldiers, pushing the U.S. death toll to a new milestone.
"The president feels each and every one of the deaths very strongly and he grieves for their families," Perino said. "He obviously is grieved by the moment but he mourns the loss of every single life."
The 4,000th U.S. death came days after Bush marked the fifth anniversary of the war and said the United States was on track toward victory.
An Associated Press news story contains some data about those 4,000 deaths including the following statistical information:
Percentages by service branch: Army: 72 percent; Marines: 24 percent; Navy: 2 percent; Air Force: 1 percent (Coast Guard had one death.)
Percentages by service force: Active duty: 83 percent; National Guard: 10 percent; Reserve: 6 percent.
Percent who died since President Bush declared major combat ended: 97 percent
Months with the most deaths since the start of the war: November 2004: 137; April 2004: 135; May 2007: 126; December 2006: 112; January 2005: 107
The average number of U.S. soldiers dying monthly in Iraq is down considerably since the surge began. Before the surge there were consecutive months with 80 ore more troops dying each month. Since the surge began the highest number of U.S. troops lost in a single month was January, 2008 when 40 U.S. troops were killed. Over the past few weeks there has been a reported upswing in the violence in Iraq that has some concerned the insurgents might be finding a way around the increase in troops. General Patreaus has said that U.S. troops need some political gains in Iraq to coincide with their military successes.
Wired's Danger Room blog notes that the New York Times has faces and stories of the fallen soldiers in its Casualties of War feature. The Iraq Coalition Casualties website has data and statistics.
Admiral William Fallon Resigns as Centcom Commander
Admiral William Fallon has resigned as the Commander of Centcom. His resignation follows an Esquire magazine story that said Fallon was basically standing in the way of the Bush Administration starting a war with Iran. The BBC reports that Fallon cited articles like this as a reason for deciding to retire.
He cited the "embarrassing situation and public perception of differences between my views and administration policy" as the reason for retiring.
An article by Esquire magazine said he was opposed to the use of force against Iran over its nuclear activities.
Adm Fallon said he did not believe there were differences over policy objectives.
The 63-year-old admiral became head of the US Central Command - which covers an area from the Horn of Africa into central Asia and includes responsibility for US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan - a year ago.
US Defense Secretary doesn't think they are differences between Fallon's ideas and the Bush administration's policies.
He said "there is a misperception" that the admiral disagreed with the Bush administration's policies towards Iran. "I don't think there were differences at all," Mr Gates said.
A statement released by Adm Fallon through Central Command's Florida headquarters seemed to reflect those sentiments.
"I don't believe there have ever been any differences about the objectives of our policy in the Central Command," he said.
"The simple perception that there is makes it difficult for me to effectively serve America's interests there."
Gates also said the belief that U.S. was now going to go to war with Iran now that Fallon was out is "ridiculous."
Why is Fallon resigning over what the public perception of him is? Why should that be so cruicial? A great deal of the public was vastly unaware of it and a small few even read Esquire. His resignation reasons are a lot different then the many who resign to spend more time with their family. The CentCom Commander did state last year that an attack on Iran "will not happen on my watch." Fallon has also called the Esquire article "really disrespectful and ugly."
Fallon's Deputy, Martin E. Dempsey, will take over as acting commander of Centcom on March 31st, 2008.
The Associated Press is reporting that a suicide bomber has killed five U.S. soldiers in Baghdad - the deadliest attack since late January.
A suicide bomber killed five American soldiers on a foot patrol Monday after detonating his explosives vest in central Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
It was the deadliest attack on American forces in Iraq since a Jan. 28 roadside bombing and ambush killed five soldiers in Mosul in northern Iraq.
Military spokesman Maj. Mark Cheedle said that "it was reported to us as a suicide bomber."
The number of U.S. casualties in Iraq is approaching 4,000. The icasualties.org website has U.S. Iraq death toll at 3980. U.S. deaths are down considerably from figures about six months ago.
The Drudge Report broke news that Prince Harry has been fighting on the front lines in Afghanistan against the Taliban.
They're calling him "Harry the Hero!"
British Royal Prince Harry has been fighting in Afghanistan since late December -- and has been directly involved in gun battle, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
The prince, a junior officer in the Blues and Royals, and third in line to the throne, has been a "magnificent soldier" and an "inspiration to all of Briton."
Prince Harry is talking part in a new offensive against the Taliban.
Ministry of Defense and Clarence House refuse all comment. Army chiefs have managed to keep the prince away from media and have encourage fellow soldiers in his squadron to stay quiet.
The BBC reports that the Ministry of Defense has confirmed the story. There was supposed to be a new blackout about Prince Harry's tour of duty in Afghanistan but the Drudge Report leaked the news. The Telegraphreports that Prince Harry has fired at the Taliban and has "helped Gurkha troops repel an insurgent attack on the southernmost British position in Helmand."
Once again religious police in Saudi Arabia are banning flowers and anything Valentine's Day related. They want to make sure no one gets any pretty roses or greeting cards. The BBC report on the story said Saudi florists sometimes have to sneak around and deliver roses after midnight.
Saudi authorities consider Valentine's Day, along with a host of other annual celebrations, as un-Islamic.
In addition to the prohibition on celebrating non-Islamic festivals, the authorities consider Valentine's Day as encouraging relations between men and women outside wedlock - punishable by law in the conservative kingdom.
The Saudi Gazette reported that some people placed orders with florists days or weeks before Valentine's Day in anticipation of the ban, which is a regular occurrence.
"Sometimes we deliver the bouquets in the middle of the night or early morning, to avoid suspicion," one florist said.
This USA Todayarticle says many Saudis manage to celebrate the holiday despite the rose hating Saudi police. You can read more on this story at the BBC, Daily Telegraph, Shopping Blog and Reuters. A story in the Kipp Report says the candy heart police in Saud Arabia are at least leaving foreigners alone this year. The Kipp Report story includes a photograph of a veiled woman shopping for candy hearts.
A roadside I.E.D. killed four U.S. soldiers on Sunday. This brought the U.S. death toll in Iraq to 4,000. A Reuters 
The Drudge Report 
Once again religious police in Saudi Arabia are banning flowers and anything Valentine's Day related. They want to make sure no one gets any pretty roses or greeting cards. The BBC 