10/05 Morning Report

I haven’t done a “sermonette” in a long time. But, I was thinking on the way home from work about something, and thought I would share it.

“Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
James 2:13.

(…the whole verse by the way reads, “because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”…)

Wouldn’t we all like that to be applied to us? Well, whether anyone applies it to you or me, we should be applying it to others. The cycle of accusation and blame only breaks when we chose not to pass it on to others. This is a choice we must make in our private life as well as our public life. That, by the way, is one reason there is no such thing as “private religion.”

But, let’s take that Biblical principle a bit further. What about applying it in politics? There is nothing wrong with recognizing wrong doing. And, there are always consequences to our actions. But, if all we do is point fingers and find fault, when will there be any reconciling? When will there be any healing of wounds?

We need to be asking ourselves if we are judging others without mercy. If we are, what are we doing to change that?

Food for thought.


On the subject of mercy, Any Soldier reported the following:

Capt. Richard G. Cliff Jr., 29, of Mount Pleasant, S.C. died Sept. 29 in Yakhchal, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device during mounted operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Well, Captain Cliff, at our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

1/4 Morning Evening Report

I saw one little political tidbit that really caught my attention. It seems that Islamic organizations are
politically pressuring the Pentagon about how they counter the war on terror. Aside from the special interest argument, do we really want special interest groups deciding how the military does it’s job? Hasn’t that been the argument against several contractors over the years?

(…not mention the separation of church and state argument…oh…I forgot…Muslim organizations are exempt from that restriction…)


Finally! It seems that Domestic issues pushing past Iraq war.

Even though polls show that Iowa Democrats still consider the war in Iraq the top issue facing the country, the war is becoming a less defining issue among Democrats nationally, and it has moved to the back of the stage in the rush of campaign rallies, town hall meetings and speeches that are bringing the caucus competition to an end. Instead, candidates are being asked about, and are increasingly talking about, the mortgage crisis, rising gas costs, health care, immigration, the environment and taxes.

(snip)

Part of the shift appears to stem from the reduction in violence in Iraq after President Bush’s decision to send more troops there last year.

I liked that last part. The MSM is grudgingly giving credit to the administration, and the military, for something that worked.

(…wonders never cease…)


Speaking of wonders, would you believe Global warming is natural?

There's a natural cause that may account for much of the Arctic warming, which has melted sea ice, ice sheets and glaciers, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Nature. New research points a finger at a natural and cyclical increase in the amount of energy in the atmosphere that moves from south to north around the Arctic Circle.

Of course, the blame still falls on pollution. Study authors also say the combined effect is the “killer punch.”

(…I’ve been waiting for someone to explain why the increase in temps the graphs show also appears before industry and pollution showed up…like prior to the last ice age…according to a PBS special I saw a few months ago…)


The
EPA is being sued over a stricter state law dispute. It seems states don’t like the fact that the Federal government set a standard for the whole country. The states want authority to make manufacturers (automotive in this case) possibly subject to 50 different standards.

In an emailed statement, EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar said the federal Energy Independence and Security Act "is a more beneficial national approach to a national problem, which establishes an aggressive standard for all 50 states - as opposed to a lower standard in California and a patchwork of other states."
California officials contend their 2004 law is tougher than the new national standard. It would have required the auto industry to cut emissions by one-third in new vehicles by 2016 or reach an average of 36.8 mpg.
Twelve other states - Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington - have adopted the California emissions standards.
The governors of Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Utah have said they also plan to adopt them. The rules also are under consideration in Iowa.

While I see the need for tougher standards (i.e. oil at $100), I fail to see why a tougher standard makes it more acceptable for a state to make the rule for all states. The argument is over who sets the standards for the nation—the Feds or the states.

(…not that that has ever stopped California before…)


Finally, Any Soldier reports the following:

Sgt. Reno S. Lacerna, 44, of Waipahu, Hawaii, died Dec. 31, 2007 in Al Qayyarah, Iraq, of a non-combat related illness. He was assigned to the 87th Corps Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Well, Sgt. Lacerna, at our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

11/1 Morning Report

Think the U.S. is the only country with immigration problems? Think again. British authorities have said for years that migrant workers benefit the economy. But, yeasterday’s news story on more recent information revealed:

More than half of new jobs created under Labour since 1997 have gone to foreign workers, it has emerged.

Among other things, the statistics revealed it is incredibly hard to keep track of people. The government used wrong population data to make their original conclusions. And, then it revised those conclusions twice.

(…and the Democrats on this side of the pond wonder why we don’t trust their version of immigration impact…)


In, another scary report today U.S. officials are ready to say Russians nuclear missiles ”are secure”. Isn’t it wonderful that it’s done two years ahead of schedule? Meanwhile…

On Monday, the Russian military claimed to have conducted more than 20 long-range flights with its aging fleet of strategic nuclear bombers, and said a similar number of flights were planned for this week.
Russia has also taken to broadcasting state-controlled news reports of tests of cruise missiles and powerful conventional weapons, drawing comparisons to American systems and suggesting that the tests are necessary because of threats from the West.

(…Oh…and radiation detectors will be installed along the borders by 2011…does anyone really that that means only four more years of dirty bomb possibilities…very encouraging…)


Still over in Russia, it seems that corporate America, in this case Ford, has gone another step into hyper-political correctness. RFE reports:

ORTHODOX CLERIC BLASTS FORD MOTOR'S 'POLITICAL CORRECTNESS'
Andrei Kurayev, who is a deacon in the Russian Orthodox Church and a professor at the Moscow Theological Academy, was quoted by Interfax as saying on October 30 that the management of the Ford plant in Vsevolozhsk in Leningrad Oblast refused to allow him to tour its premises in clerical attire, Interfax reported. Kurayev added that he is currently giving lectures in that town and was interested in seeing the factory. He said that he was "told that the plant has a multiethnic work force, and it might insult someone if I came in wearing my cassock." He was accordingly told he "should wear ordinary clothes" on his visit. Kurayev stressed that the ban reflects not bureaucratic arbitrariness but an "ideology, a new totalitarian form of censorship in the name of political correctness." He added that there is "a part of this transnational corporation that does not want to take into account the character of our cultural and political climate.... [This shows] disrespect even for its own workers and for the country in which they work."

Meanwhile, another report states that Haloween events are banned in Moscow schools.

(…I guess you can’t have everything…some things are just better than others…)


In other weird news, there was yesterday’s report in the NYT that Iran is hiding art. Billions of dollars worth of art, at that, by artists such as Renoir and van Gogh all the way to Andy Warthol.

(…Sadaam hid lots of cash…maybe the Iranians have a different take on valuables?...)


I think the most concerning thing I’ve read the last few days was this report on Sir Hillary, from yesterday. Supposedly, there are photographs showing she was involved in President Bill’s presidential pardon extravaganza. However, the most frightening thing is not that photos exist which show it may be true. No, it’s the comment threads that follow, demonstrating the politicized apathy of America, that is truly frightening.

(…remember, Halloween never ends…just watch the politicians constantly putting on their new constumes…)

And, in sad news, Any Soldier reports the following:

Spc. Hugo V. Mendoza, 29, of Glendale, AZ, died of wounds sustained when he came in contact with enemy forces using RPG, machine gun, and small arms fire during combat operations on Oct. 25, in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 530rd infantry Regimentm 173 Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

Well, Specialist Mendoza, at our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

9/8 Morning Report

Spoiling Petraeus’s report yesterday that gains are being made, but they are in a fragile state, come the Osama video. The only surprise was unlike his 2004 video, this one lacks any threats. He made two statements, one of which has no bearing on reality. He called the killing of insurgents and terrorists who murder innocent women and children wrong. The removal of murders is wrong? That’s frightening because he and his followers sincerely believe it. Somewhat more disturbing, and perhaps more realistically possible, he said the way to bring this to an end is for America to convert to Islam.

Meanwhile, as Reuters reports, General Petraus’s report is a mixed bag.

"Up front, my sense is that we have achieved tactical momentum and wrested the initiative from our enemies in a number of areas of Iraq. The result has been progress in the security arena, although it has, as you know, been uneven," Petraeus wrote to coalition forces.

But he said Iraqi politicians had not made the gains hoped for when the Bush administration added 30,000 U.S. troops to the war under the "surge" strategy.

There are, of course, no real surprises in the letter released to the troops in advance of his testimony to Congress. Many sources, mainstream and independent, have been saying this in one form or another. Unfortunately, the Democrats are already set to denounce it.

In advance of Petraeus' appearance, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate charged the general was part of a Bush administration attempt to mislead the public with manipulated information to show the current strategy a success.

"By carefully manipulating the statistics, the Bush-Petraeus report will try to persuade us that violence in Iraq is decreasing and thus the surge is working," said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.

Many liberal officials have been in the news for the last month saying everything has failed and to expect just such a thing as
Durbin described, should we be surprised there has been no change?
(…and they say conservatives have closed minds…)

And, here in the States, Sir Hillary is having legal problems again. Just weeks after suspicions were raised about contributions to her Presidential campaign, a court in California will hear arguments about a possible illegal fundraiser for her Senate campaign in 2000. The principle issue is the inclusion of a video tape where Clinton is acknowledging direct involvement with what would constitute an illegal fundraising act. The judicial panel will consist of two Democrats and one Republican.
(…I’m interested to see where this does…and how much Bush bashing goes on to drown out the whole event…)

Of course, given the political hey made over the Republican campaing contribution scandals, the MSM is soft peddling the damage of Mr. Hsu for Democratic campaigns. After failing to show up in California court again, he was found on a train in Colorado…ill. Despite several felony charges and a long history of questionable activity, the media still paints him as a poor unfortunate—instead of the criminal he is. Meanwhile, Democratic candidates are painted as heroes for offering to give the contributions he gave them to charity.
(…I thought if it was illegal for one, it was illegal for all…must be nice to be Democrat and able to make the laws do what you want…)

And, finally, I missed some sad news reported by Any Soldier on 30 August:

Maj. Henry S. Ofeciar, 37, of Agana, Guam, died Aug. 27 at Forward Operating Base Naray, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit during combat operations in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Major Ofeciar, at our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

8/27 Morning Report

For those who think you now what Congress or the President can and can’t do about wars, funding, deployments, and the like, you should read this article at the Christian Science Monitor. I’ll be honest, I haven’t researched this one out. So, if you know something different, please post a comment and share your source information.

On the subject of War in Iraq, it seems the extremists are continuing their same old atctics. Innocent people, on their religious pilgrimage, are being attacked. Meanwhile, the governor of the province was also attacked, with the usual roadside bomb. He survived un injured, though two others were killed earlier this month. Of course, security in such a violent area is difficult, at best. But, I loved what U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Michael Donnelly told the Associated Press:

"Any civilian casualties are truly regrettable, but it is important to understand that our forces are there to secure the people of Samarra and bring them peace, not bring them harm like the insurgents did,"

(…don’t you wish the liberal lefties would get that message?...)

It will be interesting to see if the Islamic moderates win out in Morocco.

Analysts and diplomats said any Islamist-linked bombings in the run-up to next month's elections would become new ammunition in the ideological war between Islamists and their secular foes, but the vote would not be much influenced by any attacks.

With terrorists not having any concrete agenda, it makes thigns a bit easier. Although, I suspect that, given terrorist ideas about allowing change, it is likely to be noisy, messy and bloody all the same.

Meanwhile, the big news here at home is the Gonzales resignation. Every major news source has it plastered on their web site. And, of course, the focus is the failure of another Bush crony.

Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, blamed Gonzales and Bush for "a severe crisis of leadership" at the Justice Department.

Believing in more vindictiveness, Sen. Harry Reid had his own comments:

"This resignation is not the end of the story. Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and follow the facts where they lead, into the White House."

well, If we are going to point at Clinton and his cronies for the malfeasance, we should expect the same treatment from those on the left.
(…hopefully they won’t follow the normal political path of inventing and expanding what only appears to be there…)

Meanwhile, the Dallas Morning News reported this sad news on Saturday:

A Fort Hood soldier from Georgia died in combat in Iraq, the Department of Defense said Saturday.

Pfc. Edgar E. Cardenas, 34, of Lilburn, Ga., died Wednesday in Abu Ghraib from wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Pfc Cardenas, at our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

7/31 Morning Report

I loved this report today over at Conservative Thoughts. And, I agree. I wouldn’t have expected it to even make print—given the leftist/anti-Republican/pro-Islamic stance of the media. Somehow, the fact that people think there might actually be something worthwhile going on in Iraq, and headway may be in progress, just never seems to make print anymore. According to the New York times/CNN poll:

--42 percent of Americans said that looking back, taking military action in Iraq was the right thing to do
--In May, when only 35 percent of Americans said the invasion of Iraq was the right thing.
--The number of people who say the war is going “very badly” has fallen from 45 percent earlier in July to a current reading of 35 percent.

(…this next was the real kicker for me…)

When asked specifically about their opinions of how the Democrats and Republicans in Congress are handling the war, disapproval ratings are similar — 65 percent disapprove of the Republicans’ handling of Iraq and 59 percent disapprove of the Democrats’.

So the public hates the Dhimmicrats as much as the Republicans?

(…that is somewhat reassuring, since they may take control of government in the US with the next elections…)

On the subject of little known facts, it seems in Britain you can receive an indeterminate sentence for crimes committed. Admittedly, this involves sex-offenders and there special criteria should be involved. But, there are a couple of stipulations that bear important scrutiny:

Under the sentence offenders have a minimum tariff, but must prove they are no longer a danger before they can be released.

I’m curious to see where this type of sentencing expands to include.

(...can’t you see this measure of guilt/innocence being applied to politics, or even Sharia law…).

On the subject of things Middle Eastern, Another South Korean hostage has been found slain. Unfortunately, there is a growing furor for the world to stop refusing to give in to terrorist demands.

South Korea today urged the United States and Afghan governments to show ”flexibility” over Taliban demands to exchange the remaining 21 Christian aid workers from South Korea for imprisoned militants.

The really sad part is the results of this terror campaign.

Afghan officials have also advised against any movement or travel, especially by humanitarian-aid workers, outside Kabul.

The terrorists have only succeeded in denying help to the people of Afghanistan. But, the media seems to have missed that part of the whole thing.

(…interesting that they are all Christian aid workers…don’t you think…)

Finally, Any Soldier reports this from Afghanistan:

PFC Juan S. Restrepo, age 20, of Pembroke Pines, FL, died July 22 in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

At our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given, Private Restrepo. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

07/23 Morning Report

”Militants die”. Kind of strange way to say that. It implies that maybe the dead aren’t militants after all. Of course, the focus is all about how the terrorists (…and you now the BBC doesn’t call them terrorists…) action is because the government assaulted the Red Mosque in Islamabad on July 3. The underlying tone of the article is if the military would leave them alone, there wouldn’t be all these dead bodies.
(…I suppose they also believe that leaving bin Laden alone didn’t have any relation to 9/11, too…)

And,, Libya wants money, or at least restored access to the EU markets and businesses. In their charitable mood, they are offering to free the jailed medics. Fortunately,

the EU is reported to be unwilling to agree any compensation deal that appears to gives the impression that it accepts the six medics are guilty.

But, given the action of EU nations and friends in negotiating with terrorist organizations in the Middle East, I for one will be less than surprised to see this stance change in the wrong direction.

Speaking of the Middle East, it seem that people are mad at Congress over the way it has handled Iraq. And, more and more people are in favor of getting out.
(…and, so we continue to slide into government by public opinion instead of sound policy…but at least the Dhimmcrats are suffering now, too…)

And, in closing, there was this announcement from Any Soldier:

Sgt. Ronald L. Coffelt, 36, of Fair oaks, CA, died July 19 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps, FT. Bragg, NC.

Sgt. Coffelt, at our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

05/09 Morning Afternoon Report

This is just really stupid. I mean, I understand the point of the law, which is to keep prices fair. But, to penalize someone for supporting the community via discounted products is really bad.

Center City BP owner Raj Bhandari has been offering senior citizens a 2 cent per gallon price break and discount cards that let sports boosters pay 3 cents less per gallon. But the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says those deals violate Wisconsin's Unfair Sales Act, which requires stations to sell gas for about 9.2 percent more than the wholesale price. Bhandari said he received a letter from the state auditor last month saying the state would sue him if he did not raise his prices.

I’ve coached youth sports, I know how hard it is to keep a team equipped. And senior citizen discounts?
(…come on…let’s be real about this…)

That wasn’t the only stupid piece of legislative work that came to light. If Iraq was a construction project, and there were no lives on the line, I probably wouldn’t have too much trouble with the Democrats latest war funding proposal. This kind of funding initiative will get soldiers killed. Fortunately, it seems a large portion of the Senate understands that.

Under the bill, which is not expected to become law, Bush would get a $42.8 billion down payment. Then, after getting White House war progress reports in July, Congress would cast votes late that month on whether to release an additional $52.8 billion to continue fighting in Iraq through September, or whether to use the money to withdraw most of the troops by the end of this year.

Of course, President Bush is promising to veto this one, too.
(…I would love to see the Democrats fund the Senate like that. Can you imagine what would happen if they only got so much money IF they met some sort of real-world performance measurement?...)

Vice President Cheney, meanwhile, told the Iraqi government to get their act together. No one is oblivious to the fact that Shiites and Sunnis are killing each other over desire for power and control in Iraqi society. Iraqi leadership must hammer out those power sharing agreements, or most everything will fall apart. US officials have even put pressure on for the Iraqis to forgo a parliamentary recess in order to get this done. The US troop surge is only a short term measure. So, the Iraqis have to step up.

And, there was this announcement from Any Soldier.

Ssgt. Christopher N. Hamlin, 24, of London, KY, died May 4 in Baghdad, Iraq. He died of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX.

As with the team at Any Soldier, the prayers of our family go out to the family.

05/06 Morning Report

Oh, my God! Hell is freezing over! The NY Times reports that liberal professors are changing their views on gun controlThe Liberals have said for years that the Second Amendment does not cover the individual right to have guns—only for state militias to be armed. Well, there are now several liberal professors who are changing their minds. And, their views are beginning to change a judiciary opinions. Professor Levinson, at the University of Texas said:

If only as a matter of consistency, Professor Levinson continued, liberals who favor expansive interpretations of other amendments in the Bill of Rights, like those protecting free speech and the rights of criminal defendants, should also embrace a broad reading of the Second Amendment. And just as the First Amendment’s protection of the right to free speech is not absolute, the professors say, the Second Amendment’s protection of the right to keep and bear arms may be limited by the government, though only for good reason.

Of course, the Times, being staffed by liberals, also did it’s best to undercut the potential of these changes by further stating:

The individual rights view is far from universally accepted. “The overwhelming weight of scholarly opinion supports the near-unanimous view of the federal courts that the constitutional right to be armed is linked to an organized militia,” said Dennis A. Henigan, director of the legal action project of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “The exceptions attract attention precisely because they are so rare and unexpected.”

Scholars who agree with gun opponents and support the collective rights view say the professors on the other side may have been motivated more by a desire to be provocative than by simple intellectual honesty.

It took two decades for the idea to break loose that the individual has gun rights as liberally interpreted as free speech (aka pornography publishers). I wonder what the next two decades will hold in this arena.
(…well…it just goes to show that wonders never cease…)

Meanwhile ABC seems to have discovered that Evangelical Christians are ”suddenly” supporting adoption. Well, I admit it is becoming more main stream. However, adoption has been advocated nationally by many ministries over the years. In fact, on thing Christians were known for in ancient Rome was taking in homeless, abandoned and orphaned children. My suspicion, though I cannot prove it, is more of the moderate (…yes, read that liberal…) elements of the church are re-discovering how important this action is. Here is what I believe: If you claim to be a Christian, and you do not take personal action to help those in need (…yes, read that mean not letting the government or church leadership take responsibility for doing everything…), then you are a hypocrite. Your personal action may take the form of writing soldiers to let them know they are not forgotten. It may take the form of adopting orphans. It could take many different forms. But, it must be a personal action—not something another party does for you. It’s time the Church began being the Church, again.

Meanwhile, in Iraq, an al-Qaeda video declares the Democrats recent withdrawal proposal is proof of America’s defeat. Is anyone really surprised by that? Critics of the liberal cry for departure dates have said this claim would be made. And, the liberals have denied it would be an issue. The fact that the video played the race card—using video from the 1960s to claim US racism—is really pathetic. Sure, there are still problems among different races in America—and it isn’t just between whites and other races (aka the Asian/Hispanic turf wars in many West Coast cities). But, at least there are efforts being made to work through those issues. Why don’t we compare apples to apples, for just a moment. Can someone show me similar efforts being made by al-Qaeda? Iran? Hamas? In fact, al-Qaeda seems to have been behind the suicide bomb aimed at Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi. They also warned Sunnis not to cooperate or work with Shiites. Their brand of racism (aka religionism) is much more destructive, not to mention bloodier, than what we see here.
(…do I really need to go on…)

Finally, there was more sad news reported in the Dallas Morning News.

HOUSTON – A 19-year-old soldier from a Houston suburb died this week in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said Friday.

Pfc. Joseph G. Harris, of Sugar Land, died Thursday. His death is under investigation, officials said.

Harris was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Pfc. Harris, at our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

03/30 Morning Report

(…I haven’t been writing much lately. I’ve been pretty busy with school and tax season at the brokerage. But, I keep looking at things in the Middle East and wanting to scream...)

First, we have the continuing Iranian shenanigans. As the Iranians continue their proganda campaign using captured British crewmen, the UK ambassador to the UN does what?

At the UN headquarters in New York the UK asked the security council to support a statement expressing grave concern about the continuing detention of the crew.

Grave concern? The Iranians faked a situation to pressure the world into caving to their demands and goals. This request for a statement is in spite of satellite records showing the British were 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters. Now, it seems the UN turned down the British request.
(…what do you want to bet the Iranians get what they want out of this violation of international law without penalty…)

Next, probably taking a cue from the Iranians, the Arabs are demanding Israel accept a peace deal or else. Given that the Israelis turned down the same offer back in 2002, do the Arab leaders really think they will get a different response for this deal? I have to admit I thought this summary of the meeting by Israeli Prime Minister Olmert was really interesting:

"This process has brought the influential countries in the Arab world to begin to realize that Israel is not the biggest of all their troubles. This is a revolutionary change in their perception.

"(…forgive me…but I haven’t seen anything different in all this…)

Meanwhile, Congress is setting the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. I originally heard the Democrats screaming for the end of 2008. The new deadline ? March 31, 2008.

In a mostly party-line 51-47 vote, the Democratic-controlled Senate told Bush to start withdrawing the troops this year with the goal of getting all combat soldiers out by March 31, 2008.

Personally, I liked Lycos news statement on this better. It was much more accurate:

A defiant, Democratic-controlled Senate approved legislation Thursday calling for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq within a year…

Two weeks ago, the Democrats failed to get the same legislation passed. Bush is right, it will encourage the insurgents and terrorists. All they have to do is wait until the US leaves and then have free reign. I think the Iraqis believe their military and security forces will not be ready by then. That might explain why two years ago and then in September the Iraqi President said American forces would be needed long term. Personally this abandonment, like the abandonment we did to the Vietnamese, makes me want to cry.
(…will the Democrats negotiate on this if Bush does…or if circumstances change?...only time will tell…but I doubt it…)

Of course, you can always go read Michael Yon for an accurate, on-the-ground description of what is going on. He fumes about the media for only covering the news from safe areas. He fumes even harder at the military for not giving the media more access. And, he believes in the forces on the ground. You should go check it out.

And, finally, Any Soldier reported the sad news that Sgt. Wayne R. Cornell, of Holstein, Nebraska, died March 20 in Baghdad, when an IED detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley, Kansas.

Sgt. Cornell, at our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

02/04 Morning Report

This is REALLY dis-heartening. I can actually agree with the ACLU on the issue of caring for the homeless…well, partially anyway.

the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit challenging the Las Vegas ban, saying it violated constitutional protections of free speech, right to assembly and right to practice one's religion.

What this says about our nation is truly sad. We don’t care about doing what is morally right and kind and considerate to others. All that matters is our constitutional rights—not that those really matter to the ACLU, but they do put up a great smoke screen.

In a similar vein, Jaques Chirac says the US should be taxed if it doesn’t sign the Kyoto accords. Aside from the fact that the accords do not address the growing industrial pollution of , say, India and blame it all on current industrial nations, there are some serious flaws in the science behind the conclusions of it. But, the EU will use it to raise money—even if it does break international trade rules!
(…talk about the easy way to gain a financial advantage in the global economy…H/T to the denizens ofCastle Argghh for the info!...)

Meanwhile, in Iraq, neighboring countries are trying to deal with the refugee problem. For the WashPo, this is the usual article that pulls at the heart strings—and tries to blame the US. But, hidden in the text are some real nuggets.

On the roads to both Jordan and Syria, Sunni insurgents have dragged Shiites from buses and executed them.

So, it’s not all about the Shiite death squads? Where is this reporting? And, just why would the other countries not want Iraqis?

Jordan's tolerance has waned, however, since a group of Iraqis bombed three hotels in November 2005, killing 60 people, according to Iraqis, aid officials and human rights groups. The government fears that Iraq's mostly Sunni Arab refugees could remain in the country permanently or become recruits for Iraq's insurgency.

(…hhhhmmmmm…cant see any logic to that argument…I wonder why the sectarian violence is all America’s, I mean Bush’s fault…oh, you may need to register to read the article…)

Is it really the end of US primacy in the Middle East? Actually, US power and influence has been dropping world wide for many years. Part of the problem has been our unwillingness to see the ugly jobs through to the end just because we get tired of being involved and want something new. And, part of it is, as this article points out, we do not factor in all the results of what we initiate. Did US action really accelerate the rise of Iran? The claim has merit. The focus on Iraq has diverted attention and resources from reigning in Iran. Would much of anything be different if the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions had not happened? Overall, the claim is doubtful. Iran already had secret nuclear development well underway. Also, Iran’s supremacy in the Middle East had been growing for sometime, via arms and monies supplied to various terrorist groups. Those terrorist groups are now in power in Gaza and Lebanon.
(…besides…the real question is not whether or even why Iran’s influence has become more visible…the question is will the world do anything about it…)

The most under-reported announcement from Iraq came on Monday.

The Sadrist bloc, or members of parliament loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, and the Iraqi Islamic Party (Sunni Party). Signed an agreement to set up joint committees in the areas inhabited by a mix of Shiites and Sunnis with the aim of preserving security and cooperating with Iraqi security forces, according to Bahaa al-Aaraji, a Sadrist member of parliament, on Sunday.

The Sadrists are giving their full support to the new plan for plans involving American and Iraqi troops? Where is this in the media?

In related news, Virginia freshman Senator (and Marine vet) James Webb claimed the military no longer supports the war—in respsonse to the President’s state of the Union address. The interesting part is no one seems to have questioned the basis of that claim. Greyhawk dug out the truth. There are surprises for both sides in the analysis. The one I liked the most? The troops favor an increase of troops to about the level Bush is proposing. But this information came available BEFORE the “surge.”
(…I’m sorry I missed this when it was originally posted…)

And, finally, there was this sad announcement from Any Soldier:

Sgt. Alejandro Carillo, 22, of Los Angeles, CA, died January 30 while conduting operations in al-Anbar Province, Iraq. Sgt. Carillo was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 7, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Twenty-nine Palms, CA.

Sgt. Carillo, at our house we remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

02/02 Morning Report

I saw this yesterday, but didn’t get to it. Nonetheless, it’s got be giving the left manic fits! A bill has been entered in the Texas legislature to allow homeowners and business owners to actually get to defend themselves! As it stands right now…

" Texas law effectively imposes a duty to attempt to retreat before using force against an intruder…Texans who do not attempt to escape before using force to protect their homes, their businesses or their vehicles may be criminally prosecuted and face possible civil suits alleging wrongful injury or death."

We’ve been told forever the way to survive a robbery or attack is to give the criminal what they want. Now, lawmakers on both sides of the fence want to make it the criminal’s responsibility to avoid harm by not acting criminally. There are 15 other states that think like this, too.
(…I like it!...I wonder what will happen to it between now and the time it gets voted on…if it gets voted on…)

Meanwhile, it seems the Flu has taken on proportions equal to terrorism. There will soon be a severity index, based on the number of deaths that may be caused by a given strain.

The mildest flu strains, those expected to kill fewer than 90,000 Americans, would be known as Category 1 outbreaks. The most severe, a Category 5 epidemic, could kill more than 1.8 million U.S. residents. State and local leaders would adjust their precautions according to the rankings, which the CDC will issue.

This was the major item of the 108-page manual to standardize procedures at state and local levels (Here is the official web site). Why do we need this index…

"Pandemic influenza is not necessarily imminent, but we believe it's inevitable….”

(…that is not encouraging…but at least it’s out in the open…think it will make any difference?...)

The short lived truce in Gaza continues to fail. Given the sectarian issues in play, it should come as no surprise. There is currently more Arab on Arab and Palestinian on Palestinian violence in Gaza AND Lebanon than there is against the Israelis—despite the bakery bombing earlier this week. Even buildings are becoming targets in Gaza now.

These are many of the same sectarian issues in play in Iraq. A new report says that sectarian violence is a bigger problem than al-Qaeda operations. This is, of course, no surprise. Why the media keep trying to report it like one is up for debate. My short version is there is a power struggle going on with the repressed Shiites backlashing against the repression of the Sunnis under Sadaam. It’s a normal historical event after regime changes. The original colonies wnet through it trying to deal with “Torries.” And, admittedly, the US should have planned better for it. Still, given that it is occurring in places the US has not taken an active role with troops, why is everyone surprised by the level of violence?

On the subject of sectarian violence in Iraq, even Iraqi generals are being investigated over the January 20th killing of five GIs. True or not, the possibility of Iranian involvement and planning is even being considered.

Though I haven’t mentioned them earlier here, these are the names of the fallen: Pvt. Johnathon M. Millican, 1st Lt. Jacob Fritz, Capt. Brian S. Freeman, Pfc. Shawn P. Falter and Spc. Johnathan Bryan Chism. We at our house remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember you for what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

01/24 Morning Report

Well, I had to work last night, and did not get to see the President’s speech. To be honest, I wanted to be physically ill as I contemplated reading today’s news reports. I had a pretty good of what the liberal media would be doing. And, today’s news is actually a mixed bag of stuff…The BBC had a relatively mild take on the speech. While I’m there, here is their link to the entire speech…I’ll be reading it later…I have a lot of homework for my management class to do.

The Hispanic political groups aren’t sure what to make of Bush’s immigration plans. I doubt it will end up being anything new. He has put this issue up for reform every year, with varying degrees of importance. Congress will have to act in order for anything to change. And, I doubt they will do anything new—perhaps a reenactment of another amnesty program, but nothing substantial beyond that.

In terms of wages, the Democrats and Republicans are still divided along traditional lines. No minimum wage increase without small business tax relief. Is that a surprise? I doubt it..or at least I don’t think it should be. It goes right along with the raging debate about how to balance the budget.
(…of course, that isn’t taking into account the fact that the deficit is already decreasing…the media wouldn’t want you to remember that little fact…not while trying to bolster liberal standards and trends…)

In another “no-big-surprise” move, the Democrat-controlled Foreign Relations Committee said ”no more troops” for Iraq. I think it’s a bad move overall. More troops, with a well defined mission and goal could easily be a great short term measure towards success. My great fear is this decision may precipitate a sudden move to pull out completely. That, I am certain, would be disasterous.
(…rule by popularity is a very bad thing…I see the Democrats being more interested in making popular decisions than doing the tough, but right thing…of course, the Republicans did the same thing in the 90s…which is why the Democrats made such gains recently…)

To be honest, I’m not sure if Kerry’s exit will be a good thing or a bad thing. From a Republican standpoint, I think it would have created more of a divide in the Left.
(…from a personal standpoint, the amusement he procides with his gaffs would have been well worth the expense of his campaign…)

Lastly, there were two sad announcements today. From the Ft. Worth Star Telegramyesterday:

A 20-year-old Army private from Alabama was among five U.S. troops killed in a reported ambush in Iraq, according to his family.
Jonathan Millican, a 2005 graduate of Locust Fork High School, died in the attack along with three other soldiers and a Marine, the soldier's father, Mitchell Millican, told Birmingham television station WBRC.

Also from the Star Telegram:

A Marine from northern Wisconsin has been killed in Iraq, family members said.
Lance Cpl. Andrew Matus, 19, graduated in 2005 from Weyerhaeuser High School and had already signed up to be a Marine before that, his father Gary Matus of Chetek said when contacted Monday evening.
He said he had been told his son was shot in Anbar Province.

We at our house remember your cry—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

01/17 Morning Report

Of course, the big news in our area is SNOW! Yup. I woke up this morning to a white horizon…yard…car…neighborhood…well, you get the idea.
(…hopefully this does not mean North Texas has had it’s two weeks of Winter for the year…personally, I need a little more than that…)

Speaking of snow jobs, in Washington, Congress—specifically the Senate—is expanding the role of opinion polls in establishing legislation. Making the assumption that the American people’s fickle happiness and short term focus will be a good measure of military and foreign policy, Democrats are drafting a resolution.

The resolution also would put the Senate on record as saying the U.S. commitment in Iraq "can only be sustained" with popular support among the American public and in Congress, according to an official familiar with the draft.

(…I thought the whole point of government, as envisioned by the founders of America, was the government being guided by and for the people, but making decisions for the betterment of all—and not based merely on public opinion? My, how far we have fallen from our beginnings…)

Flopping Aces has the info on the Democrats coming tax hike.
(…did anyone really believe the line that they could accomplish their agenda without tax hikes?...it went right along with the line that Bush was bankrupting government—even though the deficit is going back into decline…sheesh…)

As strange—despite it’s normality--as that behavior may be, this was actually worse.
(…animal protection has reached a whole new level of stupidity with this one…and these folks are in the government!...)

Back to the subject of Iraq, it seems the Saudis are ready to send in troops. Saudi Arabia is threatening to send in troops if the situation continues to destabilize. It isn’t just Iran and Syria anymore.
(…H/T to the Castle Denizens for today’s post. Go check out the rest of today’s info…uumm…latest intel…)

Finally, there was a sad announcement from The Dallas Morning News:

A Texan stationed at Fort Drum, N.Y., has been killed in Iraq.
The Department of Defense said Sgt. Paul T. Sanchez, 32, of Irving, died Sunday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Sanchez was assigned to the 543rd Military Police Company, 91st Military Police Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum.

You see, we at our house remember your cry, Sgt. Sanchez—the cry of all fallen warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

Afternoon Musings

And, now for some odd blurbs from around the Blogosphere…

It seems there is a contest going on for Mil-bloggers. Op-For has the details. I love the idea. I wish more companies would do things like this!

In “fun things” military, Jarhead John shared these amusing conversations.
(…hard to believe Gunnies can be amusing…aint it?...)

El Capitan had a really good read, and some good links on the F-22. On a less than amusing note, El Capitan also reported on what our Militray Academies are turning out.
(…this is not good…this is not good at all…)

Finishing off on a much more solemn note, Thursday, these updates on two contacts were posted at Any Soldier:

Major Michael L. Mundell, 47, of Brandenburg, Ky, died January 5 in Fallujah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an IED detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. Major Mundell was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 108th Division (Institutional Training), Spartanburg, SC.

Sgt. Aron C Blum, 22, of Tuscon, AZ, died December 28 at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA, of a non-hostile cause after being evacuated from al-Anbar Province, Iraq, December 8. Sgt. Blum was assigned to Marine Air Refueler Squadron 532. Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Forde, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA.

Our family joins Any Soldier in sending our prayers out for his families.

You see, we at our house remember your cry, Sgt. Vandling—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

01/05 Morning Report

In a “no big surprise” announcement, al-Qaeda encourages Somali fighters. In their usual stance, the terrorist organization urges others to stand against the legal government of a nation. What many may not understand is that Somalia was considered an Islamic nation at one time. Therefore, according to the tenants of Islam, it is the duty of Muslims to fight to regain that land and subject it to Islamic rule. This is one reason why Muslims fight so hard for the lands in Palestine/Israel, and the Balkans. It is also why the Turks and Pakistanis walk such a careful line, given their sizable Muslim populations.
(…judging by the way things are going…you can also include most of Europe…and the US if things don’t change ideologically…)

After eight dead in recent clashes, Hamas and Fatah agree to keep gunmen off the streets. Forgive me, but I think I’ll believe that when I see it.

"Blood for blood and aggression for aggression... and all the sons of the movement should retaliate to each aggression openly," a statement issued by Fatah in Gaza said.

(…sums it up rather nicely, don’t you think?...)

Meanwhile, in the continuing escalation over the video of Saddaam’s hanging, Hosni Mubarak says the former dictator is now a martyr. A non-practicing Muslim is now a religious martyr. What a turn of events. Just remember that, according to the tenants of Islam, a Muslim (even a marginal one) is always to be believed when faced with the testimony or statements of a non-Muslim. Therefore, with Saddaam’s Islamic religious acts—especially those shown in the video—he becomes instantly accepted as a member of the faith. So, unfortunately, in the eyes of many Muslims, he does have the status and pre-requisites for martyrdom.
(…sucks, doesn’t it?...it just makes things that much harder for coalition forces…)

President Bush is setting new leadership for Iraq. And, no big surprise, Democrats are not expected to be supportive. Pelosi is already revoicing liberal demands that Bush set an agenda for getting out.
(…nevermind that Democrats are still divided over exactly how that can be done…)

And, in another stinging rebuttal of Democratic claims that Bush’s economic policies don’t work, jobs were actually added again last month.

Employers stepped up hiring last month, boosting payrolls by a healthy 167,000 and keeping the unemployment rate steady at a still historically low 4.5 percent. Workers' wages grew briskly.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are arguing about what they really want to do in terms of undoing Republican legislation and tax cuts.
(…there seems to be a lack of consensus among the new “majority”…)

Finally, this was reported yesterday by Any Soldier:

Sgt Thomas E. Vandling, 26, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died Jan 1 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on combat patrol.

Sgt. Vandling is the 33 contact at Any Soldier that has been lost in the fighting. My family and I join in sending our thoughts and prayers for his family.

You see, we at our house remember your cry, Sgt. Vandling—the cry of all warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
--The Kohima Epitaph--

We remember what you have given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

01/01/2007 Morning Report

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I’ll start with this amusing report from the BBC. It seems the French protested the New Year--and any future ones. The report says it was a mock protest. But…I wonder…
(…says a lot about a culture that protests the future…doesn’t it?...)

Well, the rush martyrize Saddam Hussein has begun. This BBC report paints him as an angel doing nothing wrong during captivity. Not one word of his disregard for human life. Not one word of his total disdain for…oh…never mind. Meanwhile, the NY Times published this report on the supposed rush to execute Saddaam. The part I don’t understand is the outcry over his execution during the Haj. During this time, the devil is symbolically stoned. If someone who massacred thousands to maintain his reign isn’t a devil, I don’t know what is in this life. Unfortunately, even the Haj has been anti-Americanized and turned into a political event.
(…interesting, though, that the Saudis condemned the politicization…who would have expected that of the wahabbists…)

In a related piece—that takes away the media negativity--Blue Star Chronicles had a great write up and a video on what we are doing in Iraq. It’s an awesome post.
(…and in a shameless pulg…check out my Any Soldier video, too…if you haven’t already…lately…)

In Somalia, Ethiopian backed government forces captured the last Islamic stronghold.

To cheering and waving crowds, well-armed troops drove into Kismayo after clearing roads laced with land mines that had been left by an estimated 3,000 hard-line Islamic fighters fleeing a 13-day military onslaught by government troops backed by Ethiopian tanks and MiG fighter jets.

You would think the media and general public—world wide—would get a clue about how people really feel about these Islamiists after seeing the cheers of those who are set free from them. I give kudos to the Ethiopians for sending help to the legitimate government in it’s time of need. The media went to great lengths to paint that as ugly as possible. And, I’m sure there are some underlying motives yet to be revealed. Still, even in my own optimism, I wonder how long the government will actually be able to maintain control given that they could barely hold anything without the help of Ethiopia.

I missed this report a couple of days ago. It seems the warring factions in Northern Ireland are on the way to agreement on policing issues. It’s been a major dividing point for a long time. And, for those wondering what the long ugly history of this situation is, the BBC actually has a good summary available.

Meanwhile, out west, the dig out continues. With 32 inches of snow in western Kansas, two feet in Albuquerque, and at least 12 deaths blamed on icy roads, this is a pretty wide spread mess. But, the National Guard is responding well. The CAP (Civil Air Patrol) is locating stranded motorists. And, people are rising to the challenges.
(…it’s good to see the overcoming spirit of Americans in action…despite the previous blame game that got an independent consultant hired in Denver…)

Finally, there was this report from the Ft. Worth Star Telegram:

Spc. Dustin R. Donica, 22, of Spring died Thursday of wounds from small-arms fire, the Defense Department announced Sunday.
Pfc. Nathaniel A. Given, 21, of Dickinson, near Galveston, died Wednesday when an improvised explosive device detonated near him while he was on patrol. A soldier from Michigan also was killed.

Once again, at our house, we remember your cry—the cry of all fallen warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
(--The Kohima Epitaph--)

We remember what you have given, Spc. Donica and Pfc. Given. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

12/31 Morning Report

Friday’s announcement that the Taleban said, "N0" to cross border talks likely came as no surprise to anyone.

”No Muslim will participate in something... created by the aggressors and puppets," he (fugitive Taleban leader Mullah Omar) said.

Holding the traditional line that no one outside of the Taleban—or other approved Islamists—shall decide what is right, Omar condemned the region to more violence and bloodshed.
(…what a New Year’s gift to the war torn region…and families…)

Of course, a discussion of the Taleban and al-Qaeda eventually leads to Iraq. I liked this post, and the links, on ”escalation”. Personally, I think the idea of massive US troop build-ups (aka Vietnamization) is the wrong way to go. The Iraqis must understand they have to step up to the plate. Beyond that, I think the Op-For gang is right on target with this assessment.
(…you should also check out this report from Michael Yon…)

The good news from the Middle East this morning? Claiming a change in the Israeli position, Hamas says they may free the hostage Israeli soldier. The bad news? The Israelis still have to give up 1,000 prisoners—mostly terrorists.
(…as much as I would love to see a missing man come home…that kind of blackmail isn’t worth paying…the long term price is worse than getting one man back…I’m just saying…)

Then, there was this announcement from the Prime Minister of Somalia:

he suspects in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in east Africa are sheltering in the stronghold of his country's militant Islamic movement.
"If we capture them alive we will hand them over to the United States," Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi told The Associated Press.

I have to ask: is any one surprised by the announcement of the terrorists’ where abouts? And that begs another question: does anyone really buy the claim by Islamist militants in Somalia that they are not tied to al-Qaeda? It is, after all, one of the early building bases for Osama bin Laden’s group.
(…but the world will let these terrorist supporters and destroyers of their own country have “delegates” at peace talks…giving them official recognition and status…God help us…PLEASE!!!...)

Meanwhile, in the Far East,

China has announced plans to upgrade its military, highlighting its dispute with Taiwan as one of several regional security threats.

And, again no surprises from the BBC, it’s all because of America’s support of Japan and Taiwan—as well as the situation with North Korea.
(…imagine…a repressive government not happy with one that supports it’s regional rivals…hhhmmm…who would have thunk it…)

Speaking of US politics, Reuters asked a tough question: Will the Democratic Congress actually deliver anything? The big nugget of truth was this:

"House Democrats have complained for the last 12 years that they have been shut out of the legislative process," said Paul Miller, a veteran Capitol Hill lobbyist. "I find it hard to believe that most Democrats are now going to let bygones be bygones. It may be payback time."

(…we’ll just have to see how much blood the Dems actually go after…personally, I suspect it will be a lot less than many over at Kos are screaming for…)

Finally, In yesterday’s news, I was remiss to give remembrance to a fallen soldier. The BBC announced:

The British soldier killed by a bomb in Iraq has been named as Sgt Graham Hesketh by the Ministry of Defence.
The 35-year-old soldier, from the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed while taking part in a routine patrol in Basra City.

Regardless of the nationality, we at our house remember your cry—the cry of all fallen warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
(--The Kohima Epitaph--)

We remember what you have given, Sgt. Hesketh. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

12/22 Morning Report

How’s this for aggressive law enforcement? The crackdown on drunk drivers is the most successful, in terms of results, in the entire country.

While police say the four-year-old crackdown has yielded a dramatic drop in deadly car accidents, bars and restaurants complain it is hurting business and putting a damper on Fresno's nightlife. And defense attorneys and civil liberties advocates warn that the city of 461,000 has gone too far.

Figures, doesn’t it? Seems like every time the police start to do their job, someone complains, the civil rights groups start suing—all because business is suffering.
(…kind of takes the ho-ho-ho out of the season…doesn’t it?...sure wish we could do that with terrorist and other criminals…)

In another move to limit law enforcement efforts, a Texas Democrat wants to limit use of stun guns to ”deadly force situations only”. The point of using stun guns—the Taser—is to avoid being in a deadly force only situation. While I admit there are problems with the devices, and some have died as a result of their use, statistically that those event are not out of the normal range.

Bush made it official yesterday: No aid to Hamas until they give up their violent agenda—specifically against Israel.

The United States, the European Union and others regard Hamas as a terrorist group and have already cut off direct aid to the government. Hamas rose to power in parliament after defeating the Fatah party in January…The United States and others have demanded Hamas agree to past Israeli-Palestinian accords, renounce violence and recognize Israel before ending the boycott.

Will anyone be surprised by the anti-American sentiment this will draw? Will it matter that it is the US AND the EU AND other nations? Probably not.
(…remember?...everything is Bush’s fault…)

Did anyone catch the latest on Illegal immigration crackdowns? It’s not just businesses complaining about the law being upheld anymore. Hispanic groups have reached a new high…uummm…level. The latest outcry is for a moratorium on workplace raids

U.S. Hispanic groups and activists on Thursday called for a moratorium on workplace raids to round up illegal immigrants, saying they were reminiscent of Nazi crackdowns on Jews in the 1930s.

Talk about SPIN! This has enough rotation to maintain a stable orbit. Since when is finding and arresting ILLEGAL immigrants—who broke the laws of at least two nations--the same as terrorizing LEGAL citizens who have broken no law?

Finally, it is with regret that I pass on this report from the Dallas Morning News:

A Texas soldier from Fort Hood has died in Iraq, the Defense Department said Wednesday. Staff Sgt. Brian L. Mintzlaff, 34, of Fort Worth, died Monday in Taji from injuries suffered when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle rolled over.

We at our house remember your cry—the cry of all fallen warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
(--The Kohima Epitaph--)

We remember what you have given, SSgt Mintzlaff. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.

12/17 Morning Report

There are a few facts to be considered by those who think Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Holocaust Conference was a great open forum. For starters, only those who believe the Holocaust is a hoax were invited to attend.
(…still think it was a fair and open debate?...)

The Pakistan Supreme Court once again blocked establishment of Taliban law. It was a watered down version of what the Court knocked down last year.

NWFP Information Minister Asif Iqbal Daudzai, a member of the ruling alliance of religious parties, accused the government of being undemocratic.

Undemocratic? Allowing other groups to have a voice, without the stringent requirements of Sharia law is undemocratic?
(…like most Islamic groups, this one thinks everything is undemocratic or discriminatory if they do not get their way…why do the liberals let them get away with it?...such a contradiction…)

Computerized healthcare records are about to be required for patients in the UK. The greatest concern seems to be the doctor-patient relationship. But, it’s important to remember that privacy concerns are different in Europe than the US. Where we Americans fear government intrusion, and let companies do what they want, it is the reverse in Europe. Interestingly,

A poll of over 1,000 GPs [i.e. General Practicioners] by the Guardian newspaper last month found half would consider refusing to put patient records automatically on to a new national database. Many said they doubted the security of the new system.

Well, there is some encouragement at least. Watch for this movement to grow here in the US.
(…it is part of the Democratic and government agenda…believe it or not…)

On the subject of things that need more scrutiny, Faultline has a good series going on the E-coli situation. There is a lot of wild speculation going on regarding these events. Was it onions or lettuce? Was it human born or another source? And this doesn’t even touch the security issues that can get involved. Follow the links. It’s some very interesting reading.

Democrats are proposing new legislation for increased railroad security. The legislation will include more reporting and inspection requirements. While this would be a great thing—and is necessary—I have one HUGE concern. One thing no one has answered is where the money is coming from.
(…can you say “more taxes”…oh goodie…)

A ”Credit Crunch” is coming, say some experts. With the housing market slowing, the subprime lenders may be in serious trouble. And, with home prices falling, consumers may not be able to afford their homes. It is expected to have a major impact on car markets, and available credit in general.
(…but…credit card debt is good…right?...sure it is…but…yeah…right…)

Lastly, the Ft. Worth Star Telegram reported this sad news:

Pfc. Paul Balint Jr., 22, of Willow Park died Friday in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, after he was injured when his unit came under attack during combat operations.

We at our house remember your cry—the cry of all fallen warriors:

"Tell them of us and say,
For their tomorrow, we gave our today."
(--The Kohima Epitaph--)

We remember what you have given, Pfc Balint. And we say thank you for the tomorrows you have given others. May God give back to your family more than they have sacrificed and lost.

And, now, we dance In Memoriam.