Dec. 14 1901 - 1st Table Tennis Tournament

1901 - 1st table tennis tournament is held (London Royal Aquarium)

Dec. 13 1862 Battle of Fredricksburg

The battle opened south of the city at 8:30 a.m. on December 13 1862. It would be one of Robert E. Lee's greatest defeats and would remind the Union that the South was not to be taken lightly. Gen. Burnside would suffer a stinging defeat that would lead to his eventual replacement. At the end of the days of fighting both sides would realize this was a long evil war that had much fighting left.

Dec. 12 1996 - Uday Hussein attempted assassination

Although his status as Saddam Hussein's eldest son made him the prospective successor to his father, Uday fell out of favor with Saddam for his extravagance and recklessness. He was by all accounts a sadist and pervert par excellence.

Uday sustained permanent injuries during an assassination attempt possibly instigated by his younger brother Qusay in December 1996. Struck by eight bullets while driving his Porsche, Uday was initially believed to be paralyzed. Evacuated to Ibn Sina Hospital, he was treated by a Cuban medical team and eventually recovered his ability to walk, albeit with a limp.

Dec. 11 1792 - King Louis XVI faced charges of Treason

In 1792, France’s King Louis XVI went before the Convention to face charges of treason. Louis was convicted, and executed the following month.

Dec. 10 2000 - Bush's Lawyers file brief with US Supreme Court

Bush's lawyers file briefs with the United States Supreme Court saying that the hand recount violates the United States Constitution's guarantee of equal protection. Gore's lawyers say the issue is the importance of counting every vote.

Dec. 9 1992 - US Marines begin Operation Restore Hope in Somalia

In 1992 the UN authorized the American peacekeeping force to lead a restoration of humanitarian efforts. The US Marines came ashore at Mogadishu on December 9, 1992. They were authorized to use any means necessary to restore order and deliver food to thousands of starving Somalis. By March the famine conditions had become much better under strong supervision from the United States.

By late in 1993, the situation had changed, Somali gangs led by Al Qaeda had shot down a US Military Helicopter. It was well chronicled in the book "Blackhawk Down."

Dec. 9 1990 - Lech Walesa elected President of Poland

Lech Walesa was elected President of Poland ushering in free elections in the former Communist State. He declared a war "on the top" and upset many political parties. He ran for re-election in 1995 but lost.