Author: jimstaro

As we wait for the many coming books, I’m sure more will be surfacing, as many try to cleanse their souls, of these last eight years plus, in seeking their higher kingdom, we might have the time to take this seemingly telling descriptive tale into the fold of good reading. We could even make the copies a collective item reminding us, in a comfortable way, of what we’ve been put through, us and the rest of the world. Comfortable because it might not enrage as we read and study the pictures, like the hard reality of the history will.

And I give you the title right off, Intriqued?

I didn’t catch this when it aired, but while a visit to the NPR site, to relisten to another report, I caught this little tidbit in their list.

All Things Considered had it on yesterday, July 8.

The full title is: Goodnight Bush: A Parody.

It’s a riff of the Margaret Wise Brown’s classic children’s book Goodnight Moon and satirizes the Bush administration.

But look closer and you’ll see that the painting over the fireplace shows an oil derrick with stealth bombers flying around it.

In the fireplace, there’s a ballot box burning that says, “Florida 2000.”

And snaking around the side of the fireplace is a tiny microphone.

In place of the bunny rabbit character in the children’s book, a childlike George Bush is tucked safely in bed “surrounded by toys that represent different facets of the Bush administration’s legacy,” Golan says.

A tiny Osama bin Laden peeks out from many of the pages, and a shotgun-toting Dick Cheney whispers, “Hush.”

“The book obviously isn’t for children,” Origen says. “At the same time, it lets us look at the past eight years through the eyes of a child.

And it lets us see how far Bush’s reality is from the reality anyone would want for their children.”

The authors say the book is illustrated with “naked simplicity” to show respect and sensitivity.

You can take a listen in with this link to bring up their player

I just ordered my copy before writing this, I’m Intriqued, it looks like a fun, but serious, look at the state we find our country, and our world standing, today and for the forseeable future, at 59 that future should cover any time I have left, plus!!

Putting them back where they belong comes from an Op-Ed written by James A. Baker III and Warren Christopher in the New York Times today, 7-08-08.

They led a bipartison group, the National War Powers Commission, they concluded:

the law purporting to govern the decision to engage in war — the 1973 War Powers Resolution — should be replaced by a new law that would, except for emergencies, require the president and Congressional leaders to discuss the matter before going to war.

They are right in their conclusion, for the 1973 resolution has been largely ignored, especially in the extreme failed policies we find ourselves in now.

But even if it were a tougher less questionable resolution, many thinking it’s Unconstitutional or at least parts of, I wonder if it would have even been forcefully upheld leading up to the debacles we created. Congress, at the time, was controlled by the same political party as the administration that wanted to abandon Afganistan and Invade Iraq, word was if there were meetings the other party leaders, in both houses, were left out. That congress didn’t do much in holding the nesscessary debates, the members were selling the administration line, word for word, and they didn’t set about the needed funding nor oversite for returning Veterans nor expectation of long term occupations, and that’s just a few of the oversites not carried out by a Congress that was supposed to be doing the Peoples work. Since than they have become Obstructionists in anything the administration wants them to block. Still towing the line for Politics not for Country, nor National Security!

Poll: Public wants Congress’s OK on war

Americans now as in the past 35 years think the president needs Congress’ OK before sending troops to war or bombing suspected terrorists, a poll indicates.

And most actually think that this administration got the consent of Congress to wage a Pre-Emptive War!

The AP has another quick report on this comissions findings.

I’m somewhat left a tad speachless that Baker is coming out with the requested findings, I lost respect for him and his personal goals a long time ago, but the Law does need a Total Overhaul and the powers of the Executive placed in Check when it comes to War especially.

And with all that has come out already the Country needs to follow what the Constitution Clearly States as to Accountability for Failed actions taken by the Executive Branch, from the President on Down to Congress!

Last night, on the PBS Newshour, they had an appropriate July 4th interview, especially in these times of two occupations:
Marine, Author Reflect on Honoring Fallen Comrades You can read the transcript and more at that link.

Author Jim Sheeler and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Steve Beck talk about Sheeler’s book, “Final Salute,” which chronicles the Marines who notify families about the death of their loved ones during war and provide support as families cope with their loss.

You can listen with this link or link at site page above.

There is also a Slide Show: Beck Discusses the Photos that Have Become Icons of the Cost of War, with a non-flash version.

You can visit this interview from March 21, 2006
NewsHour Poetry Series: The Returning Dead with links to view or listen.

As Of July 2 2008, There Are 87 Pages w/5 ‘Silent Honor Rolls’ Each, Number Of KIA’s Varies With Each ‘Silent Honor Roll’;
Many now have numbers in the teens and twenties
In Honor – In Memory

The first episode of the groundbreaking new live webcast “In Their Boots” aired on Wednesday, 2 July 2008, with host Jan Bender as he explored the lives of the Babin family as they care for their wounded veteran son Alan. That first show “Beating the Odds” was part 1, the second part to be aired next wednesday, 9 July 2008.
It is to air, online, every wednesday at 4pm Pacific/5 Mountain/6 Central/7 Eastern at In Their Boots, also can be viewed at UStream TV, at least it was this past wednesday.

The stories are riveting and the show will be broadcast LIVE. You will have the opportunity to hear the stories from these servicemembers, learn about organizations that are helping, and find out how you can help as well.

The above came from an annoucement E prior to that first show. And outside of some startup jitters and a few problems with the stream, Riveting it was, and promises to be as riveting by bringing us into the lives of those, and their families, who have served this Nation and have been wounded in the occupations and the changes that has brought about for them. As well as introduce us, and the many returning Veterans, and their families, to some of the help that exists for them by bringing representatives of these existing groups into the conversation, Live.

This is Part 1 “Beating the Odds”

You can also view The Brave New Foundation above video at the “In Their Boots” site, and sign up for the newsletter to remind you to view the coming shows, Part 2 of “Beating the Odds” to air this coming wednesday the 9th of July.

Since it is LIVE, we invite you all to join the discussion and become part of webcast history by asking our interview guest a question, live, “on the air.”

We are proud of what we have put together and we hope that you all tune in to see this. Please let us know what you think of it as well. And if you miss any part of the episode, be sure to check it out on our site: In Their Boots. We plan on producing a new episode every Wednesday, live at 4pm Pacific.

Again the show can also be seen, Live, at UStream TV but visit the “In Their Boots” main site to view, find out more about the episodes to come, interact live with each episode, and to find out much more.

Yesterday I got an e-newsletter about the same time I caught this post. The e covered what prompted the post by ScottyUrb.

Today, the 4th of July, we here in the States celebrate our “Independence”, no need to go into an explanation, or give a link to read about, we’re all supposed to know and understand what that means, and so are others who think they’ve achieved that.

This year there’ll be alot less traveling to a further destination for relaxation or whatever, more home bodies, we all know the reasons, or we should.

There will be plenty of “Rockets Red Glare” and “Bombs Bursting In Air” with probably more attending the local festivities, along with the many neighborhood unsupervised inexperianced piro-techs.

We mass to watch these shows of loud noise and explosive display, cheering them on, just like we cheer on the “Shock and Awe’s” on our TV’s when we invade anothers Country, Owwwww and Awwwww!

Except for the possibility of a tragic accident these display’s of dangerous explosives rarely hurt anyone, and especially do no damage, as to the numbers putting them on, or watching them.

There was, what supposedly should have been, a day of independence for others at the end of last month.

We are reminded of that “Independence Day” by Kelly Dougherty

Branch: Army National Guard of the United States (ARNG)
Home: Colorado

Eight-year veteran of the Colorado Nat. Guard where I served as both a medic and military police and was deployed to the Balkans and Iraq. I am a co-founder of IVAW and current executive director.

Of, as mentioned above, IVAW.

She reminds us of this Day of Independence in a short letter to the IVAW membership, and all of us, on the front page of their site. In her letter she gets right to the point in the opening:

Just a few days ago Independence Day came and went, and did anyone notice? June 28th was the day the US returned sovereignty to Iraq in 2004, and it should be a day of celebration, a day when Iraqis mark their equal status among nations, just as America did more than two centuries ago.

I read that and just Stopped. Than started thinking that I hadn’t heard nor seen anything about this on any MSM outlet, nor was there even a short press speach in the Rose Garden, after all we brought them “Independence”, “Freedom”, and “Democracy”, with over six years of “Rockets Red Glare” and “Bombs Busting In Air”, you’d think the President would have that day marked on his calendar and remind the populace of this country of that important date, His Important Date.

After all the surge is supposedly working great

Not only wasn’t there anything of note here in the states but apparently Nobody In Iraq felt like celebrating their day of “Independence”, didn’t see nor hear about anything from there also. Could that be because it’s really hard to celebrate such a day while struggling to exist in your own country or in neighboring countries and for some in differant parts of the world. Or if your neiborhood became a cherished gated community to better control you, your neighbors and those throughout the city, You’d think many would want to get together to better know their new neighbors, who moved into houses purged of their previous neighbors because they were of the wrong religious sect or tribe.

Kelly touches on this as well:

Would we be celebrating if our Declaration of Independence had been edited by King George III? What if Britain maintained troops and military bases inside our major cities? Would we mark the day this “independence” began with fireworks and parades?

With a few other reasons it might make it tough to be in celebration mode.

Now they have their “Rockets Red Glare” and “Bombs Bursting In Air”, on a daily basis, almost all over, for well over six years now, that may just make them abit hesitant to use that form of celebration. You see they don’t have the few accidents like there are here, their “Rockets Red Glare” and “Bombs Bursting In Air” really do cause the intended, Death, Maiming, and Total Destruction, tearing a society and country apart. They’ve even killed and maimed tens of thousands of visitors? to their country, some visiting? a number of times, some getting extended visiting? privileges without even needing a visa.

Kelly adds these words of truth and what we are supposed to be about:

We need to do more than just celebrate our Independence Day this July 4th; we need to live up to the ideals it represents.

Now not all is lost as to celebrations for the Iraqi people, in their totally destroyed country and society, they really do have their days of remembrance from their long history, and they did hold a celebration of one of those which they celebrated at the beginning of this month, it celebrated the 88th year of their important date, and yes it was about “Independence”, a hard fought for “independence” apparently.

The Iraqi province of Muthanna celebrated the 88th anniversary of the outbreak of Iraq’s major revolt, known as Thawrat al-Ishreen, or the 1920 Revolution, against the British who were then occupying Iraq.

This may give you a better picture of that time in Iraq and their occupation than.

There apparently were the ussual nicie nice political speaches, and in the state the country is in now, probably made more so as not to piss anyone off during the celebration, thus stopping any blowback from. As well as a few about that time and not the present:

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hatim Rajouj, a local chieftain, gave a speech in which he highlighted the role played by Muthanna tribes in driving the Britons from the province and establishing the first national government in the country.

Not a puppet government under the thumb of the Brits.

The Iraqi revolt against the British started in Baghdad in the summer of 1920 with mass demonstrations of both Sunni and Shiite Muslims

Of that time the real important day, for the Iraqi’s of that province, was:

On July 13, 2006, British, Australian, and Japanese forces handed over security responsibility for Muthanna province to Iraqi forces in the first such transfer of an entire province.

Now back than I’ll bet the occupying forces left the provinces that were turned over. Today we are supposedly turning over some of the provinces to the Iraqi government and troops, trained and armed by us but it seems we can’t trust them quite yet. As well as not leaving that which we turn over

Kelly said U.S. forces would stay at current levels in Anbar for now, but gradually reduce. He did not give details.

“Eventually, we will move into an overwatch posture, away from the population centres,” he said.

(Differant Kelly than above)

Keep in mind, a Guerilla Insurgency doesn’t end untill the Insurgents say it does!

Happy 4th of July folks, and be careful not to have any 4th of July accidents, the Iraqi’s wish they could be so lucky!!!!

Oh and lest we forget the other occupation, Afganistan, the much forgotten till recently, they would like everyone to keep the promises made, giving them real choices and rebuilding a country that has been totally destoyed over and over!

A Nation that sends its Sons and Daughters into Occupations?

A C-17 Airforce Transport plane arrives in Kandahar, Afghanistan to receive the bodies of five U.S. service members killed. Though more than 1,000 US and coalition forces were on hand to participate in the “ramp ceremony,” a Los Angeles Times reporter and photographer were asked to leave the area by a military public affairs officer. A Pentagon policy banning coverage of this particular event was cited as the reason. [Photo: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times]

Iraq

There have been 4,426 coalition deaths — 4,113 Americans, two Australians, 176 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, one Czech, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, 5 Georgians, one Hungarian, 33 Italians, one Kazakh, one Korean, three Latvian, 22 Poles, three Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians — in the war in Iraq as of July 1, 2008, according to a CNN count. { Graphical breakdown of casualties }. The list below is the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen whose deaths have been reported by their country’s governments. The list also includes seven employees of the U.S. Defense Department. At least 30,275 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. View casualties in the war in Afghanistan.

Capt. Philip J. Dykeman 38 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division Brockport, New York One of three Marines killed during combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on June 26, 2008

Lt. Col. Max A. Galeai 42 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division Pago Pago, American Samoa One of three Marines killed during combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on June 26, 2008

Cpl. Marcus W. Preudhomme 23 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division North Miami Beach, Florida One of three Marines killed during combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on June 26, 2008

Spc. Joshua L. Plocica 20 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Clarksville, Tennessee Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered a roadside bomb in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 25, 2008

Sgt. Alejandro A. Dominguez 24 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment San Diego, California Killed when their vehicle encountered a roadside bomb in Mosul, Iraq, on June 24, 2008

Chief Warrant Officer Robert C. Hammett 39 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Tucson, Arizona One of two soldiers killed during a bomb blast in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 24, 2008

Maj. Dwayne M. Kelley 48 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion Willingboro, New Jersey One of two soldiers killed during a bomb blast in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 24, 2008

Spc. Joel A. Taylor 20 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Pinetown, Norht Carolina Killed when their vehicle encountered a roadside bomb in Mosul, Iraq, on June 24, 2008

Pfc. James M. Yohn 25 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Highspire, Pennsylvania Killed when their vehicle encountered a roadside bomb in Mosul, Iraq, on June 24, 2008

Capt. Gregory T. Dalessio 30 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division Cherry Hill, New Jersey Died of wounds suffered when his patrol encountered small-arms fire during combat opertions in Salman Pak, Iraq, on June 23, 2008

Pfc. Bryan M. Thomas 22 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division Lake Charles, Louisiana Died of wounds suffered when his patrol encountered small-arms fire during combat operations in Salman Pak, Iraq, on June 23, 2008

Staff Sgt. Du Hai Tran 30 Fires Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment Reseda, California Killed when a roadside bomb exploded near his unit while on patrol during combat operations in Baquba, Iraq, on June 20, 2008

Spc. Jason N. Cox 21 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Elyria, Ohio Died in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered a roadside bomb near Hilla, Iraq, on June 16, 2008

Sgt. John D. Aragon 22 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Antioch, California Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered a roadside bomb in Kadamiya, Iraq, on June 12, 2008

Pvt. Eugene D. M. Kanakaole 19 87th Engineer Company, 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade Maui, Hawaii Died of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident in Balad, Iraq, on June 11, 2008

Lance Cpl. Javier Perales Jr. 19 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force San Elizario, Texas Died from a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq, on June 11, 2008

Sgt. 1st Class Gerard M. Reed 40 86th Combat Support Hospital Jacksonville Beach, Florida Died of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 11, 2008

Lance Cpl. Kelly E. C. Watters 19 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Virginia Beach, Virginia Died of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on June 11, 2008

Sgt. Steve A. McCoy 23 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Moultrie, Georgia Died on June 10, 2008, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered a roadside bomb in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 23, 2008

Spc. Thomas F. Duncan III 21 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment Rowlett, Texas Died of gunshot wounds suffered during combat operations in Sinjar, Iraq, on June 9, 2008. Initial indications are that Duncan’s wounds may have resulted from friendly fire and the events surrounding his death are currently under investigation.

Staff Sgt. Tyler E. Pickett 28 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Saratoga, Wyoming Died of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using roadside bombs in Kirkuk Province, Iraq, on June 8, 2008

Sgt. 1st Class David R. Hurst 31 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Fort Sill, Oklahoma Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered a a roadside bomb in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 7, 2008

Sgt. Shane P. Duffy 22 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Taunton, Massachusetts One of three soldiers killed when their unit was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire and hand grenades in Tikrit, Iraq, on June 4, 2008

Spc. Jonathan D. A. Emard 20 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Mesquite, Texas One of three soldiers killed when their unit was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire and hand grenades in Tikrit, Iraq, on June 4, 2008

Sgt. Irakli Kordzaia N/A 13th Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade Rustavi, Georgia Killed when enemy forces attacked a checkpoint five miles (9 km) from the Georgian Army’s operating base in Diyala province, Iraq, on June 4, 2008

Sgt. Cody R. Legg 23 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Escondido, California One of three soldiers killed when their unit was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire and hand grenades in Tikrit, Iraq, on June 4, 2008

Pfc. Joshua E. Waltenbaugh 19 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Ford City, Pennsylvania Died of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident in Taji, Iraq, on June 3, 2008

Spc. Quincy J. Green 26 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division El Paso, Texas Died of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident in Tikrit, Iraq, on June 2, 2008

Spc. Christopher D. McCarthy N/A U.S. Joint Forces Command, Joint Reserve Unit Virginia Beach, Virginia Died at Forward Operating Base in Ramadi, Iraq, on June 1, 2008. His death is under investigation.

Spc. Justin R. Mixon 22 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment Bogalusa, Louisiana Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered a roadside bomb in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 1, 2008

Afghanistan – The Forgotten War

 There have been 864 coalition deaths — 533 Americans, 5 Australians, 110 Britons, 85 Canadians, 3 Czech, 14 Danes, 16 Dutch, 3 Estonians, one Finn, 12 French, 22 Germans, one Hungarian, 11 Italians,one Lithuanian, three Norwegians, 5 Poles, two Portuguese, 7 Romanians, one South Korean, 23 Spaniards, two Swedes — in the war on terror as of July 1, 2008, according to a CNN count. Below are the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors whose deaths have been reported by their country’s governments. The troops died in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or were part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. At least 2,134 U.S. personnel have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon

June 2008

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey M. Radamorales 32 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group Naranjito, Puerto Rico One of three soldiers who died of injuries sustained when their rolled into a canal in Khosrow-E Sofla, Afghanistan, on June 29, 2008

Master Sgt. Shawn E. Simmons 39 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group Ashland, Massachusetts One of three soldiers who died of injuries sustained when their rolled into a canal in Khosrow-E Sofla, Afghanistan, on June 29, 2008

Sgt. James M. Treber 24 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group Imperial Beach, California One of three soldiers who died of injuries sustained when their rolled into a canal in Khosrow-E Sofla, Afghanistan, on June 29, 2008

Staff Sgt. Travis K. Hunsberger 24 Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group Goshen, Indiana Died of wounds suffered when he struck a pressure-plated during a dismounted route clearance as part of the patrol near Tarin Kowt in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, on June 27, 2008

Warrant Officer 2nd Class Dan Shirley 32 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps Leicester, England Killed when his vehicle rolled over, trapping him beneath it, during a logistic patrol from Sangin to Camp Bastion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 27, 2008

Staff Sgt. Edgar A. Heredia 28 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion Houston, Texas Died while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on June 26, 2008

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew L. Hilton 37 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps Livonia, Michigan One of three soldiers killed when their convoy encountered roadside bombs, small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades near Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan, on June 26, 2008

Sgt. 1st Class Joseph A. McKay 51 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, New York Army National Guard Brooklyn, New York One of three soldiers killed when their convoy encountered roadside bombs, small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades near Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan, on June 26, 2008

Spc. Mark C. Palmateer 38 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, New York Army National Guard Poughkeepsie, New York One of three soldiers killed when their convoy encountered roadside bombs, small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades near Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan, on June 26, 2008

Staff Sgt. Christopher D. Strickland 25 1st Marine Logistics Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Labelle, Florida Killed while supporing combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 25, 2008

Spc. Ryan J. Connolly 24 173rd Special Troops Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Vacaville, California Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck a suspected landmine in Khogyani, Afghanistan, on June 24, 2008

Pvt. Joe Whittaker 20 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment Stratford, England Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near him while he was dismounted from his vehicle to check for mines in the Upper Sangin Valley in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 24, 2008

Warrant Officer 2nd Class Michael Williams 40 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Cardiff, Wales Killed during a firefight with Taliban fighters during an operation in the Upper Sangin Valley in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 24, 2008

Spc. Anthony L. Mangano 36 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition), New York Army National Guard Greenlawn, New York One of four soldiers killed when their vehicle encountered a roadside bomb and small-arms fire in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2008

2nd Lt. Robert Marczewski 28 6 Batalion Desantowo-Szturmowy (6th Assault Battalion) Poland Killed when his Humvee struck a roadside bomb near Otukhel in Paktika province, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2008

Sgt. Nelson D. Rodriguez Ramirez 22 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition), New York Army National Guard Revere, Massachusetts One of four soldiers killed when their vehicle encountered a roadside bomb and small-arms fire in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2008

Sgt. Andrew Seabrooks 36 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition), New York Army National Guard Queens, New York One of four soldiers killed when their vehicle encountered a roadside bomb and small-arms fire in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2008

Lt. Col. James J. Walton 41 Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Rockville, Maryland One of four soldiers killed when their vehicle encountered a roadside bomb and small-arms fire in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2008

Hospitalman Dustin Kelby Burnett 19 Navy corpsman assigned to First Marine Division Detachment Fort Mohave, Arizona Died during combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on June 20, 2008

Sgt. Matthew E. Mendoza 24 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force San Antonio, Texas Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 20, 2008

Capt. Eric Daniel Terhune 34 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Lexington, Kentucky One of two Marines killed during combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on June 19, 2008

Lance Cpl. Andrew Francis Whitacre 21 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Bryant, Indiana One of two Marines killed during combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on June 19, 2008

Hospitalman Marc A. Retmier 19 Provincial Reconstruction Team Sharana Hemet, California One of two sailors killed by an enemy rocket attack in northern Paktika province, Afghanistan, on June 18, 2008

Petty Officer First Class Ross L. Toles III 37 Provincial Reconstruction Team Sharana Davison, Michigan One of two sailors killed by an enemy rocket attack in northern Paktika province, Afghanistan, on June 18, 2008

Cpl. Sarah Bryant 26 152 Delta Psychological Operations Effects Team, Intelligence Corps Carlisle, England One of four British soldiers killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb east of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 17, 2008

Lance Cpl. Richard Larkin 39 British Army United Kingdom One of four British soldiers killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb east of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 17, 2008

Cpl. Sean Robert Reeve 28 Royal Corps of Signals United Kingdom One of four British soldiers killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb east of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 17, 2008

Paul Stout 31 British Army United Kingdom One of four British soldiers killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb east of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 17, 2008

Lance Cpl. Layton Bradly Crass 22 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Richmond, Indiana One of four Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on June 14, 2008

Pfc. Michael Robert Patton 19 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Fenton, Montana One of four Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on June 14, 2008

Pfc. Dawid Pietrek 24 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Bensenville, Illinois One of four Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on June 14, 2008

Sgt. Michael Toussiant-Hyle Washington 20 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Tacoma, Washington One of four Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on June 14, 2008

Spc. Claudiu Marius Covrig 29 300 Infantry battalion Romania Killed when the vehicle he was traveling in was attacked with grenades on the A1 highway between Kabul and Qalat, Afghanistan, on June 13, 2008

Lance Cpl. James Bateman 29 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Colchester, England One of two British soldiers killed in a firefight with Taliban fighters north of Forward Operating Base Gibraltar in the Upper Gereshk Valley of Helmand province, Afghanistan on June 12, 2008

Pvt. Jeff Doherty 20 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Southam, Warwickshire, England One of two British soldiers killed in a firefight with Taliban fighters north of Forward Operating Base Gibraltar in the Upper Gereshk Valley of Helmand province, Afghanistan on June 12, 2008

Sgt. 1st Class Gyula Kovacs 30 Hungarian Provincial Reconstruction Team, Hungarian Army Hungary Killed when a roadside bomb exploded as he was attempting to defuse it in Baghlan province, Afghanistan, on June 10, 2008

Pvt. Nathan Cuthbertson 19 Company B, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Sunderland, England One of three British soldiers killed when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive during a foot patrol near their Forward Operating Base in the Upper Sangin Valley in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 8, 2008

Pvt. Daniel Gamble 22 Company B, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Uckfield, East Sussex, England One of three British soldiers killed when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive during a foot patrol near their Forward Operating Base in the Upper Sangin Valley in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 8, 2008

Pvt. Charles Murray 19 Company B, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Carlisle, England One of three British soldiers killed when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive during a foot patrol near their Forward Operating Base in the Upper Sangin Valley in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 8, 2008

Capt. Jonathan S. Snyder 26 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Penticton, British Columbia, Canada Died after falling into a well during a security patrol in Zhari District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on June 7, 2008

Chief Warrant Officer James Carter 42 96th Aviation Support Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division Alabama One of two soldiers killed when their OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopter crashed during a test flight at Kandahar Army Airfield, Afghanistan, on June 5, 2008

Spc. Andre D. McNair Jr. 20 96th Aviation Support Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division Fort Pierce, Florida One of two soldiers killed when their OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopter crashed during a test flight at Kandahar Army Airfield, Afghanistan, on June 5, 2008

Maj. Scott A. Hagerty 41 451st Civil Affairs Battalion Stillwater, Oklahoma One of two soldiers killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Zormat, Afghanistan, on June 3, 2008

Pfc. Derek D. Holland 20 228th Brigade Support Battalion, Pennsylvania Army National Guard Wind Gap, Pennsylvania One of two soldiers killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Zormat, Afghanistan, on June 3, 2008

Civilian Casulties – Iraq

Just Foreign Policy Issues
Over a million {1,225,898} Iraqis are estimated to have been killed as a result of the U.S.-led invasion and occupation. Learn More and Take Action»
Estimate, click for explaination

.

To

John Hopkins School of Public Health { October 11, 2006 report } puts the count at 650,000, with a range from 400,000 to 900,000.

Exact Count of Civilian Casulties may never be known, as is the case in every conflict, especially an Invasion by another Country. For it is the Innocent Civilians and those Defending their Countries {of which All would be counted if this land were ever invaded} who suffer the most, during and long after!

Iraq Refugees UNHCR: UNHCR Global Appeal 2008-2009 – Iraq Situation
Filetype: PDF (116k)

All the Deaths, Maimings and Destruction are the Blood on All Our Hands, No One can escape the Guilt!

May 2008, April 2008, March 2008, Febuary 2008, January 2008, December 2007, November 2007, October 2007, September 2007, August 2007, July 2007, June 2007, May 2007, April 2007, March 2007, Feb. 2007, Jan. 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003

You can view other Honor Rolls of the Fallen I have posted on my site {links above}, or from the CNN link at top and the other sources that you might use or know about.

As Of July 2  2008, There Are 87 Pages w/5 ‘Silent Honor Rolls’ Each, Number Of Casulties Varies With Each ‘Silent Honor Roll’; Many now have numbers in the teens and twenties, click on graphic.

A Nations Security Does Not Mean A Nation Sets An Example Of Creating More Hatreds And Enemies By

, Nor By Installing And Supporting Dictators, It Leads By The Example Of Peace And Prevention, Especially As A Democracy, Gaining Friends And Supporters, And Defends With Force Only When All Other Options Are Exhausted

97 percent of U.S. deaths in Iraq have occurred after George W. Bush declared an end to “major combat.”
“Mission Accomplished!”

If they were sent to fight, they are too few. If they were sent to die, they are too many!

Those who take some sort of relief in the “We are fighting them over there so we won’t be fighting them here!”, Better Rethink their Future, or rather their Childrens Future!!

“Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is,”  – George W. Bush, Texas Gov., 1999

” What does it matter to the dead, the orphan, and the homeless whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?”
– Mohandas K. Gandhi

The Failed Policies will Haunt Us and the World for Decades!!

Note: Some of the photo’s above are backlinked, click to visit.

I just received, as I’m sure many others have, an E-Mail about a Live Online Broadcast premiering tonight 7-02-08

From ‘Brave New Films’

That I’m going to share with those who may not receive their News Letters.

Follow Me:
From Brave New Foundation’s Poignant New Series Premieres LIVE Tonight at 7pm ET‏

The E-Mail:

Last summer I got a call from someone who had seen some of our past work. She started off being extremely complimentary about the issues we were bringing to light, marveling at how widely we were able to distribute our short videos to not only inform, but to motivate viewers to take action. She then asked if Brave New Foundation would be interested in taking on a large project to help amplify the stories of a group of Americans whose efforts and sacrifices weren’t being acknowledged. She warned me that it would be a difficult task since it only directly affected less than 1% of the US population.

Being a bit headstrong (even in my middle age), I said that no task was too difficult. If there is an injustice, we could tackle it and help to make it right! But what she wanted was difficult. The task we took on was to tell the stories of servicemembers who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Over the past several months, as we gathered our staff and began to meet the men and women who have served, we knew that it would be a privilege to be able to share the stories of these servicemembers and their families so that the other 99% of the US population can better understand what is happening to our troops when they return from war.

We wanted to do something different than our usual short videos with this project, so we developed an idea for a LIVE internet-based show and decided to call it In Their Boots to let the audience know they would be hearing the information from the servicemembers’ points of view.

The show premieres today, Wednesday July 2nd, at 4pm Pacific/5 Mountain/6 Central/7 Eastern at In Their Boots. The stories are riveting and the show will be broadcast LIVE. You will have the opportunity to hear the stories from these servicemembers, learn about organizations that are helping, and find out how you can help as well.

The show will be broadcast from our brand new studio (it was a beauty parlor just 2 months ago), not quite finished since we are still doing some fundraising, but looking pretty good. Since it is LIVE, we invite you all to join the discussion and become part of webcast history by asking our interview guest a question, live, “on the air.”

We are proud of what we have put together and we hope that you all tune in to see this. Please let us know what you think of it as well. And if you miss any part of the episode, be sure to check it out on our site: In Their Boots. We plan on producing a new episode every Wednesday, live at 4pm Pacific.

I hope to hear from you soon. As always, thank you for your support.

Best,
Jim Miller
and the Brave New Foundation team

And there’s an Intro Video at the site
(and why is this site not taking the YouTube Code, keeps giving something about ’embed’ not allowed??)

Come back Wednesday
at 7pm EST
to see the Live Webcast
     

You know, this whole thing is interesting, from just a simple statement, of Truth.

For McCain Hasn’t Always Mattered

For the third straight day, Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign has raised a ruckus over comments suggesting that his military service may not, in and of itself, qualify the Senator to be commander-in-chief.

I’m not going to make this long and drawn out, it already has been, especially on the wires from folks who just plain don’t get it, and including some who should:

On Tuesday, the campaign hosted a conference call with reporters during which chief surrogate Sen. Lindsey Graham said that McCain was “the best-qualified person to be commander-in-chief” since a previous military-political figure: Dwight Eisenhower.

“He has walked in the shoes of those in uniform. He understands their language. He has grown up in a military family,” said the South Carolina Republican, “and quite frankly his military service is extraordinary.”

I want to point out something here. His shoes were on his feet in the air, not on the ground with most of the grunts, there Lindsey. And a McCain/Eisenhower comparison? Give me a break, and you’re a JAG?

By the way, if McCain thinks Now that his Military Service, and POW status wipes out any questions about being the CiC, why did he vote for the Guard Member (who’s last year still isn’t accountable) over his friend and fellow ‘Nam Vet Kerry, who’s shoes, by the way, were on the ground and over the muddy waters of ‘Nam.

Than of course you followed with this:

But a more telling example may have come more recently, when McCain found himself campaigning against one of the few Iraq War veterans who was running for office. In 2006, the Senator appeared at a late-stage but crucial fundraiser for Illinois Rep. Pete Roskam, who was being challenged by Democrat Tammy Duckworth, a veteran who had lost both her legs in Iraq.

Now I’d like to see Tammy in an Obama Administration, Veterans Administration. I gained a lot of respect for this young lady following her run in ’04 and since she took over Ill. VA. But if not in the Administration some are saying she might run for Obama’s old seat. Either way, or if neither, I think she’d make a great pick for the Keynote Speaker at the Convention, look what that did for Obama.

And I leave you with a reply from Chris LeJeune (over at VetVoice) in one of the front page posts that you can read here about McCains thoughts on Military service and the CiC.

When you hear the term “Swiftboat” what comes into your mind?

I already know your answer, but it isn’t the meaning for those who served on nor any Navy Personal who served In-Country Vietnam.

Not to far back a small group of misguided Navy personal, who served aboard ‘Swiftboats’ in ‘Nam, took that once proud name and used it for their political purposes and gains, with some others joining them, who not only never served on  swiftboats, and the extremely dangerous missions they were sent into, but some never served at all, in the Military nor In War/Occupations!

They not only Disgraced their own service but the service of all who served on Swiftboats as well as All of us Navy personal who served In-Country as well as the Blue – Water Navy serving off the shores of ‘Nam. They ‘Verbally Spit’ on themselves and their brothers, All their Navy brothers and sisters!

Recently some who served on but did not partake in the slanderous actions have been back in the news, They want their Proud Name and Proud Service to Country back, especially for the brothers who were Lost!

John Kerry, hands on hips, and Roy F. Hoffmann, kneeling, in Vietnam. Mr. Hoffman helped start the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which criticized Mr. Kerry in his 2004 presidential bid.

One of the recent news reports to service was this one:

Vets Say Billionaire is Going Back on His Word.

Some Vietnam veterans are claiming that Texan businessman T. Boone Pickens is going back on his word to pay $1 million to anyone who can find inaccuracies in claims made by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth during the 2004 presidential election. Agreeing with the veterans, oddsmaker Ben Eckstein says that failing to deliver on a bet is “sacrilegious.” “In the world of betting and gambling, your word is your bond,” said Eckstein, president of America’s Line, a sports and entertainment oddsmaking business. “Whether it’s a $7 bet or a $500,000 bet, once it’s made and once you shake on it, it should be done.”

Which carried this:

“We have 11 different falsehoods that the [Swift Boat Veterans for Truth] came out with in 2004. We have documents, videos, editorials and depositions not just by my boat crew but other eyewitnesses who were involved in the operations.”

Sanudsky added that while his group has come up with “everything Pickens asked Kerry for in November,” it has all been for nothing.

Brother Navy ‘Nam Vet Sanudsky added this,

“We’re disappointed because he’s ducking out,” Sanudsky said. “He’s dodging the bullet because we’ve got the ammunition.”

In writing about the above report I placed this in my posts and e’s:

Less was known about the Navy’s role in that Guerilla/Insurgent Occupation. One says ‘Navy’ one thinks Sailors on Naval Ships or stationed on shore bases, which by the way was how I spent my whole four years, on shoreduty. Only ships I went on were ‘Cuban’ cargo vessals riding them through the Panama Canal guarding against them ramming the locks or causing other damage, which was a long running part of the duty down there and was Assinine to say the least, we finally got that practice stopped.

I wasn’t a part of the ‘Brownwater Navy’ in ‘Nam, Swifts, PBR’s, Zippo’s, PACV etc., nor was I a part of the SEAL’s, which is probably the only part of the Navy in ‘Nam some may have known about, still not knowing what they actually did. I did work with some in the ‘Brownwater’, mostly friends from previous duty bases who were there at the same time, and because of what I did some work with the SEAL’s, I was a GunnersMate small arms.

Untill Apocalypse Now, the movie, I doubt the knowledge of Navy duty In-Country was a reality to most. My brother Sailors were involved in a whole slew of differing parts of that Occupation.

Do a search of ‘Swiftboat’, ‘PBR’, ‘Brownwater Navy’, ‘COMNAVFORV’, you’ll find numorous sites to learn more about the Naval role in Vietnam.

A few days later this followed:

More on T. Boone – swiftie funder

T. Boone Pickens Says No Deal on Swift Boat Bounty

T. Boone Pickens is not giving up his million dollars

And today there’s another report out that should be hitting Every Major/Minor Newspaper and MSM Outlet, Especially the Talking Heads who backed the Slander, Speaking Apology and putting Present Meaning To Rest!

Give My Brothers Their Proud Service Back!

More “Swiftboat Sailors” are coming out in demanding their Integrity and Service to Country Back.

“I was proud of what I did, and all the guys I was with,” Mr. Miller said. “Now somebody says `Swift boat’ and it’s a whole different meaning. They don’t associate it with the guys we lost. That’s a shame.”

“You would not hear the word `Swift boat’ and think of people that served their country and fought in Vietnam,” said Jim Newell, who spent a year as an officer in charge on one of the small Navy vessels in An Thoi and Qui Nhon. “You think about someone who was involved in a political attack on a member of a different party.

“It is time to ban a word that is at once offensive, demeaning and obscene both to and for anyone serving in the naval profession. That word is `Swiftboating.’ “
This month, a group of veterans who served with Mr. Kerry took up the challenge by Boone Pickens, the billionaire Texas oilman who helped finance the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004, that he would give $1 million to anyone who could disprove anything in the group’s campaign against Mr. Kerry.

Now Billionaire T. Boone never served on a Swiftboat nor did he serve in Vietnam, but felt it was his Political Duty to fund this slanderous attack on someone who served Honorably and not only on Swiftboats but prior to that on a Support Ship for the same Swiftboats off the shores of Vietnam, doing Two tours, untill wounded in the second.

On Swiftboats.net, Larry Wasikowski tends to a crew list, a history of the boats and even archives of newsletters that various crews sent home to their families from 1966 to 1969. Mr. Wasikowski and the sailors’ association grant the designation of “Swiftie” meticulously, requiring extensive official documentation from anyone who claims the title.
By the association’s count, about 3,600 men served aboard Swift boats in Vietnam, 600 officers and 3,000 enlisted.

Some 200, a questionable count, took part in using the proud name “Swiftboat” in a Political Slander Campaign against one of their own. They did so simply because a small handfull can’t stand John Kerry and his Politics, that small handfull can’t even stand John McCain and some are now going after him as well!!

Regardless of what they thought of Mr. Kerry, many Swift boat veterans objected to the attacks.
“It was unconscionable,” said Stan Collier, who served as an officer in charge on a boat based in Qui Nhon. “I thought those boys struck a new low.”
Mr. Collier considers himself a conservative and did not agree with Mr. Kerry’s politics, but he voted for him to protest the Swift boat campaign. “We’ve all been attributed to the sleaziness that those guys assigned to Kerry,” he said. “I think we’ve all been demeaned.”
As Mr. Miller said, “People don’t know about us; they know about those few TV advertisements.”

“It’s taken on a life of its own,” Mr. Wasikowski said. “The problem is, it’s on the wrong side. We would like to be remembered as the one operation in Vietnam that succeeded, totally.”

And there is another group of Very Proud Military Service Members that would like their Honor Back, this covers All Conflicts, All Service Branches, and isn’t making the News. It happened in the same year as the above. Yet after it occurred extremely little has been mentioned since, and especially as we have Two Theaters of Military Operations and Occupations still ongoing. Many died for this Honor, many were Maimed for this Honor, from the start of it’s existance right up to Today and will continue into the forseable future.

Remember this:

This happened at that years Political Convention. A certain Political Party, who claim they are the Party of a Strong National Defense and Supporters of America’s Military Personal found it not only Amusing but Extremely Funny to Pass Out and Wear their Purple Heart Bandaids, many with their Lapel American Flag Pins as well, why the Joke even carried to their talking heads, political spinmeisters, and their legions of Supporters, most who have Never Served In The Military nor do much in our times of Wars Of Choice and Occupations, except to scream they want More. More of making More Hatreds and Enemies of our Country and Us Americans! More of allowing the War Profitteers to rob from our Treasury! More of the Huge Defense Budgets with No Questions Asked about where the moneys going, More of sending the few into Multiple Tours and Stoploss! More of Not Taking Care of those sent when They Return! As long as most of them don’t have to Sacrifice and can continue to call themselves a Party of Moral Americans!

I never heard an APOLOGY to the few who Serve and are Awarded Purple Hearts, America’s Highest Honor, for Dying and being Maimed in America’s Wars, Wars mostly of Choice not Need!

Uncle Sam’s cyber force wants you

In the latest plan of the the United States military to garrison cyberspace, the air force has set up a Cyber Command and launched its own George W Bush-style US$30-billion pre-emptive strike that will, theoretically, provide the air force with the ability to fry any computer in the world. – William J Astore

Recently, while I was on a visit to Salon.com, my computer screen momentarily went black. A glitch? A power surge? No, it was a pop-up ad for the US Air Force, warning me that an enemy cyber attack could come at any moment – with dire consequences for my ability to connect to the Internet. It was an Outer Limits moment. Remember that eerie sci-fi show from the early 1960s? The one that began in a blur with the message, “There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission …” It felt a little like that.