Military / Veterans Report

National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
VA Secretary Jim Nicholson visited the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor on Friday, January 12, in New Windsor, New York. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor was dedicated on November 10, 2006, and serves as a permanent remembrance of those awarded the Purple Heart as a result of combat wounds received in service to our country. It is the only institution in the nation dedicated solely to Purple Heart recipients. For more information, visit the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor website.

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VA's Electronic Patient Records System Improves Care
Computerized patient records, like the system now covering all of VA's 7.6 million enrolled patients, can improve the quality of care, save lives and conserve important health care dollars, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson said recently. Between 17 percent and 49 percent of all laboratory tests in the private sector are needlessly performed because of missing paperwork. One of every five medication doses in typical private-sector hospitals and skilled nursing homes is given in error, the VA Secretary noted, with 7 percent of those errors potentially life-threatening. "With VA's electronic health records and other computerized systems, we have almost eliminated prescription errors and the need to duplicate lab tests," Nicholson added. To learn more about VA Health Care,
visit benefits/veterans-health-care.

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Airmen Cautioned About MySpace.com
Stars and Stripes reports that the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is warning airmen to exercise caution when using the popular Internet social networking site MySpace.com. The warning comes after an investigation involving several airmen who were solicited "specific information" via MySpace.com about RAF Lakenheath in the past several months. With the advent of sites such as MySpace.com and other social networking Websites, OSI agents are concerned that America's adversaries are taking their quest for information online. Airmen need to be aware of the dangers.

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Handbook Aids Families of Wounded Servicemembers
The Our Hero Handbook is a guide for wounded servicemembers and their families from day one through recovery, transition, and beyond. Topics covered in the handbook range from practical information about how to make travel and lodging arrangements to strategies for coping with the emotional strain of being a caregiver and how to inform children about a parent's injury. There is also a comprehensive list of organizations that can help wounded Soldiers and their families and extensive information on military insurance and medical benefits. The handbook can be downloaded from the For more information and resources on the severely injured, visit the Military.com Severely Injured Center.

PELOSI, MURTHA IN IRAQ

Pelosi met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
In violation of the Logan Act: Conducting Foreign Relations Without Authority
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.

The Logan Act was intended to prohibit United States citizens without authority from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments. There appear to have been no prosecutions under the Act in its more than 200 year history. However, there have been a number of judicial references to the Act, and it is not uncommon for it to be used as a point of challenge concerning dealings with foreign officials. Although attempts have been made to repeal the Act, it remains law and at least a potential sanction to be used against anyone who without authority interferes in the foreign relations of the United States.
Friday, January 26, 2007 - FreeMarketNews.com
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has traveled to Iraq for a quick fact-finding visit that will include a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The congressional delegation traveling with the Democratic speaker from San Francisco includes Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who more than a year ago urged President Bush to withdraw American forces from Iraq and is chairman of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees the military budget. -San Francisco Chronicle The delegation is scheduled to return to Washington on Monday?

Murtha says Marines are GUILTY
until proven innocent.

Military / Veterans Report

Anheuser-Busch Extends Military Tribute
Anheuser-Busch has extended its Here's to the Heroes program through 2007. The program provides a single day's free admission to any one SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park, Sesame Place, Adventure Island or Water Country USA for the servicemember and as many as three of his or her direct dependents. Any active duty, active reserve, ready reserve servicemember or National Guardsman is entitled to free admission under the program. He or she need only register, either online at http://www.herosalute.com/ or in the entrance plaza of a participating park, and show a Department of Defense photo ID.

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Program Serves Wounded Warriors
The Army's Wounded Warrior Program, dubbed AW2, is designed for soldiers severely wounded in the war on terror. AW2 provides information and assistance to aid soldiers and their families through the recovery process and beyond, from medical evacuation to reintegration into the work force. In addition, AW2 tracks and monitors our Severely Wounded Warriors for a period of time beyond their medical retirement or return to duty in order to provide appropriate assistance though an array of existing service providers. For more information, visit the Wounded Warrior website.

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GI Bill Benefit Expiration Date
Once you have separated from the service you have 10 years to use all of your benefits. Although separating from service "starts the clock" on your 10-year time limit, you should know that if you rejoin active-duty service for more than 90 days, during the 10- year period, your 10-ear clock is reset. In other words, you get 10 years from your last discharge. Visit the GI Bill FAQ page for more information.

In addition to using your GI Bill, Military.com has more than $300 million worth of scholarships in our database geared specifically for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Take a look and find the right scholarships for you.

First Cavalry Amazon Battalion

NEW DELHI (AP)
The United Nation's first all-female peacekeeping force _ made up of 105 Indian policewomen _ is set to deploy to the troubled west African country of Liberia, an official said Friday.

Employ them to guard our border.
No illegal will mess with these women.

Pelosi Won't Block Iraq Funding

Of course she won't block funding.
Click the comic to read why she won't.
Thanks Marie and Amy Proctor for reminding us.

New Atrocities Uncovered in Iraq

PROOF! AMERICAN SOLDIERS TORTURING IRAQI CHILDREN

**WARNING**Very Graphic**

Military News / Veterans Report

2007 COLA Rates Released
Military.com has updated its active duty cost-of-living allowance calculators for 2007. Enter your pay grade, time in service, location, and dependent status, and the calculator will compute your COLA. These pay rates are effective as of January 1, 2007. Find your 2007 COLA rates today!

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Navy Lodge Opens New Facility
Navy Lodge Norfolk, Va., has opened the doors of its new four-story, 100-room facility. The new Navy Lodge features all types of rooms -- family, business class, standard as well as handicapped rooms. Each of the new guest rooms has the latest amenities including Internet hook up, free local phone calls, air conditioning, cable TV, a DVD, direct-dial telephone service and a kitchenette complete with microwave and utensils. Guests may reach the Navy Lodge Reservation Center by calling toll-free 1-800-NAVY-INN (628-9466) in the continental United States. The Reservation Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Reservations can also be made online at http://www.navy-lodge.com/

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Warning Issued Concerning Candy
A warning has been sent out through military channels concerning a new candy spreading across the United States called chronic candy. It contains essential hemp oil, which is illegal for servicemembers to ingest. Studies have shown that products made with hemp seed and hemp seed oil may contain tetrahydrocannabinol, which is an active ingredient of marijuana that is detectable under the Federal drug testing program. Failure to comply with the prohibition on ingestion of products containing or products derived from hemp seed or hemp seed oil is a violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Israel Plans Nuclear Strike on Iran

Israel National News
The IDF is working on a “Plan B” as a backup in case diplomatic efforts to convince Iran to abandon its nuclear aspirations fail.

Israel is not waiting to see if diplomatic efforts by the international community manage to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon, Britain's Sunday Times reports.

Israel Air Force pilot training programs are in full swing, the paper says, rehearsing scenarios in which they might be required to take military action.

Israel totally denied the report. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said that Israel supports the sanctions against Iran, as well as increased diplomatic efforts to stop Iran.

The Times reports that IDF sources said two IAF squadrons are working on special plans to destroy a key Iranian nuclear facility in Natanz, using low-yield “buster bunkers.” This strategy is used in situations where military installations are located underground, as many of the Hizbullah sites were during the recent war with the terrorists in Lebanon.

A uranium conversion plant in Isfahan is also named in the report as a target, as is a heavy water plant at Arak. Both facilities have been in the news following speeches by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad bragging about the rapid pace of development at the facilities.

The two sites would be hit with conventional bombs in the scenarios under consideration by the IAF.

The United Nations Security Council passed a unanimous vote last month to impose sanctions on Iran for its refusal to halt its uranium enrichment project, albeit some five months later than the sanctions were originally threatened. The world body had warned Iran more than eight months ago that it would impose sanctions if the Islamic Republic did not terminate its program by August 31, 2006.

Ahmadinejad's nuclear development program constitutes a key step in the development of nuclear energy and is suspected of being used to develop nuclear weapons in addition to energy for domestic use.

Iran has continued to insist its nuclear development is geared for peaceful domestic use only. However, the international community is skeptical, and has therefore imposed the sanctions.
Israel National News Readers Comments

McCain, Lieberman Support Troop 'Surge'

McCain, Lieberman Support Troop 'Surge' McCain: National Security Trumps 2008 Bid

Moved from Comments.
Pero supports a "troop surge," too.
Not the 30,000-50,000 variety however.
And for heaven's sake, lets flood the Persian Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean Sea with American carrier fleets.
THE LAST THING WE NEED IS OUR TROOPS AND BOATS PROTECTING CAMP PENDLETON, LUKE AFB, FORT DIX, AND CORONADO NAVAL STATION!!!
Our troops are brilliant at what they do, and the sooner they are allowed to do their job the sooner they will all come home.
Amen, Pero

Military / Veterans Report

President Signs Veterans Benefits Bill
President Bush recently signed legislation that will improve benefits and health care for America's veterans and their families along a broad front. The legislation, S. 3421, the Veterans Benefits, Healthcare, and Information Technology Act of 2006, includes $3.2 billion in funding to enhance veterans' benefits and health care, secure sensitive personal information, authorize VA health care facility construction nationwide, $65 million to increase the number of clinicians treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), expands tele-health initiatives invaluable to rural veterans, increases the number of community-based outpatient clinics able to treat mental illnesses.
Learn more about Veteran's Health Care by visiting
www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care

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Air Force Enlisted Village Helps All Service Widows
The Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV) is unique in its mission to support the enlisted corps. The AFEV's 80-acre campus near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., features independent and assisted living apartments for widows from all five services. The AFEV is one of the four official charities of the Air Force. Donations from Air Force Airmen subsidize the Air Force widows who might need financial assistance. For more information on the AFEV, call 1-800-651-9858 or visit the website at www.afenlistedwidows.org.