18 December 2005 Military News

MARINE DIES FROM NON-HOSTILE GUNSHOT WOUND
Local residents aid in cache discoveries MNF-I 18 Dec 2005 -- Local citizens played a major role in the discovery of two weapons caches near Kirkuk Dec. 17.
Major IED manufacturing cache discovered MNF-I 18 Dec 2005 -- A large cache of IED components was discovered by Soldiers from Task Force Band of Brothers, Dec. 15 near Hawijah.
Airborne patrol detains suspects MNF-I 18 Dec 2005 -- Fifteen suspects were detained Dec. 17 at several locations near Tikrit as part of Operation Eagle Watch by Task Force troops.
Citizen tip leads Task Force Baghdad Soldiers to mortar cache MNF-I 18 Dec 2005 -- A concerned local citizen in Tissa Nissan led a group of Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 64th Armor to a large mortar cache, Dec 16.
Kabul Under Tight Security for Inauguration of New Afghan Parliament VOA 18 Dec 2005 -- Security is tight in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on the eve of the inauguration of the country's first parliament in more than 30 years.

Chad Reports Attacks Near Sudan's Border VOA 18 Dec 2005 -- Chad's government says its forces are battling insurgents along its border with Sudan.
EU Threatens to Halt Aid to Palestinian Authority VOA 18 Dec 2005 -- The European Union is threatening to cut off aid to the Palestinians, after the Islamic militant group Hamas won key local elections in the West Bank.

GW Completes Fast Cruise, Underway for Sea Trials Navy NewsStand 18 Dec 2005 -- USS George Washington (GW) (CVN 73) completed a simulated underway, or Fast Cruise, and got underway Dec. 15 for sea trials, after a 10-and-a-half month Docked Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard.
USS George Washington Completes Shipyard Work Navy NewsStand 18 Dec 2005 -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to her homeport in Norfolk, Va., Dec. 17, following a scheduled 10-and-a-half month Docked Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) at Northop Grumman Newport News shipyard.

Israel's Sharon Hospitalized After Mild Stroke VOA 18 Dec 2005 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been hospitalized after suffering a mild stroke.