Theodore's World

First year cadets at the Air Force Academy are allowed to leave the Academy without penalty up through the end of first-year Christmas break.
Those who came back were assigned to write a paper on why they chose to return.
Here is one young cadet’s masterpiece, which has begun to be widely publicized…
Why return to the Air Force Academy after Winter Break?

“So after our sunburns have faded and the memories of our winter break have been reduced to pictures we’ve pinned on our desk boards, and once again we’ve exchanged T-shirts and swim suits for flight suits and camouflage, there still remains the question that every cadet at U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs has asked themselves at some point: Why did we come back?

Why, after spending two weeks with our family would we return to one of the most demanding lifestyles in the country? After listening to our ‘friends’ who are home from State or Ivy League schools chock full of wisdom about how our war in Iraq is unjust and unworldly, why would we return?

And after watching the news and reading the papers which only seem to condemn the military’s every mistake and shadow every victory, why would we continue to think it is worth the sacrifice of a normal college life?

Is it because the institution to which we belong is tuition- free? Anyone who claims this has forgotten that we will, by the time we graduate, repay the US taxpayer many times over in blood, sweat, and tears.

Is it because the schooling we are receiving is one of the best undergraduate educations in the country? While the quality of the education is second to none, anyone who provides this as a main reason has lost sight of the awesome responsibility that awaits those who are tough enough to graduate and become commissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force.

I come back to the Academy because I want to have the training necessary so that one day I’ll have the incredible responsibility of leading the sons and daughters of America in combat. These men and women will never ask about my Academy grade point average, their only concern will be that I have the ability to lead them expertly; I will be humbled to earn their respect. I come back to the Academy because I want to be the commander who saves lives by negotiating with Arab leaders… in their own language.

I come back to the Academy because, if called upon, I want to be the pilot who flies half way around the world with three mid-air refuelings to send a bomb from 30,000 feet into a basement housing the enemy… through a ventilation shaft two feet wide. Becoming an officer in today’s modern Air Force is so much more than just command; it is being a diplomat, a strategist, a communicator, a moral compass, but always a warrior first.

I come back to the Air Force Academy because, right now, the United States is fighting a global war that is an ‘away game’ in Iraq – taking the fight to the terrorists.

Whether or not we think the terrorists were in Iraq before our invasion, they are unquestionably there now. And if there is any doubt as to whether this is a global war, just ask the people in Amman, in London, in Madrid, in Casablanca, in Riyadh, and in Bali.

This war must remain an away game because we have seen what happens when it becomes a home game… I come back to the Academy because I want to be a part of that fight.

I come back to the Academy because I don’t want my vacationing family to board a bus in Paris that gets blown away by someone who thinks that it would be a good idea to convert the Western world to Islam.

I come back to the Academy because I don’t want the woman I love to be the one who dials her last frantic cell phone call while huddled in the back of an airliner with a hundred other people seconds away from slamming into
the Capitol building.

I come back to the Academy because during my freshman year of high school I sat in a geometry class and watched nineteen terrorists change the course of history live on television. For the first ti me,every class currently at a U S. Service Academy made the decision to join after the 2001 terror attacks.

Some have said that the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan only created more terrorists… I say that the attacks of September 11th, 2001 created an untold more number of American soldiers; I go to school with 4,000 of them. And that’s worth more than missing a few frat parties.

Joseph R. Tomczak Cadet,
Fourth Class
United States Air Force Academy
(U..S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) had Cadet Tomczak’s essay read into the Congressional Record, and at
a meeting of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors he presented Cadet. Tomczak with a framed copy of the essay.)

Wild Thing’s comment……..
Cadet Tomczak is the son of Retired Air Force Col. Robert J. Tomczak and Nathalie Tomczak of Tampa, Florida.
God bless our troops and those deployed and those waiting to be deployed.

….Thank you Mark.

McCain: It can be “tough” to be proud of USA
WASHINGTON –
Republican presidential candidate John McCain admitted on Saturday it can be difficult at times to be proud of the United States.
“I’ll admit to you … that it’s tough in some respects,” McCain said when asked by a questioner at a town hall meeting how to be proud of the country. “We have not always done things right and we mismanaged the war in Iraq very badly for nearly four years.”
McCain’s wife, Cindy, pounced on Michelle Obama, the wife of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, for saying in February that she was proud of her country “for the first time in my adult life.”
The Arizona senator said it was important for the United States to be more humble and inclusive.
“I think we can be proud of America because of what we’ve achieved and accomplished in this world,” he said. “What we have to do is tell our friends around the world that we will be proud of America because of what we’re going to do.”

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Wild Thing’s comment……..
I have always been proud of America. I could not say what Michelle Obama and now John McCain have now said. Not to get votes. not to appease the left, not ever.
McCain is embarrassing!!
As far as countries go, America has by far done more good for more people, than any country that ever existed in human history. I could go on and on how amazing and wonderful my country is and how proud of the USA I am. Not just occasionally but every day of my life.
NOT the politicians no, those have to earn my respect. But that is apples and oranges compared to being proud of my country.
Well to each his own, sorry McCain feels this way no matter how he uses such speech it is harmful. His desire to capture votes from the left and the middle with quotes like this are more fodder for the terrorists and those that hate America around the world.
What is next from the likes of Michelle Obama and McCain….. some one liners from Hanoi Jane handbook? I pray that will not happen!

The pride, the courage and the glory
That binds us to the Stars and Stripes!

Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
The White House
The American flag has been our national symbol for 231 years, and it remains a beacon of freedom wherever it is flown. Since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our flag in 1777, it has stood for freedom, justice, and the resolve of our Nation.
When Francis Scott Key saw the American flag flying over Fort McHenry in 1814, he believed that liberty would triumph. The flag that inspired Key to write our National Anthem still energizes and emboldens the American spirit today. As our Nation faces the challenges of a new era, Old Glory reminds us that liberty can prevail over oppression.
Since the first days of our Republic, Americans have flown the flag to show their pride and appreciation for the freedoms they enjoy in this great Nation. Every day, Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag of the United States, and our troops carry it before them as they defend the liberties for which it stands.
On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we remember those in uniform whose courage and sacrifice inspire us here at home. We also remember the rich history of one of our oldest national symbols and reflect on our duty to carry our heritage of freedom into the future.
To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as “Flag Day” and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as “National Flag Week” and calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2008, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 8, 2008, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other appropriate places. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH

Red Skelton’s “Pledge of Allegiance” was first introduced on the Red Skelton Show on January 14, 1969. It has since been twice read into the congressional record of The United States and has received numerous awards.

Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, the United States Army was established to defend our Nation. From the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror, our Soldiers remain Army Strong with a deep commitment to our core values and beliefs. This 233rd birthday commemorates America’s Army – Soldiers, Families and Civilians – who are achieving a level of excellence that is truly Army Strong both here and abroad. Their willingness to sacrifice to build a better future for others and to preserve our way of life is without a doubt, the Strength of our Nation.

“Call to Duty — Boots on the Ground — Army Strong”
Since its birth on 14 June 1775—over a year before the Declaration of Independence—the United States Army has played a vital role in the growth and development of our Nation. Soldiers have fought more than 10 wars, from the American Revolution through the Cold War, the Gulf War, to the current War on Terrorism. This 233rd Birthday is a recognition of The Army’s history, traditions, and service to the Nation, a Call To Duty, 233 Years of Service to Our Nation.

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Do I Make You Proud by Taylor Hicks

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U.S. Army Soldier and his military dog, Lucky, take a break during a cordon and search in Mosul, Iraq, June 8, 2008. The Military Working Dog team assisted with the cordon and search to find weapons and bomb paraphernalia

U.S. Army Soldier gets a lift from an Iraqi boy and his mule on Route Douglas in the Jamilla Market in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, June 9

U.S. Army Soldier from 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, patrols the streets of a village, southeast of Salman Pak, Iraq, which is known to have recently been occupied by al-Qaida members, Feb. 15, 2008. Soldiers from Baker Company are working with local sheiks to improve security in the area.

A new book by Army Youth Services was published to help children better understand Army history and their role in the greater Army Family.
As part of a Secretary of the Army-directed initiative to include Army children in the service’s 233rd birthday celebration, Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command’s Child Youth Services developed a new book titled “Happy Birthday U.S. Army!”

“We wanted to highlight for young children the importance of what their parents are doing in the Army, the richness of Army history, and their part in this huge wonderful organization,” she said. “And who else loves a birthday and birthday cake as much as children? So why not have a celebration of the Army’s birthday that includes the total Army family? That’s what this is all about.”

Youth at Fort Myer, Va., near the Pentagon, will be among the first to receive copies of the free book, June 9. It is then that Secretary of the Army, Pete Geren, is scheduled to read the book to children gathered at the installation’s Child Development Center. Following the reading, children will be given a copy of the book to take home.

This is so cool. CLICK this LINK and then click on corner of page of book. It is so well done. It is a Happy Birthday US Army book.

Taliban Free 1,200 in Attack on Afghan Prison
New York Times
Carlotta Gall reported from Islamabad, Pakistan
Abdul Waheed Wafa contributed reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan.
In a brazen attack, Taliban fighters assaulted the main prison in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Friday night, blowing up the mud walls, killing 15 guards and freeing around 1,200 inmates.
Among the escapees were about 350 Taliban members, including commanders, would-be suicide bombers and assassins, said Ahmed Wali Karzai, the head of Kandahar’s provincial council and a brother of President Hamid Karzai.

“It is very dangerous for security. They are the most experienced killers and they all managed to escape,” he said by telephone from Kandahar.

A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, said that the attack was carried out by 30 insurgents on motorbikes and two suicide bombers, and that they had freed about 400 Taliban members, The Associated Press reported.
The breakout from Sarposa Prison will present enormous security challenges for Afghan and NATO forces surrounding Kandahar, President Karzai’s home city but also the spiritual capital of the Taliban. Traditionally, Kandahar is home to the rulers of Afghanistan, and control of it is seen as critical to the government’s hold on the entire country.
The city has been in a precarious situation since Taliban forces massed in the nearby district of Panjwai in 2006. Since then Canadian forces have struggled to secure the area, and the Taliban have repeatedly sought to gain a foothold in the districts surrounding the town.
The prison break is also likely to increase pressure on President Karzai, who is coming under increasing criticism at home and abroad for his faltering leadership and his inability to manage the country. Even as international donors pledged $21 billion in aid for Afghanistan this week, many of them have criticized his failure to tackle the problems of security and corruption.

The attack began at 9:20 p.m., when two truck bombs exploded at the prison gates, breaking down a part of the mud walls, Ahmed Karzai said. It seemed to be well planned, officials said. After the bombings, a group of fighters armed with rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles mounted an attack, said a spokesman for the provincial governor. They then ran through the prison, breaking open the cell doors.

The prison lies on the west side of the city. Residents living about a half mile away in the center of town said the explosions broke windows in their street and that they could hear fighting raging for an hour after that.

Mr. Karzai said that the attackers focused their efforts on the political section of the prison, where the Taliban suspects were being held. There is also a section for ordinary criminals and one for some 80 female prisoners. Mr. Karzai said that the police and prison guards managed to prevent around 200 prisoners from escaping, but other officials contacted in the town said that every last prisoner had escaped.

While there were also ordinary criminals in the jail, families of many of the prisoners have said their relatives were swept up in military operations and wrongly imprisoned.
Villagers living near the prison said they saw prisoners running along the roads, and scattering into nearby villages, generally heading north and east to the districts of Dand and Argandab outside the city, a security official in the city, Abdul Haleem, said. He warned that the Taliban could be sheltering very close to the city.
Canadian troops, part of the NATO force that is based outside Kandahar, were deployed to the prison but arrived after the prisoners had escaped. Afghan Army, police and intelligence personnel were pursuing the prisoners in the surrounding villages, Mr. Karzai said.
The prison was recently the scene of unrest, with some 400 prisoners staging a hunger strike in May to protest their long detention without trial. Some had been held for as long as two years without trial, and some were being refused the right to appeal very harsh sentences, they said. More than 40 of the prisoners stitched their lips together with needle and thread to demonstrate their determination.
Some 300 women who came to protest outside the prison at the time said their relatives inside had been picked up by NATO and American military sweeps and were innocent but nevertheless held without trial for months and even years. Local elders and government officials negotiated an end to the protest and promised better conditions and justice. Yet, the jailbreak is likely to prove popular with many local families.
Taliban prisoners staged another escape from the prison several years ago by digging a tunnel from a cell. Officials at the time said some of the guards had been bribed to look the other way.

Another source of this:
Jail Blast Frees Hundreds Of Taliban
Sky News
Nearly all of an estimated 1,150 prisoners fled when a Taliban suicide bomber blew open the main gate, officials said.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fighters fired several rockets at various parts of the mud-built prison.

“All the prisoners escaped. There is no one left,” said Wali Karzai, the brother of President Hamid Karzai and the president of Kandahar’s provincial council.

Militants first exploded a water tanker near the entrance to the gate of the prison, then several suicide bombers entered and blew themselves up, he added.

A shopkeeper who sells vegetables near the prison said he saw escaped prisoners run toward pomegranate and grape groves that lie behind it.

The blast caused an unknown number of casualties, prison director Abdul Qadir said.

“The Taliban used a truck to blow the gate open and all of the guards (at the gate) have been killed and are under rubble,” he said.

As he spoke, bursts of gunfire could be heard in the background.
Officials with Nato’s International Security Assistance Force said they were aware of the attack.

Sky News Asia correspondent Alex Crawford, speaking from the Afghan capital, Kabul, said: “This will be seen as a major propagana coup for the Taliban, who will certainly use it as such.

“It is also a blow to Nato and the fight against the militants, who have been claiming their influence is spreading throughout the country.”

Wild Thing’s comment…….
All the work our troops did to capture these terrorists. GRRRRRR And now they are all out of prison.

McCain, Obama fail to agree on Townhall Meetings
Townhall
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Friday rejected Republican rival John McCain’s proposal for 10 joint town-hall appearances, offering instead to have just one on the July 4 holiday.
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said he offered to meet McCain in five joint appearances between now and the Nov. 4 election. But only one of those was a town-hall meeting, plus three traditional debates and an in-depth debate on foreign policy.
The McCain campaign said Obama’s offer was to hold the single town hall on Independence Day _ which likely would have resulted in less attention while Americans are on holiday. McCain told reporters traveling with him in New Jersey that was “a very disappointing response.”
McCain had said the more intimate town-hall format, a give-and-take between a candidate and the audience, would allow real interaction with voters and would be more revealing than formal televised debates. Town halls are also McCain’s favorite style of campaigning and would allow him to get free media attention alongside the better-funded Obama.
When a McCain adviser first floated the idea last month, Obama said it was a great idea. But the Illinois senator told reporters Tuesday that it’s not realistic to have 10 town halls with all the other campaigning he needs to do after just clinching the Democratic Party’s nomination months after McCain wrapped up the GOP nod.
The two campaigns have been unable to work out a deal, other than to agree that the town halls should not be sponsored by media organizations and instead be open to all networks like presidential debates. The two sides on Sunday jointly rejected an offer by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and ABC News to host the first town hall for that reason.

Plouffe tried to place the blame on McCain for refusing to agree, saying five joint appearances “would have been the most of any presidential campaign in the modern era, offering a broad range of formats and representing a historic commitment to openness and transparency.”

“It’s disappointing that Senator McCain and his campaign decided to decline this proposal. Apparently they would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country,” Plouffe said.

McCain responded during a brief news conference in Pemberton, N.J., where he traveled for his own town hall.

“I’ll let the American people decide which is the preferable proposal,” he said. “I want the American people to have the exposure to a number of town hall meetings, not just one.”

Wild Thing’s comment……..
Let’s see it is not that Obama won’t wear a lapel pin it is the reason he said he would not wear one.
Then there is his attitude about our Anthem and NOW THIS!
Is it me or what! I find this VERY offensive that Obama has suggested to debate one of their Townhall debates on July 4th, Independence Day. Obviously it is a day that means NOTHING to B. Hussein Obama.
Instead of just saying no to him, oh how I wish McCain had taken the opportunity to lay into Obama on what July 4th means to our country. There was such an opportunity to do so and NOTHING was mentioned about it at all.
Only that people would not be around to watch it. …. “would have resulted in less attention while Americans are on holiday“……
The Declaration of Independence is more than just a piece of paper. It is a symbol of our country’s independence and commitment to certain ideas.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence wanted the citizens of the United States to have a document that spelled out what was important to our leaders and citizens. They wanted us to be able to look at the Declaration of Independence and immediately think of the goals we should always be working for, and about the people who have fought so hard to make these ideas possible.
The people who signed the Declaration risked being hanged for treason by the leaders in Great Britain. They had to be very brave to sign something that would be considered a crime! So every time we look at the Declaration of Independence, we should think about all of the effort and ideas that went into the document, and about the courage it took for these people to stand up for what they knew was right — independence!

Five of the Eagles Cheerleaders – Kjersti, Laura, Madeline, Nikki and Rachel – left for a 12-day tour of Iraq and Kuwait where they are visiting troops at different U.S. military bases.
Petty Officer First Class Jeff Peasley of the U.S. Navy enjoyed his visit from Eagles Cheerleaders Laura, Rachel, Madeline, Nikki and Kjersti

The five were chosen from among the 38 members of the cheerleading squad and spent 12 days taking part in what they call a “life changing experience.”
Cheerleader Rachel Washburn says, “Morale as a whole seems really high” and the troops were happy to see them. She says the cheerleaders “got a really good perspective of what life is like over there.”
The cheerleaders prepared a special routine for the troops, which they performed over a dozen times at bases in Iraq and Kuwait.
Cheerleader Madeline Kane says the cheerleaders “actually got to sit down and know these guys” and ask them about their families and their children.

Their Blog website

From Nikki’s

“First of all, wow, this has been the experience of a lifetime. The men and women keep thanking us for coming, but really we should be the ones thanking them. I am learning so much, this has been a life-changing experience for me. What an amazing team this is, our country is so lucky to have these men and women out here and they work so well together. Everyone has a job they are given and without any one of them nothing would get done, so it is incredible to see how everything is intertwined.

We have been flying to around three bases per day, depending on the weather. I don’t mean rain or shine, out here it’s more sand or shine. When the wind picks up, it takes the sand with it. If the helicopters or planes don’t have a good view that means we are staying put.

We had a chance to sit in a Cobra, which is an attack helicopter, and also in a Huey, which is a bit larger. The guys were great showing us around. We had a ton of fun with them. We got some great pics and went to the area where they spend most of their time which they call Dark Town. It looks exactly like you would imagine. A long, winding staircase can be found inside and it’s pretty high up with a great view of the camp, probably the best I’ve seen. I’ll talk to you all again soon, I’m over and out for now.

They say you have to work on your toes over here. It is only our second day and the entire schedule changed because of a “sandstorm” or so they say but we will never really know. We spent our first day at two bases an hour out of Kuwait City, which by the way is amazing. Saddam Hussein destroyed the city and now the people are rebuilding it. In terms of structure, this city really is one of the most unique places I have seen. We first went off to see Camp Freedom.

To get there, we drove down a highway surrounded by nothing except the sandy desert and camels. I found that funny because back home there are plenty of deer and cows, but camel? When we arrived, the place looked like it was abandoned except for some barb wire on the outside. But everyone who lived here were sooo upbeat and friendly. But reality set in when you look up in what was a small treehouse to find a man covered in green mesh with a rifle keeping an eye on unwanted visitors. All things considered, the camp had a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere and the men and women were so grateful we could be there.

After our trip to Freedom, we left for Arifjan. Both Freedom and Arifjan are considered “luxury” bases. Arifjan, however, was much larger than Freedom. The other amenities were the same.

Arifjan in size put freedom to shame, The base was huge, but all other aspect were the same. We met Col. Johnson which was wonderful. I learned so much about what Kuwait has done for us over the years. Things that has gone unnoticed. He, too, was very grateful for us coming over to visit. On Arifjan, we spent time at the hospital visiting the sick. It felt amazing to make them smile. Thankfully, most of them were only there with minor injuries. The visit inspired me as I prepared for our show in the evening. After our performance, we spent a few hours with the soldiers talking and getting to know them. I truly wish we could have stayed longer because I enjoyed hearing all of their fascinating stories.

I can’t express how I am soo happy to be a part of this. I have learned so much and can’t wait to learn more. This is and unforgettable experience and I’m so glad to share it with all of you. Oh, and just in case if you’re wondering, Philadelphia holds its own out here! Talk to you again soon!”

From Laura

Saturday was quite a day. We visited a couple of smaller bases before heading to the one where we slept. We went to one that was an old train station, Al Quaim. The soldiers were stoked that they could meet us and I even had the chance to save a Marine. We were taking pictures on a stage that wasn’t against the wall and he was about to fall off when I grabbed his arm and leaned back to pull him back up. I felt pretty heroic. 😉 I always hate leaving the bases we visit because we literally are there for pictures and autographs and don’t really have time to sit and socialize before we are whisked away in the helicopter. I think they really liked us visiting though and they take great care of us.

Another base we visited was the Korean Village. This one was much different than the others in the sense that it was dirtier. There was sand everywhere: dusty, red sand. There were little shacks and a smaller DEFAC (dining hall). They always give us special treatment though, and we had an exceptional lunch in the “chow hall.” Afterwards, they let us check out one of their tanks and take pictures with it. I love learning about what they do over here and how things work, it’s probably one of my favorite parts of the tour.

On the way to our last base that we were staying at for the night, we were given the opportunity to sit out the back of the Chinook. At first I was a little timid, but then once I was strapped in and sitting with my legs flying off it was beautiful. We went from looking at sand and a Grand Canyon-like landscape to patches of green and rivers of teal blue. I never knew how many different landscapes Iraq had and it was a great opportunity to see that from this perspective. I just have to say that all the troops out here are amazing, and everything they do is just as important as the next guy’s job. They take such pride in their work, and I respect them for that. I truly appreciate everything they are doing over here, and respect them so much more.
Thank you guys!”

From Kjersti

” I can’t believe I am sitting in Kuwait typing a blog. It’s so exciting to be here, and it’s all so surreal. We left Philadelphia on June 1st and arrived in Kuwait late night of the 2nd. We pretty much lost a day due to the seven-hour time difference here in Kuwait. On Tuesday, we woke up at 7 AM and didn’t get back until 11 PM at night. I don’t think we were expecting such a long day, but we felt it around 2 PM. The lack of sleep and the heat made us a little tired, but we were so happy to be on the bases visiting everyone that we managed to keep a happy face and wide eyes.

During our day we were able to visit two bases: Camp Patriot (KNB) and Camp Arafjan. The servicemen and women were amazing. It was so heartwarming to hear them tell us how much they appreciate us for what we were doing, when we are there to tell them the exact same thing. We took a lot of pictures and signed a lot of autographs. We also had our fair share of Eagles fans, and of course some local Philadelphians. We even received certificates and coins from some of the high-ranking officers. I think those things will be some of the most treasured items I take back home with me along with the experience.

It was about 120 degrees, luckily most of our signings and visits were indoors where there was air conditioning and we were escorted around the bases in vehicles with air. It wasn’t until we started prepping for our outside performance that we felt the heat. Our show went great! We got a great response from the audience, and they were so welcoming and happy to see us. I’ve never in my life danced in such heat, but we made it happen and we lost our voices a bit at the end of the show. Will I do it again? Yes, it was well worth it.

I think I’ve drank more water here in the past day than I have in the past month back in Philly. This day was long and hot, but I loved every minute of it. Just to see how happy we make the troops makes me feel like I’m doing the best thing in the world. They work so hard out here and it was nice to be able to see it first-hand and show them my appreciation. I definitely passed out that night as soon as my head hit the pillow. I’m still a little messed up from the time change, but we’ll be well rested eventually.
Drink your water! Till next time.”

CLICK link below and there is a video there you can click on as well.
6abc.com has more coverage of the Eagles Cheerleaders trip to Iraq and Kuwait.

PEARL HARBOR HOMECOMING – Friends and family members wave signs and shout to U.S. Navy sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee as she makes her way to Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, after a four-month deployment, June 7, 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class James E. Foehl

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An Air Force B-1B Lancer aircraft moves out of position after receiving fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker during a mission over Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway)

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A U.S. Army Soldier is greeted by a young Iraqi girl outside her home as Soldiers inspect a cleaning project in her small village in the Thawra 1 neighborhood of the Sadr City district of Baghdad

Tim Russert signing off from one of his many Meet The Press shows

New York Post

Tim Russert, NBC journalist and political heavyweight host of “Meet the Press,” has died after collapsing at NBC’s Washington news bureau, a source said. He was 58 years old.
Russert, who rose from the inside world of politics where he was former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo’s press secretary and one-time chief of staff to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, was able to successfully cross over to political journalism and rise to become one of its leading lights.
In his role as host of the seminal Sunday morning political program “Meet the Press” – which he took over in 1991 – he became renowned for his hard-nosed interviews where he frequently cornered some of Washington’s cagiest political figures with tough questions.

Wild Thing’s comment………
Condolences to his family. Although I haven’t watched him for years,he wasn’t a giddy and mean Lib like Chris Mathews. I feel for his son loosing his dad and for his wife.
Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” program when he collapsed, the network said.

Laura Ingraham Receives ‘WOMAN OF THE YEAR’ AWARD
Here is her website for her radio show
JUst a few snipets from her speech she gave with her personal reflections on her 12 year journey in radio and television.
Full text

“Tonight I want to express my gratitude to Michael Harrison and everyone at Talkers who keep this industry informed and on its toes month after month with humor and substance. I also want to thank Mark Masters and the folks at Talk Radio Network who believed in my radio vision five years ago when few others did. My gratitude also goes out to my producers, including Tom Elliott who is here today, as well as the radio giants such as Rush, Don Imus, Sean Hannity and Phil Boyce who gave me great support along the way. “

“As for me, I am humbled and privileged to lead a radio show where I put my mind and heart on the line every day.”

“Of course when I think of women who had their share of detractors but who always held firm in their core principles and transformed the world, I think of Margaret Thatcher. “

“As President Reagan said to me the day I walked out of the Oval Office for the last time as a young 20-something, “Make it matter.”

“I intend on doing just that for years to come on the airwaves. And I thank you for the encouragement of this honor and I promise to make you proud. “

Shortly after she received the above award she was taken OFF the air

Popular radio talk show host Laura Ingraham has been taken off the air with no explanation.
Laura’s show is one of the top five most popular talk radio shows in the nation. Laura is a solid conservative voice on the air.
She is gone with no explanation. All anyone knows is that it is not her choice.
If radio networks can yank a conservative voice who is that popular, they can do it to Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity or anyone else.
Liberals are again agitating to shut down conservative talk radio. They have been pushing “diversity” regulations through the FCC to do just that. Taking out Laura Ingraham is just a step along the way toward shutting down conservative talk radio totally.
Here is a station guide for Laura Ingraham. Please call your local affiliate and tell the station you want Laura Ingraham back on the Laura Ingraham show.
You can stop liberals from shutting down talk radio by standing up for Laura Ingraham.
Sincerely yours,
Erick Erickson
Editor, RedState.com

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Laura Ingraham hosts …
No nonsense – No backing down – Nothing but sharp… smart…insightful talk!
Just In With Laura Ingraham
Starts Monday, 5p EST
Fox News

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Wild Thing’s comment………
Liberal leaders are pushing the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” to silence conservative leaders like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin and Laura Ingraham. Their goal is clear — silence conservative speech over the radio airwaves.

It’s time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine.” — Sen. Dick Durbin

“In my view, talk radio tends to be one-sided. It also tends to be dwelling in hyperbole. It’s explosive. It pushes people to, I think, extreme views without a lot of information…. I’m looking at [the Fairness Doctrine]…. Unfortunately, talk radio is overwhelmingly one way.”
–Sen. Dianne Feinstein

“I think the Fairness Doctrine ought to be there … One of the most profound changes in the balance of the media was when the conservatives got rid of equal time requirements. The result is that they’ve been able to squeeze down and squeeze out opinion of opposing views.”
— Sen. John Kerry

This below is from the PDF file about the Fairness Doctrine. It is a long document, well worth reading, but here is just a snipet.
Political activists and even certain U.S. senators have argued that the federal government should reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine, which would require broadcasters to air both sides of controversial issues. Opponents charge that Fairness Doctrine advocates are trying to reduce the impact of conservative talk radio.
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) has introduced The Broadcaster Freedom Act (HR 2905), which would bar the Federal Communications Commission from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine.
The controversy touches on America’s most fundamental civic values. Do we still cherish freedom of speech, or are some of us succumbing to the tyrannical impulse to stifle the speech of political adversaries? Do our leaders trust us to accept responsibility to govern ourselves, or do they wish to control which information we receive?
Three principal arguments support resurrecting the Fairness Doctrine. First, the “scarcity” argument holds that the airwaves are public property with a limited number of broadcast frequencies, so government can and should intervene if the public debate is out of balance.
Second, the “censorship” argument holds that major corporations are muzzling liberal opinion on the radio, so Americans are not hearing both sides of issues.
Third, the “public interest” argument holds that the Fairness Doctrine would increase the amount and variety of opinions available to the public.

….Thank you Mark.