Father of slain Marine wins case against funeral protesters -- baltimoresun.com

"Pa. man awarded nearly $11 million in compensatory and punitive damages
By Matthew Dolan Sun reporter
5:54 PM EDT, October 31, 2007

The brokenhearted father of a Marine killed in Iraq won a long-shot legal fight today after a federal jury in Baltimore awarded him nearly $11 million in a verdict against members of a Kansas church who hoisted anti-gay placards at his son's Westminster funeral. The jury's announcement 24 hours after deliberations first began was met with tears and hugs from the family and supporters of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, whose March 2006 funeral was protested by members of the Westboro Baptist Church with signs including 'Thank God for dead soldiers.' Snyder's father, Albert, won on every count of his complaint, as well as $2.9 million for compensatory damages and $8 million for punitive damages."
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Iraqi Army at Besmaya Installation Support San Diego Fire Victims

U.S. Army Col. Darel Maxfield (center left), Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, receives the check from Iraqi Army Col. Abbass (center right) at the Besmaya Range Complex Thursday for the San Diego, Calif., fire victims. BAGHDAD, Iraq -

"Iraqi Army Support San Diego Fire Victims
By U.S. Army Sgt 1st Class Charlene Sipperly,
Multi-National Security Transition Command -
Iraq Public Affairs Oct 27, 2007 - 5:43:06 PM
Blackanthem Military News

Members of the Iraqi Army in Besmaya collected a donation for the San Diego, Calif., fire victims Thursday night at the Besmaya Range Complex in a moving ceremony to support Besmaya's San Diego residents. Iraqi Army Col. Abbass, the commander of the complex, presented a gift of $1,000 to U.S. Army Col. Darel Maxfield, Besmaya Range Complex officer in charge, Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, to send to the fire victims in California.
The money was collected from Iraqi officers and enlisted soldiers in Besmaya. In a speech given during the presentation, Col. Abbass stated that he and the Iraqi soldiers were connected with the American people in many ways, and they will not forget the help that the American government has given the Iraqi people. Abbass was honored to participate by sending a simple fund of $1,000 to the American people in San Diego, to lower the suffering felt by the tragedy. "
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First Wave of Paratroopers Back Home

"First wave of 82nd paratroopers back home this morning

By Henry Cuningham Military editor

Wives, parents and children cheered, whistled and applauded at 7:20 a.m. as an airplane carrying the first large group of 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers home from Iraq touched down at Pope Air Force Base. The 267 paratroopers mostly belonged to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s support and special troops battalions. The paratroopers spent the past 15 months in Salah ad Din Province north of Baghdad. “Today is the start of the flow of over 15,000 paratroopers to Fort Bragg,” said Lt. Col. Rob Campbell, the brigade executive officer. Some of the families waited for two hours at Pope this morning. They had driven from as far away as Florida and Michigan to welcome the soldiers home."


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Perry Danos

sings his original song Free in tribute to all those who are and have been fighting to make us Free

Blackwater training some Canadian troops

Blackwater training some Canadian troops: "Blackwater training some Canadian troops David Pugliese , CanWest News Service Published: Saturday, September 29, 2007 OTTAWA -- The Canadian Forces are using a controversial private security firm to train some of its troops sent to Afghanistan. Select Canadian soldiers have been sent to Blackwater U.S.A. in North Carolina for specialized training in bodyguard and shooting skills. Other soldiers have taken counterterrorism evasive-driving courses with the private military company now at the centre of an investigation into the killings of Iraqi civilians and mounting concerns about the aggressive tactics of its workers in the field. Critics of Blackwater label the firm as a mercenary organization and question why a professional military such as the Canadian Forces can't do its own training in specialized areas."

Silly String finally heads to Iraq

After months of frustration, a mother of a soldier in Iraq has found someone to ship about 80,000 cans of Silly String to the troops, who use the foamy substance to detect trip wires on bombs.
Marcelle Shriver plays with Silly String as 80,000 cans of it are loaded for U.S. troops in Iraq.
"I am so happy right now, I am shaking. I just think it's awesome that it's finally going," Marcelle Shriver said as boxes were loaded into a truck Monday afternoon.
The thousands of cans of Silly String are boxed and addressed to individual servicemen and servicewomen in Iraq. But since the string comes in an aerosol can, it is considered a hazardous material, and only certain companies can ship it.

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Software Giant Lends Support to Troops

"America Supports You: Software Giant Lends Support to Troops American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2007 – As part of its continued commitment to honoring troops and their families, software giant Microsoft Corp. announced today that it has become a corporate supporter of the Defense Department’s America Supports You program."
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Domenici & Limbaugh: Two Good Men

By Rich Galen
Anchor
"US Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) has announced he will not run for re-election because he is suffering from a disorder known as Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration which is a disorder of the brain leading to a 'group of progressive dementias that result from decline in brain cells which control behavior, thinking and communication.'
Pete Domenici was first elected to the US Senate in 1972. Just to remind us how long ago 1972 is; here is an entry from the 'Information Please' website:"
"Five men are apprehended by police in attempt to bug Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.'s Watergate complex-start of the Watergate scandal (June 17)."

..." The Senate, which is receding in support among Americans under the leadership of men like Harry Reid (D-Nv) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), will be weakened by the loss of Pete Domenici - a man of principal, courage, intelligence, and above all patriotism."...


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ConocoPhillips Makes Donation for VVM Center

"CONOCOPHILLIPS AWARDS $2 MILLION TO VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL CENTER
Center Will Honor Those on The Wall, as well as All Veterans
Washington, D.C.— ConocoPhillips has pledged $2 million to help fund the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center, an educational facility being built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., said Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Memorial Fund. The donation puts the Memorial Fund at around $14 million in pledges for the Center, which is estimated to cost between $75 million and $100 million. The Memorial Fund received a lead gift of $10 million from Time Warner in 2006. “ConocoPhillips is proud to help in the funding of this Memorial Center to honor Vietnam veterans, their families and all those who have served in America’s armed forces,” said Jim Mulva, chairman and chief executive officer of ConocoPhillips. “In 1982, ConocoPhillips recognized the importance of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and made donations to make that treasured national monument possible,” said Scruggs. “Now, 25 years later, they still recognize the importance of teaching America’s youth about the Vietnam War and remembering the Americans who answered their nation’s call at that divisive time. I am pleased that ConocoPhillips is joining us to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center.”"
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