Polls Open in Iraq
Citizens prepare for parliamentary election
Dems: Bush's Iraq Plans Lacking
Bush Defends Iraq War on FNC
Transcript: Bush Talks With Brit

Video: Exclusive FOX Interview With Bush

This week Joey grew a foot taller to about 5′9″. He is doing excellent walking around at this height. He does not have the knee component added yet, but will have them added early in January. He only uses a cane to assist him with walking. I have included a small video and two pictures of Joey at his new height. The video (seen below) was taken the first day he was walking. He’s had a few adjustments made to his prosthetics so his current walking gait has improved since the video was taken.
View Pictures

Wow - two stories in a week!


Company Donates Gift Certificates

By American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2005 - A company based in Monahans, Texas, has partnered with a grassroots-level America Supports You organization to distribute 300 gift certificates for tactical gear to deployed servicemembers. Through its AmericaSupportsYou.mil Web site, the Defense Department showcases efforts of American citizens and industries to support the nation's armed forces.

Spec.-Ops. Brand provided the gift certificates for its line of nylon tactical gear to the Soldiers' Angels organization to distribute in care packages for deployed servicemembers.

"We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Spec.-Ops. Brand to provide holiday gifts of their products that we know our troops will really appreciate," said Don McKay, executive director of Soldiers' Angels. "Soldiers' Angels supports our troops as they defend the gift of freedom so far from home."

The gift certificates can be used to choose from among five popular Spec.-Ops. Brand products: the Universal MAMBA Combat Fighting Sling, the Pack-Rat Drop-In Organizer, the Better BDU Belt, the Recon-Wrap, or the T.H.E. (Tactical Holds Everything) Wallet.

The 300 certificates, redeemable at the Spec.-Ops Brand Web site, add up to about $10,000 in merchandise.

The five items for which servicemembers can redeem the certificates are among the company's most popular products, judging by sales on the company's Web site and in Army and Air Force exchanges, said Jeff Wemmer, Spec.-Ops. Brand chief executive officer. "Troops in Iraq or Afghanistan are buying them already, so we know they'll make great gifts," he added.

Wemmer said his company is grateful for the confidence American servicemen and women had placed in his products and saw the holiday gift as a way to say thanks. "This is a small way of thanking U.S. military men and women for both their continuing patronage over the years and, more importantly, for their selfless service to our country," he said.

(From a Spec.-Ops. Brand news release.)

http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/Content.aspx?ID=44641352&SectionID=1

From those who gather postcards from all 50 states for their adoptees, to Sara and her Letter Writing Team leaders, to Don, to Willie and MaryAnn in Germany, and of course Patti, to all of the other Angels, this is the finest group of people I have ever been privileged to know.

And a big HOOOAH to the folks over at Spec-Ops Brand for donating these certificates to show their support for our heroes. You can visit their website here: http://www.specopsbrand.com/

Then what's this?

Forwarded by Seamus, from a Lt. Colonel in Iraq:


Gentlemen, Early voting today.

The Chief WO in… the unit I advise's Bn Sgt. Maj. told me with emotion, that this year was his first year ever without a Ba'ath party member monitoring how everone voted. He continued, most everyone, including himself had to vote for Saddam and his cohorts, or else, motioning cutting one's throat. Others have said to me that if you were still able to sneak in a "no" vote, they still could find out who and you live life in fear for your family and yourself. Many Iraqis would be pulled from their homes at night and jailed or worse. Seemed like they all know of someone who vanished. We've all heard those stories…

An older soldier said he hopes the young soldiers will never know how it was done before. This was the first time for the young soldier... Something they thought was odd. They know that many in Iraq are afraid to vote still, due to violence. But when I said many Americans do not vote, the response was Why? You must vote. I said it is unfortunate that happens, but it is too, a choice we have as free people. These guys, all 3000+ voted, then celebrated by, of course, firing every round they could (Officers have weapons and rounds) in the air. I was in the middle of it and was unable to and wouldn't try to stop them, too many of them and up to 200 rds. fired. My XO radio'd and said just get the hell out of there, nothing we could do.”

Another American Hero trying to bring some joy to the children of Iraq - Ben C. is looking for items not for himself, but for the kids he sees every day there:

"We would love anything you can send for the Iraqi children they have my heart."

"...Yes I still give things to the Iraqi kids, that's what helps me see hope in their eyes."




If you want to help out, please contact Sara at Soldiers' Angels (who, incidentally, was the subject of this article posted yesterday).

She says that he "would love to hand out toys candy and items like mittens gloves and hats for children during the cold weather. School and craft supplies are good to send over also."


Ben, thank you for all you do, both for us at home, and for the children of Iraq. Take care, and stay safe.

Sara, a humongous HOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH for everything you do to support our troops.

TROOP COMMUNION — U.S. Marine Corps Chaplain Capt. Bryan J. Weaver ministers to the troops of 2nd Marine Division during a church service at Regimental Combat Team 2's Chapel, Camp Ripper, Al Asad, Iraq, Dec. 11, 2005. Military personnel assigned here need only to walk out of their berthing and around Jersey barriers to reach the chapel. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shane S. Keller

News of Note
Dam Collapse in Missouri - 'Very dangerous situation'

Iranian President: Holocaust a 'Myth'

Operation Iraqi Freedom
"I can't wait. I can't sleep" — Iraqis in U.S. cast absentee ballots
What's at stake for Iraqis, U.S.
Day of Rest in Iraq
Iraq locks down for election
Al-Jazeera Remarks Anger Iraqi Shiites
Allawi represents a bid for Iraq's secular interests
Rogue cleric transforms into major political force
4 U.S. soldiers, Sunni candidate killed in Iraq
Iraqi campaigning stops a day ahead of election
Joyous Iraqi Americans vote
Abuse suspected in detainees' deaths

Operation Enduring Freedom
Land-Mine Donkey One of Two Afghan Attacks
Humvee Strikes Mine at Bagram Front Gate

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Air Marshals to Guard Trains
Police Talk to Driver About Britain Blast
Islamic militant charged by feds

Politics
McCain, Hadley Meet On Torture Ban
Ex-President Ford released from hospital

Supreme Court
Feingold won't rule out Alito filibuster

Military News
U.S. Navy helicopter crashes near Colombia; 3 aboard
Rumsfeld Seeks Cut in Military

Oddities
Court pardons smitten bra burglar
Next stop in New Orleans: Disaster trip for tourists

Fox News
WTO Meeting Protests Go On
U.S. Trade Deficit Widens
Woman Eyed in Eco-Attacks
Four Found Shot Dead in Paterson, N.J.
Jogger's Body Found on Sesame Street Actor's Land
Ind. Man Held in Death of Woman, Three Kids
Deadly Ariz. Trailer Fire
Four Found Dead in Boston Music Studio
Red Cross President Resigns
SPORTS NEWS AND SCORES

Reuters: Top News
Boeing wins $10bln Qantas jet order
General Dynamics to buy Anteon for about $2.1 bln
RETAIL: Wal-Mart buys Sonae's Brazilian unit for $757 mln
HEALTH: Three new deaths associated with Guidant devices-NYT
Boeing rises on Inet, EA falls
Apple shares lower on Bear Stearns downgrade
Relational urges SEC to probe Sovereign deal
At least 3 dead in Gaza car blast: witnesses
Tens of thousands of Lebanese bury anti-Syria publisher
US, EU sparring sours world trade talks
New questions, denials on Polish 'secret prison'
Execution puts spotlight on moratorium effort
Bush to stress why US must stay in Iraq
US envoy "worst ambassador in history": N.Korea
Asteroid probe's return delayed by 3 years
Microsoft warns of 'critical' Windows security flaw
Latin America turns to DNA tests to solve war crimes
Czech Cold War TV spy becomes double agent
Fiber in diet doesn't cut colon cancer risk -study
US launches cancer gene mapping project

AP World News
Israel Fires Missile at Car in Gaza
Report: Firms May Return Profit From Error
Germany Defends Handling of Abduction Case
Peru Baby Doing Well 6 Months After Surgery
Japan Goes High-Tech to Catch Gropers
Funeral Turns Into Anti-Syrian Protest
Israel to Build More Homes in West Bank
Peacekeeping Chief Extends Eritrea Stay
Disney Announces Film Production in China
China Tries to Find Balance With Protests
Protesters, Police Clash Again at WTO Forum
Australia Seeks to Prevent More Race Riots
Investigator: U.S. Shipped Out Detainees
Ex-Rwandan Officer Gets Prison for Genocide
UN Mulls Resolution to Expand Hariri Probe

The Seattle Times
Woman sues fugitive polygamist leader
Federal panel plans better voting system
Congress still to act on key measures
Sen. Dorgan returns tribes' donations
Bush calls Medicare drug plan 'a good deal'
Machine-style politics being put to the test
Hidden charges: How tariffs ding biggest bargain hunters
One of biotech's early superstars accused of being a "deadbeat dad"
Poor put at risk by pollution
All work, no play for Congress before recess
Group offers Medicare drug tips
Supporters mourn Williams
"Cellphone bandit" pleads guilty in robberies
Red Cross president resigns in tough times
Follow-up to human genome map: Cancer Genome Atlas
FDA warns 9 firms on purported flu remedies
Spaceport to be built in New Mexico
Canada's Martin scolds aide for remark
In Guatemala, "the find of a lifetime"
U.S. targets North Korean counterfeiting
Skydiver survives plunge to ground
Bergenfield, N.J. gas-line explosion takes deadly toll

Chicago Sun-Times
Pilot violated Southwest policy (Midway incident)
Touch Football: Bears fans to be patted down
Durbin clears adoption for Polish toddler
Aldermen, employees to undergo ethics training
Amendment 'designed to kill' 3rd airport: Jackson
Alderman trying to push foie gras ban through Council
Religious symbols get support from Council
Woman found guilty of stealing winning lottery ticket
Europeans angry over Tookie execution
Woman, 3 kids found dead in Fort Wayne
Man's disappearance a complete mystery
Staggering crash rate plagues Mideast
Mark Twain's hometown in Missouri sleepy no more
Giant Dean museum to close after upkeep proves too costly
College senior 'shocked' when his Bible study banned
Buried '57 Belvedere to be unearthed, given to contest winner
Wal-Mart manager fired after calling cops on black businessman
College class president charged with robbing a bank
When dogs pant, are they laughing?
Wanted man in bigamy case spotted on 'Dr. Phil' TV show
New dollar coins to feature dead presidents
House votes to clean up toxins left behind by meth labs
New Mexico governor takes heat for using state police chopper
Doubts grow about scientist's cloning work
Inquiry sought into deadly shooting of villagers
Manila police destroy desk to capture slippery suspect

Boston Globe: World
Iraqis take fight to political realm
Angolan radio station faults limits on range
Activists step up call for probe of shooting
Violence complicates Palestinian elections
Russia pledges to tighten its software piracy effort
Ex-official's rape case tests South Africa
Pope says war no excuse for human rights abuses

Military.com
Navy Helo Crashes, 3 Missing
Congress Expects $1B Wartime Request
Iraqi Expatriates Vote
Military Makes Stability a Core Mission
Army Cuts Modernization for Modularity

CENTCOM: News Releases
TASK FORCE BAGHDAD SOLDIERS NAB 28 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS
U.S., IRAQI FORCES KEEP BAGHDAD STREETS SAFE FOR ELECTION
RENOVATION OF A SCHOOL IN AL-KUT IS COMPLETED

Department of Defense
Iraqi Units Take Lead in Election Security - Story
Elections Represent Milestone in Strategy
Iraqi Security Forces Prove Their Effectiveness
Stability Operations Are Major Priority - Story
Human Rights Expert to Visit Guantanamo - Story

ON THE GROUND
Airmen Keep Rescue 'Choppers' Flying - Story
Labatory Keeps Fuel, Oxygen Flowing - Story

IN IRAQ
Renovated Schools Benefit Iraqi Students
U.S. Paratroopers Teach Iraqis IED Recognition

IN AFGHANISTAN
Marksmanship Team Trains Afghan Soldiers

FACE OF DEFENSE
U.S. Air Force Retiree Looks Out for Veterans' Rights - Story

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Deployed Troops Inspire Musician - Story
Company Donates Gift Certificates

TOP NEWS
IRAQ
Soldiers Killed by Roadside Bomb
Coalition Captures Terrorists
Reconstruction Showing Progress
Iraqi General Cites Progress
3 U.S. Soldiers Killed
Iraqi Helicopters To Be Upgraded
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq (pdf)
Multinational Force Iraq
Eye on Iraq Update (pdf)
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (pdf)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Troops Assist With Hajj Journey
Afghan Insurgents Show Weakness
Coalition Forces Kill, Nab Militants
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Rice: Democracy Support 'Realistic'
Fighting Terrorists Prevents Attacks
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Troops Receive Honors at Dinner
First Lady Recognizes Families
Troops Prepare to Fight Terror War
Acquisition Personnel Honored
National Guard, Reserve Update

Today in History
0644 - Osman ibn Affan appointed 3rd kalief of islam
0867 - Adrian II begins his reign as Catholic Pope
0872 - John VIII begins his reign as Catholic Pope
1124 - Theobald Buccapecus elected Pope Coelestinus II (he refuses)
1287 - Zuider Zee seawall collapses with loss of 50,000 lives
1575 - Polish Parliament selects István Báthory as king of Poland
1600 - Olivier van Noort sinks Sp galleon San Diego at Bay of Manila, 350 die
1656 - Artificial pearls 1st manufactured by M Jacquin in Paris made of gypsum pellets covered with fish scales
1774 - Massachusetts militiamen successfully attacked arsenal of Fort William & Mary
1782 - Charleston SC evacuated by British
1793 - 1st state road authorized, Frankfort KY to Cincinnati OH
1798 - David Wilkinson of Rhode Island patents a nut & bolt machine
1819 - Alabama admitted to the Union as the 22nd state
1825 - Decembrist uprising in Russia against Tsar Nicholas I begins
1863 - Battle of Bean's Station-Confederacy repulses Union in Tennessee
1882 - Henry Morton Stanley returns to Brussels from the Congo
1889 - American Academy of Political & Social Science organized, Philadelphia
1911 - South Pole 1st reached, by Norwegian Roald Amundsen
1913 - Greece formally takes possession of Crete
1924 - Chiang Kai-shek occupies Hankou
1926 - Danish Madsen government, forms
1927 - Iraq gains independence from Britain, but British troops remain
1929 - Alexander Zaimis elected President of Greece
1932 - French government of Herriot falls
1934 - 1st streamlined steam locomotive introduced (Albany NY)
1937 - Japanese troops conquer/plunder Nanjing
1938 - Will Harridge is elected to a 10-year-term as American League president
1939 - Soviet Union attacks Finland - League of Nations drops Soviet Union
1941 - Prime Minister Winston Churchill travels to US on board HMS Duke of York; U-557 torpedoes British cruiser Galatea
1944 - Congress establishes rank of General of the Army (5-star General); German occupiers forbid use of electricity in parts of Holland
1950 - UN General Assembly establishes High Commissioner for Refugees (Nobel 1954)
1952 - Uprising of captives in Pongam South Korea, 82 die
1955 - Tappan Zee Bridge in New York opens to traffic
1956 - Paul-Henri Spaak appointed Secretary-General of NATO
1959 - Archbishop Makarios proclaimed President of Cyprus
1960 - Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) forms
1962 - Mariner 2 launched, makes 1st US visit to another planet (Venus)
1967 - DNA created in a test tube
1971 - Golden Gate Bridge lights out all night due to power failure
1972 - Eugene Cernan & Harrison Schmitt leave the Moon; Willy Brandt re-elected West German chancellor
1976 - Dutch 1st Chamber condemns Dutch Liberal/social-democratic abortion laws
1977 - Egypt & Israel representatives gather in Cairo for 1st formal peace conferenc; War criminal Pieter Menten sentenced in Amsterdam to 15 years
1980 - At 2 PM EST there is 10 minutes of silence in memory of John Lennon
1984 - Howard Cosell retires from Monday Night Football
1986 - Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, takes off from Edwards AFB, California on 1st non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world
1987 - Chrysler pleads no contest to selling driven vehicles as new
1988 - US agrees to talk to Palestine Liberation Organization (1st time in 13 years)
1990 - Right to Die case permits Nancy Cruzan to have her feeding tube removed, she dies 12 days later
1991 - Ferry boat Salem Express sinks in Red Sea, 476 killed
1993 - Muslim fundamentalists murder 12 Croats/Bosnians in Algeria

Birthdays
1503 - Nostradamus (Michel de Nostre-Dam), French astrologist/prophet
1553 - Henri IV, Bourbon king of Navarra (Henri III)/France
1780 - Karl Robert von Nesselrode, German/Russian minister of Foreign Affairs
1812 - Charles J. Canning English earl/1st viceroy of British-Indies
1829 - John Mercer Langston, 1st Black to hold US political office
1830 - Allen Thomas, Confederate Brigadier-General
1832 - Daniel Harris Reynolds, Confederate Brigadier-General
1837 - William Wells, Union Brevet Major General
1870 - Dirk J. de Geer, Dutch premier (1926-29, 39-40)
1870 - Karl Renner, Austrian Chancellor/President (1918-20, 45-50)
1883 - Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido)
1895 - King George VI of England
1895 - Paul Eluard, French communist/poet/resistance fighter (Le Phénix)
1896 - James H. Doolittle, US Army General (Raid on Tokyo 1942)
1897 - Margaret Chase Smith (Representative/Senator-R-ME)
1901 - Paul I, King of Greece (1947-64)
1909 - Edward L. Tatum, USmolecular geneticist (Nobel 1958)
1914 - Karl Carstens, German (CDU)/President - Germany (1979-84)
1920 - Albertus Meintser, office clerk/resistance fighter
1922 - Don Hewitt, CBS news executive producer (60 Minutes)
1927 - Jacobus G. Rietkerk, Dutch internal minister (VVD) (1982-86)
1936 - Robert Allan Ridley Parker, PhD/astronaut (STS-9, STS-35)
1954 - Hans William Schlegel, Astronaut (STS 55); Steven Glenwood, astronaut (STS 52)
1960 - Catherine G. Coleman, Phd/Captain USAF/astronaut (STS 73)

Passings
0872 - Adrian II, Italian Pope (867-72)/last married pope, dies at about 80
1077 - Agnes of Poitou, German empress/wife of emperor Henry III
1136 - Harald IV "Gylle Krist", king of Norway, murdered
1417 - John Oldcastle Lord Cobham, English nobleman, hanged & burned
1542 - James, King of Scotland (1513-42), dies at 30
1591 - Juan de la Cruz (de Yepes), Spanish Carmelet/poet/saint
1754 - Mahmud I, sultan of Turkey, dies at 58
1788 - Carlos III, King of Naples/Spain (1759-88), dies at 72
1799 - George Washington, first American President (1789-97), dies at Mount Vernon, VA, at 67
1861 - Albert prince consort of England & husband of Queen Victoria, dies at 42; George HG earl of Aberdeen English Minister of Foreign affairs, dies at 76
1862 - George Dashiell Bayard, Union Brigadier-General, dies at 27
1900 - Jean B.A. Kessler, director of oil on Dutch Indies, dies at 46
1903 - William Ennis, first cop to die in the electric chair
1909 - Leopold II, King of Belgium, dies
1918 - Sidonio Pais, prince of Portugal, murdered
1945 - Josef Kramer, known as "beast of Belsen,", & 10 others hanged for crimes committed at the Belsen and Oswiecim Nazi concentration camps
1945 - Henry van Goudoever Dutch lawyer/judge, dies on his 69th birthday
1963 - Erich Ollenhauer, German politician (SPD), dies at 62
1975 - Arthur Treacher, TV announcer (Merv Griffin Show), dies at 81
1989 - Andrei D. Sakharov, Soviet Physicist/Dissident/1975 Nobel peace prize winner, dies in Moscow at 68
1990 - Johannes von Thurn und Taxis, prince in Germany, dies at 64

Reported Missing in Action
1966
Brigham, Albert, USMC (GA); KIA, body not recovered

The following three US Navy personnel lost in the crash of an E1B:
Holman, Gerald A., (MI)

Koenig, Edwin Lee (WA)

Mowrey, Richard L., (KS)

Newell, Michael T., USN (NY); F8E shot down, KIA, body not recovered

Wilson, Claude D., Jr., USN (CA); A4E shot down, remains returned June, 1989

1967
Sehorn, James E., USAF (OR); F105D shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Brigadier General - alive as of 1998

1971
The following US Army personnel lost in the crash of a U21A
Boyanowski, John G., (PA); passenger

Bremmer, Dwight A., (TN); passenger

Caldwell, Floyd D., (MO); passenger

Hollinger, Greg N., (ID); passenger

Perkins, Cecil C., (VA); co-pilot

Perry, Otha L., (MI); pilot