Dempsey also ordered U.S. Special Operations Command, along with the military services, to examine a "responsible way to assign women to currently closed" military specialties.

WSJ: Panetta to Open Combat Roles to Women

The Unified Command said three additional tugs are on standby along with the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley and two oil spill response vessels.

NPR: Grounded Shell Oil-Drilling Ship Refloated

The security situation in Iraq was supposed to be the subject of a parliamentary session Monday attended by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is also the military's commander-in-chief, along with the acting minister of defense, the acting minister of interior, the commander of Baghdad operation command and the head of Iraqi intelligence services.

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