TODAY IN HISTORYToday is Thursday, February 1, the 32nd day of 2007. There are 333 days left in the year.

ON THIS DAT>

In 1943, one of America’s most highly decorated military units of the Second World War, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, made up almost entirely of Japanese-Americans, was authorised.

In 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini received a tumultuous welcome in Tehran as he ended nearly 15 years of exile — most of which was spent in Iraq.

In 1995, Communist Vietnam raised its red flag in Washington for the first time as the two former foes opened liaison offices in each other’s capitals.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“It isn’t what they say about you, it’s what they whisper.” — Errol Flynn, American actor (1909-1959).