Free Republic

The people of Kirkuk, Diyala, Salah Ad Din and Sulamaniyah will not soon forget. The Iraqis living in the cities and villages of those north-central provinces will long remember the contributions to their security and stability, to their daily lives, made by the Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division. Those Soldiers, in the honored tradition of their Big Red One forebears who fought at St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne, in Sicily and on Normandy beaches and in Vietnam, have added a new chapter of courage, perseverance and devotion to duty to the division’s history as they prepare to leave Iraq.

For some people, and some countries, the US can do no right. In the wake of the tsunami and earthquakes in South Asia, critics wasted no time in referring to US aid as "stingy" and "delayed." Even though the US began with an initial aid package of about $35 million, while still trying to assess the need and organize for a much greater commitment, the UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Jan Egeland suggested that the United States and other Western nations were being "stingy" with relief funds, saying there would be more available if taxes were raised.

When Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented Grateful Nation Awards last week to six young members of the U.S. military for their outstanding service in the war on terrorism, many of those attending the ceremony were taken aback by their youthful appearance. Each of the soldiers, sailors, and Marines who were honored at a dinner sponsored by the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs was cited for bravery in combat conditions in the Persian Gulf region. Some, like Marine Cpl. Gary Spangler, looked as if they could not have been over 18 years...

For months, President Bush has been a sitting duck, taking incoming rhetorical fire from Democratic opponents and a willing media eager to bring down his poll numbers so they can have themselves a contest. The poll numbers are down, and it appears there will be a real contest. It is time for the president to return fire. On NBC's "Meet the Press" interview with Tim Russert on Sunday (Feb. 8), the president again defended his decision to invade Iraq and topple the murderous dictator, Saddam Hussein. The interview was OK, but he didn't say much that he hasn't said already...

<p>SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - After eight months in the Iraqi desert, Spc. James Masterson returned home barely a week before Thanksgiving with plenty of reasons to be grateful.</p> <p>The 23-year-old Army soldier had survived a war unscathed. Though he had trained troops in his unit in donning gas masks and protective suits, they had never come under chemical or biological attacks.</p>