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Friday, July 22, 2005

Soldiers' Angels Reaches Out to Iraqi Soldiers, Too...

Via email...

From Willie of
Soldiers' Angels

Hi Patti,
you remember on the Iraqi soldier who lost his daughter through a bomb! His 2 girls and his wife was burnt and the 2 year died from this. The Angels offer a Iraqi soldier their condolences by e-mail! Look at the picture!

My friend wrote me today"... I recieved them (your condolences letters) about three weeks ago and I posted them a couple of days after I got them. I posted them for the rest of the soldiers in our bunker to see how people from all over support the Iraqi soldiers, and I also wanted our Iraqi interpreters to read the letters to know that not only do U.S. soldiers get letters of encouragement from the U.S., but so do Iraqi Army soldiers too. Please convey my sincere thanks an appreciation to all the "angels" and people who took the time to write. Another U.S. soldier who works direcetly with the Iraqi soldier who lost his daughter made sure that the letters got to him and his unit...."



Way to go, Angels!!

Received Via Email

A Hero's Family Needs Assistance...

Friends, I have a soldier whose wife was the breadwinner for the family.She had to quit work while he was deployed to care for their 3 young girls, 2 of whom were very sick -- cystic fibrosis and the other needs many surgeries for a cleft pallate.

They had to replace their vehicle as a result of driving the 160 roundtrip miles back and forth to Children's Hospital at Cardinal Glennon and continue to do so. We need to provide some soldier assistance to the family. Please share this with your personal and professional e-mail lists in case folks are interested in making a contribution...

Thank you,

Pat Rowe Kerr
State Veterans Ombudsman


If you would like to make a contribution, email me and I'll give you contact information.

New to the Blogroll...

...is "Big Al's Army Life"

Written by a military fiancée, Big Al's Army Life is an online diary of a Mississippi National Guard nurse's deployment.

Stop by and check it out, and you can find:

An article on supporting someone through a deployment;

A self-portrait; and

Info on Big Al's Best Day in Iraq so far (with pictures!)


Related Blog:
Michael, from "Keep My Soldier Safe," is deployed at the same location...

Bagram Humanitarian Mission

A U.S. soldier assigned to the Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team talks to a little girl during a humanitarian assistance mission at a women's center outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


A woman gets a Peace Paper during a humanitarian assistance mission at a women's center outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


A Korean soldier assigned to the Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team, along with the Afghanistan National Police, provides security during a humanitarian assistance mission at a women's center outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


A little boy holds the Peace Paper during a humanitarian assistance mission at a women's center outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


A U.S. soldier assigned to the U.S. Army Task Force Strength talks to a little boy during a humanitarian assistance mission at a women's center outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


Afghanistan National Police provide security during a humanitarian assistance mission at a women's center outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


U.S. soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Task Force Strength hand out clothing and personal hygiene items during a humanitarian assistance mission at a women's center outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


A U.S. soldier assigned to the Task Force Strength hands out clothing and personal hygiene items at a women's center outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


A U.S. soldier assigned to the Task Force Strength hands out clothing and personal hygiene items during a humanitarian assistance mission outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


U.S. soldiers assigned to the Task Force Strength hand out clothing and personal hygiene items during a humanitarian assistance mission at a women's center outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


U.S. Coalition forces hand out clothing and personal hygiene items during a humanitarian assistance mission outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


A U.S. soldier from the Task Force Strength handles crowd control duties during a humanitarian assistance mission outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields




A U.S. soldier assigned to the Task Force Strength hands out clothing and personal hygiene items during a humanitarian assistance mission at a women's center outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


A U.S. soldier assigned to the Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team hands out clothing and personal hygiene items outside Bagram, Afghanistan, July 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Harold Fields


And these are the people that Gitmo Dick and Ted Kennedy slur and compare to the likes of the Nazi regime...

This Day in Terrorism - "Life" and Death

“Life”
On this day in 1981, in a courtroom in Rome, Mehmet Ali Ağca was sentenced to life in prison for the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.

He was a petty criminal as a young boy, and a member of local street gangs. Later taking up a career as a smuggler, he also was trained in weaponry and terrorist tactics in Syria. Ağca was a member of the Grey Wolves, a right-wing Turkish group; it was reportedly under their orders that he murdered a Turkish newspaper editor.

Ağca was imprisoned for life for that murder, but fled to Bulgaria, where he claims he was hired by that government to assassinate the Pope. The story gets decidedly murky, with no definite proof of Bulgaria’s involvment. After the shooting, he was immediately apprehended – the crowd grabbed him when he started shooting.

Pope John Paul II forgave Ağca, visiting him several times and staying in contact with his family. In addition, Italian president Ciampi pardoned him in 2000. Turkey, however, wasn’t through with him; he is imprisoned there. He will be eligible to leave prison in 2010.

When the Pope passed away this year, Ağca's brother reported that their family was grieving, and reported that the Pope had been “a great friend” to the family. Ağca himself requested permission to attend the funeral, but it was denied.


Death
With the U.S. looking at potential entry into WWI, anti-war and Isolationist radicals were voicing their opposition to "militarism."

"We are going to use a little direct action on the 22nd to show that militarism can't be forced on us and our children without a violent protest." Those words appeared on a radical pamphlet in mid-July, 1916.

At San Francisco's Preparedness parade, the protest was indeed violent. At a little after 2pm, about 1/2 hour after the start of the parade, a bomb that had been concealed in a suitcase detonated, killing ten and wounding forty. It was worst terrorist act in San Francisco history.

Radical labor leader Thomas Mooney and his assistant Warren K. Billings were convicted of the bombing, but the trial was rife with errors and perjury, and Mooney was pardoned in 1939 by the Governor of California. Billings received a pardon in 1961. To date, no one else has been brought to trial.
SOUVENIR SHOP — U.S. Army Spc. Wayne Becton, assigned to the 55th Signal Company from Ft. Meade, Md., shops at the Ziggurat souvenir shop in Ur, Iraq, July 18, 2005. A Ziggurat is a temple structure that was built to bring worshipers closer to their local god. U.S. and Coalition Forces are assisting in the preservation of the structure by keeping it within the boundaries of Ali Base. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Day

In Today's News - Friday, July 22, 2005

Quote of the Day
"Don't worry over what the newspapers say. I don't. Why should anyone else? I told the truth to the newspaper correspondents - but when you tell the truth to them they are at sea."
-- U.S. President William Howard Taft (1909 - 1913)
Enter the first IWT contest!

News of Note
London Bombings
Police shoot bomb suspect on London Underground
British police hunt fugitive London bombers
London Cops Scour Bomb Scenes
Top Cop: Forensic Evidence Key
Same Bomb Cell May Still Be Active
NYC Cops Search Subway Riders
Musharraf Vows to Curb Extremism
Video
Witness Describes Subway Panic
Police Hunt for Suspects
Bush Briefed on London Blasts
U.S. Ties to London Attacks?
U.S. Keeps Alert Level Steady
Photo Essays
London Attacked Again

Operation Iraqi Freedom
Indicators Show Progress for Stable Iraq
Real Expectations for Iraqi Forces on Track

Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghan Officers Learn How to Operate Army
Reported Taliban Militants Kill Nine


Fallen Heroes
Trail Dedicated to Fallen Soldier
Last WWII Comanche Code Talker Dies

Homeland Security / War on Terror
House Votes to Extend USA Patriot Act
Attacks Won't Derail Terror War Support Statement
DHS: No Plans for Involving Volunteers in Border Patrols
Australia eyes terrorism laws after London attacks
US sees no imminent copycat London bombing
NY police to search backpacks on transit system
Germany Investigating Cleric Kidnapping

Besides Saddam's book, here's another I WON'T be reading...
Unabomber Writings for Sale

Fox News
Saddam Defiant in Court- Video: Saddam in Court
Rice's Entourage Roughed Up
N. Korea: Peace Deal Would End Nuke Standoff
Congressman Admits Affair (and, somehow, this is news?)
Trump to Congress: Let Me Rebuild U.N. Headquarters
Roberts Makes D.C. Rounds

Reuters: Top News
Islamists plan rallies against Pakistan crackdown
Tribal elder, three relatives killed in Pakistan
Rice, Sharon in talks to ensure Israel quits Gaza
North Korea says peace treaty key to nuclear issue
U.S. lawmakers see no reason yet to block Roberts

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Rice makes surprise visit to Lebanon
Insurgents target Iraqi police patrols
U.N. envoy says Gaza withdrawal could help
President-elect: Iran won't seek nuke arms
Rice tries to shore up Mideast truce
Lebanese warlord calls for new start
Yemen riots over subsidy cut leave 16 dead
Group offers redrawn map to Iraq assembly

Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Insurgents Target Iraqi Police Patrols
Pentagon Cites Progress in Iraq Democracy
Italy set to keep troops in Iraq

Department of Defense
U.S. Argues Against Lifting Arms Embargo

ON THE GROUND
New Sadr City Water Treatment Plant Opens
Suspected Terrorist Weapons Destroyed

IN IRAQ
Soldiers Awarded Combat Infantryman Badge
Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers Distribute Frozen Chickens
Mail Clerks Deliver Mail, Boost Soldiers' Morale

IN SOUTHWEST ASIA
Airmen Support Soldiers, Marines with Up-Armor Kits

FACE OF DEFENSE
Air Force Couple Earns Awards

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
GSA Head Signs '5-Star' Agreement

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
Suicide Bomber Hits Near Airfield
Conditions to Dictate Troop Levels
Iraqis Display Construction Projects
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Iraq Daily Update
Multinational Force Iraq
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)
'Eye on Iraq' (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Detainee Releases Foster Peace
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Rumsfeld Condemns Murders in Iraq
Leaders Tackle Strategies
Officials Transfer 'Gitmo' Detainees
Bush, Howard Focus on Terror War
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Leaders Celebrate VA's Anniversary
Chairman Briefed on Irish Defense
Compensation Proposals Studied
National Guard, Reserve Update

Weather
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

Gitmo

Today in History
1298 - The English defeat the Scots at the Battle of Falkirk.
1775 - George Washington takes command of American troops.
1796 - Cleveland, OH, is founded by General Moses Cleaveland.
1812 - In Spain, the Duke of Wellington defeats the French at the Battle of Salamanca.
1864 - Confederate General John Bell Hood attacks William Sherman's Union forces at the Battle of Atlanta; the Confederates suffer terrible losses.
1916 - During the San Francisco Preparedness Parade, anti-militarist terrorists detonate a bomb, killing 10.
1917 - Alexander Kerensky becomes PM in Russia.
1937 - The U.S. Senate rejects FDR's proposal to enlarge the Supreme Court.
1942 - Gasoline rationing begins in the U.S.; the Nazis begin deportations from Warsaw to Treblinka.
1943 - Allied forces captured Palermo, Sicily.
1944 - Soviets set up the Polish Committee of National Liberation.
1950 - After six years in exile, King Leopold returns to Belgium
1952 - The Polish constitution is adopted (National Day)
1955 - Richard Nixon becomes the first U.S. Vice President to preside over a Cabinet meeting.
1962 - Mariner 1, the first American Venus probe, fails at lift-off.
1969 - The U.S.S.R. launches Sputnik 50 and the Molniya 1-12 communications satellite.
1972 - Venera 8 makes a soft landing on Venus
1975 - The House of Representatives votes to posthumously restore citizenship to General Robert E. Lee.
1981 - In Rome, Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca is sentenced to life.
1983 - Polish PM Januzelski lifts martial law.
1986 - The U.S. House of Representatives impeaches Judge Harry E. Claiborne on tax evasion
1987 - The Soyuz TM-3 Is launched with three cosmonauts (1 Syrian); the U.S. begins escorting Kuwaiti tankers in the Persian Gulf.
1991 - Jeffrey Dahmer confesses to killing 17 young men in 1978.

Birthdays
1478 - Philip I (the Handsome), first Habsburg king of Spain (1506)
1822 - Gregor Mendel, monk/geneticist; discovered the laws of heredity
1849 - Emma Lazarus, poet ("The New Colossus," at the base of the Statue of Liberty)
1887 - Gustav Hertz, quantum physicist, Nobel Prize Winner
1890 - Rose Kennedy, mother of JFK, RFK, Ted
1921 - William Roth (Sen-DE)
1923 - Robert Dole (Sen-KS)
1930 - Yuri P. Artyukhin, cosmonaut (Soyuz 14)
1955 - Willem Dafoe, actor (Platoon, Roadhouse 66, Mississippi Burning)

Passings
1461 - Charles VII king of France (1422-61), dies at 58
1802 - Marie-François-Xavier Bichat, one of the founders of histology (microscopic study of tissue)
1826 - Giuseppe Piazzi discoverer of 1st asteroid, dies
1934 - John Dillinger shot dead at Biograph Theater in Chicago
1967 - Carl Sandburg, poet (Abraham Lincoln: The Prarie Years)

Reported Missing in Action
1966
Wells, Robert J., US Army (PA); drowned when his safety line broke as he was crossing a river, Killed, body not recovered

1972
Paige, Gordon C., USN (CA); RF8G shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

nocashfortrash.org