War in Afghanistan goes on

Tie a yellow ribbon. American Soldier captured and shown on a video.

A 28-minute video was released by members of the Taliban over the weekend of a visibly distressed Bowe Bergdahl, 23, of Hailey. The video shows him sitting cross-legged on the floor in plain grey clothing, saying he's "scared [he] won't be able to go home." (sunvalleyonline)

In the 28-minute video, Bergdahl becomes emotional when he speaks of his family -- his parents, siblings, nieces and nephew -- and the girlfriend he hopes to marry.

It was not clear whether some or all of Bergdahl's remarks were scripted by his captors read long article from (cnn)

Neighbors and others in the community about 10 miles south of Sun Valley have known for weeks that Bergdahl had been captured. Later Monday, townspeople began tying hundreds of shiny yellow ribbons on trees lining Main Street. (ap/yahoo)

Brings me to a halt

Last night and for the nth time already, I watched again my favorite movie.

"When I get home and people ask me,'Hey, Hoot, why do you do it, man? What are you? Some kind of war junkie? I won't say a goddamn word. Why? They won't understand. They won't understand why we do it. They won't understand that it's about the men next to you. And that's it. That's all it is" ~Hoot

"No one gets left behind, you know that" ~ Struecker

"I was talking to Blackburn the other day and he asked me what changed, why we are going home, and I said nothing. That's not true ya know, I think every things changed. I know I changed. Ya know a friend of mine asked me before I got here, when we were all shipping out, he asked me why are you going to fight somebody else's war? What, do ya all think your all heroes? I didn't know what to say at the time, but if he asked me again I'd say no. I'd say there's no way in hell. Nobody asks to be a hero, just sometimes turn out that way. I am gonna talk to your ma and pa when I get home ok?" ~Sgt Matt Eversmann

Give decency to those who served

Hartford Courant editorial: Protecting military funerals (click to read in full)

People who lay their lives on the line or are killed while serving in the armed forces deserve dignified military burials; respect for such rituals is the least that is owed their grieving relatives and friends. But, sadly, even such basic rules of civil conduct are under siege.

Regardless of how one feels about God, gays or the war in Iraq, military services for the dead are inappropriate forums for protests. For those who refuse to acknowledge this basic tenet of decency, state Sen. Leonard Fasano, R-North Haven, has crafted legislation that would make it illegal to disrupt a military burial, funeral or memorial service.

Senate Bill 319, "An Act Concerning Disruption of a Military Funeral," is a good piece of legislation. It's clear and it's restrained.

A veteran or a soldier killed in wartime deserves the decency and respect of a dignified burial. Their survivors deserve whatever comforts such a service can provide.

Indeed it is good piece of legislation. Everybody has the right to protest and to be heard but please show some decency to the dead.

War and consequence

I don't even know why I'm blogging about it. I don't even care. But anyhow...

So President Bush made his Iraq speech earlier. He acknowledges failure in Iraq...

He described the situation in Iraq as "unacceptable" to the American people and to himself. "Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely. They have done everything we have asked them to do," he said. "Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me." (Washington Post)

Bush said he would like to send more troops --more than 20,000. Congress which now has Democrats in control doesn't like the idea and are opposed to it. They will block by means of bipartisan legislature (is that the right term?) and it's pretty obvious majority thinks sending more troops only worsens the situation and will only drag the U.S. further in the escalating civil war that Iraq seems to have turned into.

I've seen (from telly and internet news) a lot of polls that Americans don't like what's happening in Iraq and the sending of more military men. But what about the military itself? The soldiers, the Marines, Army...the whole troops. Perhaps I don't really read or watch t.v. that much and I have no idea but... are they willing to be deployed there? I remember reading something about this one soldier who refused to be deployed in Iraq. Is he in the majority, I wonder. Maybe.

Sending more troops will mean more casualties but it will mean also that they will be there to help Iraqis. Rebuilding that country is major herculean task.

If troops are there to help to train to rebuild to reconstruct then they should be supported. Boost the morale of soldier Don't cut funding...or something.

I don't make sense, I know. I'm just blogging my thoughts!

Iraq's success lies in getting helped from Americans. That's what's Bush wanted the people to understand. It's noble thing but at the expense of the troops ..well it doesn't seem be working anymore. American people basically tired of the Iraq war. That's how I see it..from an Asian perspective of course.

By the cold stone she sat down and wept

"I think about him all day, every day," she said. "I'm lucky, though, because I don't think a lot of people get to fall in love the way I did. I'm glad I had him, even if it wasn't for very long."-- Kira, 19

Washington Post article about young Marine's romance and the sad painful reality of love and war

On Aug. 30, as she sat restlessly in class at Radford University, she wrote a poem about the month Colin was to return to her.

"To miss rough hands, stern eyes so much, They knife the heart with thoughts . . . of sweet February."

On the other side of the world, Colin had volunteered for a midday mission in the town of Habbaniya. His Humvee hit a roadside bomb. The blast ignited the gas tank, then the ammunition. He died instantly. Read more

You gotta. It's long article. Tugs the heart. It might be sap for some but I guess even cynics get sappy once in while.

The politics of peace and religion

So much politicking going on around the globe. So much carnage and deaths and bombings and killings. It's draining to the brain. The eyes wants to see but most people don't even care! They try not to give a damn, but ultimately, everything hinges on us. How we are to them matters. The politicians, the military, the church. Religionism and lack of understanding about different ideologies and the lack of respect for each beliefs puts us all in dangerous situation. Troops deployed in war torn countries are suffering so much. Death and casualties of war ignites passion for call to peace. But how can we have peace when most (of us) doesn't really understand what is the root cause of all the hatred. For most Muslims, they think the west is an evil empire taking away the sanctity of their own faith. And for that, people suffer. Iraq and Afghanistan- these two nations can't seem to move on because of that very problem that exist. The hatred for the west. Extremist has planted in the minds of radicals, that to gain back their existence, the west must be wiped out. And they do these by bombings. They are stilled by hatred. To them, the west is the mighty God, dictating the future of everyone. To understand is to learn. Maybe through learning we'll gain peace. But peace is hard fought. People are out there forsaking their lives for us. Defending the very nature of bringing peace. The least we could do is to understand! We are shackled by our own religionism which prevents us from gaining that elusive peace. Holy ramadan month starting and bombings and killings doesn't solve anything. With many suicide bombing and terror and all that triggering battle, Muslims killing each other as result. Peace still nowhere in sight.

I know I didn't make any sense. I wanted to post about things inside my mind. Whatever really! It's raining now. I'll blog out. Maybe I'll delete this. Yes.

The madman and his cohorts

The 9/11 anniversary just two days away, Al- Quaeda shows a video of Bin Laden and other hijackers planning the seed of terror that would become 9/11.

Video footage in which Osama bin Laden is shown meeting some of the hijackers responsible for the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington was aired last night on al-Jazeera television. In the film Bin Laden is seen sitting with Mohammed Atef, a former lieutenant, and Ramzi Binalshibh, another suspected planner of the suicide hijackings. Bin Laden is also shown greeting several of what the tape said were the hijackers. The film, produced by As-Sahab, al-Qa'ida's media branch. (Belfast Telegraph)

All I can say is bless this world we live in. Get those terrorists!

Truce be told...

Israel has right to defend it's nation. And if that means stopping (by raiding) re arming of Hezbolla by Iran and Syria then what's wrong with that? And UN peacekeeping force from muslim nations like Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh..c'mon, if ever there's conflict again, do these UN peacekeeping force have the power to even patrol the borders or prevent militias? Unifel wasn't even a success you know. Hezbolla extremist and their masters, Syria and Iran could wipe them out. Plus the fact that Malaysia recently hosted an Islamic conference that included calls for Israel to be "wiped off the map."

Okay enough said.

Newslink via Washington Post

Missing peace

Give war a chance? I've seen and heard that reference while watching the cable news and browsing sites. Israel has the right right to defend itself from those rockets raining on them. My thoughts exactly. [edit 24.06]

They say is a conflict but really it's like a war with bombs and rockets going off in Israel and Lebanon and people leaving in exodus. Innocent civilians(on both sides) caught in the fighting as they flee for safety and plea for peace.

The latest news is that Israel might launch a full scale invation to stop the Hezbollah.

Annan said Hezbollah's actions in launching rockets into Israel and abducting Israeli soldiers "hold an entire nation hostage" and set back prospects for Middle East peace.

Anyway, the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues as rockets fall inside Israel and bombs shower Lebanon. So many people fleeing the dangerous situation. The foreign nationals evacuating by the thousands and then there are the locals who's feeling the chaos thats happening in their homeland. Tough for all these people and children especially. I see the news and everybody looks tired and weary and scared. Who wouldn't be!

I wouldn't want to experience anything like that. I mean sirens blaring warning of rockets going off and bombing would be everywhere. Just the mere thought of bombs makes me shudder. What more if similar things happened here in Manila. But I seriously doubt anything like that would occur. Save for a coup d' eta t(we've had so many it's like yeah okay it's bloodless revolution..but you'll never know) or an all out war happens(knock on wood!) and Americans need allies to join (Philippines being one of them) then we would be forced to do something. I mean our soldiers. Yikes.

It's scary what's been going and seeing the news about rockets going off and bombs falling. Both Israel and Lebanon have had casualties. People are suffering with this crisis. The "Road Map to Peace" has been shelled and bomb.

It must be said though that Israel's fight is with the Hezbollah and not the Lebanon itself. Hezbolla (I think) is based inside Lebanon and the thing is the government isn't doing anything at all to stop Hezbolla from launching those rockets to Israel. I think everything started because two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped or captured by the Hezbollah and then everything escalated to what it is now.

As I sit here and do this blogs others are fearing for their safety. Lets all hope everything will be resolve.

The saga of that heartbroken MySpace romance

And so the story goes for a young Palestinian man meeting a western girl through MySpace.com (social networking craze of fad right now) and thepromise of love and romance cut short and left pain and anguish and heartbroken feelings.

Abdullah Jimzawi, a 20-year-old high school dropout who lives with his parents in Jericho and Katherine Lester, 16 years old were supposed to meet and have fun, get to know each and marry in the future but sadly....

Lester was en route to Tel Aviv airport when she was intercepted in Amman, Jordan, by U.S. authorities who seized her passport and put her on a flight back to the United States.

Jimzawi, a shy soft-spoken young man with close-cropped hair and a two-day beard lives in Jericho, a town of 17,000 that is largely immune from the violence plaguing the rest of the West bank.

Katherine Lester is now in seclusion with her father after returning from Israel and hasn't spoke to reporterss yet.

Jimzawi was initially reluctant to talk to the media because of what he said was unfair treatment following Lester's ill-fated trip. However, he eventually agreed to be photographed in shorts and sandals, showing AP reporters the computer on which he said he met Lester eight months ago.

Read the whole article and be fascinated by their love story. I feel somewhat sorry for the young man. But I thnk he really should've been the one to go there in Michigan instead of the girl. But anyway he said his next step was to apply for visa so he could travel to the U.S. They should give him one.

Military tales, military woes

6 US servicemen charged with rape as US military investigates the case

THE United States military is conducting a parallel investigation into the alleged rape of a 22-year-old Filipina by its servicemen last week at the Subic Bay Freeport

Hard to be in the military.....you either get killed by roadside bombing, suicide attack or by accident.. and to think, they're just doing they're jobs or you go to court. Not all are rapist.

Lets hope there's good news for them like troops coming home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

There are good guys and heroes. Of course the ones that are bad needs to be punished.

GOOD NEWS!

SADDAM CAPTURED!

"We got him" said US administrator Paul Bremer. Iraqi journalists in the audience stood, pointed and shouted "Death to Saddam!" and "Down with Saddam!" Saddam was captured Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in a cellar in the town of Adwar, 10 miles from Tikrit, ending one of the most intense manhunts in history.

From t.v pictures he looks tired run out and resigned. But is it him? Of course or they wouldn't show it at all. Okay jubilation for everyone! no more tyrant! Perhaps Iraqis can build a new nation without the fear of the evil man!

It is a victory for the US and Bush administration too (and coalition forces) for today it paid off- the war in Iraq, freeing Iraq and it's people from tyranny and oppression, paving the way for democracy and staying for long even when attacks on US soldiers happened on a daily basis. And now to this..Saddam Hussein's capture! Well, Bin Laden should be next!

The planned war

Planning the 9/11 terror plot started way back in '96
News via USA TODAY/AP
.....that the original plan called for hijacking five commercial jets on each U.S. coast before it was modified several times, ......Mohammed told his interrogators he had worked in 1994 and 1995 in the Philippines with Ramzi Yousef, Abdul Hakim Murad and Wali Khan Amin Shah on the foiled Bojinka plot to blow up 12 Western airliners simultaneously in Asia.

Yeah, that Bojinka plot was foiled here in the Philippines...thats why this country is always being mentioned as hotbed for terrorist. Anyhow, US intelligence should do more to intercept and to act more fast(er) to prevent acts of terrorism from happening again in that magnitude of September 11.

Life under the Taliban...

Tells the story of a girl forced to disguise herself as a boy to escape the oppressive conditions that the Taliban, who sheltered Osama Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network, inflicted on women.

It's actually a movie from an Afghanistan Born film maker. I think that watching the news reading sources and seeing images and documentaries are stories itself of how Bin laden and Taliban has treated women and children in the land.

What a blank nonexistent Road Map to Peace means to them

It's President Bush's fault and that nowhere is this loss of purpose more evident than in Iraq where American soldiers find themselves increasingly the targets of a disenchanted population...

I guess it's like unless America stop supporting Israel and meddling and muscling their might in the Arab world, the Road Map to Peace..will just be a nice title for some failed endeavour..oh and terrorist attacks will most likely continue. Pres. Bush needs to have a peace plan that will satisfy..everyside..but not those that embraces terrorism.

Excuse me, what Roadmap to Peace?

Gee, it's turning out to be..you hit us and we'll strike back. Israel and Palestinians killing each other again. Pity the citizens of both countries who just wants PEACE. Yeterday, there was a Jerusalem bus bomb which killed and injured people and last night it became tit for tat whenIsrael fired rockets aimed at the Hamas leaders. Goshy, looks like peace mediators aren't enjoying the fruits of their labor.

Just a thought

I figured this..if all the the bombs and artillery shells that's been falling in Iraq right now are foods and the thanks are not the armored ones but water tanks..Iraqi civilians wouldn't be hungry and thirsty.

48 hours till the war

Pres. Bush says Saddamn must leave the IRAQ destroy all weapons of mass destruction! or face the consequence of the might of U.S(sans key allies,French and Russia) and he's been given 2 days..oh my...war is on it's ways. But it's as if SADDAMN will leave his ruled country! I'll repeat it again..get it over with! so we can have peace! Actually, I heard the argument that they, the Iraqis, has been inspected a lot of times by the UN inspectors and that really the main reason U.S is pursuing war with IRAQ is to overthrow the tyrant leader and just install a new one. But the thing is, will there be a new leader or will IRAQ be under military jurisdiction of U.S?
Anybody hear the bells of PEACE? I do!