What the "Newsisfree.com" site says about their Memestreams feed:

] MemeStreams
]
] The links in this feed are chosen by a flat democracy.
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News Is Free: MemeStreams: Information About This Channel

] For a very long time, Americans were content to believe
] that this nation's sheer size and distance from global
] hot spots sheltered us from terrorism. In the face of a
] billion tons of ash and human carnage, it became clear
] that we're as vulnerable as anyone else.
]
] But this country has the economic power, the military
] strength and the political will to do something about it.
] That's a blessing, because we can defend ourselves in
] ways few other nations can. It's also our curse, because
] if we don't deal with the problem--as the United Nations
] refused to do--no one else can or will. So the duty falls
] to us, and the time has come to stop playing games with
] national security and--by extension--the lives of not
] only Americans but those of oppressed innocents across
] the globe as well.
]
] That's what this war's about.

U.S. efforts stand to make the world a better place--even for the French

From a Washington Post article, 3/28/2003:

] Southeast of there, in Nasiriyah, U.S. Marines who have
] been battling stiff resistance to secure control of two
] bridges vital to supply convoys finally took a hospital
] that had been used as a base by Iraqi gunners. Television
] reporters allowed inside examined the 3,000 new chemical
] weapons protective suits that Marines had reported
] finding there and discovered that the labels and
] instructions were in English. The country of origin of
] the suits was not known, they said.

Labels on Chemical Suits Were in English (3/28/2003)

From Centcom Briefing, March 28, 2003:

] Q: General, Kelly O'Donnell, NBC News. Will you provide
] for us the name of the vendor and the country of origin
] of all these chemical suits you've now found in multiple
] locations, described as new and ready for distribution?
]
. . .

] GEN. BROOKS: On the chemical suits, I don't know any
] reason why we would not be able to give you that. So as
] soon as we find out what the answer is, perhaps we can
] provide that to you. And we'll have our media relations
] folks follow that up.

If this answer has been provided anywhere since this briefing on March 28th, I sure haven't seen it!

I'm going to try and get in touch directly with Kelly O'Donnell from NBC, and see if Centcom ever got back to her...

Still No Word on Chemical Suits Origin

] As the heir to one of the most important dynasties in the
] Shiite world, al-Hakim is mindful that the actions of
] Iraqi Shiites could have an impact on the entire Shiite
] community. "He realizes that if Shiites in Iraq are
] perceived as cooperating with an invasion force, it could
] have repercussions throughout the Muslim world for years
] to come," said a senior al-Hakim adviser, who asked not
] to be named.
]
] Shiites comprise about 20 percent of the 1 billion
] Muslims in the world. While the majority of Muslims
] worldwide are Sunnis, Shiites constitute a majority in
] several countries, including Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and
] Bahrain. Other Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia,
] have sizable Shiite minorities that are marginalized.

A Delicate Balancing Act Between Shiite and Sunni Muslims

] US Marines found cyanide and mustard agents in high
] concentrations in the Euphrates River near Nassiriya in
] Iraq, television network MSNBC has reported.
]
] The network said a briefing from Marine officials was its
] source for the information.

EUPHRATES 'POISONED'

] MSNBC.com tests reveal evidence of the deadly toxins
] ricin and botulinum at a laboratory in a remote mountain
] region of northern Iraq allegedly used as a terrorist
] training camp by Islamic militants with ties to the
] al-Qaida terrorist network. The U.S. Central Intelligence
] Agency is conducting its own tests at the same area, but
] has not yet released the results, according to officials
] in northern Iraq.

Positive test for terror toxins in Iraq

Andy wrote:
] ] U.S. troops found thousands of boxes of white powder,
] ] nerve agent antidote and Arabic documents on how to
] ] engage in chemical warfare at a military factory south of
] ] Baghdad, U.S. officers said Friday. But a senior U.S.
] ] official familiar with initial testing said the powder
] ] was believed to be traditional military explosives, not
] ] an ingredient for weapons of mass destruction.
]
] At least the white powder wasn't an export from the
] Columbia drug cartel.

U.S.: Vials, chemical manuals found in Iraq

] Mohammad walked through battles in the city streets for
] two straight days to get back to the hospital. His
] main mission was to watch the guards, but each morning he
] attempted to keep Lynch's spirits strong with a "good
] morning" in English.
]
] He said she was brave throughout the ordeal.
]
] When reporting back to the Marines on March 30, he
] brought five different maps he and his wife made. He was
] able to point to the exact room the captured soldier was
] being held in. He also handed over the security layout,
] reaction plan and times that shift changes occurred.

I have mixed feelings about this article. On the one hand, if true, it depicts remarkable bravery and actions on the part of the Iraqi who played the go-between. On the other, it seems to indicate that the Marines knew exactly where Jessica was being held for several days, but that they didn't attempt a rescue until the Iraqi informant came back and handed over detailed maps and shift schedules of the hospital.

In any case, it's a moving story.

Marine Corps News: Iraqi family risks it all to save American POW

] What started as an April Fool's joke involving bad
] grammar landed seven people in jail Tuesday.
]
] Sturgis police arrested seven Sturgis men for placing
] more than 20 threatening letters on various businesses,
] schools, banks and at the post office. At least 12 signs
] were posted Monday morning. Another 20 were put up
] Tuesday evening, according to Sturgis police.
]
] The letters all read "All your base are belong to us and
] you have no chance to survive, make your time."
]
] Information about the letters was forwarded to the FBI
] and U.S. postal authorities, said Sturgis police Chief
] Eugene Alli.

Having fun (not) in Michigan . . .

'All Your Base' Signs Land Seven in Court