Free Republic

Brigade homeland tours start Oct. 1 3rd Infantry’s 1st BCT trains for a new dwell-time mission. Helping ‘people at home’ may become a permanent part of the active Army By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer Posted : Monday Sep 8, 2008 6:15:06 EDT The 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team has spent 35 of the last 60 months in Iraq patrolling in full battle rattle, helping restore essential services and escorting supply convoys. Now they’re training for the same mission — with a twist — at home. Beginning Oct. 1 for 12 months, the 1st BCT will be under...

Barack Obama may have quelled a self-described political "firestorm" by quitting Rev. Jeremiah Wright's controversial "black liberation" church, but the bombastic pastor is preparing to set off a bomb in the homestretch of the Democratic candidate's campaign.

The final chance (most likely) for the riders to shake up the GC. A 32 mile Individual Time Trial. Nice and flat:

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness. The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow....

I can understand Obama traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan to meet with the troops, talk to military leaders, a listen and learn trip – so to speak, as the presumptive Democratic nominee and as Illinois Senator. Sure it is odd that he laid out his plans for Iraq and Afghanistan in an op-ed piece in the New York Times one week before he left, but I will not criticize him for that. I also do not mind his traveling to Israel, our closest ally in the region, knowing full well that he must garnish more support from the Jewish community...

Bwaaa Haaa Haaa Haaa Haaa!!!I love this stage!At least it's not steep.

Fresh off his tour of heart clinics throughout America, Barak Obama has announced his intention to perform a heart transplant at Johns Hopkins within days. "I have seen the clinics, I've spoken to doctors, nurses, and assistants, and my skill with scalpel and suction has now been tried and tested through careful observation." "I also remind you that for 143 days I was intimately involved in the health care debate in the Senate and for another year on the campaign trail." "What more experience could anyone demand?" asked an incredulous Obama. My heart surgery tour should put to rest any...

Barack Obama is going on a five nation middle east tour accompanied by all three network news anchors, Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson and Katie Kouric. This is effectively an around the clock campaign commercial designed to play him in the best light to all of America on the 6:00 o'clock news. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

Another day in the Massif Central with a nice, fast finish.

Tour de France Stage 6

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Jan. 28, 2008 – When the “Legends of Wrestling” tour rolled in here Jan. 26, servicemembers and civilians gathered at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation clamshell to take part in the festivities. Army Pfc. Michael Grandi Jr., Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, holds the WCW Championship belt with wrestling greats (from left to right) Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart, Diamond Dallas Page, and Nicholai Volkoff during the "Legends of Wrestling" tour that came to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, 2008. Photo by Spc. George Welcome,...

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 17, 2007 – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael G. Mullen is bringing United Service Organizations entertainers to visit with troops in seven countries in the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe through the next week. Airmen at a Southwest Asia air base enjoy the comedy of Robin Williams during the first stop of the 2007 USO holiday tour, Dec. 17, 2007. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, USN  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “We want to thank as many servicemembers as we can,” Mullen said. “The holidays are...

As security improves in Iraq, pressure is building to reverse one of the most onerous decisions Defense Secretary Robert Gates made to enable President Bush's troop buildup to go forward this year: extending the tours of active-duty soldiers from 12 months to 15 months. The extra three months is a weighty burden, both physically and psychologically, for soldiers already stressed by multiple tours, and on families coping with strains that have mounted since the war began in 2003. "We can't sustain that," Gen. George Casey, who was the top U.S. commander in Iraq before becoming the Army chief of staff...

It appears that Page, Plant and Jones are planning a reunion with Bonham's son, Jason, on drums.

Spc. Mollie Bixler, a cook assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, poses in front of a flag at the unit’s headquarters building at Forward Operating Base Falcon, Aug. 30, 2007. Bixler is the only female in the battalion’s tactical operations center. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Timmons U.S. Army Spc. Mollie Bixler Soldier From Michigan Embraces Change in Second Iraq Tour By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Timmons 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.1st Infantry Division CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq, Sept. 6, 2007 —...

Rest day today.

NEW ORLEANS - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards blamed President Bush and the federal government for this city's slow recovery from Hurricane Katrina as he launched an eight-state campaign tour focused on alleviating poverty. "He made the people of New Orleans a very specific promise that has not been met," Edwards said, referring to Bush's promise soon after the August 2005 storm that the city would be rebuilt. Edwards, who formally kicked off his race for the Democratic nomination in New Orleans in December, returned to the city Sunday for a tour of the Lower 9th Ward, a low-income area...

No racing today.

The tour is about to begin.

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2007 – Operation Straight Up Tour is working to help military children and families become stronger through faith-based entertainment, its founder said. “OSU Tour is an organization dedicated to helping our armed forces with the common issues brave men and women face,” Jonathan Spinks said, referring to child rearing, troubled marriages, anger, depression, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder. “We’re addressing those things through entertainment.” OSU Tour is one of the newest members of the Defense Department’s America Supports You program, which connects citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and...

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2007 – The Spirit of America Tour has provided more than 80 opportunities for entertainers to express their appreciation for America’s military since Sept. 11, 2001. The Spirit of America Tour is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting the ways Americans and the corporate sector support the military. “In general, we’re showing that the entertainment industry does support the troops, not by lip service but by actually doing something,” Robert M. Rosenthal, the group’s founder, said. “The truth is, we have a fabulous volunteer (military) that has joined … because there...

<p>We are so very fortunate that Freeper "leofl" has arranged to give us a tour of Fort Hood. Fort Hood is located near Killeen, West of I-35 exits at Temple, Belton area. Thanks so much Leo, for making this happen. Please note if you are interested in joining us. We're still working on a few details but for now here's Leo's note to us......</p>

Troops have been deployed to boost police presence in Bogota US President George W Bush has arrived in Colombia as part of his five-nation Latin American tour.He will meet President Alvaro Uribe in a display of support for efforts to combat that country's insurgency. Colombia is one of the largest recipients of US aid to help fight a long-running war against left-wing guerrillas and drug traffickers. The visit is being overshadowed by a political scandal, which has raised questions about US support in Congress. The scandal has linked a number of President Uribe's government politicians to right-wing paramilitaries. Some...

US and Venezuela presidents George W. Bush and Hugo Chavez, both on Latinamerican tours are the leaders with the lowest standing in the region according to a public opinion survey from Latinobarometro released at the end of 2006. Top of the list figures Brazil’s Lula da Silva with 5.8 points, followed by Michelle Bachelet from Chile, 5.5 and Colombia’s Alvaro Uribe, 5.4. They are followed by Argentina’s Nestor Kirchner, Bolivia’s Evo Morales and Uruguay’s Tabare Vazquez with 5 points each. Chavez and Bush rank seven and eight with 4.6 points each and bottom of the list is Fidel Castro from...

Thousands of protesters greeted Mr Bush's arrival US President George Bush has met his Uruguayan counterpart, Tabare Vazquez, as part of his five-nation Latin American tour to promote trade.Mr Bush arrived in Montevideo from Brazil - where he signed a deal to develop alternative fuel sources. Uruguay is keen to sign free trade deals with the US, even if it means leaving the Mercosur trade bloc. The tour attracted protests in Brazil and about 5,000 protesters gathered in Uruguay for Mr Bush's visit. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is conducting his own tour of the region and addressed 40,000 anti-Bush...

!-- S IIMA --> Chavez attacked Bush in front of the Buenos Aires crowd It was the kind of situation that the Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez, loves - 40,000 flag-waving supporters joining him in hurling insults at the US President, George W Bush.He was at a football stadium in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, leading what he called an anti-imperialist rally to coincide with Mr Bush's arrival in neighbouring Uruguay. Most of the crowd were members of trade unions, left-wing and human rights organisations, those who already supported Mr Chavez and what he calls his brand of socialism for...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2007 – For New Orleans native Myeisha Goldston, it’s all about the attitude – and she used to have a “b-a-a-a-a-d” one, she confessed. New Jersey National Guard Youth ChalleNGe cadets Nadia Gant, right, and Zenia Arroliga sign the guest book in the Pentagon memorial chapel during a tour, Feb. 26, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by Fred W. Baker III  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Now, though, her attitude and her life have taken a 180-degree turn. Goldston recently graduated from the first phase of the New Orleans’ National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program and was...

On Dec. 3, the residents of 14 historic military quarters on Fort Huachuca will open their doors to curious visitors for the annual home tour. Everyone is invited to come celebrate the holiday season as the historic homes are decked with holiday finery. For the past 16 years, the fort has marked the beginning of the holiday season with the Holiday Tour of Historic Homes. The Fort Huachuca Old Post area, a National Historic Landmark, will be lit by the soft glow of luminaries as the public is given a rare glimpse at the interior of these homes. Annually, the...