Last night, on the PBS Newshour, they had an appropriate July 4th interview, especially in these times of two occupations:

Marine, Author Reflect on Honoring Fallen Comrades You can read the transcript and more at that link.

Photo: State Idiot Asylum © SUNY.edu
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Larry Neumeister/AP: NY judge orders prison for former Refco CEO

NEW YORK - The former head of Refco Inc., blamed for the collapse of one of the world's largest commodities brokerages, was sentenced to 16 years in prison Thursday by a judge who decried the "staggeringly arrogant" greed of white collar criminals.

AFP: French prosecutors seek charges against rogue trader assistant

One of France's big three banks, Societe Generale shocked the financial world when it announced in January staggering losses of 4.9 billion euros at the hands of a rogue trader. .. The bank incurred the colossal losses when it was forced to unwind more than 50 billion euros of unauthorised deals Kerviel is said to have made.

Probably not what they meant when they sought "asylum". . .

The first episode of the groundbreaking new live webcast "In Their Boots" aired on Wednesday, 2 July 2008, with host Jan Bender as he explored the lives of the Babin family as they care for their wounded veteran son Alan. That first show "Beating the Odds" was part 1, the second part to be aired next wednesday, 9 July 2008.

I am posting this because for many people Obama's position on FISA has been disquieting. This is his reply, posted on the Obama website.

Today, Barack Obama posted a message to supporters on my.barackobama.com about the FISA legislation.

I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to those of you who oppose my decision to support the FISA compromise.

Photo © NYT/AP - Battle in Helmand Province, Afghanistan (5/2/08)
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Lolita Baldor/AP: Pentagon extends tour of Marines in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has extended the tour of 2,200 Marines in Afghanistan, after insisting for months the unit would come home on time. .. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is doing combat operations in the volatile south, will stay an extra 30 days and come home in early November rather than October . . .
[edit]
The Pentagon announced in January that the Marine Expeditionary Unit . . was being ordered to Afghanistan, largely because efforts to press other NATO nations to increase their troop levels at the time had failed.

Semper reformanda.

How are you celebrating? Going to a parade? Maybe a barbecue? Any fireworks?

Yesterday I got an e-newsletter about the same time I caught this post. The e covered what prompted the post by ScottyUrb.

Today, the 4th of July, we here in the States celebrate our "Independence", no need to go into an explanation, or give a link to read about, we're all supposed to know and understand what that means, and so are others who think they've achieved that.

From here:

Constitutional Crisis -- postcards

Photo © Freedom Writers Foundation.org
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Suzanne Goldenberg/GuardianBlog:
US teacher is suspended for letting pupils read bestseller

An Indiana teacher who used a much lauded bestseller, The Freedom Writers Diary, to try to inspire under-performing high-school students has been suspended from her job without pay for 18 months.
[edit]
"She knew she had defied her supervisors' direction in her work and that her defiance was 'insubordination' and 'neglect of duty'."

Also see: LATBlog: Taking the freedom out of 'Freedom Writers'.

bumped -- cho

A Nation that sends its Sons and Daughters into Occupations?

A C-17 Airforce Transport plane arrives in Kandahar, Afghanistan to receive the bodies of five U.S. service members killed. Though more than 1,000 US and coalition forces were on hand to participate in the "ramp ceremony," a Los Angeles Times reporter and photographer were asked to leave the area by a military public affairs officer. A Pentagon policy banning coverage of this particular event was cited as the reason. [Photo: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times]

Iraq

There have been 4,426 coalition deaths -- 4,113 Americans, two Australians, 176 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, one Czech, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, 5 Georgians, one Hungarian, 33 Italians, one Kazakh, one Korean, three Latvian, 22 Poles, three Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of July 1, 2008, according to a CNN count. { Graphical breakdown of casualties }. The list below is the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen whose deaths have been reported by their country's governments. The list also includes seven employees of the U.S. Defense Department. At least 30,275 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. View casualties in the war in Afghanistan.

Capt. Philip J. Dykeman 38 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division Brockport, New York One of three Marines killed during combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on June 26, 2008

Lt. Col. Max A. Galeai 42 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division Pago Pago, American Samoa One of three Marines killed during combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on June 26, 2008

Cpl. Marcus W. Preudhomme 23 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division North Miami Beach, Florida One of three Marines killed during combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on June 26, 2008