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Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers use a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to help move an estimated 7,000 to 9,000 marijuana plants -- nearly $15 million street value -- from two remote areas near Rye, Colo., Aug. 15, 2012. Members of the Colorado National Guard Joint Counter-Drug Task Force's Drug Interdiction section were called to assist the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office move the plants, which were growing in steep terrain that's impassible by motor vehicle. The operation is one of the largest marijuana busts in Colorado.

WikiLeaks founder and wanted fugitive Julian Assange made a defiant statement from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London Sunday, railing against the United States and other countries he says are persecuting people who exercise their right to free speech. But he did not give any indication of his own plans, as he can not leave the embassy or British police will arrest him.

Yemeni officials say suspected al-Qaida militants have attacked intelligence headquarters in the southern city of Aden, killing at least 14 Yemeni soldiers and security personnel.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Alisheng district of Laghman province today, military officials reported.

Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmund Mulet speaks to press.

In northern Syria, residents of the rebel-held town of Azaz are cleaning up after an aerial bombardment by Syrian government planes killed about 50 people and wounded more than 100.

Indonesia is holding talks with China to produce C-705 anti-ship missiles on the Indonesian island of Java as part of a bid to become more independent in manufacturing weapons.

Soldiers with the Virginia Army National Guard's 189th Multi-Role Bridge Company conduct river crossing operations with the Improved Ribbon Bridge system at Fort A.P. Hill, Va.

UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Syria members: Chairperson Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (left) and Karen Koning AbuZayd.

Soldiers from the 947th Engineer Company (Horizontal) use a D7 bulldozer to clear space for a retaining pond in Cokedale, Colo., Aug. 11, 2012. Soldiers from the company are installing culverts, cleaning ditches and repairing degraded dirt roads in the small town in southern Colorado as part of the National Guard's Innovative Readiness Training program, which enhances unit training and readiness while filling a community need that is not otherwise being met.