Proving that disaster knows no politics, US service members are delivering humanitarian aid to Iran in the wake of an earthquake that has left an estimated 25,000 Iranians dead. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the area near the city of Bam. Unreinforced mud brick buildings crumbled, killing thousands as they slept. Iranian officials said today the death toll could reach 40,000 in Bam and the surrounding countryside. Soon after word of the catastrophe spread, President Bush was informed on it. "We are greatly saddened by the loss of life, injuries, and widespread damage to this ancient city," Bush said in a written statement Dec. 26. "I extend my condolences to all those touched by this tragedy. The thoughts of all Americans are with the victims and their families at this t

F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron dropped two Joint Direct Attack Munition bombs on an enemy safe house near AR RAMADI, Iraq, Dec. 27. Operation Stocking Stuffer was launched to destroy an abandoned two-story house known to be a launching pad for attacks against coalition forces, according to a U.S. Central Command release. The house had been used on six different occasions to attack coalition forces and is located about two miles northwest of Khalidiyah.

The US Navy has awarded Boeing a multiyear procurement contract valued at $8.6 billion for the production of an additional 210 F/A-18 Super Hornets and a $1 billion contract for system design and development (SDD) of the EA-18G airborne electronic attack aircraft. Under the terms of the multiyear contract, the Navy will purchase 42 aircraft in each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2009. The agreement provides the Navy with the flexibility to increase the quantity of aircraft on order by as many as six aircraft per year. Deliveries for aircraft purchased in the second multiyear will begin in fiscal year 2007. The 5-year SDD program for the EA-18G runs from FY04 until early FY09 and encompasses all laboratory, ground test, and flight tests from component level testing through