I wonder if my young sister is out of kindergarten today?
Heck, I wonder if it is Friday or Saturday?

Did my father get the crops in
or did the rain come too soon?

I hope my girl got the flowers I ordered,
hope they got there for her birthday.

I wonder if she still thinks of me every day,
as I do of her every minute.

Somehow this apple pie does not taste the same,
as the fresh one my mom made.

I remember the basketball games,
when they played the national anthem.

Sometimes I would stand,
just because everyone else around me did.

Other times I would sit,
because I wanted to.

Did I fold this flag right?
Was it thirteen or twelve folds?

The stars are on top.
The colors so bright.

I hope my friend's parents understand,
He died fighting for what he believes is right.

I wonder if I will get home soon,
and wave a flag instead of being covered by one?

I hope my fellow marines did not see me cry,
When I leaned over and told my friend good-bye.


Written by Jose G. Acosta, U.S. Navy Chief
http://hometown.aol.com/veteranstribute/

Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again.
-- Ronald Reagan


JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Indonesian court sentences terror chief
Search for bin Laden faces complications


Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
AP: Saddam lawyer seeks to delay tribunal


Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Thousands Protest at Iraqi Bombing Site
Two suicide car bombs kill five outside Iraq's interior ministry
China Takes Tit-For-Tat Swipe at U.S. on Rights
Iraqi judges practise at London hotel for trial of Saddam


The US News: Iraq News
Murder of Iraqi judge and son seen as a warning from rebels over Saddam trial
Iraq Insurgency leader charged in Jordan
Iraq wants to take over from Australian troops in 1 year: Allawi
Talks on Iraqi Coalition Government Falter
3.44pm Explosions jolt central Baghdad
Sultan receives Iraqi envoy
Car Bombs Kill at Least Two Policemen in Baghdad
Iraq murder plot denied
Iraqi power-sharing talks falter; attacks kill 15 soldiers
Firms tap Latin Americans for Iraq
Derelict Plants Are Crippling Iraq's Petroleum Industry
U.S. urges Iran to leave Iraq alone
Poland to Discuss Reshaping Force in Iraq
Iraq Insurgency Leader Charged in Jordan

Ananova: War In Iraq
Terror Bill battle moves to Lords
Blair and Ahern check peace process


Katu.com: Iraq & Terror
Insurgents launch attacks near Interior Ministry in Baghdad
House GOP wants more defense, less foreign aid in Bush's Iraq war bill


From CNN.com
Pakistani police hold Daniel Pearl slaying suspect
Saddam half-brother to face trial


From Fox News
Complications in UBL Hunt
Car Bomb Rocks West Bank
Grand Central Terror Drafts
Man Planned Ariz. Terror Camp
Bush to Syria: Leave Lebanon
Oil-for-Food: U.N. Responds
Pearl Slay Suspect Nabbed
Blasts Rock Baghdad
Militant Cleric Jailed for Bali Terror Bombing
Talks on Iraqi Coalition Gov't Hit Snag
Judge in Saddam Trial Murdered
Crowd Protests Terrorism in Iraq
New Al Qaeda Intel Won't Raise Terror Level
Iraqi Interim Gov't Cited for Abuses
Video Shows French Hostage in Iraq
'Chemical Ali' Appears in Court


From the Department of Defense
Abizaid: 2005 'Can Be a Decisive Year' - Story
Veterans Centers Offer Grief Counseling - Story
Report Cites Human Rights Progress in Iraq - Story

ON THE GROUND
Soldier Survives 19 Bombs, Mortar Attacks - Story
Camp Cunningham Mail Team Delivers - Story
MPs Catch Exchange Service Thieves - Story
Reserve Soldier Receives Silver Star - Story

IN IRAQ
Father Pins Silver Star on Son in Baghdad
Marines Trade Candy for Weapons
82nd Provides Security for Convention Center
Marine Engineers Ready for Any Task

IN AFGHANISTAN
Coalition Forces Aid Stranded Villagers
Coalition Helps Afghans in Harsh Winter
Coalition Delivers Aid to Ghor Province

IN KUWAIT
31st MEU Board Ships for Voyage Home

IN PERSIAN GULF
USNS Arctic Keeps the Fleet Combat Ready

FACE OF DEFENSE
Marine Hits the Bike Trail - Story

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
Former Officials Prosecuted
Troops Respond to Suicide Bombing
3rd Infantry Takes Responsibility
Iraq Daily Update
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Results Reflect U.S. Dedication
Special Ops Forces Fight Terrorism
Abizaid Topic: Middle East
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
USS Truman Wins Food Award
Mine Warfare Crews Swap Vessels
Command Meets Airlift Needs
Myers Addresses Air Force Cadets
National Guard, Reserve Update


Weather
Weather information from The Weather Channel

Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar


Today in History
1857 - France and Britain declare war on China.
1863 - President Lincoln signs the conscription act, requiring U.S. citizens to report for military duty, or pay $300.00
1878 - Russia signs the treaty of Stenafano with the Ottomans, granting Serbian independence.
1918 - The Soviets and Germany sign a peace treaty at Brest-Litovsk
1931 - President Hoover signs a bill making the "Star Spangled Banner" the national anthem
1940 - A Nazi air raid in the English Channel kills 108 people on a British liner.
1941 - Moscow denounces Axis rule in Bulgaria.
1942 - RAF raids commence on Parisian industrial areas.
1945 - Finland declares war on the Axis.
1952 - The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the Feinberg Law, which bans Communist teachers.
1969 - Sirhan Sirhan testifies that he killed Robert Kennedy.
1973 - Japan discloses its first post-WWII defense plan.

Birthdays
1895 - Matthew Ridgway, U.S. Army General in WWII and Korea.