Here's the story on "station stops" -- Trains often go through a station, rather than stop at it. For example, trains run more frequently from DC to NYC than from the BWI station, which they sometimes go through rather than stop at to drop and pick-up passengers. So, a "station stop" is a station a train is coming into and actaully stopping at.

I watched your show about the lady in Virginia,last week, that bakes lots of cookies for the troops and sends them to the middle east. I wanted to see how I would contact her to help her and get some of the recipes to make them for the troops, also,

Brian,
Per your comment about Bush viewing Saddam's hanging: "...when I asked where it "ranked" (among the mistakes of the war) he indicated it was just below Abu Ghraib in terms of damage -- meaning slightly less damaging..." my observation is the Butcher of Baghdad met the Coward of Crawford. The Coward had all the cards. Did he play them well?

Jim, per your comment questioning why the Iraqis do not rise up against the terriorists, remember there were no terriorists in Iraq until they were invaded. Rising up against the terriorists is happening now. Remember Mai Lai?? Bring our people home.

Well I've read all the above messages and found everything was pretty much covered from locations all over this nation of ours.

All that is left to do for "86%" of us seems to be to pray to God for his guidance out of this quadmire into which Bush has brought us. If He sees fit to help us, in my opinion, the next step is for Congress to consider starting an impeachment process, but then who would be our new president? Can double impeachments be done? We seem to be boxed in somehow. I guess we'll have to tough it out for their remaining terms. This way they will be guaranteed their undeserved pensions, unlike employees of Enron and other companies.

I found it interesting that the United States has propped up economically, militarily, and politically people that we had problems in the past and/or still having problems currently. To name a few: General Manual Noriega of Panama was an a alley of the United States; we sent Saddam Hussein chemicals for his war against the Iranians (incidentally we supplied Iranians as well because it served Reagan’s and Bush’s interests); and Osama Bin Laden was given military aid during the Soviet-Afghan war. My generation, deemed generation X because of its wayward attitude of life is bleeding and dying on the battlefields of Iraq. The Greatest Generation had bled all over the world during World War and The Baby Boom Generation was killed off in the Vietnam War. Therefore, I think that my generation should be very angry that other young men and women (predominantly of the same generation) are dying in a war that serves the Bush administration’s interests. Maybe its time that the United States stops aggressively pushing its interests onto other countries throughout the world community because they are detrimental to them and to the United States in the end.

Brian - I watched Mayor Bloomberg as a witness before the Lieberman/Collins Home Security Committee this past week and this is how he responded to Mary Landrieu when she complained about the Federal Governments' non- response to their plight during and after Katrina.

"the Federal Government is your last resource - your first responders are your local police, firemen, EMT etc. your Mayor, your Governor and State Officials. You should be practicing with these people Every Day. You should have emergency drills at least weekly. Remember, everything will fail - cell phones are almost useless not because of technology, but because of the heavy load during an emergency. Make other plans for other means of communications. Lean on your churches and other community groups make sure all schools have drills for evacuation. etc, etc."

Not an exact quote, but you get the idea - Mayor Bloomberg was very effective and of course it's my opinion that he has continued to watch over NYC and the Metro area like a proud parent. When someone else mentioned language problems with other countries he said - "call me, my police department has members that speak over 164 languages and dialects. You have to find people like this and hire them."

Is there any rumor of him having Presidential ambitions?

SO NOW "W" HAS A PLAN TO "PACIFY" AND RESTORE BAGHDAD?! NO THINKING AMERICAN IS GOING TO SWALLOW THAT PIECE OF WHITE HOUSE SPIN. THE BUSHIES CAN'T EVEN PACIFY AND RESTORE NEW ORLEANS! THEY CAVED AND FLED LOUISIANA. THEY SHOULD DO THE SAME IN IRAQ!

Brian, thanks for the info on the Bush pre-game show. It's just such a tactic of "if you only knew what I know each day" that got trusting and scared Americans to buy into his despicable agenda in the first place. Now he's facing the cameras and almost whimpering out his plan like a deer in headlights. I've already read some reports that almost expressed compassion for this man - this man who has deliberately cost the lives of 3018+ young Americans for his folly, this man who knows no decency in his quest for power, who has others attack war heroes knowing he dodged his own military duty, this man who uses fear to lead his nation, this man who has qwipped and he-hawed while bodies were floating down streets only to have deceptive backdrop lighting during his press take, this man who keeps talking of bringing democracy and American values to other parts of the world while he tramples and lines out our rights guaranteed in the Constitution, this man who just last night has managed to confuse some journalists to report that he has admitted to the mistakes - he did NOT do so - he only implied that others made them and that he, like some bigger than life hero, would take responsibility for them, God bless him. Is this country so desparate for a leadership to be sucked in by this act. That's all it is. When he and his agents begin to feel that he has prevailed in fooling the masses, AGAIN, he'll be out there, strutin, kickin and grinin, on top of the world, putting out more signing statements, not talking with any evildoers, raising more debts for more generations to pay, and worst of all killing and destroying more innocent lives for nothing but his ego. But that don't matter none - George W. Bush doesn't like to lose...

I second what Amanda said, and will add that there was so much pre-coverage of Bush's speech that I didn't find it necessary to watch it. Rather, I watched a movie that, I'm sure, was far more entertaining. But I'll have to add, based on what I've seen not only in the pre-coverage but also in other news on Bush's Iraq policy that Bush is in a state of denial regarding Iraq.

I'd also like to add that this is a serious case of misplaced priorities. Iraq is not the only area regarding which Bush is in denial. He is also in denial regarding Katrina recovery, and would also keep the rest of America in denial regarding this pressing issue.

Nobody could have been more grateful for last night's extended coverage of Iraq on NBC Nightly than Bush and the rest of his Administration. Reason being, it kept all news out of beleaguered New Orleans--an embarrassment to the Bush Administration--off the air. I was upset to note that Martin Savidge had been pulled out of New Orleans to cover troops in Ft. Stewart, Georgia. So again the New Orleanians have been left alone with their suffering. This is morally wrong.

Bloggers I applaud all of you. Taken as a whole this may be on of the most intelligent discussions of Iraq I heard in a long time!

However, I do feel the need to come to Brian's defense here. "Backround" and off the record meetings are at the heart of journalism. They serve to give the journalist a deeper understanding of the story. Sometimes they even lead the story. Surly we haven't all forgotten Deep Throat this soon have we?

Brian, Perhaps newscasters are in too close collusion with their subjects.

Your question to Bush on how the hanging of Saddam Hussein "ranks" in the series of mistakes focuses on these incidents from only the position of how they are perceived -- how the reporting of these events "damages" the country's image and the conduct of the war. This mirrors the administration's apparent frame of mind that privileges damage control over justice -- a frame of mind illustrated by the Iraqi government's witch hunt for the person who filmed the hanging, rather than investigation into the conduct of the execution.

If our media fail as the first line of defense against this numbness, it has repercussions for the greater damage done to our national spirit. We learn to be concerned with Haditha and Abu Ghraib just for the "fallout" of these events, not the abortion of justice and honor that they represent.

The president deserves the support of the country to implement his plan for Iraq. Unlike 2003, the press played hear no evil to what was going on, thus not asking the right question; I hope this time the press asks the right question.

It's not President Bush's decisions that I fear, but Radical Islam that has declared war on America and the West, unfortunately supported by a majority of Muslims either openly or by making excuses for it. Whatever happens in Iraq, we are going to be fighting this war for years to come. Radical Islam only understands force - that's the way they captured many of the countries that we are dealing with today. We make a grave error if we think they want peace like we do.

Bush's Iraq speech, eh? (Yawnnnn) What a waste of 24 minutes of televised programming, except that it was indeed more 'programming' of the bovine type. Certainly, most of what he said was already pre-gurgitated and fed to us by the media beginning yesterday. Did we need to see Bush's lips move and say the same thing? Perhaps, the naive among us did although I doubt seriously that even they were impressed. Far more of us would rather hear substantial and time-based troop needs for impending withdrawal and U.S. turnover to the Iraqi government, provided by the military leadership who are on the ground there and who knows the reality from the front. This administration never really listened to them from the start. Bush is a sorry excuse for a U.S. President and we'll certainly be paying for the missteps and misdeeds of his administration far beyond the current generations worldwide. History must surely bear out that hard truth. My thoughts are with the troops, their families, the Iraqi people, and the thousands of military personnel who've already given their lives on this farce of a war. 2008 seems eons away.

When the people of Kuwait were invaded by Saddam's troops. We went there. When the people of Iraq needed help deposing the same tyrant. We went there. When Afghans were being killed by nutcases just for wanting to attend school. We went there...

We're no longer needed in Iraq. They are too busy killing themselves in the name of Allah. Consumed by a hatred of each other that dates back to even before the US was a nation...

When eventually they get back to building roads, putting kids in school and policing themselves and they invite us there. We'll go there.

Building a nation is never going to happen unless the people of that nation WANT IT, and really want it. Their fate is in their hands and no amount of effort and sacrifice on our part will make them want it until they are good and ready and finally, want it.

Brian - A marine recruiter will be at my home tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. to talk to my 18 year old son. This mom would like to see the US military take it to the people of Iraq and then tell them, It's your country, take care of it or lose it!

As someone that has tired of the war, the President made me rethink my position. I am starting to wonder why we are pushing to leave, including myself. What would be left in the wake and what would that mean for the future. I am starting to think that our impatience, mine included, is part of the problem. Why would the people of Iraq oppose terror groups and the insurgence if they think that we are leaving, like we (and I) have been contemplating since the election? I am starting to rethink that. I like that the President put pressure on the Iraqi government I think much of the failure lies with Iraqi government. The speech did make me rethink some conclusions that I thought I had come to. Sen. Durbin's speech was directed at those of us demanding change and it rung a little hollow to me. We need a healthy debate on this. All I can say, I am not as sure as I was. Am I alone?

Brian - what a horrible thing that you had to miss all 3 minutes of snow for the trash talk going around Washington. I'm afraid that, at this stage the country in is, no amount of snow can adequately cover and hide the perilous times we currently live within.

".. generations of Americans would pay a heavy price should we retreat now."
Regrettably, generations of Americans *will* pay a heavy price, regardless of what the outcome is now.

I cannot help but notice that rhetoric of our politicians has veered from waxing eloquent about an eventual 'victory', to what now amounts to finding a way to merely mitigate the damage already done. But before we hasten to lay the blame, for events that have unfolded over these past two years in particular, at the feet of a single individual, perhaps we should pause and recollect that this President was democratically reelected to office well after this adminstration opted to undertake this war. As much as we decry the manner in which the current admnistration's officials are handling the dismal events unfolding in Iraq, or what they now propose to solve the seemingly unsolvable -- I hope we'll remain mindful that there are many of our elected officials in Congress (on both sides of the aisle) who first voted in favor of this war, then stood by and did effectively nothing as the situation clearly unravelled with every passing month.

I don't pretend to fully comprehend the socio-economic or political consequences of either a rapid withdrawal, or a further prolonged presence in a nation, that by every single reasonable account from observers in the media and elsewhere, has virtually been laid to waste. I do understand that there are simply no simple answers, and that before we as a nation are able to move beyond these very difficult times -- much, much more will be lost to this generation and those that follow. I will try to listen with humility and an open mind to what all our experts and elected officials have to say, and this time I hope that those we have elected to represent us will not merely stand by or allow themselves to be swayed to whichever course of action is merely politically expedient.

Brian,
After reading your report, it made me feel honored to be a 3rd Infantry Division veteran. Glad you made it.

Brian :to hear Buchanan and Gergen arguing on Hardball tonight they sound like the Democrats wanted this war ,but buchanan at least had the "bells " to say this is the Neocons screw up not to mention the BUSHES cheneys rumsfeld but in any case the media has not put out any good editorials against anything the Regime as done. If you look at Miklaszewski and Mcintyre (msnbc and cnn )they hold the KEY to 911 and the pentagon and therein LIES this war .Woburn ma 01801

It must be recognized that civil war is already afoot in Iraq. This couple with the fact that an oil rich nation is very attractive to terrorists factions who would like to pick this plum to fund their cause. In short, this war has all the potential for turning into a protracted bonfire. Indeed a most noble endeavor. However it has a much too familiar ring to it such as "Vietnam." Are there not great similarities? Time for Congress to take hold of this and start working the political arena in the Middle East to get the surrounding countries to accept responsibility for the stability in the region. We often hear that it is in America's interest but are we really the big stakeholders?

To Jim Gremminger, assume that you were attacked by terrorists with bombs and machine guns and the government could not help you. In fact, some of your neighbors are terrorists and so are many policemen. How would you rise up against them? Either you would hide to save yourself or form your own militia and by taking arms yourself, you would probably create more violence. Use your brain! Regardless of how hideous Saddam was, we removed a building block without planning for the collapse of the entire structure, letting al-Qaida into Iraq to trigger a civil war resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. Yet you think it's their fault?

Hi Brian....I guess that I feel some considerable disappointment, regarding the failure of journalism to keep the American Public apprised of the truth. Governments lie to their citizens that they are supposed to represent and protect. All governments do, irrespective of whether they are a democracy or a totalitarian state. They first have to condition the minds of their citizens to believe that they and their country are in grave danger and label any citizen who questions the basis for their belief as non-patriotic. It works...It definately works. If the journalist have forgotten the basic interrogatories of investigation that they learned in journalistic training, such as who, what , when, where, why and how, how then are the citizens to critically examine the statements and policies of their government? I do not think that the journalists have forgotton the interrogatories, but I do think that they have lost the courage to ask the questions or report on the truth of the issue, for fear of being labled as non-patriotic, and being black-balled by their government in one fashion or another.

I gave up on this President after five minutes of that speech. This entire,sorry episode which has done limitless damage to our country's standing around the world, was the concoction of cowardly, neocons who actually believed Iraq would be easy. Shock and awe didn't work, Bremer was a fool and the generals who had it right from the very beginning were marginalized, just as they are tonight. When I see the cauldren of hatred that Iraq has become, I'm overwhelmed with respect for Sadaam Hussein's ability to rule that nation, I should feel shame for thinking this way, but I've never in my life felt so totally alienated from my own government