As many as 5,000 private security contractors will be protecting U.S. diplomats in Iraq. The U.S. Embassy compound (above) and several consulates will have about 15,000 workers, making it the largest diplomatic operation abroad. Lucas Jackson/Reuters/Landov hide caption

St. Paul resident Lois Neisen, left, drives a Ranger truck off the line after workers have checked that the vehicle's hood, doors and gas cap are flush at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 during a media tour. Neisen has worked at the Ford plant for 21 years. Her husband retired from the plant, and her son worked at the plant for a time. Jennifer Simonson/MPR Photo hide caption

Syrian security forces shot Rabih al-Zain, a 30-year-old Syrian, while he was trying to help wounded civilians in Homs, Syria. Doctors and ordinary Syrians and Lebanese are helping treat the wounded, putting their own safety at risk. Deborah Amos/NPR hide caption

A woman votes in the Jan. 29, 2008, Florida primary in Miami Shores. Marc Serota/Getty Images hide caption

Anthony Hamilton at the Los Angeles shoot for the video for "Woo" in November. Adrian Sidney/Courtesy of the artist. hide caption

Chris Carl, foreman of the Shelburne Limestone Corp. quarry in South Wallingford, says Vermont's weather woes helped to more than double the quarry's business. Nina Keck/Vermont Public Radio hide caption