Musician Cliff Knizley has a great editorial you're going to want to read:

CLIFF KNIZLEY
September 18. 2006 6:01AM

Coimbatore Iswaran's Sept. 9 Speaking Out, titled "Bush's actions ensure danger" is a dumbfounding take on the worldwide threat of Islamic terrorism. He ignores history and the terrorist's own words and makes arguments unrivaled in their naivete.

Iswaran's Indian heritage doesn't prevent his descent into the pseudo intellectual drivel of the Western leftist. He quotes obscure poets, cites historical anecdotes and throws around SAT words like nobody's business. None of this saves him from sounding completely detached from reality.

The basic premise is an old one, President Bush's policies have created a proliferation of Islamic terrorism. In Iswaran's world, "Bush's war on terror" has "awakened the enemy and assured the possibility of a dastardly act." One week away from Sept. 11 strikes me as an unusual time to make such a statement...

Read the Rest, at Gainesville.com

Marine Corps awards Joe Rosenthal Distinguished Public Service Medal
By Sgt. Christine C. Odom
12th Marine Corps District
His career in photography spanned over half a century; the images he has captured on film have touched the lives of many, but what he was most remembered for on Sept. 15 was his humbling demeanor and gentle nature.... Full Story

From CENTCOM:

What Extremists are Saying
Al-Zawahiri Calls on Muslims to Wage 'War of Jihad', Reject UN Resolutions
Complete interview on centcom.mil


On 11 September 2006, a jihadist website attributed to the Islamic Renewal Organization posted several links to Al-Sahab Media Production's 76-minute interview with Ayman al-Zawahiri, second-in-command in Al-Qa'ida.At the beginning of the videotape, the following note appears: "In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate."

"Warning: We do not allow the airing of this videotape with music; we urge everybody to abide.""Greetings of Al-Sahab Media Productions."Then, excerpts taken from the interview itself are highlighted.Then, a screen caption reads in Arabic and English: "Hot Issues interview with Shaykh Ayman al-Zawahiri 1427 hegira [corresponding to] September 2006."

Then, Al-Zawahiri, wearing a white robe and turban, appears on the screen while the voice of an unidentified interviewer who does not appear throughout the interview is heard.
The following is the full translation of Al-Zawahiri's statement:

[Unidentified interviewer] In the name of God and thanks be to God and prayers and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad, his kinfolk, companions, and followers.

Dear Shaykh Ayman al-Zawahiri: Peace be upon you.

[Al-Zawahiri] Peace be upon you.

[Interviewer] Al-Sahab Media Productions is pleased to hold its second interview with you almost a year after its first interview. It has been five years since the blessed raids of New York and Washington and many events have happened since our first interview. So, we welcome you, our dear shaykh, as Al-Sahab's guest. We pray God that this interview would clear facts and include a benefit to the mujahidin, Muslims, and every free person seeking justice.

[Al-Zawahiri] Amen. We pray God that this would happen.[Interviewer] Dear Shaykh Ayman al-Zawahiri: The fact is that we have many important and serious issues which we hope to discuss. We have Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria, the United States, and the situation in Arab and Islamic countries and others. So, how about if we start talking about Lebanon and Palestine?

[Al-Zawahiri] Very well; go ahead.

[Interviewer] How do you comment on this clear-cut injustice in Lebanon and Gaza and what is the duty of Muslims in this connection?

[Al-Zawahiri] In the name of God and thanks be to God and prayers and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad, his kinfolk, companions, and followers. This injustice and oppression is a clear feature of the features of the Crusader-Zionist aggression against the Muslim nation. When three Israeli soldiers were captured, all of the Crusaders rushed to support Israel. Whereas the fact that there are 10,000 Palestinians sitting in prisons of the Jewish occupation of Muslim Palestine, including almost 700 women and children, does not make neither the Crusaders nor the United Nations, the international false witness, act.

The Muslim nation should come forward with all that is at its disposal to aid its Muslim brothers in Lebanon and Gaza -- all according to their capabilities. The strongest image depicting support for our Muslim brothers in both countries is represented by attacking the interests of the Jews, Crusaders, and those collaborating with them. The Israeli shells and rockets which roast the flesh of our children come from the nations of the Crusader west which have been supporting Israel since its establishment. The materialistic Crusader western civilization knows not the language of ethics and principles but understands the language of punishment and retribution. So, if they taste some of what they are inflicting on our women and children, then they will start giving up their arrogance, stubbornness, and greed and will seek to solve the problem between them and the Muslims.

Complete interview on centcom.mil

Persian Gulf (Sept. 17, 2006) - A Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) assigned to Naval Beach Group Two launches from the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). Iwo Jima recently deployed from her homeport of Norfolk, Va., and began a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) areas of responsibility (AOR) to conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO). U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John Skrzyniarz

Talking With Heroes Going To Iraq and Upcoming Talk Shows

Hello

This is a brief update on our Talk Show going to Iraq and upcoming Talk Shows

Sept 17th on our regular Sunday night time slot we had the talk show I did in Camp Pendleton . I had the privilege of interviewing 4 of Camp Pendleton ’s Marines. We are hoping that the video tape can be used by the Cable/Satellite TV Network and also that the audio will be okay for making a DVD of that talk show. We shot the talk show on the beach with the ocean in the background. The Sept 10th Riverside , CA. Talk Show was also videotaped. Both of these tapings were made thanks to Paul at http://www.minimus.biz/ and the camera crew ladies who he sent to do this taping.

The Talk Show we did live in Riverside, CA and the Camp Pendleton Talk Shows are now in archives in the past/shows archives section.

I am in Abilene , TX for a week or so at a house where one of my brothers lives. My 17 year old cat Rainbow and I were on the road from the middle of July until a few days ago doing talk shows from the east coast to the west coast.

Over the next week we will be taping talk shows that will air over the next four weeks. The first one will air Sept 24th (from the South Carolina militaryresume.com Military Job Fair) which takes place on Sept 21st. Check out the talk show schedule for our great guests. One Captain will have just recently returned from Balad, Iraq .

We have the Oct 1st talk show which will be right before I leave for Kuwait. Later this week we will be taping a talk show that will air Oct 8th and another one that will air Oct 15th. Both of these shows will air while I am doing talk shows in Iraq. The next date Oct 22nd should be our first Talk Show from Iraq over the internet. I will have more certainty on that when I get to Kuwait and meet the Public Affairs Officers who are planning our tour in Iraq .

They are telling me that every two days Andrew and I will be moved to another base to do more talk shows. I am requesting and inviting everybody to please pray that we will do a great job on all these talk shows and also please pray for a safe return.

The airplane tickets have now been purchased thanks to a sponsor. I will fly from Denver to JFK in New York and from there to Kuwait with Andrew. Then the big adventure really beginsJ We still need to raise about $1,500 then we will have the whole Iraq tour covered.

I have added something to the website that I hope will encourage people to take the leap towards becoming a sponsor. If you go to the home page… http://www.talkingwithheroes.com/

Read the text at the top of the Home Page in the middle with the title:

“Talking with Heroes Talk Show On The Road!”

At the end of that paragraph please click on:

“Click Here To See Who They Are!”

These New Sponsors will receive all according to the level of sponsorship they take. All Sponsors of all Levels will be listed on this special Iraq Tour Sponsor Page. I hope to have created an extra incentive that will be a win/win for those who could afford a $100 or $500 or more sponsorship.

If you can help this would be a good week to respond so we can finish up the fund raising side of this tour. The opportunity to be thanked on one or more of the Iraq Talk Shows will have passed, once I am in Iraq actually doing the talk shows. However people can still be listed as sponsors on our website and also on the Special Iraq Talk Show Page.

Thank you to all of you who are doing your part in supporting our troops and their families. Thank you to all who have helped us get this far and thanks to those who have been helping us get the word out.


Blessings
Bob Calvert, HOST
www.talkingwithheroes.com

ARABIC LESSON — U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Bradley E. Trudell, battalion sergeant major, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, took time to learn a few words of Arabic during Operation Matador in Fallujah, Iraq, Sept. 13, 2006. The operation was a combined effort with U.S. Marines, Iraqi army and Iraqi police to disrupt insurgent activity in the Andaloos district of Fallujah. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brian Reimers

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
New judge expels defiant Saddam from genocide trial - Video
Saddam Lawyers Leave Court
Defense attorneys protest new chief judge
Truck Bomb Crashes Into Iraqi Police Headquarters
Fear strikes Iraq's Christians over Pope words
Pentagon weighs troop demands in Iraq
Doubts Increase About Strength of Iraq's Premier
Senators Seek to Declassify Iraq Reports

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Arrest in Attack Plot on U.S. Consulate in Vietnam
Two more Australians to face terrorism trials

Other Military News
Indian troops train with U.S. in Hawaii
Saying Thank You to Those Who Answered the Call
Little Creek Sailors Mourn 2nd Death

Mid-East Ceasefire / Israel at War
Israel plans full Lebanon withdrawal within days
Israeli air strike kills Palestinian in Gaza
Bush to meet with Palestinian leader

Immigration / Border Control
Woman Deported After Admitting Nazi Concentration Camp Link

NSA / CIA
White House Drops a Condition on Interrogation Bill
Compromise offered on surveillance bill

Worldwide Wackos
Ahmadinejad: Iran Nuke Program 'Transparent, Peaceful'
Bush, Iran leader spar over nuke standoff
Iran leader says U.S. abusing U.N. power

Politics / Government
Patrick Wins Dem. Nod in Mass. Gubernatorial Primary
Democratic senator wins primary against war foe
Bush Warns Iranians of 'Liberty' Denied

U.N. News
All Eyes on the Middle East
General Assembly to discuss peace process
General Assembly a diplomatic ritual
Cooler weather aids Calif. firefighters

Mother Nature
Central Azores warning discontinued

Media in the Media
USC complains about ABC's Musburger
Photographer's Detention Spurs Debate

Oddities
Paris Hilton: No More Singing
Chinese Doctors Claim Penis Transplant
Penis transplant removed after two weeks
Women Dragged Behind Car in Denver, Leaving Mile-Long Blood Trail
Denver Police Probe Gruesome Dragging Death
Thief accidentally turns himself in
Someone else weighs in on thin model debate
Panda bites man, man bites him back

Other News of Note
Thai Military Leader Justifies Coup
EU Condemns Military Coup in Thailand
Smiling Thais take coup in their stride
Pictures: Thai army seizes Bangkok
Thai military coup rattles markets
Shuttle crew inspects Atlantis for mystery object - Video
Pope says anti-Islam quotes not his own views

Fox News
Stocks to Watch: Oracle and Morgan Stanley
Protesters, Police Clash in Budapest
Mexico Pledges to Extradite All Drug Lords to U.S.
Baby Kidnapped After Woman Slashed Missouri Mom's Throat Found Alive and Well

Reuters: Top News
Hungary police brace for more clashes - Video
Japan's Abe wins party leadership, set to be PM
Blast at Mittal's Kazakh mine kills at least 18
S.Africa judge throws out graft case against Zuma
Thirteen dead in Ukraine mine blast
Mexican, L.A. cardinals sued in priest abuse case
Number of gay-friendly companies growing: study
New ring spotted on Saturn: NASA
Microsoft: Xbox HD DVD player Japan launch in Nov
Nokia unveils new 3G phone model
Big Papi closes in on Red Sox record
Eating fatty fish warded off kidney cancer in study
Medtronic spine device works: experts
Carey, Peppers, Peas lead American Music nominees
Def Leppard reissues "Hysteria" with bonus disc
Oil pauses after 3 pct dive, U.S. stocks seen high
Gold near 3-month low on weak oil, Thai coup ignored
Yen strength continues, market awaits Fed
Nikkei at 5-week closing low, Internet stocks hit
Stock futures rise before Fed; Oracle gains
Fed seen holding rates steady
Xcel CEO urges national emissions plan
HP studied spying on newsrooms: NY Times
Airbus superjumbo fresh delay report hits shares
U.S. business urges China to suspend media rules
Yahoo, Current TV unveil new video service

AP World News
Thousands remember 'Crocodile Hunter'
Twins close within half-game of Tigers
Padres rebound, take NL West lead
Oracle first-quarter profit, shares soar
Phillies win, 1 game out in NL wild card
Cousteau: Irwin's tactics 'misleading'Crowe honors Irwin at memorial service
Mother of man in kidnap case arrested
3rd baby dies from drug overdose in Ind.
Obituaries in the news

Military.com
The Road to Disillusionment
Air Marshals Ousted Over Job Injuries

CENTCOM: News Releases
AFGHAN, COALITION DOCTORS TREAT ANDAR PATIENTS

IRAQI ARMY AND COALITION SOLDIERS DISCOVER WEAPONS CACHE

4TH IRAQI ARMY ASSUMES SECURITY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SALAH AD DIN PROVINCE

COALITION MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARRIVE IN DADAY VILLAGE

ALLIES RESTORE GOVERNMENT, HOPE IN ANDAR

USJFCOM
Empire Challenge 06 focuses on joint, coalition warfighting operations - podcast
Liveblogging: Urban Resolve 2015 - Read Chris' liveblog

Department of Defense
NEWS UPDATES
Cheney: America Determined to Defeat Terrorism - Story
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
Trade Show Highlights Progress in Irbil - Story
Leaders Highlight Successes of Baghdad Operation - Story
Micro-Finance Organization Helps Local Pharmacy - Story
Soldier Hit by Anti-Tank Mine Praises Up-Armor - Story

IN IRAQ
Operation Improves Ameriyah, Deters Terrorists
82nd Airborne Takes Over Operations in Bayji
Iraqi Police, U.S. Soldiers Seize Weapons, Suspects
25th Infantry Division Continues Transition Role
Iraqi Police Department Recruits 67 Men-in-Blue

IN AFGHANISTAN
10th Mountain Division Soldiers Thwart Extremists
Legacy of Fallen Citadel Graduate Lives On

BACKGROUND
IRAQ
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (PDF)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Weekly Reconstruction Report (PDF)
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Army Casualty - 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

Gitmo

Today in History
0622 - Mohammad's Hegira (flight from Mecca to Medina) begins.
1519 - Magellan starts his first successful circumnavigation of the world.
1565 - The Spaniards capture Fort Caroline (FL), massacring the French inside.
1664 - Maryland enacts the first anti-amaglmation law, aimed to prevent widespread intermarriage of English women and Black men.
1777 - In the "Paoli massacre," British troops led by Lord Grey bayonet American General Anthony Wayne's sleeping troops, killing 53, and wounding over 100.
1797 - In Boston, the U.S. frigate Constitution (Old Ironsides) is launched.
1850 - The slave trade abolished in Washington, DC, but slavery is allowed to continue.
1854 - The British and French defeat the Russians at Alma, in the Crimea.
1859 - The electric range is patented.
1860 - The Prince of Wales (King Edward VII) becomes the first member of British royalty.
1863 - The Battle of Chickamauga (near Chattanooga, TN) ends.
1881 - Chester A. Arthur is sworn in as President.
1945 - German rocket engineers begin work in the U.S.
1951 - The first North Pole jet crossing takes place.
1954 - The First National People's Congress adopts the Chinese constitution.
1958 - Martin Luther King, Jr. is stabbed in the chest by a deranged woman in NYC.
1960 - The U.N. General Assembly admits 13 African countries and Cyprus.
1966 - The U.S. launches Surveyor-B launched towards the Moon; it crashes on Sept. 23
1967 - Hurricane Beulah hits the Texas-Mexican border, killing 38.
1970 - Luna-16 lands on the Moon's Mare Fecunditatis, and drills a core sample.
1973 - Baseball great Willie Mays announces his retirement at end of the 1973 season.
1977 - Voyager-2 is launched for a fly-by of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
1979 - A bloodless coup in the Central African Republic overthrows Emperor Bokassa I.
1979 - NASA launches HEAO.
1982 - NFL players begin a 57-day strike.
1984 - A suicide car bomber attacks the U.S. Embassy annex in Beirut.
1985 - Walt Disney World welcomes its 200-millionth guest.
1990 - Both Germanys ratify reunification; Saddam Hussein demands that U.S. networks broadcast his message.

Birthdays
357 BC- Alexander III (Alexander the Great), king of Macedonia, emperor
1833 - Ernesto Teodoro Moneta, journalist, Nobel Peace Prize winner (1907)
1934 - Sophia Loren, actress (Desire Under the Elms, Black Orchid)
1951 - Guy LaFleur Quebec, NHL right wing (Montreal, NY Rangers)

Passings
1947 - Fiorello La Guardia (Mayor-NYC)
1973 - Jim Croce singer/songwriter (Time In A Bottle), in a plane crash; Glenn Strange, actor (Sam the Bartender-Gunsmoke)

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Black, Arthur N., USAF (PA); HH43B shot down (pararescue), released by DRV February, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Curtis, Thomas J., USAF (TX); HH43B shot down (pilot), released by DRV February, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Forby, Willis E,., USAF (SD); F105 shot down, released by DRV February, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive as of 1998

Hawkins, Edgar Lee, USAF (TX); F105D shot down (pilot)

Martin, Duane W., USAF (CO); HH43B shot down (co-pilot) reported killed in captivity

Robinson, William A., USAF (NC); HH43B shot down (crew chief), released by DRV February, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Smith, Philip E., USAF (IL); F104C shot down (pilot), released by China March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

1966
Bloom, Richard McAuliffe, USMC (CA); A4E shot down (pilot), KIA, body not recovered

1972
Lester, Roderick B., USN (WA); A6A shot down (pilot)