Mark's Notebook


	Only a mediocre person is always at his best. - W. Somerset Maugham

All Articles - December 2006

Bush Considers Up to 20,000 More Troops for Iraq

New York Times

Saturday 30 December 2006, 2:05 pm
Keywords: News Articles
(Link to this article alone)

By David S. Cloud and Jeff Zeleny; Published: December 29, 2006

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 - The Bush administration is considering an increase in troop levels in Iraq of 17,000 to 20,000, which would be accomplished in part by delaying the departure of two Marine regiments now deployed in Anbar Province, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

The idea of extending the deployments of two Marine units has emerged in part because most of the marines in Iraq are on seven-month rotations and keeping them there longer is considered more palatable than holding over Army brigades, which are already serving tours of a year or longer, one official said.

Additional troops would come from sending into Iraq a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division headed for the region next month and possibly by speeding up the deployment of several Army brigades now scheduled to go to Iraq by next spring.

Other options remain under consideration, the officials said, noting that a decision to speed up deployment schedules would put more strain on Army and Marine equipment and personnel. But other options, like mobilizing reserve units, would take months, officials said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/29/world/middleeast/29prexy.html

Mark says: I'm really glad Matthew came home on schedule in October. His schedule has been approximately seven months on tour and five months at home. It appears later units will be taking longer rotations.

Merry!, uh, ... Happy! Oh, just have a nice day

Wisconsin State Journal

Thursday 7 December 2006, 8:06 pm
Keywords: Christian Topics , News Articles
(Link to this article alone)

by SUSAN LAMPERT SMITH

When Tom Flynn hears "Merry Christmas!," he hears an implied insult coming from conservative Christians reasserting their dominance at a time when America is growing more diverse. Flynn is waging "war on Christmas," and he says his side, the "Happy holidays!" crowd, is winning.

The right says we wreck the holiday when we don't acknowledge its Christian roots. Flynn says "Merry Christmas" has become "hate speech."

Flynn says demands that retailers such as Wal-Mart and Macy's include the word "Christmas" in their advertising are an affront to Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists and everyone who doesn't spend December anticipating the birthday of Jesus Christ: "Merry Christmas is code for 'All you non-Christians get to the back of the bus.' This is a Christian country. We own the last two (months) of the calendar. We're No. 1! By the way, you're all going to hell!"

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/column/index.php?ntid=109902&ntpid=1

Mark sez: As a Christian I'm not supposed to use foul language. Let's just say this whole idea makes me want to hurl.