According to a news report from the Associated Press, on Wednesday July 9, 2008, the remains of two US soldiers kidnapped in Iraq in 2007 were located and identified.

Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Michigan

Sincere condolences to their friends and family.

The following is an Associated Press report posted at YouTube.

Civilian employee from Wauconda killed in Iraq
Associated Press, June 25, 2008

Slain Guthrie Man Remembered For Dedication To Others
KOCO News, June 24, 2008

At least two contractors were among ten people who died when a hidden bomb detonated in a meeting room in Sadr City.

Nicole Suveges, 38, of Wauconda, IL was a political scientist for BAE Systems.

Update on new AP per words charges for quotes. See comment below by carol. Bumped from 2008-06-16 09:37:57 -0500 by carol

important discussion about giving credit where credit is due -- thanks Susie -- originally posted 2008-06-15 17:35:37 --bumped, cho

There's been some recent discussion of fair use as a result of 7 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) take downs filed by the Associated Press (AP) against, The Drudge Retort. The action has a number of bloggers freaked and is now making the email rounds.

Before assuming this is a clear cut case of the Man bearing down on the little guy, we should look at Fair Use.

Expecting to travel this summer? How 'bout them new baggage fees to keep up with rising oil prices?

United Airlines, US Airways latest carriers to charge for checked bag
San Francisco Business Times, June 13, 2008

United Airlines and US Airways will become the second and third major U.S. carriers to charge passengers $15 for their first checked bag. [...]

First-class and business customers, as well as passengers who have premier status with United or Star Alliance, will not pay the fee.

Kinda like those humongous SUV's and pickups with the tax break incentive even though they chew up federal highways with added wear and tear.

There are currently eight American men publicly known to be missing in Iraq:

Kirk von Ackermann
Timothy E. Bell
Aban Abdel Malek Mahmoud Elias (also Aban Elias)
Radim Sadeq Mohammed Sadeq (also Dean Sadek)
Jeffrey Ake
Spc. Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie (also Ahmed K. Altaie)
Pfc. Byron W. Fouty
Sgt. Alex Ramon Jimenez

What follows are brief entries on these Americans. Ages given are those at the time of their disappearance. They are listed in chronological order, by date of incident.

Corrections and/or additions very much welcome.

originally posted 2008-05-26 08:09:49, bumped

On May 15, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing on the Defense Base Act. As some of you know, the DBA is a subject near and dear to my heart, that is, if such a thing could be possible.

Committee Holds Hearing on Defense Base Act Insurance

The hearing examined allegations of waste and abuse in the procurement of Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance, the workers’ compensation insurance required for all federal contractors working overseas. Contractors obtain DBA insurance from private insurance companies, and these costs are included in the price of the contract and passed on to taxpayers.

Several items of note below the fold.

Everything you need to know. Have a happy Monday.

Broadcast on October 14, 2007. John Fortune & John Bird on the South Bank show. via Housing Wire

Don't miss the ending.

Louisville man is killed in Iraq
By Sheldon S. Shafer, May 4, 2008

Jim Lockard, a civil engineer from Louisville working for a contractor overseeing the rebuilding of Iraqi schools and hospitals, was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad, his wife [Maria] said. [...] The couple have two daughters, Danielle, 16, and Nicole, 13, "who were his life," his wife said.

Lockard, 46, worked for Louis Berger Group.

Investigators: Millions in Iraq contracts never finished, Associated Press

The audit released Sunday by Stuart Bowen Jr., the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, provides the latest snapshot of an uneven reconstruction effort that has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $100 billion. It also comes as several lawmakers have said they want the Iraqis to pick up more of the cost of reconstruction.

In addition, the audit said many reconstruction projects were being described as complete or otherwise successful when they were not. In one case, the U.S. Agency for International Development contracted with Bechtel Corp. in 2004 to construct a $50 million children's hospital in Basra, only to "essentially terminate" the project in 2006 because of months long delays.

A message on the blog run by the family of missing civilian contractor Jonathan Cote.

Press Conference to be held by the family of deceased U. S. Army Veteran, Jonathon Michael Cote’ who was a contractor in Iraq when he was kidnapped on November 16, 2006

At this hour, the Cote family has been notified by U. S. Officials that positive identification of the 6th body returned from Iraq was subsequently identified at Dover Air Force Base. The remains are of Jonathon Michael Cote’. The autopsy results have not yet been provided to the family.

Jonathon Cote of Getzville, New York was kidnapped on November 16, 2006 with four other men from Crescent Security Group who have since been found dead. Jonathon Cote's severed finger was one of 5 delivered to the US military in Iraq.

Jonathon Cote was 25 years old.

Sincere condolences to his friends and family.