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Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Senate Rejects Bill to Cut Iraq Combat Funding

Senate Rejects Bill to Cut Iraq Combat Funding After March 31, 2008
Wednesday, May 16, 2007

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday rejected legislation that would cut off money for combat operations in Iraq after March 31, 2008.

The vote was a loss for Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., and other Democrats who want to end the war. But the effort picked up support from members, including presidential hopefuls previously reluctant to limit war funding — an indication of the war's unpopularity among voters.

The proposal lost 29-67 on a procedural vote, falling 41 votes short of the necessary votes to advance.


Most annoying part of the article? It's this:

The proposal had been expected to fall short of the 60 votes needed to advance under Senate rules, but was intended to gauge the tolerance of members on anti-war legislation.


Read the Rest at Fox News to see what Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Harry Reid had to say.

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One. Freaking. Million

At some point today, this blog will register its one millionth visitor.


Wow.


Can't believe we're going to hit a million. Thanks to all of you who stop by regularly, and those of you who just pass through.


I'll post links to some of my favorite posts - and more popular rants - later today.

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Update: 4:16 pm:



Woohoo!!



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Some of my favorite posts / favorite rants (in no particular order):

My Merry Moonbat poems (Part I, Part II). I'm not much for writing poetry, but these came easy, and I was pretty proud of them.

My Two Cents - these posts are perhaps the most "me"; Most of the time, they just flow, but sometimes they're a little tough to write. Those are the ones that are the most important to me, usually written when I'm outraged at something, and sometimes I find myself going, "Yeesh, do I really want to say that?" But the answer that I usually come to is that since being politically correct is doing such damage to our country, I'm going to try and avoid it whenever possible. Those posts are rarely politically correct. Some of my favorites:

Shame on You, Senator Kennedy! (My first real rant)

Hamas Rising

The Gathering Storm

These are also usually my most popular posts, oddly enough. What's really amazing to me is that my most recent, "Reality Check," wasn't what I thought was my best work - and it was the most widely read one I've done. It was linked at places like The Jawa Report, The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler, The Thunder Run, and others, I've had email requests to be allowed to send it to people, to repost it...it certainly got a lot of mileage, and I was thrilled that people liked it. It also bolsters me to know that there are people out there who get it, who believe the way that I do.

The Camp Lejeune Ballerinas post - it was wonderful to see how the blogging community came together to ensure that these little girls had a very special ballet recital, and I was proud to be a part of it.


I'd love to hear from some of my regular readers (and those passing through) - what are your favorite posts? What keeps you coming back? What do you / don't you like about the blog?

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Missing Heroes Identified

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 591-07
May 15, 2007

DoD Announces Army Soldiers as Whereabouts Unknown



The Department of Defense announced today the identities of four soldiers listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They have been unaccounted for since May 12 in Al Taqa, Iraq, when their patrol was attacked by enemy forces using automatic fire and explosives. They are assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Reported as DUSTWUN are:

Sgt. Anthony J. Schober, 23, of Reno, Nev.

Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Mass.

Pfc. Joseph J. Anzack Jr., 20, of Torrance, Calif.

Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich.

Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, and the incident is under investigation.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Coalition Press Information Center-Baghdad at (703) 270-0299 or (703) 270-0320.

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Adel Khalil Abdulla wipes the tears off his daughter Nehad’s face, May 2. Nehad received shrapnel wounds during a terrorist attack while playing soccer outside of her house on April 25.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Ryan R. Jackson, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (FWD), submitted 05/16/2007

Read the story associated with this photo

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Immigration Alert

Amnesty for illegal immigrants could be debated as early as today...

The majority of Senate Republicans opposed the Kennedy-McCain-Hagel-Martinez bill (S. 2611), but the Senate passed it by 62-36 (Roll Call 157). Thanks to sensible House members, the bill died.

Now, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), is bringing up this dangerous bill (S. 1348) again, as a starting point for the Senate debate on immigration, which could begin tomorrow! Eagle Forum members nationwide have been instrumental in stopping the amnesty President Bush and party elites want to force on the American people. Your calls and local action are needed yet again!!

Details of the bill on "comprehensive immigration reform" can be found here.

To find out how to contact your Senators, go here.

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An Air Force C-130 Hercules maintainer examines one of the aircraft's four propeller-driven engines at a base in Southwest Asia. Coalition C-130s and C-17 Globemaster IIIs delivered more than 510 tons of supplies and transported more than 3,600 people May 14. The C-130 has been in use in the U.S. for more than 50 years. More than 40 models and variations of the Hercules serve in more than 50 nations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Miller)

Read the story associated with this photo

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At Least the News is Good for Some Laughs...

It's rare that anything that includes the word 'torture' is funny, which makes this story all the more enjoyable. The latest accusations of 'torture' at Gitmo are downright hilarious.

What are they?

Waterboarding? Nope

Canings? Way off

Sleep deprivation? Electro-shock? Dogs? Nope, Nyet, Non.

So what is it that, thanks to Majid Khan, will be added to the list of reported instances of brutality?


Well, if you can believe it, the list includes the following:

- being forced to use unscented deodorant and shampoo

- having to play sports with a ball that did not bounce

- had his baby pictures taken away

- was not given a DVD player

- the people who cleaned his cell left marks on the walls.


Of course, that's not quite the image you get if you see the headline, A DETAINEE'S STATEMENT: Transcript alleges torture (AP)



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Funniest news item of the day, though has to be the revelation that the French are officially the whiniest people on the planet:

The French have come top of a list of the world's most whining workers, beating British and Swedish employees when it comes to complaining, according to an international study on work attitudes.

The study places American workers fourth behind France, Britain, and Sweden.

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ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 14, 2007) - A Sailor assigned to Air Department aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) guides an AV/8B Harrier II from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 26, reinforced, onto the flight deck. Kearsarge and embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are underway conducting their Composite Training Unit Exercise. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ash Severe

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Marines Give Chef Marching Orders

American Forces Press Service
May 15, 2007

WASHINGTON – When Chef Robert Irvine discovered his "mission" was to feed 850 Marines after they'd completed 30 days of desert warfare training at Camp Pendleton, Calif., his reaction was what one might expect.

"Shock and, gasp, horror," Irvine, host of Food Network's "Dinner Impossible," and a former chief petty officer cook in the British Royal Navy, said.

Part of the shock came from the fact that Irvine, who also spent 10 years cooking for the royal family, didn't really realize where he was or why he was there.

"The reason I don't know is because they don't tell me anything. The premise of this show is so secretive," he said. "I didn't even know what the challenge was until I literally met the master gunnery sergeant and then he actually gave me the mission, which was to cook the warrior dinner for 850 Marines."



Read the Rest, and don't forget to watch!

Showtimes:
May 16, 2007 10:30 PM ET/PT

May 17, 2007 1:30 AM ET/PT

May 20, 2007 4:30 PM ET/PT

May 20, 2007 11:30 PM ET/PT

May 21, 2007 2:30 AM ET/PT


More information at Food Network



Thanks to Tony for the reminder!

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SECTOR SCAN — U.S. Army Sgt. William Taylor, from Walla Walla, Wash. and a member of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash., scans his sector while providing security for other members of his troop during a mission conducted at Abu Karuum, a village three miles southeast of Baqubah, Iraq, May 6, 2007.

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In Today's News - Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Quote of the Day
“No dictator, no invader,
can hold an imprisoned population
by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe
than the need for freedom.
Against that power, governments and tyrants
and armies cannot stand."
-- J. Michael Straczynski


News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. says captors of three soldiers in Iraq isolated - Video
Search for missing soldiers intensifies
Clash Between Shiite Militia, Iraqi Police Kills 9

Operation Enduring Freedom
NATO Airstrikes Hit Taliban Hard

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
U.S., Europeans moving to create Lebanese tribunal
Suicide bomber kills 25 in Pakistan
CIA agent testifies at Padilla trial
Israel in the Crossfire

Troops on Trial
Airman Guilty of Assaulting Teen Girls

Other Military News
Bush Taps Pentagon General as 'War Czar'
VA bonus winners sat on review boards
Military.com Slideshow: To Be a U.S. Marine
Laser System Targets Friendly Fire

Homegrown Moonbats
Michael Moore to Fred Thompson: Debate Me

Politics / Government
GOP Showdown in Dixie
Candidates go for the jugular in feisty debate - PHOTOS
VIDEOS: Watch the Entire GOP Debate on FOXNews.com
Fox News - You Decide: Who Won the Republican Presidential Debate?
Jerry Falwell Dead
BIO - VIDEO - PHOTOS
Falwell's History of Heart Disease
Politicians Reflect on Falwell's Impact
Falwell legacy to live on in U.S. politics
Multimillionaire Bush's wealth eclipsed by Cheney
U.S., Russia to calm rhetoric but disputes remain - Video
U.S. legislators on $1 meal diet to boost food aid
White House pressed Ashcroft on wiretaps
Gonzales: Deputy was pointman on firings
Bush reels in gifts from U.S. admirers
Bill Clinton to Give 16 Cities Green Makeovers

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
U.S. House Puts Brakes on Mexican Trucks (Bravo! Good call, Reps!)
Lawmakers close in on immigration overhaul
AP IMPACT: Laser visas are rarely used

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Pa. Town on Alert After Family's Murder - VIDEO
Paris Hilton 'Traumatized' Over Jail Sentence (Oh, boo hoo...)
Police Seize Suspect's Computers, Cell Phones in Case of Missing U.K. Girl
Spanish Anesthesiologist Gets 1,933-Year Sentence for Infecting Patients With Hepatitis
Rising Crime Blamed on Youth, Gangs
Mom Jailed for Getting Paid by Kid's Abuser
Cops Now Fighting the Law
Search on in S.C. for missing officer
Suspect freed in girl's disappearance
Brazil man guilty in killing of U.S. nun
Toddler Abandoned in Baby Drop Box
Driver: Spector Said 'I Think I Killed Somebody'
New Zealand Bans Child Beating
Alleged Rape Cult Leader Arrested in China

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
XM Suspends Opie and Anthony for 30 Days
MySpace deletes convicted sex offender profiles

Science / Medicine / Technology
Too much of a good thing? Vitamin link with cancer
Defending free will: A fruit fly makes choices
Cosmic crash leaves ring of dark matter: NASA
AP: Children face exposure to pesticides

Mother Nature
Inferno Rages in New Jersey
Fla.-Ga. Wildfire Forces Hundreds to Evacuate
Progress made on Fla. wildfire
Loggerhead sea turtle returns to wild
Veterinarians seek new home for sea lion
Wayward Whales Push Up Calif. River

Oddities
Hitchhiker steals car, then dies in crash
Bank sells house complete with owner's corpse

Other News of Note
Yolanda King, Daughter of MLK, Dies at 51

Fox News
Anna Nicole Smith's Will Leaves Assets Estimated at $710,000 to Son Daniel
Pop Tarts: Christina Ricci, Keira Knightley OK With Nude Scenes
NEWS IN PICTURES: The Day in Photos
Kenny Chesney Wins Entertainer of Year at 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards

Reuters: Top News
United States fails to rally allies over Wolfowitz - Video
France's Sarkozy to be sworn in as president
L.A. sees turning point in homeless patient dumping
Harvard OKs biggest curriculum change in 30 years
Motorola shows new phones, media partnerships
Olympic Games construction will send poor packing
French top list of most whining workers: study (Y'know.....naaaaah, too easy)
'Shrek the Third' faces box office challenges
ABC turns to cavemen, modern women, for new lineup
Dow at record on stable inflation; Nasdaq down
Citigroup rises after Lampert stake news
Applied Materials sounds cautious note, shares fall
Dollar steadies after falling on CPI
TJX profit falls on weather, data breach
Consumer not quite dead yet
Golden call
Consumer prices ease inflation worries
Starbucks shares hit 18-month low -- time to buy?
Delphi may be nearing deal with unions, GM: analyst
Chrysler CEO says brands will not be broken up - Video
Fed cited patriotic duty as cut rates in Sept 2001
Pimco hires Greenspan as consultant: report

AP World News
Strait, Underwood win Country awards
NBA suspends Stoudemire, Diaw and Horry
Wal-Mart to focus on price after outlook
Mavs' Nowitzki first European named MVP
Stocks retreat after housing report
Yankees' Clemens may pitch by end of May
NYC photographer sues Lohan and her mom
IRS: More people e-filed tax returns

Military.com
Slideshow: To Be a U.S. Marine
Def Tech: Identifying Friendly Forces
Blog: Pakistan Unraveling
Play Trivia and Win an iPod
Find Your Old Military Buddies
World's Largest Veteran Job Board
Military.com Career Fair Coming to Jacksonville on May 16th

CENTCOM: News Releases
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR MAY 13
SEARCH FOR MISSING SOLDIERS CONTINUES

USJFCOM
Unmanned vehicle management system capability under evaluation - podcast
USJFCOM and Microsoft announce cooperative research and development agreement - podcast
More about CRADAS
U.S. Joint Forces Command modeling and simulation division wins award - podcast
Liveblogging: Department of Defense Modeling and Simulation Conference 2007

DefenseLink
Sustained U.S. Presence Critical to Security - Story
Evidence Links ‘High-Value’ Detainee to Al Qaeda - Story
Search for Missing Soldiers Continues - Story
Planned Cuts Endanger Army's Future Capabilities - Story
Systems Test Military, Civilian Communications - Story
Conference Tackles Key Terrorism Issues - Story

More Headline News
'Massive Effort' Under Way to Find U.S. Soldiers
Anbar Province Still Dangerous But Getting Better
DoD Blocks Internet Sites to Protect Grid

Military News
National Guard Units Respond to U.S. Wildfires
USNS Shasta Rescues Five After Fire Strikes Cargo Ship
Army Must Be Prepared for ‘Persistent Conflict’
Military Displays Equipment, Technology to Public

War on Terror
Weapons Caches Seized - Story
Coalition Forces Detain 11
Five Servicemembers Killed
Soldiers Die in Iraq

America Supports You
Eagle Cane Project Honors Combat-Wounded Troops - Story
Chef Prepares Meal for Marines
Granting Troops’ Wishes
Nationals Honor Military Service

Transformation
Newest Fighters Arrive at Langley
Channel Focuses on Technology
Unmanned Aircraft Wing Debuts

Face of Defense
Engineer With ‘Can Do’ Spirit - Story
Marine Unites With Soldier Son
Sons Follow Mother’s Footsteps
Softball Champ Fixes Aircraft

DefendAmerica
BLOGGERS' ROUNDTABLE
with Dr. Ali Mehdi Jawad Aldabbagh, Spokesman, Government of Iraq
Sustained U.S. Presence Critical to Security, Iraqi Spokesman Says - Story - Bio - Audio

ON THE GROUND
U.S. Airmen Mentor Afghan Depot Personnel - Story
Baghdad Residents Get Free Medical Care - Story
An Nasiriyah Prison Supports Iraqi Security - Story
Romanian Soldiers Unite with Americans in Iraq - Story
Air Traffic Controllers Manage Safe Operation - Story

IN IRAQ
Unit Works to Secure Baghdad’s Haifa Street
Blood-Supply Unit Demonstrates Critical Skills
Deployment Provides Direction for Soldier
Devil Dogs Take a Bite Out of Anbar Insurgency

IN DJIBOUTI
Liaison Officer Builds Cohesive Relationship
Djiboutian Institute of Arts Embraces Americans

IN AFGHANISTAN
Anthrax Vaccine Becomes Mandatory for Some
‘Fire Base Delta’ is Home Sweet Home for Troops
Former Infantryman Finds Calling in Civil Affairs

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

Today in History
1770 - Marie Antoinette marries future King Louis XVI of France.
1863 - At the Battle of Champion's Hill, Union General Grant repels the Confederates, driving them into Vicksburg.
1868 - President Andrew Johnson is acquitted during impeachment by one vote.
1879 - The Treaty of Gandamak (Russia / England) sets up the Afghan state.
1920 - Joan of Arc is canonized in Rome.
1943 - A Royal Air Force squadron destroys two river dams in Germany; Germans launch Operation Gypsy Baron.
1951 - Chinese Communist Forces launch a second step, fifth-phase offensive, gaining as much as 20 miles of territory.
1960 - A Big Four summit in Paris collapses in the wake of the USSR's downing of an American U-2 spy plane.
1963 - Gordon Cooper returns to Earth, after Project Mercury's last mission.
1968 - U.S. Navy Corpsman Donald E. Ballard earns the Medal of Honor for action in Quang Tri Province. When his unit was ambushed, an enemy soldier tossed a grenade into the midst of his unit and wounded men. He pulled the grenade under his body to sheild them. Fortunately, if failed to explode.

Birthdays
1801 - William Henry Seward, U.S. Secretary of State.
1824 - Edmund Kirby-Smith, CSA General.
1912 - Studs Terkel, author / historian.

Passings
1932 - Ki Imukai, premier of Japan, murdered.
1957 - Eliot Ness, of "The Untouchables" fame.
1989 - Hassan Khaled, sheik of Lebanon, murdered.
1996 - Pierre Debizet, residtance fighter / special agent.
1996 - Mike Jeremy Boorda, NATO commandant, suicide.

Reported Missing in Action
1968
Crosson, Gerald J., USAF (NY); F4D shot down (w/Rickel)

Rickel, David J., USAF (FL); F4D shot down (w/Crosson)

Roark, Anund C., US Army (CA); KIA - threw self on grenade to protect comrades (w/Romine) - remains returned May, 1968

Romine, Albert W., US Army (KS); KIA in grenade explosion - remains returned May, 1968 - ID'd November, 1979

1970
Conner, Edwin Ray, USN (TX); EKA3B crashed at sea (w/Skeen), Killed / BNR

Skeen, Richard Robert, USN (CA); EKA3B crashed at sea (w/Conner), Killed / BNR

1971
The following US Army personnel reported MIA when their UH1H crashed, all Killed / BNR:
Crook, Elliott (AZ); crewchief

Farlow, Craig L. (OH); aircraft commander

Jacobson, Timothy J. (CA); door gunner

Nolan, Joseph P., Jr. (IL); pilot

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