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The Federalist (*warning, hanky alert)

THE FOUNDATION

"Your love of liberty -- your respect for the laws -- your habits of industry -- and your practice of the moral and religious obligations, are the strongest claims to national and individual happiness." --George Washington

LIBERTY

"Our commitment to liberty is America's tradition -- declared at our founding; affirmed in Franklin Roosevelt's Four Freedoms; asserted in the Truman Doctrine and in Ronald Reagan's challenge to an evil empire. We are committed to freedom in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and in a peaceful Palestine. The advance of freedom is the surest strategy to undermine the appeal of terror in the world. Where freedom takes hold, hatred gives way to hope. When freedom takes hold, men and women turn to the peaceful pursuit of a better life. American values and American interests lead in the same direction: We stand for human liberty." --President George W. Bush

THE GIPPER

"Our status as a free society and world power is not based on brute strength. When we've taken up arms, it has been for the defense of freedom for ourselves and for other peaceful nations who needed our help. But now, faced with the development of weapons with immense destructive power, we've no choice but to maintain ready defense forces that are second to none. Yes, the cost is high, but the price of neglect would be infinitely higher." --Ronald Reagan

*OPINION IN BRIEF

"Just a few hours after the fierce fight along the Tigris, I was riding out of the city with an infantry battalion commander, headed north toward Tikrit. Seated beside me was the sergeant major of the Marine unit -- a tough, grizzled veteran of two wars and a good number of gunfights in between. The armed convoy paused at an intersection, and suddenly the street was full of cheering Iraqis, waving signs 'America No. 1,' 'Good for Bush' and 'Marines equal Liberty.'
No reporter could have missed the fact that the people were cheering -- not jeering. They were throwing flowers -- not stones or grenades. Suddenly, a little girl was at the sergeant major's side. She reached up, handing him a hand-drawn American flag and said, in perfect English, 'We love you.'
As I watched, this hard old sergeant major brushed away a tear and explained -- 'a little dust in the eyes.' Later, after we had exited the city, he turned to me and volunteered, 'This is proof,' he said holding up the child's rendering of the stars and stripes, 'that we're doing the right thing here in Iraq.' The old warrior was on the mark -- and every one of his colleagues serving in Iraq knows it. So do most of the Iraqi people -- finally freed from a brutal dictatorship. But it's probably too much to hope that the American media elite would come to the same conclusion." --Oliver North

INCOMING — 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldiers maintain Pick-up Zone posture while awaiting incoming UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters during Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Derek Gaines

CHEMICAL CHECK — Sgt. 1st Class Antwain Robinson of HHC, 4th Infantry Division uses an Improved Chemical Agent Monitor (ICAM) to check for nerve and blister agents in an abandoned restaurant and casino outside Tikrit, Iraq while Maj. Ronald Gilliam observes and Master Sgt. Tommy Levi pulls security on April 29. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Kathy Jo Young

LESSONS FROM GEESE

* As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the
birds that follow. By flying in a V formation, the flock adds
71% extra flying range.

* People who share a sense of community can help each other
get where they are going more easily ... because they are
travelling on the trust of one another.

* When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the
drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back to
take advantage of the lifting power of the birds in front.

* If we have as much sense as geese, we stay in formation with
those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept
their help and give our help to others.

* When the lead goose tires, it drops back in the formation
and another flies to the point position.

* It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks. We should
respect and protect each other's unique arrangement of skills,
capabilities, talents and resources.

* The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up
front to keep up their speed.

* We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups
where there is encouragement, production is much greater.
Individual empowerment results from quality honking.

* When a goose gets sick, two geese drop out of formation and
follow it to help and protect it.

* If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each
other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong.