By RICHARD LARDNER WASHINGTON -  The military command overseeing the nation's most elite forces has moved away from a contentious plan that gave it broad control over anti-terrorism operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots around the globe.

By JERRY HARKAVY BATH, Maine - The Navy's newest guided missile destroyer was christened Saturday with the name of a fighter pilot who spent 7 1/2 years in captivity in North Vietnam, received the Medal of Honor and served as presidential candidate Ross Perot's running mate.

By Michael Melia SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico A military judge has disqualified a Pentagon legal official from participating in the Guantanamo war crimes trial against a former driver for Osama bin Laden, saying he lacks independence.

VIRGINIA BEACH About 350 National Guard soldiers from southeast Virginia were reunited with their families at a ceremony Saturday at Camp Pendleton.

The soldiers had served in Iraq and Kuwait since September.

By LOLITA C. BALDOR WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is recommending changes in the handling of troops' remains, after it was revealed that a crematorium contracted by the military handles both human and animal cremations.

By LOLITA C. BALDOR and CHELSEA CARTER WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is reinforcing the sides of its topline mine-resistant vehicles to shore up what could be weak points as troops see a spike in armor-piercing roadside bombings across Iraq, The Associated Press has learned.

By MATT APUZZO and LARA JAKES JORDAN WASHINGTON - Blackwater Worldwide, the security contractor blamed by an angry Iraqi government for the shooting deaths of 17 civilians, is not expected to face criminal charges - all but ensuring the company will keep its multimillion-dollar contract to protect U.S. diplomats.

NORFOLK The head of the Navy’s new Maritime Civil Affairs Group was relieved of command Friday, according to a spokeswoman for the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. An investigation concluded that Capt. Kenneth J. Schwingshakl “misused his command authority,” said Lt. Cmdr. Leslie Hull-Ryde . She did not elaborate.

WASHINGTON Partisan wrangling kept Virginia Sen. Jim Webb's plan to expand veterans' education benefits off the House floor Thursday, but Democratic leaders said they still intend to act on the proposed "GI Bill" this month.

VIRGINIA BEACH The journey of A Troop started with a series of flights from the Middle East. It included a demobilization in Mississippi, another flight to Richmond and a bus ride to Hampton Roads. Thursday, the soldiers marched the rest of the way home.