As NATO officials assumed command of coalition operations in Libya yesterday morning, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the House Armed Services Committee that U.S. forces will "significantly ramp down" their commitment in the operation.

Gates said U.S. efforts in Libya will provide the capabilities other nations don't have in kind and scale.

ATF MISSED ISSA DEADLINE
The BATFE missed a 30 March deadline to provide Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) documents pertaining to Project Gunrunner.
http://www.sofmag.com/atf-misses-issas-deadline

Shhhhh…..Suppressor bill sent to Gregoire

Legislation that will allow the
legal owners of firearm noise suppressors to actually use them in Washington State is now headed to Gov. Christine Gregoire’s desk, where it should be signed due to the overwhelming support it got in both houses of the State Legislature, and from law enforcement.

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-seattle/shhhhh-suppressor-bill-sen...

Article by Dave Workman

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives missed a 30 March deadline to provide Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform with documents pertaining to ATF's Project Gunrunner.

Video by Defense Media Activity - Marines

A mass grave in Zimbabwe has become a propaganda tool for President Robert Mugabe as he seeks a new election to end the country's tense power-sharing government.

The pro-Mugabe state media has given saturation coverage to the discovery of nearly 1,000 bodies in an abandoned mine shaft. The Monkey William mine is located near Mount Darwin, about 150 kilometers northeast of the capital, Harare.

Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party says the dead are liberation fighters killed by white colonial troops more than 30 years ago in what was then Rhodesia.

Forces opposed to incumbent Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo have seized the country's official capital, Yamoussoukro, although Gbagbo forces still control the main seat of power in Abidjan.

A spokeswoman for the New Forces rebels, who support Mr. Gbagbo's presidential rival, Alassane Ouattara, told VOA that fighters entered Yamoussoukro Wednesday, after making major advances across Ivory Coast. Residents say pro-Gbagbo forces have fled and that pro-Ouattara forces are walking and driving through the streets.

China has praised Burma’s new government for promoting democracy. Beijing denounced other countries for criticizing its close neighbor’s new administration, which was sworn in this week.

Offering China’s congratulations to the new Burma government, which took office Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu was quick to warn other countries not to meddle in its neighbor's internal affairs.

Jiang says Beijing disapproves of those countries which claim the new civilian-led parliament in Burma is merely the old, military-led government in a new guise.

A legal adviser to Ivorian incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo says the renewed U.N. sanctions imposed Wednesday on the embattled leader are, in his words, highly unlikely to force Gbagbo to step down and cede power to the internationally-recognized President, Alassane Ouattara.

This came after Gbagbo re-scheduled an address to the nation for Thursday following reports that the rebels have seized control of the country’s capital, Yamoussoukro.

Augustin Douoguih says the world body is using a template to judge the West African nation.