I find it amazing that after al the uproar about leaks in the press doing harm to our national security, that the White House and Defense Dept. can't wait to gloat to the press about all the info they recovered at the site of Al-zarqawi.What sense does it make to tell the whole world that they recovered the names and locations of key al-qaeda members.Do you think they are stupid enough to stay at those locations after hearing about it through a White House briefing???They seem to be in a rush to get good PR instead of a rush to get people killing soldiers and civilians. Still looking for that "bullhorn" moment, I guess!Just another example of incompetence at the top of the "leadership" chain!
Don Iodice

America is more evil than the enemy? Let's get some facts straight shall we? Iraq invaded Kuwait. America saved Kuwait. America actually gave Saddam a second chance. What did Saddam do? Saddam killed his own people, took daily shots at coalition forces, spit in the UN's face 17 times officially, harbored and probably supported terrorists (which more evidence is coming out on with every passing minute), used chemical weapons against the Kurds, tortured and raped women, carried out thousands of assassinations, and continued to increase the instability of the Middle East. Now, I'm sure evidence will come out eventually that he was, if he did not have already, seeking nuclear weapons as well. But, we are more evil than the enemy? Oh, that's right, Mr. Rawlings must have been talking about the insurgents and Al-Qaeda. We are more evil than them, right? What have they been doing recently? Oh, I remember now. They've been killing innocent politicians in the streets, blowing up women and children alike, and destroying their most sacred of religious institutions in an attempt to ingnite a civil war. Oh, by the way, did I mention they were cutting the heads off of people? But, letting immigrants serve makes us more evil than these individuals? A few soldiers taking matters into their own hands compromises the integrity of our entire military? Lets get a few things straight. Immigrants aren't stupid people. For Mr. Rawlings to stereotype them as being naive or gullible about this war is ethnocentric. They know about this war and make a conscience decision to support it or not. They understand the risks of signing up for service as well. They chose to join the military, in most instances, in support of a country they love. In addition, most also came to the US in order to escape the persecution or lack of opportunities somewhere else. Newsflash for all the US bashers: PEOPLE COME TO OUR COUNTRY SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE ARE A DECENT NATION. Sure, we do make mistakes. Before you cast stones, show me someone without sin. But, unlike many other countries, we hold our people accountable, we try to protect our people, and we try to do the right thing by our people most of the time. That being the case, we are not going to just thank immigrants for their military service and then kick them out of the country. Illegal immigrants have a choice to make. Come forward and work toward citizenship or live under a cloud of insecurity the rest of their lives. It's that simple. Final facts: Military service has been a means to citizenship for a long time now. NOBODY has been drafted in this war. Lastly, the US continues to meet its recruiting goals every year. What does that say about support for the war by our young men and women?
I don't mind people upset at some of our policies. I accept the fact that we've made some bad mistakes. I don't mind criticizing the US on a logical level. But don't sit there for one second try to convince me that we are more evil than our enemies! If a person truly believes that they should do us all a favor and leave. I can't continue to read these crazy statements. I can't believe that there are people out there that equate us and them in the same breath.

I think that it is very interesting that according to Al Qaida of Iraq, it has named a successor to al-Zarkawi already. Why disclose a new leader to replace al-Zarkawi because as everybody knows, a faceless enemy reduces the reasons to engage in war. By dislosing a replacement for al-Zarkawi only presses a continuation toward further conflict. What an idiot to disclose this information! Or perhaps, one has to assess whether that disclosure has an expressed purpose provision by our own government to enhance that continuation of that same war by making that disclosure of al-Zarkawi's replacement. Is it possible that this disclosure of al-Zarkawi's replacement was provided by our government so as to exhort one on to fight an enemy with a face? A faceless enemy induces doubt of continuing a war effort. Without a replacement for al-Zarkawi, doubts would follow a same course effort. Hence, a replacement has been found! But why disclose this to everyone instead of keeping this among the fighting few? Is this disclosure a prpaganda effort by the White House, methinksitis!

A new name will be given by Bush as the terrorist for us to fear. Nothing will be done but more bombing of civilians. The stories change by the minute and we'll never hear the truth. Now illegal immigrates are drafted to this so called war. How two faced is this country. These people work for low wages, Congress wants them sent home or arrested now send them to died in the fack war with the promise that they can be American citizens. We know the Military lied to our American troops by telling them they would pay for their education yes they changed that rule now these young immigrates are trusting the word of those liars. Americans wont send their children to fight for the invasion by Bush but it's ok to send illegal immigrates to die and if they return Congress will send them back to their country and wont give a thought about that promise. Now you see what can of people Americans have in charge their more heartless then the so called enemy. That's why American will lose this invasion. We are being more evil then our so called enemy.

I hope that someone will spend some time on the Medicaid reform for states. For the people living pay-check to pay-check this is a hugh setback. In order to pay the added cost something else doesn't get paid. Think about it for just a moment. If the poor and low income could afford private insurance then they wouldn't need medicaid in the first place.
Who decides how much coverage is enough? Who say's what is and isn't neccessary treatment? Who determines who lives and who dies because they couldn't justifiy the expense of an early detection test? Who is gonna grieve with the family whose loved one could have been saved if the they'd have had the test and gotten treatment at the early stage?
I don't know who it will be. I do know that it won't be the paper pushing jerk with the 6 figure salary, private insurance, setting back in an office, never have to worry about the next meal, approving the paperwork that cost some poor person their life because they where just a number, and could have save that same life if they had a heart! No it won't be that person. That person won't ever know how many peole they let die becuase they let people be defined as just a number.
The reason the death toll is higher in 3rd world countries is the lack of proper health care. Disease runs more rapid, poor eating habits, hygene, and a lack of medicine play a huge role. Now someone in a office has been handed a tool that can force the lower income into living a life equal to that of a 3rd world citizen. The tool is SAVING MONEY and it's legal.
Doctors take an OATH to DO KNOW HARM. What kind of oath will the desk jockey take(Save All The State Money You Can No Matter How Many Have To Die)? Take it out of the hands of insurance companies trying to save a buck and put it in the hands of the Doctors trying to save a life!!

Mark Mullen's story on Hispanics in the military left out the most important fact. Yes, Hispanics are 11% of those killed in Iraq. Yes, they make up 13% of recent recruits. What Mullen failed to mention, showing his bias and lack of journalistic integrity: Hispanics make up 14% of the U.S. population, and 18% of those 20-24 years old. Great going, Mark.

With the removal of al-Zarqari, a faceless insurgency will continue. The problem with a faceless insurgency concerns a foe one cannot display on a day-to-day basis. A face on whom one can apply can be a positive media boon for this administration but a faceless insurgent does not do this administration well in its stay-the-course ways. Hence, al-Zarqari's removal is a shortlived celebration. Perhaps W. will invent another foe with a face. He needs a foe with a face to assuage continued response in the Iraqi conflict and without a face, there is a faceless war.