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Author: TriSec    Date: 12/04/2007 11:37:07

Good Morning.

Today is our 1,721st day in Iraq.

We'll start this morning as we always do, with the latest casualty figures, courtesy of Antiwar.com:

American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 3882
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 3743
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3421
Since Handover (6/29/04): 3023
Since Election (1/31/05): 2445

Other Coalition Troops: 306
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 469


We find this morning's cost of war standing at:

$ 474, 114, 140, 000.00




Turning to our friends at IAVA, we find that despite all our efforts, the beat still goes on. A contingent of New York National Guardsmen is shipping out to Iraq this week, just in time for Christmas. IAVA has linked to an editorial from the New York Daily News about it...
They stood to attention, men of duty who are once again answering the call for America, a band of brothers who exemplify how the few are doing so much for the many of this land.

These 16 serve in the storied Fighting 69th as members of New York's Army National Guard, and they are deploying on a year's mission that will take them to Afghanistan for some tough anti-terror work.

In them, we have much to be thankful for. We who will shop for the holidays, hurry to jobs, walk our dogs, tuck in our children and rest beside our spouses. We who will reap the benefits of the bravery and sacrifices of others.

The Fighting 69th marked the impending deployment with family and friends at the armory on Lexington Ave. Uniformed in camouflage fatigues, the unit formed ranks in a hall that was a gathering place for the loved ones of the missing after 9/11.

Their service records are singularly impressive. Most were mobilized after 9/11. They witnessed the devastation of the attack, some as members of the Police and Fire departments.

And then many did tours in Iraq, where the 69th's task force lost 11 men. Now, the mission is in the country where Al Qaeda plotted to turn airliners into missiles, killing 2,750 people here and more at the Pentagon and in a Pennsylvania field.

Each soldier deserves mention, both as his own man and as a representative of the tens of thousands who have shouldered the burden of war. The roll:

Sgt. David McNamee, a detective in the NYPD Emergency Service Unit, was with the Marines in Operation Desert Storm.

Sgt. Sean Markham, a full-time Guard member, served in the infantry in Iraq.

Staff Sgt. John Byrnes, a freelance writer, was in Somalia as a Marine and was a radioman in Iraq who performed medic duties under fire.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Herbst, a member of an NYPD burglary squad, did a tour in Baghdad.

Staff Sgt. Timothy Wiwczar owns a Long Island building firm and deployed to Iraq in 2005.

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Gross, a civil engineer, led a squad in Iraq.

1st Sgt. Michael O'Brien, a member of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit, was a Marine paratrooper who saw duty during the crisis in Lebanon and went to Iraq in 2004.

1st Lt. Jose Cruz has led rifle platoons and mortar sections.

1st Lt. Carl Jeremie is an armored-vehicle expert.

1st Lt. Troy Benton runs a Manhattan information technology firm and will be the unit's intelligence expert.

1st Lt. Chuck Wasilewski is assigned to FDNY Engine 714 in Bedford-Stuyvesant. He's skilled in mountain warfare.

1st Lt. Mike Farina, risk analyst at Ernst & Young and student at Fordham's graduate business school, is a military police officer.

1st Lt. Joseph Minning was a platoon leader in Baghdad who plans to join the NYPD.

Capt. Brian Higgins is an NYPD officer in the Bronx who led a 40-man platoon on hundreds of patrols in Iraq.

Maj. Kevin Perrin is a chief planning officer.

Maj. Vincent Heintz is an ex-prosecutor in the Bronx and Manhattan who is a lawyer for UBS and led men into combat in Iraq.

The men will spend two months in intensive training at Fort Riley in Kansas. Then they will go to Afghanistan - not to kill, if they can avoid it, but to help the Afghans stand against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. They will join Task Force Phoenix as an Embedded Training Team, assisting the Afghan National Army and Police with combating insurgents and bringing order to a struggling democracy and to a people victimized by decades of strife.

It will be tough work, 10 months in relentlessly dangerous conditions, work that's vital to the national security. Far, far from home, they will go above and beyond, as so many others have gone above and beyond, for all of us who take so much for granted.

They go with our prayers and gratitude. Godspeed to all.




In this Holiday season, we too should remember our troops overseas, and even if you don't personally know anyone serving, you can still write an email to a homesick soldier. The US Army has established this website to help the citizens connect to the soldiers. I read some, and despite the pithy kool-aid like statements from some of the writers, it's still a worthwhile thing to do. Liberals support the troops too, you know!



The blog is always open...I'll see you inside.

 

91 comments (Latest Comment: 12/04/2007 21:41:33 by Mondobubba)
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Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 14:10:47
:coffee: Good Morning!

Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 14:17:53
How do I love the amount of time it takes my computer to boot up in the morning?

Let me count the ways.

Comment by livingonli on 12/04/2007 15:30:41
Hey, bloggie's back up.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/04/2007 15:32:22
YEAH!!!!



Morning!! :hug:

Comment by livingonli on 12/04/2007 15:38:17
Someone tell the blog is back up.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/04/2007 15:39:30
Still my fave line from Beetlejuice -



"He's the genius who gave us the talking Marcel Marceau statue"

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 15:41:28
Whew we are back!

Comment by wickedpam on 12/04/2007 15:41:53
HEY BLOG'S UP! *shouts north*





Comment by BobR on 12/04/2007 15:41:53
morning folks - not sure what happened with the blog... maybe the server got rebooted...

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 15:48:56
(((((((:star:))))))) I missed you.

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 15:50:28
I can't call CC today, becuase my cell phone was stolen... it has been a very bad week so far, on the tech front for me... :cry:

Comment by BobR on 12/04/2007 15:50:34
The DB server seems a little shaky this morning - I've put in a trouble ticket to find out what's going on...

Comment by wickedpam on 12/04/2007 15:57:29
Quote by Raine: I can't call CC today, becuase my cell phone was stolen... it has been a very bad week so far, on the tech front for me... :cry:






Your cell was stolen! How'd that happen?

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 15:58:57
Oh dear... LArry craig tapes? Randi played a lot of them yesterday. Pretty sad stuff. Larry is a really bad date.

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 16:02:47
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine: I can't call CC today, becuase my cell phone was stolen... it has been a very bad week so far, on the tech front for me... :cry:
Your cell was stolen! How'd that happen?
The only thing I can figure is that I left it at the Pub we went to on Friday nite. I am very disappointed becuase it isn't the kind of place that has peopel who would use it for TM'ing. It is more the kinda place where someone would turn it in. Today BobR will TM the mook and ask them to please return it no questions asked. I have so many phone numbers in it, that is all I care about getting back,... I really need the address book. I am so damn sad. about that.

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 16:04:21
You know, come to think of it... Everyone here who has my cell number... please TM my phone and ask them to drop the phone cack at manuel's Tavern... no questions asked. PLEASE?!?!?!

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 16:08:12
HERe is the Adress of Manuels:
Manuel's Tavern 602 North Highland Ave. Atlanta Ga. 30307
I am now goign to email all my friends in family and ask them to do the same. I REALLY would like my phone back!

Comment by wickedpam on 12/04/2007 16:14:48
Let me figure out how to send a TM since I've never done it before, but I'll try

Comment by wickedpam on 12/04/2007 16:16:22
Clint sings too, he sang Accentuate the Positive on the MIdnight in the Garden of Good and Evil soundtrack. I laughed my ass off then I first heard it.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/04/2007 16:19:35
How said Santa doesn't eat well!? Maybe he's got a thyroid problem! Get off his back man, you try to make all those toys and drag them around the world!

Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 16:23:41
Hey! The blog is back....



Quote by wickedpam: Let me figure out how to send a TM since I've never done it before, but I'll try




NEVAH?!?!? Woh.

I am a text-a-holic.



Raine. . . It is done.

"Hey. How 'bout u turn this phone in to it's rightful ownr. No questions askd."



Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 16:26:32
: 2nd text : "It wud b good Karma. Come on. You can do it."

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 16:26:53
Quote by starling310: Hey! The blog is back....
Quote by wickedpam: Let me figure out how to send a TM since I've never done it before, but I'll try
NEVAH?!?!? Woh. I am a text-a-holic. Raine. . . It is done. "Hey. How 'bout u turn this phone in to it's rightful ownr. No questions askd."
I you starling. Anything, I figure if they return it to Manuels, Manuels would keep it, until I pick it up.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/04/2007 16:27:10
Quote by starling310: Hey! The blog is back....



Quote by wickedpam: Let me figure out how to send a TM since I've never done it before, but I'll try




NEVAH?!?!? Woh.

I am a text-a-holic.



Raine. . . It is done.

"Hey. How 'bout u turn this phone in to it's rightful ownr. No questions askd."







Nope Nevah!



Isn't there a website I can do that from?

Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 16:28:14
You don't know me.

I'm not just one of your little toys.

You don't know me.

Don't say I can't go with other boys.





AND DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!

AND DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO SAY. . .






Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 16:28:56
:puke: Larry craig is gross...

Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 16:30:39
Quote by Raine:

I you starling.



Anything, I figure if they return it to Manuels, Manuels would keep it, until I pick it up.





People who steal stuff, piss me off.

GET A JOB AND BUY YOUR OWN DAMN PHONE.

You think I haven't thought "Man, it would be nice to get ( insert item here ) for free...?" Doesn't mean ya steal it.

WANKERS!



Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 16:32:18
Raine, the Bob Dylan movie was pretty interesting. I liked it. . . I can't put my finger on exactly why. It was a bit too long and there was an underlying feeling of pretentiousness, but I still liked it.

Cate Blanchett was great. Richard Gere was not. No big shock there.



Comment by livingonli on 12/04/2007 16:34:19
Quote by Raine: Larry craig is gross...


Like having sex with a tree stump. And with as much personality.

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 16:35:58
PLEASE! someone call!

Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 16:37:18
At the office today. No phone calls to Momma and CeCe for me!

:shrug:

Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 16:38:17
Guess they aren't taking questions today.



Comment by livingonli on 12/04/2007 16:41:15
It seems that way. Either that or no one called in since Buddy called before.

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 16:41:34
Quote by starling310: Raine, the Bob Dylan movie was pretty interesting. I liked it. . . I can't put my finger on exactly why. It was a bit too long and there was an underlying feeling of pretentiousness, but I still liked it. Cate Blanchett was great. Richard Gere was not. No big shock there.
That was what I was kinda hoping to hear... Dylan, interesting, not sure why... :P.... OH! the movie we saw was *redacted*... it was ok... the story was far more distressing than the movie and the actors.

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 16:43:58
Quote by livingonli: It seems that way. Either that or no one called in since Buddy called before.
Bummer.

Comment by TriSec on 12/04/2007 16:45:27
"Cellphone theft is a federal offense. Return it and no one gets hurt."



-Uncle Sam





Heh, would that I had the cojones to send that!



What I *actually* sent was a little more benign.

Comment by livingonli on 12/04/2007 16:47:45
What if you call the thief and leave a message?



Return the phone and no one gets hurt.

Comment by livingonli on 12/04/2007 16:50:47
The Bush Administration has no shame.



Anyone who still believes the crap they peddle is as stupid as Bush is.

Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 16:53:48
No text message back from the culprit yet.





Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 16:55:02
I really just want the phone returned. What I want is for the person to understand that this phone will be shut off ... in the mean time they need to know that it needs to be returned. Right now it is no questions asked. And if people speak espanol, that would help. :cry: (does that help?)

Comment by livingonli on 12/04/2007 16:55:24
Hey Missed you on the blog the last couple of days.

Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 16:56:31
Jesus Christ is my Homeboy. . .





Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 16:59:27
Quote by livingonli: Hey Missed you on the blog the last couple of days.




Muchos Gracias. . . Was helping a friend, who is going through a divorce, move into a temporary home. 4 kids = tons of stuff! <---- Sweat!

Then I was having lots of log in issues. Those have been resolved, clearly.



Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 17:00:24
For my loverlies: please TM the following: Sabemos que usted tiene nuestro telŽfono. Ser‡ desactivado pronto y sin valor a usted - Verizon no lo reactivar‡ para usted. Lo deseamos detr‡s. El hurto de Cellphone es una ofensa federal, pero si usted la deja en la taberna de Manuel, no se har‡ ningunas preguntas.

Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 17:02:14
Seriously! That is a Moi longo texto.



Why Spanish?

RACIST!





Kidding folks. Kidding.



Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 17:05:32
:( all I want s my phone returned... that is it. Sniff.

Comment by BobR on 12/04/2007 17:05:53
Quote by Raine: For my loverlies: please TM the following:



Sabemos que usted tiene nuestro telŽfono. Ser‡ desactivado pronto y sin valor a usted - Verizon no lo reactivar‡ para usted. Lo deseamos detr‡s. El hurto de Cellphone es una ofensa federal, pero si usted la deja en la taberna de Manuel, no se har‡ ningunas preguntas.


This may look a little better:

Sabemos que usted tiene nuestro teléfono. Será desactivado pronto y sin valor a usted - Verizon no lo reactivará para usted. Lo deseamos detrás. El hurto de Cellphone es una ofensa federal, pero si usted la deja en la taberna de Manuel, no se hará ningunas preguntas.



Spanish because I checked the messages in the voice mail and there were 3 from this number: 626-506-3724 and they were in Spanish.

Comment by starling310 on 12/04/2007 17:09:14
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine: For my loverlies: please TM the following:



Sabemos que usted tiene nuestro telŽfono. Ser‡ desactivado pronto y sin valor a usted - Verizon no lo reactivar‡ para usted. Lo deseamos detr‡s. El hurto de Cellphone es una ofensa federal, pero si usted la deja en la taberna de Manuel, no se har‡ ningunas preguntas.


This may look a little better:

Sabemos que usted tiene nuestro teléfono. Será desactivado pronto y sin valor a



usted - Verizon no lo reactivará para usted. Lo deseamos detrás. El hurto de Cellphone es una ofensa federal, pero si usted la deja en la taberna de Manuel, no se hará ningunas preguntas.



Spanish because I checked the messages in the voice mail and there were 3 from this number: 626-506-3724 and they were in Spanish.




What's the most important part of that text? Is there a 1 liner maybe?





Comment by wickedpam on 12/04/2007 17:17:32
Raine - who's your cell provider? I'm gonna see if I can do this from my computer.

Comment by Raine on 12/04/2007 17:19:40
:star: the TM's have been in spanish. I NEED for people to senf the messages about where I need it dropped offin spanish. This so sucks.