Daily News Summary 12/22

Here are some of today's top stories and happenings at IAVA.

Headlines

More Companies Are Cutting Labor Costs Without Layoffs [1]
Trying to Redefine Role of U.S. Military in Iraq [2]

Iraq

Paterson Visits Troops in Iraq [3], and Cites Surge Progress
Gen. Odierno Preps for Iraq Troop Decision [4]
UPDATE 1-British troop vote delayed in Iraq parliament [5]
Iraq shoe-thrower set for trial [6]

Afghanistan

Education Under Attack [7]
U.S. may deploy 30,000 more [8]
2.5 tons of marijuana found [9] in Afghan school

World

Iran Takes Russian Air Defense System [10]
A Japanese Town That Kicked the Oil Habit [11]
Some Arab Women Find Freedom in the Skies [12]

Military News

NG General Accused of Discrimination [13]
Army funding for re-enlistment bonuses to decline sharply in 2009 [14]
Report: $40 billion needed to expand Army [15]

THE SENATE

The Senate convenes for a pro forma session:

11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008
11:00 a.m. Friday, Dec. 26, 2008
10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, 200810:00 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2009

FUTURE NOMINATIONS and APPOINTMENTS of INTEREST

January 14, 2009 SVAC has scheduled a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Eric Shinseki to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 10:00 A.M.; Russell 418 (TBD)

THE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES

The House is in recess, subject to the call of the chair. Currently, the House is scheduled to reconvene at 11:00 a.m. Jan. 3, 2009.

Membership

IAVA in the News

Links:
[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/business/22layoffs.html?hp
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/washington/22combat.html?ref=middleeast
[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/nyregion/22paterson.html?ref=nyregion
[4] http://www.military.com/news/article/odierno-preps-for-iraq-troop-decision.html
[5] http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKLM71159420081222
[6] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7795428.stm
[7] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/21/AR2008122101447.html
[8] http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/20/US_may_deploy_30000_more_in_Afghanistan/UPI-44621229821902/
[9] http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/ap_afghanistan_marijuana_122108/
[10] http://www.military.com/news/article/iran-takes-russian-air-defense-system.html
[11] http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1867805,00.html
[12] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/world/middleeast/22abudhabi.html?ref=todayspaper
[13] http://www.military.com/news/article/ng-general-accused-of-discrimination.html
[14] http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/army_srb_update_122208w/
[15] http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/army_obama_memo_122208w/