From Paralyzed Veterans of America:


Not Your Run-Of-The-Mill 14-Year-Old
Fun-loving 14-year-old Aaron Fotherington isn’t a paralyzed veteran. But he certainly shares the “go for it” attitude embraced so many of our young servicemen and women who are determined to live life to the fullest.


Find out more about wheelchair sports
Support Paralyzed Veterans

Labels: Good News, Veterans Affairs, Wounded

OSPREY MISSION
Air Force Special Operations Command's first CV-22 Osprey awaits its next mission on the ramp at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Feb. 8, 2006. The tilt-rotor Osprey, which has the speed of a conventional airplane and the ability to hover like a helicopter, gives AFSOC warfighters the ability to perform special operations missions. U.S. Air Force photo by Chief Master Sgt. Gary Emery

Labels: CV-22, Hurlburt Field, Osprey, photos, USAF

From MoveAmericaForward:

NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Robert Dixon
February 15, 2007
Phone: (916) 441-6197
Email: http://us.f810.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=robert@moveamericaforward.org

NATIONAL PATRIOTIC CARAVAN COUNTERS ANTI-WAR EFFORT

From California to Washington, D.C. March 8th – March 17th

A national patriotic, pro-troop caravan will cross the nation, traveling from California to Washington, D.C. to show support for U.S. troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The "THESE COLORS DON'T RUN" national caravan (organized and sponsored by the pro-troop non-profit group Move America Forward – http://www.moveamericaforward.org/) will depart San Francisco, California on the morning of Thursday, March 8, 2007, traversing the length of the state and then heading across the nation. The patriotic caravan will feature stops across the nation in major cities where pro-troop rallies will take place.

Leading the caravan will be Blue Star Mother Deborah Johns, whose son William is serving his 3rd tour of duty in Iraq; Gold Star Mother Debra Argel Bastian whose son, Derek, died in Operation Iraqi Freedom; Gold Star Father Joseph Williams whose son, Michael, died in Operation Iraqi Freedom; and John Ubaldi – a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan).

At each rally, participants will bring American flags – either a homemade one they created themselves, a store-bought flag, or a flag that has a special significance, history or meaning. The flags will be collected at each stop and brought to Washington, D.C. where they will be displayed to create a giant "Flag City" on Saturday, March 17, 2007.

The participants of Move America Forward's "THESE COLORS DON'T RUN" caravan will join with several other patriotic and pro-troop organizations for a giant patriotic rally in Washington, D.C. on March 17th. Among the participating groups MAF is proud to support in this display of patriotism are: Free Republic, Gathering of Eagles, Vets for Victory and Vets For Truth.

"There's been way too much negativity and doom-and-gloom mentality in this nation about our nation, our values and the missions our troops are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward.

"We're sick and tired of the shameful subversiveness of the anti-war crowd and we decided it's time to give Americans a chance to respond with a positive, uplifting and patriotic response," Morgan said.




The Anti-war crows plans to assemble AT THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL. The idea of allowing this crowd to assemble at that wall is nauseating - especially given their past performance, during which Hero Joshua Sparling was threatened, insulted, and spat at.

If you are able, please consider making the trip to D.C. for St. Patrick's Day.

More details are available here:
Gathering of Eagles to Protect Vietnam Memorial Wall

Labels: Anti-War protests, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbats, Move America Forward, Supporting the troops, Veterans Affairs

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraqi Terror Chief Reportedly Injured
Experts: Iran's Quds Force Deeply Enmeshed in Iraq
Rep. Murtha Drafts Bill Preventing Troop Deployments
U.S.-Iraqi forces meet little resistance in Baghdad
Iraq war tests unity among U.S. Muslims
Report: 1M Iraqis may flee violence
Auditors: Billions squandered in Iraq
Al-Qaida in Iraq agent now reported held
Iraqi People Share U.S. Expectations, Bush Says

Operation Enduring Freedom
'Holocaust of the Americans' - New video purportedly shows Al Qaeda attack
Taliban deploy 10,000 fighters for attack: commander
Military.com Blog: NATO's Winter Afghan Offensive
President Outlines Strategy for Afghanistan - Story
Transcript: Bush Discusses Progress in Afghanistan

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
CIA agents to stand trial for kidnapping
U.S. reserves judgment on Palestinian govt: Rice - Video
Indonesia province on alert after attack warnings
Thailand plans to talk with Muslim insurgents: PM

Welcome Home!!
Sailors Return from Mission in Iraq - Story

Troops on Trial
Air Force Cadets Caught in Cheat Probe

Supporting Our Heroes
Operation Jellybeans Launches - Story

Other Military News
West Point center aims to know the enemy

Worldwide Wackos
Pyongyang Birthday Party
North Korea's Kim basks in birthday, nuclear glory - Video
S. Korea Worried North Won't Keep Promises
Bush seeks to tamp down revolt on North Korea deal
Gates says U.S. not looking for excuse for Iran war
U.S., developing nations accept Iran aid cut plan

Politics / Government
Study: FCC Should Limit TV Violence
Pelosi: Bush Has No Authority to Invade Iran

Immigration / Border Control
U.S. agent gets 5 years for immigrant smuggling

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
YouTube Video Leads to Charges For High School Bomb-Maker
Teacher Convicted of Having Kids Undress
Two-year sentence for Ohio couple who caged kids
Govt.: Air passengers have no recourse

U.N. News
Darfur rebel group says accepts ceasefire, talks

Science / Medicine / Technology
Baldness-Fighting Laser Comb Wins FDA OK
Artificial retina implant holds promise for blind
More evidence found for water on Mars
Astronaut's arrest won't affect mission

Mother Nature
Pennsylvania Drivers Still Stuck After Storm
Cleanup continues after winter onslaught

Oddities
Cops: Woman Stabs Lover to Drink His Blood
Baby Delivered Into Mother's Sweatpants
Owner: Groomer Glued Dog's Cut Ear Back On
Want to visit Hannibal the Cannibal? Probably not... - Video
Chinese man gets death for ant-breeding scam - Video

Other News of Note
Sri Lanka says sinks two rebel Tiger boats, 4 dead

Fox News
Gordon Fails NASCAR Inspection - PHOTOS
Officials Link Salmonella to Peanut Butter
NBA Bans Hardaway From All-Star Weekend
Battle Waged Over Anna Nicole's Body
Zsa Zsa Gabor’s Husband Files for DNA Test
Doctor Investigated Over Prescriptions
Flight Attendant Admits to Mile-High Fling With Actor Ralph Fiennes
Scientologists to Be? Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Are Losing Their Religion
Scientology Called 'the Kabbalah of 2007' ... but Will Hollywood Really Convert?
Pop Tarts: Jessica Simpson Has Emergency Makeover

Reuters: Top News
China, Japan seek to keep rapprochement on course
Italians hiring top architects to style wineries
Japan spy satellite launch postponed
Adventurer to open first Antarctic education base
Apple, Cisco extend negotiations on iPhone name
Mobile TV requires higher, costly frequencies - Video
Singapore revamps its waterways in tourism drive
Egyptian woman with bird flu dies: health official
Oil eases below $58, warmer weather in view
AMR hits 6-yr high on buyout talk
U.S. housing, inflation are investor focus
Stock futures point down on Microsoft, China
Dollar regains poise after sell-off, eyes U.S. data
Where's the yield?
Capital flows a poor dollar omen
BA, GoldmanSachs not planning AMR bid: sources
BBVA builds U.S. muscle with $9.6 bln Compass buy
Sapporo fight fizzes on Asahi, Kirin tie-up talk
U.S. may charge ex-execs at Broadcom, Apple - report
Chrysler, GM in talks on vehicle project: reports
Wal-Mart Japan unit sees return to profit in 2007

AP World News
CDC tracks peanut butter contamination
New Orleans seeks text-message donations
Fortune: Year of Pig will bring disaster
N.D. lawmakers reject bill to honor Bono
Steinbrenner successor arrested for DUI
Hershey plans to cut work force by 1,500
Hasty crowns Johansson as woman of year
Kenny Chesney denies gay rumors
Attorney guilty of BALCO testimony leak
New 'Lost' episode hits a ratings low
Dow ends up 23, Nasdaq finishes up 9
Bonds finally signs contract with Giants
Finding toilet at Mardi Gras a challenge
Fla.: No charges for 'Tigger' actor
Obituaries in the news

Military.com
$1.9 Billion Retiree Health Fee Hike
Coping With a Spouse's Deployment
Op-ed: The Russian Bear is Back
Play Trivia and Win an iPod
Job Hunting Tips From Military.com
Ten Steps to Joining the Military

CENTCOM: Press Releases
HOSTAGE RESCUED IN SALMAN PAK
OPERATION LAW AND ORDER BEGINS
CCCI CONVICTS 13 INSURGENTS

USJFCOM
JPADS continues to improve the way it delivers aerial drops to the warfighter - podcast

DefenseLink
Gates, Pace Give Update on Iraq, Afghanistan - Story
Gates, Pace Talk About Iranian Involvement in Iraq
Chairman Returns From Australia, Indonesia - Story
Navy Lab in Indonesia Leads in Medical Research
Officials Seek to Improve Support Programs - Story

More Headline News
Bush Will Protect U.S. Troops, Not Provoke War
President Says Baghdad Security Plan on Track
North Korea Agrees to Nuclear Disarmament
Precision Important to Intelligence Analysis

Military News
Army Unit Slated for Afghanistan Duties in Spring
Navy, Marines Request Funding for Equipment
Active Military Meets January Recruiting Goals
Vietnam Hero to be Awarded Medal of Honor

America Supports You
'VetFran' Helps with Franchises
Donation Gets Troops Moving

War on Terror
Security Crackdown Continues - Story
Official Defines Iraq's Potential
Five Troops Killed in Iraq
Hostile Fire Caused Feb. 7 Crash

Transformation
New Program Encourages Troops to Save Money - Story
U.S., Peruvian Air Forces Train
36th Ops Group Reactivates
FCS Test Systems Hard to Let Go

Face of Defense
Spouses Serve in Iraq
Sailor Earns Bronze Star
Songs Soothe Combat Soldiers

DefendAmerica
NEWS UPDATES
Stability & Security in Iraq Report (pdf)
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
Soldiers, Iraqi Citizens Share Goal of Peace - Story
Iraqi Police Train to Lead, Protect Fellow Officers - Story
Comedians Bring Laughter to U.S. Troops - Story
Army Vice Chief of Staff Visits Ironhorse Troops - Story
1st Stinger Battery Begins Iraq Deployment - Story
U.S. Troops, Iraqis Celebrate Bridge Opening - Story

IN IRAQ
U.S. Marines Help Secure 'Smugglers Town'
Organization Delivers Supplies to Iraqi Families
Aircrew Aids Globemaster Carrying Injured
Iraqis 'Get Answers' from Civil Affairs Marines
Americans Unite with Socotra to Build Schools
Engineers Build High School in Northern Baghdad
Army Engineers Help Build Potable Water Plant
Taji Unit Works to Keep Supplies on the Road
Residents Reap Benefits of New Petrol Station
Soldiers Secure Area as Doctors Treat Villagers

IN AFGHANISTAN
Zabul Provincial Hospital Welcomes Jordanians
Goodwill Missions Continue in Eastern Afghanistan
Senior Air Force Leaders Address Deployments

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
'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: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

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

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama

Philippines
Baler Radar Site Catanduanes Radar Site Manila

South Korea
Cheju Upper/Radar Chonju Chunchon Inch'on Kunsan Masan Mokp'o
Osan Pusan Seoul Suwon Taegu Taejon Tonghae Radar Site Ulsan Yosu

Today in History
0374 - 9th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet
0600 - Pope Gregory the Great decrees saying "God bless You" is the correct response to a sneeze
1349 - Jews are expelled from Burgsdorf, Switzerland
1512 - Battle at Valeggio - French troops beat Venetianen
1559 - Pope Paul IV calls for deposition of sovereigns supporting heresy
1641 - English king Charles I accept Triennial Act
1659 - 1st known check (£400) (on display at Westminster Abbey)
1666 - Netherlands & Brandenburg sign treaty
1677 - Earl of Shaftesbury arrested/confined in London Tower
1741 - Benjamin Franklin's "General Magazine" (2nd US Magazine) begins publishing
1742 - Earl of Wilmington becomes British premier
1760 - Native American hostages killed in Ft. Prince George, SC
1771 - Messier presents his original list of 45 M-objects to French Academy
1777 - Messier adds M53 to his catalog (globular cluster in Coma Berenice)
1804 - Lieutenant Stephen Decatur raids Tripoli Harbor & burns Navy frigate Philadelphia after pirates seized it
1832 - HMS Beagle/Charles Darwin reaches St-Pauls (1ºN, 29ºW)
1838 - Kentucky passes law permitting women to attend school under conditions
1840 - American Charles Wilkes discovers Shackleton Ice Shelf, Antarctica
1846 - Battle of Sobraon ends 1st Sikh War in India
1860 - Dutch Rochussen/Van Bosse government resigns
1862 - Ft. Donelson captured by General Grant (1,400 Confederates surrender)
1864 - Battle of Mobile, AL - operations by Union Army
1868 - Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks founded in New York
1878 - Silver dollar becomes US legal tender
1883 - "Ladies Home Journal" begins publication
1887 - 1st newspaper convention (Rochester NY)
1894 - British troops occupy Ilorin, Gold Coast
1900 - 1st Chinese daily newspaper in US publishes 1st issue (Chung Sai Yat Po-San Francisco)
1909 - 1st subway car with side doors goes into service (New York, NY); Serbia mobilizes against Austria-Hungary
1913 - President Taft agrees not to intervene in Mexico
1914 - 1st airplane flight from to Los Angeles from San Francisco
1916 - Russian troops conquer Erzurum, Armenia
1917 - 1st synagogue in 425 years opens in Madrid
1918 - Lithuania declares independence from Russia & Germany (National Day)
1923 - Howard Carter finds Pharoah Tutankhamen; Allies accept Latvia's occupation of Memel territory
1927 - US restores diplomatic relations with Turkey
1931 - Extreme right wing Svinhufvud becomes President of Finland
1932 - 1st patent issued for a tree, to James Markham for a peach tree
1933 - Catholic newspaper Germania warns against Nazis/communists
1936 - 4th Winter Olympics games close at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
1936 - Spanish Frente Popular (People's Front) wins elections
1937 - DuPont Corp patents nylon, developed by employee Wallace H. Carothers
1938 - US Federal Crop Insurance program authorized
1940 - British search plane finds German Altmark off Norway
1942 - German submarines attack Aruba oil refinery
1943 - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gets pneumonia; Red Army conquers Kharkov; Sign on Munich facade "Out with Hitler! Long live freedom!" done by "White Rose" student group, caught on 2/18, beheaded on 2/22; Withdrawing Africa Corps reaches Mareth-line in North-Africa
1945 - US forces land on Corregidor, complete conquest on March 3; Venezuela declares war on Nazi-Germany
1946 - 1st commercially designed helicopter tested, Bridgeport, CT
1948 - Miranda, famous moon of Uranus, photographed for 1st time; 1st newsreel telecast, "20th Century Fox-Movietone News" shown on NBC
1950 - Longest-running prime-time game show, "What's My Line" begins on CBS
1951 - NYC passes bill prohibiting racism in city-assisted housing; San Francisco City Hall dome fire
1956 - Britain abolishes the death penalty
1959 - Fidel Castro names himself Cuba's premier after overthrowing Batista
1960 - US nuclear submarine USS Triton sets off on underwater round-world trip
1961 - 1st all-solid-propellant rocket put in orbit, Wallops Island, VA; China uses it's 1st nuclear reactor; US satellite Explorer 9 is launched
1963 - 1st round-trip swim of Strait of Messina, Italy (Mary Revell of US); C & A Building in Amsterdam burns down
1965 - Pegasus 1 launched to detect micro-meteors
1968 - Country's 1st 911 phone system goes into service in Haleyville, AL
1972 - German mass murderers "Three of Breda" freed
1978 - 1st Computer Bulletin Board System (Ward & Randy's CBBS, Chicago)
1980 - Continuous traffic jam extends 176 km north of Lyons, France; Eric Heiden skates 5k in 7 02.29 (Olympics Record)
1982 - Agatha Barbara elected as 1st female President of Malta
1984 - Bill Johnson becomes 1st American to win Olympics downhill skiing gold
1986 - Mário Soares (Socialist) elected Portugal's 1st civilian president
1986 - French air force bombs Ouadi Doum airport in Chad
1988 - 1st documented combat action by US military advisors in El Salvador
1989 - Egypt, Iraq, Jordan & North Yemen form common market
1989 - William Hayden becomes governor-General of Australia
1991 - Dutch PPR, Political Party Radicals, disbands
1994 - 6.5 earthquake strikes SE Sumatra, kills 200; Premier Alfonso Bustamente ends government in Peru

Birthdays
1519 - Gaspard de Coligny, Huguenot leader/French Admiral
1620 - Frederick William, Great Elector, founder of Brandenburg-Prussia
1807 - Lysander Cutler, Union Brevet Major General
1812 - Henry Wilson, 18th Vice-President (1873-75)
1813 - Joseph Reid Anderson, Confederate Brigadier General
1822 - James Patton Anderson, Confederate Major General
1823 - Brigadier General John D. Imboden, organized 1st Virginia Partisan Rangers
1832 - Camille Armand Jules Marie de Polignac, Confederate Major General
1834 - Ernst Heinrich Haeckel, biologist (Causes of Evolution)
1848 - Hugo de Vries, Dutch botanist (How species emerge)
1852 - Charles Taze Russell, founded Jehovah's Witnesses
1866 - Johann Strauss, composer (Waltz King)
1904 - George F. Kennan, US ambassador (to Moscow)
1905 - Lord Franks British ambassador (to US)
1909 - Hugh Beaumont, actor (Ward Cleaver - "Leave it to Beaver")
1912 - Machito "Frank Grillo", bandleader (created salsa music); Maitland Mackie, Lord Lieutenant (Aberdeenshire)
1918 - Károly earl Khuen-Héderváry, Hungarian Governor/premier (1910-12)
1924 - Peter Webster, British High Court Judge
1931 - George E. Sangmeister (Representative-IL)
1937 - Valentin Vasilyevich Bondarenko, cosmonaut
1942 - Kim Jong-Il (Yura), President of North-Korea (1994- )
1943 - James Beaton British GC
1950 - Peter Hain, British MP
1998 - Mr. Jefferson, 1st cloned calf

Passings
0309 - Pamphilus van Caesarea, Palestinian scholar/martyr, beheaded
0923 - Abu Dja'far Mohammed Djarir al-Tabari, Islamic historian, dies at 83
1247 - Hendrik Raspe (Papenking), count of Thüringen
1279 - Afonso III, King of Portugal (1248-79)
1391 - Johannes V. Palaeologus, Emperor of Byzantium (1341-91)
1538 - Everhard/Erardus van de Mark, prince-bishop of Liege, dies at 65
1600 - Giordano Bruno, burned at stake
1791 - Richard earl d'Alton, General of S. Netherlands, commits suicide at 58
1834 - Lionel Lukin, life boat pioneer
1899 - François Félix Faure, President of France (1895-99), dies at 57
1900 - George Labram, US mine engineer in South Africa, dies in battle
1912 - Edgar Evans, British explorer (Antarctica)
1951 - Henri Velge, 1st chairman (Belgian Council of State), dies at 65
1957 - Leslie Hore-Belisha (Lord Halifax), British Minister of Transport, dies at 63
1966 - Hendrik W. Tilanus, artillery officer/leader (CHU 1939-63), dies at 81
1979 - Nematullah Nassiri, Iranian General/head of Savak, executed
1986 - Howard Da Silva Cleveland OH, actor (Ben Franklin-"1776"), dies at 76
1991 - Enrique B. Varela, commandant, Nicaragua Contras
1992 - Abbas Musawi, leader of Hezbollah, assassinated; Janio Quadros, President of Brazil (1961)
1993 - Richard Salant, news president (CBS-60 Minutes), dies at 78
1996 - Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, politician, dies at 90; MacLean Stevenson actor (MASH), dies of heart attack at 66; Roger Bowen, actor (MASH, Main Event, What about Bob), dies at 62
1998 - Martha Gellhorn, war reporter (Reuters), dies at 89

Reported Missing in Action
1968
Vollmer, Valentine Bernard, US Army (WI); KIA, remains recovered August, 1974

1969
Moore, Jerry L., US Army (NC); disappeared during mortar attack on observation post

Wogan, William M., US Army (NY); disappeared after evacuating wounded at a landing strip, when a bomb exploded at his location

1971
Hoskins, Charles L., USAF (KS); F4D shot down (weapons/systems officer, w/Pattilo)

Pattillo, Ralph N., USAF (AL); F4D shot down (pilot, w/Hoskins)

1972
Galati, Ralph W., USAF (PA); F4D shot down (w/Schwertfeger) - released by DRV March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Lee, Albert Eugene, USN (OH)

Schwertfeger, William R., USAF (OK); F4D shot down (pilot, w/Galati)released by DRV March, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Labels: Headlines, History