Friday, August 26, 2005

Blackhawks at Sunset

Pictures from Major Juan R.

posted by Pam @ 8:14 AM |

Rights and Responsibilities...and Common Sense

What has been the early result of all the public outcry yesterday against the protests at Walter Reed?

Well, for starters, the fact that the MSM feels that this is news today:

Poll: Many Back Right to Protest Iraq War
WASHINGTON - An overwhelming number of people say critics of the
Iraq war should be free to voice their objections — a rare example of widespread agreement about a conflict that has divided the nation along partisan lines. Read More - from the AP via Yahoo! News
Let me just say this - do you have the right to protest the war? Absolutely. People have died to give you that right. But having the right to protest doesn't absolve you of the responsibility to do that where it is appropriate to do that. If the gathering outside Walter Reed was truly a "vigil" of support, no problem. But holding up signs outside Walter Reed saying "enlist here and die for Haliburton" isn't a vigil of support. It's vile. If you want to do that by the Capitol, so be it. Doing that at Walter Reed is completely out of line.

I have the right to hang Cindy Sheehan in effigy, too. I just also happen to have the sense to know that it isn't an appropriate thing to do - especially if, say, I were to be doing that outside the hospital her mother were in.

Why is it that we are so quick in this country to defend the right to protest the war, but not the right to support it? If you argue that "most people" are now against the war, then your efforts should be devoted to protecting the right to support the war - by the liberal argument, isn't freedom of speech all about protecting "unpopular" speech?

Why is it that a DJ who supports the war and our troops is fired for expressing a "controversial" opinion, but someone who hangs troops in effigy is protected? It's not about whether or not you agree with what that DJ said - or whether or not you agree with what the artist did. It's about freedom of speech being talked about as if it only protects the liberals, or as if it means that it's OK to say and do whatever you want, no matter who it hurts.

It's about the responsibilities that come with rights, and a basic expectation of respect and things like common decency and common sense (which apparently aren't all that common at all).

If I lend my car to a friend, they have the right to use it. They also have the responsibility to use it wisely.

And that's just a car.

Don't we have an even greater obligation to use our rights, paid for by the blood and sweat of heroes, responsibly as well?

posted by Pam @ 8:05 AM |

Rebekah's Hero, Part II

More pics from Rebekah's uncle, Captain Robert B.....

posted by Pam @ 7:43 AM |

Walking With Heroes

You may have noticed that new banner link up above - here's what it's all about. This is from Don, at Soldiers' Angels:

Soldiers' Angels and YoungHeroes.us have teamed up with Concerts for our Troops and also in helping more soldiers and their families. Soldiers' Angels is excited to announce that the first "Walking With Heroes" paperback book is now available as a fund raiser for Soldiers' Angels.
The purpose of the "Walking With Heroes" book series is to give the men and women of our military an opportunity to share their experiences. Young Heroes gives the opportunity for families of the young men and women who have paid the ultimate proce or who have an injured loved one, to share their stories.

"Walking With Heroes" stories will be an inspiration to the American people. The American people want authentic stories as to what our courageous men and women are really doing to help the people of Afghanistan and Iraq. There are many stories to be told about helping to rebuild homes, schools, mosques, roads and utilities and much more. There are eight incredible chapters in the first of this unique series.

Chapter writers include a NCOIC (Office In Charge) from Guantanamo Bay sharing the true facts and stories of the men and women who serve there. Currently deployed soldiers in Iraq share action stories, their experiences with the Iraqi people and what it is like serving in Iraq. Wives share about their husbands being deployed. A mom shares about two sons deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

A wife talks about life after her husband, and their children's dad, was severly wounded in Iraq, including his 19 surgeries. They talk about the very important support they received from the military, from their family and community. A single parent, female LTJG, talks about her experiences in the Navy, including being deployed on a ship. Chapter writers talk about the importance of the packages sent to them by military support groups in America.

"Walking With Heroes Volume One" is now available in paperback from Soldiers' Angels. Simply click on the "Walking With Heroes" banner on this this page to place your order. "Walking with Heroes" is priced at just $19.95. Soldiers, their families and everybody who supports our Troops and their families will want to read these stories. Plus, it is a fund raiser for Soldiers' Angels!

Man, I'm going to have a lot of reading to do with these great books coming out lately....ordered my copy!

posted by Pam @ 7:39 AM |

NORFOLK HOMECOMING — The amphibious assault ship USS Saipan is guided to the pier by tugboats, Aug. 25, 2005, as sailors man the rails. The Saipan returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Va. after completing a three-month surge deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Davis J. Anderson

posted by Pam @ 7:24 AM |

In Today's News - Friday, August 26, 2005

Quote of the Day

"If a country is worth living in it is worth fighting for."
-- Manning Coles

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Women Soldiers Contribute to Iraqi Freedom
Colonel Receives Distinguished Service Cross
Stryker Soldiers Secure Iraqi Neighborhoods
Uncertainty Persists Over Drafting of Iraq Constitution
Italy Red Cross may have hidden insurgents
Bodies of 36 men discovered in Iraq
Negotiators find 'semi-solution' over federalism

Able Danger
CIA 9/11 Review Suggests Disciplining Top Officials
Senate to Hold Hearings on Able Danger, Info Sharing

BRAC
Base-Closings Panel Urges Closing of Walter Reed
Base-closing panel to decide on Air Force

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Egypt officers killed during suspect hunt

Fox News
Senator: Calif. National Guard Activities 'Questionable'
Iran, IAEA to Meet on Nukes
Uzbekistan Moves Forward to Evict U.S. Troops
Hurricane takes four lives
Fast Facts: Katrina
Bush Monitoring Katrina Landfall
Video
Katrina Batters Florida
Florida Resident Describes Damage
Photo Essays
Sunshine State Soaked

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Iran nuke negotiator, IAEA chief to meet
Mahmoud Abbas urges militants to hold fire
Iraqis miss third deadline on constitution
Jordan's constitutional monarchy on hold
Q&A on Iraq's constitution process
Japan scrubs Iraq marshland donor meeting

Reuters: Top News
Merck may settle some Vioxx suits -WSJ
Fire kills 17 in Paris building housing immigrants
Iraq constitution talks go on, head for referendum
China may free dissident ahead of Hu's U.S. visit

Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Blast hits oil well in Iraq's Kirkuk field
Philippines names national killed in Iraq blast
'We will stay, we will fight and we will win'
Sadr Backers and Foes Clash in Najaf
Islamic Slant in Charter Decried

Department of Defense
Vice Chairman Shares Views, Priorities — Story
Progress Continues Despite Insurgency — Story
Terror Suspects Killed, Captured in Iraq — Story
Around the World in 10 Days, Chairman-Style — Story

ON THE GROUND
IN IRAQ
Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers Bring Goodwill to Horajeb
Iraqi Engineer Regiment Focuses on Training

IN AFGHANISTAN
Military Doctor Gives Afghan Girl Gift of Life
Team Builds Up Remote Corner of Afghanistan
Afghan Engineer District Hosts Contractor Open House

FACE OF DEFENSE
Army Engineer Recognized for Accomplishments in Iraq — Story

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Comedians Bring Laughter to Troops — Story
Drew Carey Leads Comic Tour
Comedy Team Visits Southwest Asia

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
Two Infantry Battalions to Deploy
U.S. Forces Will Stay and Win
Rumsfeld: Delays Part of Process
Bombing Kills Americans, Iraqis
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Iraq Daily Update
Multinational Force Iraq
Iraq Progress Fact Sheet (pdf)
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps
Afghan Reconstruction Group Recruiting

WAR ON TERRORISM
Troops Involved in Noble Causes
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Officials Explain Prevention Report
MAG-26 Marines Recognized
BRAC Begins Final Deliberations
National Guard, Reserve Update

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Army Casualties – Story

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
55 BC - Roman forces, under Julius Caesar, invade Britain.
1346 - English longbowmen defeat the French in Battle of Cr‚cy
1791 - John Fitch is granted a U.S. patent for his working steamboat.
1846 - W.A. Bartlett is appointed as the 1st U.S. mayor of Yerba Buena (San Francisco).
1883 - Krakatoa erupts; its increasingly large explosions kill 36,000.
1907 - Houdini escapes from chains underwater - in 57 seconds.
1914 - The Germans defeat the Russians in the Battle of Tannenberg.
1920 - The 19th amendment passes, granting women the right to vote.
1942 - 7,000 Jews are rounded up in the Vichy Free Zone of France.
1957 - The U.S.S.R. announces its successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
1973 - The University of Texas at Arlington becomes the first accredited school to offer belly dancing.
1974 - Soyuz-15 carries 2 cosmonauts to the Salyut-3 space station.
1978 - Soyuz-31 carries 2 cosmonauts (one of them an East German) to the Salyut-6 space station.
1982 - NASA launches Telesat-F.

Birthdays
1676 - Sir Robert Walpole (Whig), British PM (1721-42)
1743 - Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry (Oxygen)
1820 - James Harlan (Rep-IA)/U.S. Seretary of the Interior (1865-66)
1850 - Charles Richet, French physiologist, Nobel Prize winner (anaphylaxis-1913)
1873 - Lee De Forest, inventor (Audion vacuum (radio) tube)
1875 - Sir John Buchan, Governor-General of Canada / writer
1884 - Earl Biggers, author ("Charlie Chan" detective series)
1901 - General Maxwell D. Taylor, former US Army Chief of Staff
1906 - Dr. Albert B. Sabin, discoverer of the polio vaccine.
1909 - Frank Gasparro, U.S. chief engraver (1965-81)
1917 - William French Smith, Attorney General (1981-85)
1932 - Joe H. Engle, Brigadier General USAF / astronaut (STS T-2, T-4, 2, 51I)
1935 - Geraldine Ferraro (Rep-NY), first female major-party VP candidate
1942 - John E. Blaha, Colonel USAF / astronaut (STS 29, 33, STS 43)
1960 - Ola Ray, Playboy Playmate (Jun, 1980), actress (Thriller)

Passings
1963 - Larry Keating, actor (George Burns Show, Roger-Mr Ed)
1974 - Charles Lindbergh, aviator
1981 - Roger Nash Baldwin, founder of the ACLU

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Davis, Edward A., USN (PA); A1H shot down, released by DRV February, 1973 - retired as a Captain - alive and well as of 1998

1967
Day, George Everette, USAF (NY); F100F shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel alive and well as of 1998
*** Medal of Honor winner, "most decorated officer since MacArthur," PFC/Corp WWII - South and Central Pacific April 1942 - November 1945, 2 Tours Air Defense F-84's, Radar tracking vs. Soviet radar, author of "Return with Honor" ***

Fuller, William Otis, USAF (TX); F4C shot down (w/Kilcullen), presumed KIA, body not recovered

Kilcullen, Thomas Michael, USAF (MD); F4C shot down (w/Fuller)

1971
Vennik, Robert N., US Army (NJ); APC ambushed, KIA, body not recovered

1972
Cordova, Sam Gary, USMC (CA); F4J shot down, remains returned December, 1988

posted by Pam @ 7:22 AM |

Iraq War Today is...
...News and photos of Heroes deployed to the Middle East and elsewhere. IWT is dedicated to all of our military Heroes - past, present and future.