IRAQI COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates shakes hands with chairman of the Al Anbar Provincial Council Abdulsalam A. Mohammad during a meeting at the Pentagon, Oct. 31, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

ANNAPOLIS FAREWELL

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, right, presents the national ensign to Shirley Crowe, widow of Adm. William J. Crowe, at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., Oct. 31, 2007. Crowe, who served as the 11th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died Oct. 18 at the age of 82. Defense Dept. photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

OPERATION ROCK AVALANCHE

Army Sgt. Chad Mohr (left), watches rounds land on target as Spc. David Hooker (right), fires the MK19 grenade machine gun at a known insurgent position Oct. 24, 2007, during Operation Rock Avalanche in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Caldwell

BAQUBAH HOPE

U.S. Army Capt. Sheldon Morris hands a local resident a copy of The Baqubah Hope Newsletter during a patrol in Baqubah, Iraq, Oct. 26, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Spc. LaRayne Hurd

IRAQI SECURITY

An Iraqi police officer provides security on top of a building during a military parade in downtown Ramadi, Iraq, Oct. 23, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kieran Cuddihy

CREEK DEFENDER

A U.S. Air Force security forces airman fires an M127 parachute signal flare Oct. 23, 2007, during exercise Creek Defender at U.S. Army Garrison, Baumholder in Germany. Defense Dept. photo by Master Sgt. Scott Wagers, U.S. Air Force

YUSUFIYA LEADERS

U.S. Army Capt. Jason Shultz talks with local Iraqi leaders in Yusufiya, Iraq, Oct. 23, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Luke Thornberry

GUARDING BALAD

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Anthony Almas, 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, stands guard as vehicles enter and leave a restricted area at Balad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 28, 2007. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Garcia