Free Republic

CAMP TAJI — Warrior Brigade continued its tradition of eliminating cultural divides by hosting an recent Iftar dinner here. Col. Todd McCaffrey, commander, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, and other senior leaders hosted Iraqi Army (IA), Police (IP) and National Police (NP) commanders during the traditional meal, which Muslims have at the end of daily fasting during Ramadan. “The colonel ate dates and drank water to break the fast, just like one of us,” said NP Col. Ahmed Mohammed Mohammed Saleh, commander, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, referring to the Quran verse “When one...

Aloha cancels 7 round-trip cargo flights due to 'sick' pilots Lender GMAC agrees to put in $3 million in new financing despite an impasse in labor talks David Segal dsegal@starbulletin.com Nearly half of Aloha Airlines’ cargo flights last night were canceled after pilots called in sick amid “deteriorating” labor talks between the union and the company. All U.S. Mail and time-sensitive goods were delivered, according to Aloha spokesman Stu Glauberman, who said the company was calling up reserve pilots today to assist with the flight schedule. Aloha was forced to cancel seven of 16 round-trip nighttime flights, but reported that...

Agency aids stranded travelers $5M budgeted to help those grounded by airline shutdowns By Allison Schaefers aschaefers@starbulletin.com The Hawaii Tourism Authority gave tourism leaders approval yesterday to spend up to $5 million in emergency funds to underwrite additional airline service for passengers who have been unable to secure alternative flights following the shutdown of ATA Airlines' operations. In the aftermath left by the shutdown of two prime West Coast carriers, some 9,000 stranded visitors were still trying to get out of Hawaii, and another 1,377 visitors and residents were trying to make it back to the islands. While some 6,200...

Aloha’s downfall may help Superferry survive The demise of Aloha Airlines gives the vessel a bigger role in the travel industry Timing may be everything for the Hawaii Superferry. With the shutdown of Aloha Airlines' passenger operations Monday and improving spring weather conditions, the Alakai will be better positioned to stay in operation after it resumes its Oahu-Maui service on Monday, the company's top executive and industry experts say. The 866-passenger vessel will sail more than two weeks ahead of schedule, after nearly two months of maintenance and repair work. The Superferry has been plagued by legal delays and high...

Loss of ATA and Aloha could mar tourism By Allison Schaefers aschaefers@starbulletin.com The loss of nearly 15 percent of the airline capacity to Hawaii this week with the abrupt closure of ATA Airlines and Aloha Airlines is sending shock waves through the state's visitor industry. State tourism officials said other carriers' existing flights could have filled the void left by Aloha. But the loss of ATA's seats could cause state visitor counts to fall by more than a half-million in the next nine months if new flights are not added, said state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert. "It could be devastating...

Aloha lays off 150 more The shutdown of ATA bleeds revenue from the local carrier's leftover business By Dave Segal dsegal@starbulletin.com Aloha Airlines employees, reeling from the loss of 1,900 jobs in connection with Monday's shutdown of passenger operations, suffered another blow yesterday when the company terminated 150 workers from its aviation services division. The latest job losses became necessary after ATA Airlines abruptly ceased all operations late Wednesday night. Aloha had depended on ATA for 20 percent of its revenue in aviation services. Aloha attorney Paul Singerman told federal Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King that the loss of the revenue...

Aloha Airlines said Sunday it will halt all passenger service after Monday, signaling the end of an airline that has served Hawaii for more than 60 years. Aloha, which filed for bankruptcy for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 20, was a casualty of fierce competition and rising fuel prices. The airline said it will stop taking reservations for flights after Monday. We simply ran out of time to find a qualified buyer or secure continued financing for our passenger business," said Aloha President David Banmiller in a statement. "We had no choice but to take this action." Aloha has...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Honolulu's namesake ship is preparing to say farewell to its island home after two decades of service. USS Honolulu (SSN 718), which is scheduled to inactivate next year, will hold a farewell ceremony April 15 prior to departing Hawaii on her final deployment to the Western Pacific. "This is an exciting and challenging time for us," said Cmdr. John Russ, the nuclear-powered attack submarine's commanding officer. "We're preparing to leave our homeport for the last time, and at the same time we're going through the normal challenges associated with getting the ship ready to deploy."...

Three of the most prestigious [sic] newspapers in the United States, the New York Times, Boston Globe and Philadelphia Inquirer, announced job cuts Tuesday. ... Like most other newspapers, the Times Co. and Philadelphia Newspapers have been hit by declining circulation and ad revenue as both readers and advertisers turn to the Internet.

. Former CNN 'Crossfire' Co-Host Michael Kingsley is now outta there as Head of the Los Angeles Times Editorial Department, while being labeled a failure in trying to revamp that Department. .

There may be the "Hawaiian word of the day" at Camp Victory in Iraq, but there isn't complete aloha for the shaka favored by Hawai'i National Guard soldiers. The thumb-and-pinkie salute, a ubiquitous symbol of pride, heritage and greeting in Hawai'i, was banned at Camp Victory guard stations after a National Guard soldier mistakenly flashed a shaka to a senior officer instead of a salute.

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) -- The state has evicted a Maui woman from a lava tube she has lived in for the last three years. Karen Mayfield, 50, has pleaded innocent to three misdemeanor charges for illegal camping, disturbing a geological feature and littering. Her trial is scheduled to start May 31. Mayfield said she isn't allowed to stay in the lava tube while her court case is pending. "I really miss it out there," she said. "I really prefer living an alternate lifestyle where I can hear the wind blow and see the stars at night." Earlier this week, her...

Okay, probably not the best ever. But knowing how Freepers just love to shoot down a boaster, I figure this is bait they won't be able to resist. ;^)The Farewell Opus is a grand old tradition here at Free Republic, and there are certain rules one should follow, but I'm going to break some of them. FIRST... I'm supposed to moan about how Free Republic used to be so great, but now it's changed and become nothing but a feuding, controlling zionist forum, or Bush-lovers forum, or whatever.Not at all. I've been on FR since October 1999. I first appeared...