Constance Parten--Thanks--I did see Martin Savidge's report two months ago. However, I posted that update because per what I read Friday New Orleans' health care situation obviously has not changed for the better and the Bush Administration's stiffing Louisiana on the funding she needs won't bring any of the needed improvements any time soon. This gets my dander up because the Bush Administration can well afford to fund the hospital I mentioned, the way it's been throwing money away to build a new multi-billion dollar embassy in Iraq and on all sorts of other wasteful projects and aid overseas that won't do Americans here at home any good.

I saw you guys ran the story on Cheney's new branch of government. Um... with how divisive and criminal this administration has acted, don't you think it time to have a special segment on them specifically much like your "wounds of war" series? Seems to me the vaunted American media has given the biggest free pass to this administration for far too long. Not having 'an opinion' on such CRIMINALITY is like not having an opinion that the deaths of those nine fire fighters wasn't horrific.

I also hope you people realize that for the CIA to be letting out the details of past domestic spying of leftist activist groups is actually a subtle method of population control. When people think they 'might' be getting spied on, they do indeed limit what they say and what they talk about. I don't know how many times I've wondered if what I say might land me in GITMO and indeed I have limited what I have said which is absurd for anyone to do in this country.

By letting it be known that people like that Canadian have gone to gitmo wrongly and were tortured, it quietly tells people they should just be quiet and forget about complaining, otherwise... DON'T YOU SEE HOW THIS GAME WORKS? By spilling the supposed beans about infiltration of leftist groups during times of extreme protest, it is a way to prevent similar things from taking off as this admin tries to seize more and more power. No one will want to speak out knowing that even people who did not deserve to go to gitmo indeed did.

So, are you guys out hiring new war reporters to cover the about-to-begin new war with Iran? I wouldn't delay. How funny it is the things that a war criminal like Bush will do when left in power. We simply wake up one morning and BANG there it is "Tehran Bombed: U.S. uses own WMD on sovereign nation!" I've asked desperately before and I'll do so again. PLEASE do an in-depth report on just how strong the Iranian military is and why the American people should not be so complacent about even the remote possibility of the U.S. starting yet another even more bloody war. Iran is probably 20 TIMES stronger than Iraq was after it suffered its desert storm defeat and a 13-year arms embargo. It is a dangerous path to tread to think that our armies cannot be beaten or that we can do no wrong.

Lester this is an embarrassing day for the US with the CIA report of our past. It's sad because the Bush Administration has picked that same actions up and are continuing it today. One would think we had learned but we didn't. The horrors sound alot like Russia's past. Eavesdropping, experiments on Americans, corruption is part of our current Administration. We tell other countries to use the US as an example of Democracy yet in reality we are no better then the Saddam's and Hitlers of the world. There is no excuse as I know the spin and blame will come. But seeing the same action done today is scary as Americans seem to except that actions. I guess in another 45 years the next generation will show the same report again and ask why this action has continue for over 100 years. America will be seen as a country that gives lip service as is done now with the troops.
Nothing will change until the American people fight to protect their own country from the enemy within.

Good Evening Again Mr.Holt, First it was touching and heartbreaking to see the memorial service for those nine firefighters. I agree that they "gave it all". They are true heroes. Regarding the series the "Wounds of War" by Robert Bazell it was nice to see an update on the progress of the Army Sgt. I cannot imagine the pain she must endure everyday,but she seems so very strong and has a a loving family to support her. I wish the hospital helped them more as outpatients. They should never be ignored or not helped during their recovery. I hope she continues to recover better each day. I was moved by the piece about Daniel Pearl's father and how he and his wife are honoring their son and making something positive out of something so extremely tragic. I admire them and their efforts. Thank you Mr.Holt for the good broadcast. See you on the weekend! Peace to all!

I live in So. CA. I was painting upstairs in my home a little before 1:00, and it sounded like a 300 pound weight dropped on my roof! Now I know it was the shuttle. Pretty cool!! It was pretty loud too.

Hello to NBC News,
I want to say that Lester Holt is the most appealing newsman on your network. He has a wonderful way to present the news, even tho' I don't always agree with NBC's opinions. I do like Lester !!!

Good Evening Mr.Holt, Nice to see you on a Friday edition of Nightly News. What a terrible tragedy of the loss of the nine firefighters. There is a strong bond between the firefighters and they risk their lives everyday to save others. We should always honor them for their bravery and sense of duty. On another note it is wonderful that the space shuttle Atlantis touched down safely. I'm happy all the crew is back down to earth. Looking forward to the broadcast Mr.Holt! Peace to all!

Dear Olivia,

Martin Savidge reported this story almost two months ago: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18274893/.

Did you know that per an article in USA Today,in the aftermath of Katrina, New Orleans' death has been boosted by 47% compared to 2 years before the levees broke?

Doctors say the dramatic surge in deaths comes as no surprise in a city of 250,000 mostly poor and middle-class people who lost 7 of 22 hospitals and half of New Orleans' hospital beds. More than 4486 doctors were displace from 3 New Orleans-area parishes, creating a shortage that still hampers many hospitals.

The indigent suffered the brunt of the toll from the storm. The Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans, 2 hospitals that made up the city's safety net for the uninsured, were severely damaged, and one, Charity Hospital, remains closed. "We're facing a lot of health care challenges. I'm sure that it has a significant impact on mortality," says Kevin Stephens, director of the New Orleans Health Department.

Juliette Saussey says the bottom line is that people in New Orleans are dying at a faster rate post-Katrina. "The lack of primary care, of mental health care and of long waits in emergency rooms all have (worsened) people's normally controllable chrinic diseases. Diabetes, respiratory disease and hypertension are all killers, especially when not dealt with."

This is the sort of situation that calls for meaningful action by the federal government. However, the Bush Administration seems to be condemning Louisiana to continued shortages of medical care in the New Orleans area in the foreseeable future. Per the Times-Picayune, the Administration made it clear Thursday that it has serious problems with Louisiana's plan for a 484-bed teaching and research hospital in downtown New Orleans.

This sort of thing should not be happening in this country. It's time NBC Nightly took a good hard look at the shattered health care system in New Orleans and the Bush Administration's denying Louisiana the help she needs to bring it back into shape.