In the past two years, the Navy has begun organizing what it calls Expeditionary Strike Groups—small fleets built around amphibious assault ships stuffed with marines and helicopters. Read one reporter's account as the marines of Expeditionary Strike Group Five take on the tsunami.
A long but satisfying read.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
How the Marines Came to Tsunami-Ravaged Sumatra
Three SOTU Quotables
"And the victory of freedom in Iraq will strengthen a new ally in the war on terror, inspire democratic reformers from Damascus to Tehran, bring more hope and progress to a troubled region, and thereby lift a terrible threat from the lives of our children and grandchildren."
"America's economy is the fastest growing of any major industrialized nation. In the past four years, we have provided tax relief to every person who pays income taxes, overcome a recession, opened up new markets abroad, prosecuted corporate criminals, raised homeownership to the highest level in history, and in the last year alone, the United States has added 2.3 million new jobs."
"Some of our servicemen and women have survived terrible injuries, and this grateful country will do everything we can to help them recover. And we have said farewell to some very good men and women, who died for our freedom, and whose memory this nation will honor forever."
Kevin’s Random Thoughts on Bush’s SOTU Speech Part One
First of all this was w/out exception Bush’s best SOTU. It was sensible but bold, kind yet determined, JUST LIKE AMERICA!!!!
Bush mentioned that he still supports a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. I wonder if this means he will defiantly push for one. ON the same line of thinking, Bush indicated that he believed Americans want each Judicial Nominee to receive an up or down vote.
Bush covered his plans for ‘Personalizing” Social Security for Americans under age 55. Under the plan the President discussed, younger workers will have the option to invest up to 4% of their pay into SS in conservative mutual-fund type investments. I thought The President made a really good case.
No real surprises in Foreign Policy tonight. Bush reiterated what has been policy in this Whitehouse since shortly after 911. America will continue to stand behind and fund Democratic Institutions around the world. It is no matter that many of these institutions will exist in places that are ruled by despots. I thought the President also did not rule out aggravated confrontation with Syria for their support of the Saddamite-Insurgents and Iran for their clear intention to become an Islamic Nuclear Nation.
That’s where I am right now. I’ll blog once more before bed.
Hottest Topic In The Blogosphere: CNN's Eason Jordan Says Media Targeted In Iraq
According to Friday's Wall Street Journal Political Diary Eason Jordan, Chief News Executive at CNN, implied that the American military was deliberately killing journalists in Iraq. He even "offered the story of an Al-Jazeera journalist who had been 'tortured for weeks' at Abu Ghraib, made to eat his shoes, and called "Al Jazeera boy" by his American captors."
Just further proof the Left-wing media is on a collision course towards total lack of legitimacy. I for one am completely unaffected by this news but merely point to it as the undoing of the Democrats.
During the 2004 elections, the Democrats tried to convince Americans to allow them to swoop in like Superman and save the day from the evil Bush Dynasty but it now appears it is they that are in need of a Superhero.
Be Very Ashamed of Former President Carter
From today's Washington Times on the Bush-hating crowd's silence post-election, Jimmy Carter and company are simply speechless.
The Carter Center determined that the security situation in Iraq was going to be too dangerous to send election monitors, so the Atlanta-based human rights organization founded by former President Jimmy Carter posted its personnel in neighboring Jordan.
Despite widespread predictions of spectacular terrorist attacks on election day in Iraq, fewer than 50 were killed, and the 60 percent turnout for the elections was much higher than many predicted.
Asked whether the Carter Center had a comment on the election, spokeswoman Kay Torrance said: "We wouldn't have any 'yea' or 'nay' statement on Iraq."
Mr. Carter told NBC's "Today" show in September that he was confident the elections would not take place. "I personally do not believe they're going to be ready for the election in January ... because there's no security there," he said.
Bush's State of The Union Address
Is tonight at 6 PM Pacific. Watch it on TV or dial it up on AM radio. Bush will speak about many important issues.
I will write on it afterwards so check back in the later evening or morning.
General Electric & Haliburton: No More Business With Iran
GE announced today it would no longer do business with Iran. Business that is worth $500 Billion. Haliburton announced last month that it would be renewing any of it's contracts. I am waiting to see a news link on this story. I am not holding my breath.
Brought to you by FoxNews' Shepard Smith.
Sunni Group: Elections Illegitimate Because We Boycotted
Iraq's leading Sunni Muslim clerics said Wednesday the country's landmark elections lacked legitimacy because large numbers of Sunnis did not participate in the balloting, which the religious leaders had asked them to boycott.
So the Sunni group is crying foul that so many Sunnis seemed to stay home on election day even though the group crying foul is the same group that called for the boycott in the 1st place!
This sort of "reverse causation" can not be allowed to stand.
