"Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, intends to resign after six stormy years at the Pentagon, Republican officials said Wednesday.

Officials said Robert Gates, former head of the CIA, would replace Rumsfeld. The development occurred one day after midterm elections that cost Republicans control of the House, and possibly the Senate, as well. Surveys of voters at polling places said opposition to the war was a significant contributor to the Democratic victory. "

Rumsfeld is GONE - Resigning and not voluntarily!

This site is a huge index of military blogs.

" I filed a radio report today for the NPR News program "Day to Day" on news that Pentagon officials are cracking down on "mil-bloggers," military men and women who write blogs about their wartime experiences. The Pentagon is concerned about operational security. The increased scrutiny has quieted some blogs, while driving many to look for ways to follow the new rules."

Military Blog Index - Now Censored Blog Index

Well, this has been a long time in coming. It is an ugly shame that the federal government would not agree to honor a fallen soldier's chosen relgion and give him the same rights others are afforded.

It is a DAMN ugly shame.

But thankfully the state of Nevada found a way to make it happen. They are hiring a contractor to make sure it happens.

State Overrides Feds to Give Fallen Wiccan Soldier his Chosen Symbol

"LIQUID TERROR: Training People To Act Like Subservient Slaves
Terrorists planned to mix liquids so why are they all being poured into airport bins?"

I knew that something was bugging me while watching the footage on tv. Maybe it was the almost groveling level that people seemed to have sank to, as they willingly threw away their toothpaste. I thought to myself - How much more PERSONAL does this get?

But perhaps it was this, after all - all these liquids WERE being poured into bins and the same trashcan.

Ok.... BOOM. :)

He's got a very good point - Liquid Terror

From a Friend that sent me this link
"It's amazing to find this type of free speech on Al Jazeera TV. This has to be the most clearly stated rebuke of the jihadis and their crazed mullahs that I have seen.

Here is a powerful and amazing statement on Al Jazeera television. The woman is Wafa Sultan, an Arab-American psychologist from Los Angeles."

As you watch, it is interesting to see the holy man just blasting her. To me she is so reasonable....

Woman rebhukes the jihadis on Al Jezeera (Good video)

There's good footage, and interesting history here - esp. about intelligence plans for staging a disaster.

Video - LOOSE CHANGE - 911 - Staged?

"BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 29 — The State Department agency in charge of $1.4 billion in reconstruction money in Iraq used an accounting shell game to hide ballooning cost overruns on its projects there and knowingly withheld information on schedule delays from Congress, a federal audit released late Friday has found.

The agency hid construction overruns by listing them as overhead or administrative costs, according to the audit, written by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, an independent office that reports to Congress and the Pentagon."

Audit Finds U.S. Hid Cost of Iraq Projects

This is the story about one particular arabic speaking soldier who has been dismissed from the military...but, the REAL story is here:

"...But the GAO also noted that nearly 800 dismissed gay or lesbian service members had critical abilities, including 300 with important language skills. Fifty-five were proficient in Arabic, including Copas, a graduate of the Defense Language Institute in California.

Discharging and replacing them has cost the Pentagon nearly $369 million, according to the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military at the University of California, Santa Barbara."

Soliders with critical skills being 'outted' from the military

It is just not right.

"At the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in the small town of Fernley, Nev., there is a wall of brass plaques for local heroes. But one space is blank. There is no memorial for Sgt. Patrick D. Stewart.

That's because Stewart was a Wiccan, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has refused to allow a symbol of the Wicca religion -- a five-pointed star within a circle, called a pentacle -- to be inscribed on U.S. military memorials or grave markers."

Fallen wiccan soldier denied memorial given to other religions

"Wearing a Casio is cited among the unclassified evidence against at least eight of the detainees whose transcripts were released by the Pentagon after a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by The Associated Press."

You know, they say a man is judged by his wife, his watch, and his shoes. Whatever you do, don't wear a cheap watch. :)

Do you wear a Casio Watch? The US govt might think you're a terrorist!