IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 05/30/2011

Total Americans Killed: 4454

Post Obama Inauguration: 234

Post “End of Combat”: 38

http://icasualties.org/

“…a small price…” Rep. John Boehner

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Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Sgt. Vorasack T. Xaysana, 30, of Westminster, CO died April 10 in Kirkuk, Iraq.

*Petty Officer 3rd Class Micah Aaron Hill, 27, of Ralston, NE died April 19 while assigned to the USS Enterprise in support of Operation New Dawn.

*1st Lt. Omar J. Vazquez, 25, of Hamilton, NJ died April 22, in Numaniyah, Iraq.

*Pfc. Antonio G. Stiggins, 25, of Rio Rancho, NM died April 22, in Numaniyah, Iraq.

*Spc. Andrew E. Lara, 25, of Albany, OR died April 27, in Babil province, Iraq.

*Pfc. Robert M. Friese, 21, of Chesterfield, MI died April 29 in Al Qadisiyah province, Iraq.

*Pfc. Ramon Mora Jr., 19, of Ontario, CA died May 22 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Sgt. 1st Class Clifford E. Beattie, 37, of Medical Lake, WA (93^rd Washingtonian) died May 22 in Baghdad, Iraq.




Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 05/30/2011

Total Americans Killed: 1,597

Post Obama Inauguration: 967

http://icasualties.org/

 
“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama

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Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Spc. Brandon M. Kirton, 25, of Centennial, CO died May 18, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Kristofferson B. Lorenzo, 33, of Chula Vista, CA died May 23, in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. William S. Blevins, 21, of Sardinia, OH died May 23, in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

*Pvt. Andrew M. Krippner, 20, Garland, TX died May 23, in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

*Pvt. Thomas C. Allers, 23, of Plainwell, MI died May 23, in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Hamski, 28, of Ottumwa, IA died May 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Tech. Sgt. Kristoffer M. Solesbee, 32, of Citrus Heights, CA died May 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Chief Warrant Officer Christopher R. Thibodeau, 28, of Chesterland, OH died May 26 in Paktika province, Afghanistan.

*1st Lt. John M. Runkle, 27, of West Salem, OH died May 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Edward D. Mills Jr., 29, of New Castle, PA died May 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Ergin V. Osman, 35, of Jacksonville, NC died May 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Thomas A. Bohall, 25, of Bel Aire, KS died May 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Louie A. Ramos Velazquez, 39, of Camuy, Puerto Rico died May 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Adam J. Patton, 21, of Port Orchard, WA (40^th Washingtonian) died May 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. John C. Johnson, 28, of Phoenix, AZ died May 27 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Adam S. Hamilton, 22, of Kent, OH died May 28 in Haji Ruf, Afghanistan.

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue

The Kucinich Kunundrum

I have been watching with some bemusement lately the fuss over Dennis Kucinich and the “possibility” that he may decide to seek a congressional seat from our state if and when it comes to pass that his current district in Ohio is lost to the same redistricting scheme that will have our own state gaining a seat in Congress. Just yesterday, Everett Herald columnist Jerry Cornfield wrote (again) about the subject; citing the number of appearances the liberal congressman has been making in our state (specifically in our 1st CD) recently. Of particular interest to me was this all too familiar bit of “rhetoric as accepted party doctrine”.

“Scott Ballinger of Woodway said the fuss surrounding Kucinich is good because it helps "trumpet the fact that Washington Democrats are liberal Democrats"

But he wouldn't welcome him as a candidate.

"I think there's kind of a carpetbagger aspect to him coming," he said. "And I'm not sure Kucinich is good for the 1st Congressional District."

State Democratic Party chairman Dwight Pelz has expressed similar concerns in publicly opposing a Kucinich bid. He's also said the Ohioan's politics put him too far left to win in a suburban district, which is what the 1st and 10th will almost certainly be after redistricting.”

There seems to be a tendency for folks to acknowledge on one hand the liberal activists in the state while on the other hand reminding them (us) that electing liberals is just one step too far. In this case, the overriding sentiment amongst the state’s punditocracy and political “leadership” seems to be, “Thanks for stopping by but don’t let the door hit you on your way out.” Take, for example, the May 12 ditty from the PI’s Joel Connelly, subtly titled “Stay Home, Dennis Kucinich.”

After referring to Kucinich as “…a vegan who dishes up red meat to audiences of aging peaceniks” Connelly says, “Here's two words of advice for "Dennis the Menace" : Stay Home!” He then went on to illuminate Kucinich’s appeal in the state.

“Kucinich went nowhere as a presidential candidate in 2004 and 2008. He went to court, unsuccessfully, to get included in debates. But he developed a small, fervent following, nowhere more fervent than in this state's loony left.”

And “loony left’ we must be because we seem to keep falling for the nonsense that would have us believe that there is a place for us in this state’s Democratic Party.



Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 05/19/2011
Total Americans Killed: 1,581
Post Obama Inauguration: 951
http://icasualties.org/

“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama

----------------------------

Latest Confirmed Casualties:


*Sgt. Adam D. Craig, 23, of Cherokee, IA died March 4 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.

*Sgt. Kevin W. White, 22, of Westfield, NY died May 2 in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Riley S. Spaulding, 21, of Sheridan, TX died May 4 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Ken K. Hermogino, 30, of Edwards Air Force Base, CA died May 9 in Herat province, Afghanistan.

*1st Lt. Demetrius M. Frison, 26, of Lancaster, PA died May 10 in Khost province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Amaru Aguilar, 26, of Miami, FL died May 13, at Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Kevin B. Balduf, 27, of Nashville, TN died May 12 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lt. Col. Benjamin J. Palmer, 43, of Modesto, CA died May 12 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Brian D. Riley Jr., 24, of Longwood, FL died May 15, in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Robert C. Schlote, 26, of Norfolk, NE died May 14, in Omaha, NE.

*Staff Sgt. David D. Self, 29, of Pearl, MS died May 16 in Zabul province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Bradley L. Melton, 29, Rolla, MO died May 16 in Zabul province, Afghanistan.

*Pvt. Lamarol J. Tucker, 26, of Gainesville, FL died May 16 in Zabul province, Afghanistan.

*Pvt. Cheizray Pressley, 21, of North Charleston, SC died May 16 in Zabul province, Afghanistan.

 
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Today's Chuckle: Courtesy of John (Freedom County) Koster

Here’s a quick snippet from the comic section of the Seattle Times:


Koster to run again for Congress:

Republican Snohomish County Councilman, John Koster, who narrowly lost a bid to unseat Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen last year, says he'll run again for the U.S. House in 2012.

John (Freedom County) Koster announces 2010 bid against Rick Larsen
(Photo Credit: Curt Eidem)

                                       

Maybe he’s thinking that the 2nd CD will be reduced to only include Snohomish County in the re-districting plan that will draw the lines for Washington’s new 10th CD. Short of that scenario, the closest Koster (and his homophobic partner, Larry Stickney) will get to an address in DC will be when they both register as lobbyists for some extreme right-wing something or other and move into “C Street House”.

This is not to say that I am still hoping for that sincere and well funded Progressive to replace Larsen in a 2012 primary.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Is it time to give peace a chance?

Osama bin Laden is dead. I do not mourn his death nor do I make celebration. Rather I ask, “When will our troops come home?” ....I won’t hold my breath.


Once again America's blood lust has been fed; the thirst for vengeance and revenge that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney (and now Barack Obama) embraced and nurtured. Just as Saddam’s celebrated capture and subsequent execution only marked a milestone in the continuing military mis-adventure in Iraq (4452 dead Americans to date and still climbing), Osama’s demise (already being celebrated with the zeal and exuberance of a Super Bowl victory) is destined to become just a foot note to our journal of Bushbama’s perpetual war. To be clear, it is probably accurate to say that bin Laden and his followers were responsible for the events of 9/11/2001 and the deaths of some 3,000 Americans; but it is just as accurate to assign responsibility to Bushbama for the 6,018 Americans who have been sent to a premature grave; ordered into a war of choice in the Middle East. Of that number, our Nobel Peace Prize winner already counts some 1,168 on his short 15 month watch. And it would be a nation lacking in any sense of morality to discount the tens of thousands of dead Afghani, Iraqi, and Pakistani civilians who have become the “collateral damage” of America’s pursuit of “victory over evil.” Of course the jury is still out on the question of America's morality with so many "Christians" calling for still more blood.

Maybe; hopefully, I am wrong. Perhaps the death of Osama bin Laden will be the act that brings our national call for revenge into check and more will demand an end to our military interventionism. Maybe now that we no longer have a “poster child for evil” to point to as a rallying cry to keep sending our troops off to die, more people will start asking “why?”

I won’t hold my breath. For even as he announced the victory of bin Laden’s demise, President Obama insisted that this would not be the end of America’s “War on Terror.” …and the beat goes on.



Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue