Spc. Mikayla A. Bragg was only twenty-one years old when she died in combat in Khowst Province in Afghanistan. Mikayla was shot and killed in a guard tower while on duty. She was a native of Longview, Washington and graduated from Mark Morris High School. The young woman was a star of her high school track team. She enlisted in order to earn money to further her education. She had a deep love of animals and wanted to focus on helping them upon her return. Her deployment was scheduled to end on January 6 and she died on December 23rd.
People forget that our soldiers as they return home from the Iraq War have missed their pets as much as their families. Well, in this uplifting video these clips show how much their dogs missed the soldiers. The dogs reaction when they come home from War is just moving and powerful. Enjoy!
For almost two decades, the LGBT community has suffered through one right wing demagogue after the other forecasting the end of the world if "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed. Even today spineless Republican presidential candidates have lined up stating they will re-implement the policy if they are elected. Right wing religious zealots are still proclaiming that the moral fiber of America has been devastated since its repeal.
Well, their myths and lies are being proven dead wrong. Brian Williams in a powerful piece on Wednesday night's "NBC Nightly News" ran a story about how well it was working and that after a year it has created zero problems within the military. Enjoy this video. We have earned the right to enjoy it!
"Officially" the war is over. After near 5,000 American dead, over 30,000 badly wounded and at least 100,000 Iraq civilians killed this war is finally over. While we will have some presence in Iraq and it is still possible for Americans to be killed, President Obama has kept his promise and brought the troops home. Having lived with this horror that was created by lies, deception and hysteria, it is hard to believe that it is over.
First and foremost, welcome home to our soldiers. The men and women who have served this country. My prayer this holiday season is that this is the last war you will have to fight. That President Obama will keep his promise to start removing troops from Afghanistan and you will be able to finally be with your families, friends and neighbors. America needs you home because we are in trouble. The wars have drained our funds and we need your talents, skills, energy and passion to rebuild this nation. You can help us create jobs, rebuild decaying infrastructure and teach our children the reality of war so they will never have to fight one.
Second, my since hope for each and everyone of you is that you return home to a loving family and a job. That the trauma you experienced heals with time and that the services are available to you to help you through the difficult times. Trust us that we understand that the sights and sounds of war do not leave the mind or body quickly. We will be there for you.
No matter what our politics or our belief in this war we thank you for your service. Welcome home.
In an attempt to force North Vietnam to surrender, the United States launched the greatest bombing raid on a country since World War II. For 11 days over the Christmas holidays, bombing strike after bombing strike was launched against North Vietnam, mostly in its capital of Hanoi. It is estimated that several thousand civilians were killed during this carpet bombing.
On the first night of the raids over 125 bombers dropped their loads on the city. By the third night, Vietnam defense forces started being successful shooting down US aircraft participating in the raids. Even the military was skeptical of the value of the raids, "Years after the war, Senior Air Force officers James R. McCarthy and George B. Allison stated that the operation had been mainly politically driven, as a negotiation tool to "bring the point home."
On December 22nd, one of the bombs hit a wing of the Bach Mai Hospital which was an international public relations disaster for the United States. Twenty-eight doctors and nurses were killed . Besides the hospital, over 2,000 private homes were hit. While the US targets were military in nature, the reality was that any sort of carpet bombing makes for high civilian loss of life.
The following video was released by the United States Archives.
No matter if you are a drug lord, rebels terrorizing women in the Congo or terrorists seeking to do untold damage, there is just under a 1 in 3 chance you got your armaments from the United States. For years the impression has been that the collapse of the Soviet Empire flooded the market with dangerous weapons, and indeed Russia shows up in the #2 spot. But also the perception has been created that Israel was supplying massive amounts of arms to African insurgents. Well, they didn't even make the top ten.
Creating legislation that would cut back on American arms exports would be an important step in the right direction in stopping senseless violence in the world.
According to SIPRA Arms Transfers Database here are the top ten arm exporters from 2006 to 2010. The total percentage follows the countries names.
1st Lt. Dustin D. Vincent could be one of the last soldiers to die in the Iraq War. He was killed by small arms fire in Kirkuk Province. Vincent was on his first deployment and you can only imagine the relief his family felt when President Obama announced that all troops would be home from Iraq by the holidays. The Mesquite, Texas 25 year old young soldier leaves behind a wife. Vincent is casualty 4484 in the Iraq War.
By the holidays in December, the remaining 40,000 American troops will be home from Iraq. The good news is that the Iraq War is over. After eight years of warfare, over 5,000 Americans lives lost, tens of thousands civilian causalities and the wholesale destruction of a nation, we are coming home. The bad news is that these same soldiers could be shortly sent to Afghanistan. The President promised us that within four years he would bring the troops home and he has kept the promise.
Remembering is important.
This war was based on fraud, deception, lies, hysteria and politics in the administration of President George W. Bush. There was no need for this engagement. Iraq was not involved in the planning of 9/11. They found no nuclear or biological weapons. Yes, Saddam Hussein was dictator but there were numerous dictators around the world and we didn't invade those nations. Is Iraq now a democracy and free nation? Oh, hell no...
The war started with a massive and horrific 'shock and awe' on March 20, 2003. By April 14, we had officially declared victory. There has been no victory. No one won. For eight more years Americans have died and the citizens of Iraq have suffered. Entire cities, like Fallujuh, were destroyed in name of 'creating a democratic state in the Middle East.'
Over 35,000 American soldiers came home with injuries both physically and mentally - a huge number of lost limbs and severe head injures because of IED's in this war. Many are returning with no programs to help them find jobs or jobs are simply not available. Some had to leave their good paying and long term jobs to serve in the National Guard.
Our nation's debt skyrocketed with this war. A very conservative direct estimate of the coast of this war is $800 billion dollars. For that price tag 390 million people could receive free groceries for an entire year!
Thank you, Mr. President for bringing the entire 40,000 home by the end of the year. The Iraqi people must determine their own future for better or worse. You will receive heavy criticism for not maintaining a military presence there. That criticism will come from the very same people who lied and deceived us into this war.
With some certainty, brutal Libyan dictator Gaddafi met an equally brutal death at the hands of his people. The death is only surprising in that he didn't flee with his family to a safe haven. He was either self-delusional about making a comeback or determined to die on Libyan soil. Thus ends another chapter of a dictator falling as part of the famous "Arab Spring."
In many ways, this revolution more than any other this year could impact long term American foreign policy. Unlike our previous and current military ventures in the Middle East, we strongly supported the uprising by the citizens of this nation. However, we did it without sending ground troops, allowing European powers to lead this effort and with relatively small cost. We provided air support, drones and back up support. As far as I am aware not a single American soldier was killed. Nor have we attempted to impose a ruler on the Libyan people from the top down.
The people of Libya carried the burden for their own change and we provided, with the leadership of others, support for this effort.
Could this be a model for our military involvement in the future?
What government will fall in place now in Libya is still very much open to question. In Egypt the military rulers appear to be deepening their control and not moving toward democracy. Iraq, where we have invested trillions and over 5,000 dead young Americans, the government has no problem crawling into bed with Iran after all of our efforts.
Will the Libyan people be grateful for the West's support and will it yield a building bloc for our role in the Middle East? Democracy as we know it is unlikely. The question now becomes has our national interest been served? The history of the conflict, our coalition with the rebels and their ultimate victory has opened up more questions than answers.
-The world's most powerful and expensive telescope, Alma, has started operating this week in the high deserts of Chile. The huge observatory will have the capacity to locate a new galaxy every three minutes. The photograph above is a composite between Hubble and Alma of the Antennae galaxies.
-Since DADT was repealed, the military has been making positive decisions left and right. Some on the civilian side of government should take notice. The Pentagon announced that military chaplains can officiate at same sex weddings.
-Conservative retailer Walmart has surprisingly added protections for its Trangender employees. Good for them.
-After playing for almost four years, Broadway's musical "Billy Elliot" is set to close on January 8, 2012. It won ten Tony Awards including "Best Musical." The show has been seen by over 1.6 million people and totally recouped its investment.
-A Washington Post/ Pew poll shows that 45% of Americans believe that America has become a nation divided into 'haves' and 'have-nots.'
-"Hung" Actor Thomas Jane says he was a male escort for other men in his youth in Los Angeles to help make ends meet.
-Bravo to the Italian Court that released American Amanda Knox who soon will be coming home. I am absolutely convinced that she was innocent and has spent four horrible years in prison!
-ACLU in Rhode Island has released a detailed report on why the recently passed civil unions are a 'fiasco' and the state must move toward marriage equality.
-A new Gallup Poll says that 55% of Americans believe that a third party is needed. Independents want a new party by a huge 68%.
-An ABC/Washington Post Poll tells us that 55% of Americans do not expect President Obama to win re-election. It can only go uphill from here!
-Add Nigeria to the growing list of African nations embracing witch hunts against the LGBT community. LGBT couples in the populous African nation could face up to three years in prison. Anyone assisting them in marriage would face jail time and large fines.
-Who would have thought we would ever see the day? The United States Senate confirmed openly gay Robert Lee Pittman to be a United States Attorney in the Western District of Texas. His nomination was supported by both United States senators from Texas!
-Boston.com's Big Picture has a photojournalism spread on global protests that have been taking place. Below is one of those photographs from a bold demonstrator in Bolivia fighting for university reform but click here to see all of them and get photographer credits.
-You can't get more 'redneck' than country singer Toby Keith which makes his statements on marriage equality all the more surprising. He thinks fighting over a piece of paper (marriage license) is a big deal about nothing and we should let everyone get married. Talk about progress!
-Equality Maineis halfway toward its goal of collecting enough signatures to place marriage equality on next fall's ballot. Make a contribution by clicking here.
-Tea Party Conservative Republican Congresswoman Renee Ellmers has come out against the anti-marriage equality amendment that will be on the North Carolina ballot next May. She says it just goes too far.
-A Boston Herald poll shows that Elizabeth Warren continues to run even with incumbent Republican Senator Scott Brown in Massachusetts. It also shows that Democrat Joe Kennedy would be ahead of Brown by 8% if he decided to run (which is not likely).
-Openly gay candidate for mayor of San Francisco,Bevan Dufty, has done a delightful and moving ad with his child, Sydney. It it is believed to be a first where a openly LGBT candidate has used their child in a political ad. Take a look.
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