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Intervention
Author: BobR    Date: 03/30/2011 12:55:59


Intervention
noun: interposition or interference of one state in the affairs of another.

The current military action going on in Libya has had a polarizing effect on the American people. While most people are supportive on some level, there's been a lot of "why here? why now?" and "how much?" questions. These questions are valid, but it seems like the information is out there if you seek it. Those most critical, though, have already made up their minds and are not likely to be persuaded. I will not try to persuade, but here is how I see it...
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71 comments (Latest Comment: 03/31/2011 01:13:14 by trojanrabbit)

Ask a Vet
Author: TriSec    Date: 03/29/2011 10:36:36

Good Morning.

Today is our 2,932nd day in Iraq, and our 3,460th day in Afghanistan.

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

American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 4441
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 4302
Since Handover (6/29/04): 352
Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09): 213
Since Operation New Dawn: 23

Other Coalition Troops - Iraq: 318
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 1,513
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 868
Contractor Employee Deaths - Iraq: 1,487
Journalists - Iraq : 348
Academics Killed - Iraq: 448

We find this morning's Cost of War passing through:

$ 1, 172, 369, 200, 000 .00

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63 comments (Latest Comment: 03/30/2011 03:22:46 by Raine)

Monday open stub...
Author: Raine    Date: 03/28/2011 12:13:22

I will be back shortly, but until then, I leave you with a Raccoon in a Peanut butter jar.

http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.2785760.1301270862!/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.JPG

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33 comments (Latest Comment: 03/28/2011 22:29:12 by Raine)

Geraldine
Author: clintster    Date: 03/27/2011 13:31:57

In 1984, I was an excited young man for three reasons. One, I was going to graduate high school. Two, the latest Indiana Jones and Star Trek movies were coming out, and I just knew they were both going to rock. Three, I was turning 18, which meant that I would finally get to vote in a real election.

I had been a little put out by the election and administration of Ronald Reagan, especially since he had defeated my fellow Georgian Jimmy Carter four years earlier. When Walter Mondale became the Democratic Party nominee, I was a little wary. However, I was encouraged when Mondale selected Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate. In just a moment, this unassuming former senator and vice president had changed the course of American politics forever.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/ff/GeraldineFerraro.jpg

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6 comments (Latest Comment: 03/28/2011 00:06:29 by TriSec)

Youth Organizations
Author: TriSec    Date: 03/26/2011 12:14:11

Good Morning.

'tis a lovely Saturday, and we'll soon be off to the nearby Arsenal Mall for the district Pinewood Derby. Javi won his den races, and qualifies to represent the pack.

You all know I've been at the Scouting business for nearly my entire life; I joined as a youth member when I was 8 years old myself, and haven't really been out of uniform since.

But what am I really doing here? Something Raine said in Monday's blog has given me pause.
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5 comments (Latest Comment: 03/26/2011 21:25:08 by Raine)

Under the Radar
Author: BobR    Date: 03/25/2011 12:44:34

With the military action in Libya, and nuclear crisis in Japan, the goings-on here in the U.S. seem to be slipping by under the radar. In particular, those international news stories are giving cover to the Republicans' actions. Let's take a closer look...
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56 comments (Latest Comment: 03/25/2011 19:41:34 by Raine)

Silence Isn't Always Golden
Author: Raine    Date: 03/24/2011 13:10:36

This is just a little too close to home. I mean that seriously. As the crow flies, National Airport is just a three miles from our home. In this case, as the crow flies is significant. Listen:



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70 comments (Latest Comment: 03/25/2011 04:26:57 by livingonli)

Libya, NATO, Congress, and the President
Author: BobR    Date: 03/23/2011 11:11:17

Once again, President Obama has taken an action which is approved by the majority of Americans, but condemned by those on the right and by some on the left. His measured actions in Libya have Republicans questioning his lack of hawkishness, and Progressives angry about yet another war front.

The biggest question is whether he got Congress involved enough:
Kucinich also questioned why Democratic leaders didn’t object when President Barack Obama told them of his plan for American participation in enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone during a White House Situation Room meeting on Friday, sources told POLITICO.

And liberals fumed that Congress hadn’t been formally consulted before the attack and expressed concern that it would lead to a third U.S. war in the Muslim world.

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75 comments (Latest Comment: 03/24/2011 00:12:37 by TriSec)

Ask a Vet
Author: TriSec    Date: 03/22/2011 10:33:25

Good Morning.

Today is our 2,925th day in Iraq and our 3,443rd day in Afghanistan.

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

American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 4439
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 4300
Since Handover (6/29/04): 350
Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09): 211
Since Operation New Dawn: 21

Other Coalition Troops - Iraq: 318
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 1,508
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 865
Contractor Employee Deaths - Iraq: 1,487
Journalists - Iraq : 348
Academics Killed - Iraq: 448

We find this morning's cost of war passing through:

$ 1, 169, 062, 000, 000 .00



Did you see all the coverage of the protests this weekend? It was, after all, the 8th anniversary of the ill-starred invasion of Iraq. My tiny little foilhat thinks that the start of "Operation Odyssey Dawn" this past weekend was no coincidence. Why remember a war we're losing when it's oh-so-much easier to show US warplanes dominating an essentially helpless foe? But, I digress.
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32 comments (Latest Comment: 03/22/2011 22:30:34 by trojanrabbit)

Monsters among us
Author: Raine    Date: 03/21/2011 12:44:59

I heard the news today, oh boy.... This is real ugly stuff. It's also VERY Graphic.
Some of the activities of the self-styled "kill team" are already public, with 12 men currently on trial in Seattle for their role in the killing of three civilians.

Five of the soldiers are on trial for pre-meditated murder, after they staged killings to make it look like they were defending themselves from Taliban attacks.

Other charges include the mutilation of corpses, the possession of images of human casualties and drug abuse.

All of the soldiers have denied the charges. They face the death penalty or life in prison if convicted.

The case has already created shock around the world, particularly with the revelations that the men cut "trophies" from the bodies of the people they killed.

An investigation by Der Spiegel has unearthed approximately 4,000 photos and videos taken by the men.
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69 comments (Latest Comment: 03/22/2011 03:32:52 by Raine)

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