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Don't miss the Valour-IT News Roundup.
Look who's making promises. (h/t Trias, in comments). Wonder if all that aid dangling in front of him had anything to do with it...
Closer to home, that evil computer corporation (just kidding, Bill; we love you!) has enough sense to recognize a hero among us. And it's someone very close to the heart of many Castle Denizens. - FbL
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There is wonderful news coming out of Iraq these days. Charts show IEDs are down, attacks on Coalition bases are down, engagements with terrorists and insurgents are down, civilian deaths are down. Down, down, down. And all while there are more soldiers walking and living among the locals.But there's something hidden going on here that doesn't make the headlines...
What is it? Answer here. - FbL
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Josie Salzman celebrates her husband's latest prosthetic. No wife jokes, please. Oh, and the embedded video is pretty awesome, too. Gotta say it... I love these guys. - FbL
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Speaking of our veterans, a recent report indicates that, while over all homelessness is down across the country, veterans still represent 25% (1/4) of homeless, including new disturbing numbers of vets from the recent war.
Carrying on from above, Yon talks about the good news coming out of Iraq. What's completely amazing is how many people are simply ignoring the info and still insisting Iraq is lost. Just remember, you heard "we won" here first (I think).
One other thing that is still being bruted about is that this year was the highest year for US casualties over all in Iraq, regardless of the recent down turn. As I told a lefty commenter several months ago who was complaining about "Bush' escalation of war" with the troop surge and the increasing casualties, historically, before war ends there is usually a big increase in kinetic activity and casualties as one side tries to take advantage of the other's weaknesses and as the other side tries to stave off total destruction. That is how all wars generally end.
Continuing on with the issues at State, one of the FSOs wrote an open letter to his colleagues regarding their behavior. However, the more I read and listen, the more I believe that the problem with State over all is that the department has failed to accept the over all change in its mission.
Not Iraq per se, but that small, unstable third world nations where terrorists organize and use the internal unrest to mask their activities are the major issue for US security. We need State to be very strong point people in these nations. Not just to report, but to establish necessary programs to help stabilize the areas and keep the terrorists out. It's these posts that should be the "career making" posts. It's these posts that should be sought out by State employees. But , I don't blame FSOs completely for their own lack of acknowledging this new paradigm. Obvious, the director and her subordinates need to actively project this message to the staff (though, after six years, you'd think the staff would get this. Failure to recognize it goes up and down the ranks.
-Kat
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One more bit about the Salzmans (see above). Those who have followed J.R. and Josie since J.R. was wounded have marveled at Josie's poise, strength and sense of humor. What they may not have known is that Josie was barely 20 years old when he was wounded last December. - FbL
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Update: Link fixed for the FSO letter to his colleagues above. Sorry for being so late. - Kat
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