Desperate Measures:

Man Joins Army for Health Insurance

Michelle Caudle has Ovarian Cancer; Husband Joins Army to Pay for Care

Snip

Alycia, the Caudles' first daughter, is older than some of her father's fellow army recruits.

"You see what real love is, when you see this," she said. "He's willing to give his life for his family."...>>>>>

Photo: Desperate Measures: Man Joins Army for Health Insurance: Michelle Caudle has Ovarian Cancer; Husband Joins Army to Pay for Care

Michelle Caudle rests her head on husband Bill Caudle's shoulder after his graduation ceremony from Army basic training at Ft. Knox, Ky., in this Dec. 17, 2009 file photo.
ABCNEWS (syndicate)
Dec 24, 2009 06:45 PM

A Very Merry Christmas to This Brother and His Family with Prayers for his Wifes Recovery!!

{Was hoping they'd have the video report up by now, they don't.}


Obamas salute military in their Christmas message

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama offered Christmas wishes to the nation on Thursday, including a special thanks for the U.S. military. They urged Americans to help support military families this holiday season...>>>>>

On The Eve Of 9/11, Could It Have Been Prevented? {Added Video Report}

According to an FBI informant Yes!
FBI Informant Says Agents Missed Chance to Stop 9/11 Ringleader Mohammed Atta
Undercover Operative 'One Million Percent Positive' Attacks Could Have Been Prevented

This was just on the ABC World News, video report not yet up, but is one more of the Brian Ross Investigative Unit.

On the eve of the eight year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, an FBI informant who infiltrated alleged terrorist cells in the U.S. tells ABC News the FBI missed a chance to stop the al Qaeda plot because they focused more on undercover stings than on the man who would later become known as 9/11 ringleader Mohammed Atta.

Snip

According to Assaad, Shukrujumah, whose father ran the mosque, invited the undercover FBI operative to meet him at his home, but the FBI told him to stay away. Instead, Assad says the agency assigned him to set up and sting what he calls wannabe terrorists, ending any hope of infiltrating the real al Qaeda terrorists.

Former national security official Richard Clarke, now an ABC News consultant, said the case is "yet another example of the way the system broke down prior to 9/11."

"If the system had worked," Clarke said, "we might have been able to identify these people before the attacks."

This all started going down in early 2001

former undercover operative Elie Assaad says he spotted and became suspicious of Atta in early 2001, when he was sent by the FBI to infiltrate a small mosque outside Miami. Atta was there with Adnan Shukrujuman, an al Qaeda fugitive who now has a $5 million U.S. reward on his head.

Which means to me that not only weren't they not paying attention, in the White House, to the intelligence reports they were given and getting, someone in the FBI Administration wasn't paying attention, or worse, to what was coming in from the field of operations by the informants and operatives.

"I was right, I was a hundred percent right," Assaad says of his suspicions. He says that when he learned that Atta was one of the 9/11 hijackers, when the FBI asked if he could identify any of the attackers, he was "very upset, angry" and cried.

"I curse on everybody," Assaad says. "I destroyed half of my furniture. Uh, I went crazy."

The FBI's focus on stings, which Assaad has worked in at least 10 states and overseas since becoming an operative in 1996, are being questioned by many counter-terrorism authorities, who wonder what the true value of the stings are. Since 9/11, the stings have largely targeted people that are more aspirational than operational.

Which if above is true, it seems to show they were being ordered to go after soft targets and not hard intelligence even after 9/11.

After a 2006 sting, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez praised Assaad – who was still unnamed at the time – for disrupting a group preparing a violent attack, resulting in the indictments of seven men on terror charges.

Snip

Another video of a later meeting shows Assaad counting out $1000 for the leader of the Miami group.

After three trials, including two mistrials, five of the seven men were convicted.

With the increase of hatreds now, towards not only our countries policies but our countries people, and with the new administration, lets hope policies across the spectrum have changed and tightened to the reality. As we now have to work harder, with other countries, on the growth in the threat of criminal terrorism, while we still have two ongoing occupations, creating even more wide spread hatreds!

Added ABC News Video Investigative Report

Deadliest Month {so far}

August Deadliest Month for U.S. Troops in Afghanistan

As August becomes the deadliest month for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, post-election tension continues to increase. A Washington Post reporter provides an update from Kabul.



You can find the Transcript, Audio and Video Feed, for above, at this link.

Exclusive: On Pakistan's Khyber Pass
ABC News' Martha Raddatz Travels Through Pakistan to Afghanistan With a Convoy

The Khyber Pass is one of the most dangerous routes from Pakistan into Afghanistan. ABC News' Martha Raddatz traveled with a NATO convoy along the route.
(Martha Raddatz/ABC News)

It is only about 30 miles from Peshawar, Pakistan, to Afghanistan's border where the Torkham Gate that divides the border is built. But it is 30 miles of the steepest, most white-knuckle driving you can imagine.

Think 2,000 feet up, on only dirt and gravel in some places, where guard rails are rare, and two or three trucks compete for space that can accommodate only one.

Throw in the fact that roadside bombs and mortars still can be a threat, militants still hide in the hillsides above you and you get the idea what kind of drive this is.......The Rest Found Here

The Khyber Pass


UNHCR operation in Afghanistan

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie is appealing for more international support for Afghan refugees who are returning home. The acclaimed American actress visited UNHCR operations in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangarhar, where she heard from Afghans who are struggling to rebuild their lives after years in exile. Many face continued insecurity and rising food prices.

cheney/bush cabal Quagmire!!

Stopped being anything about 9/11 after they started the Drums of War of Their Choice towards Iraq and pulled troops and rebuilding monies out of, now it's just adding to the Hatreds towards Us and Our Policies!!

A Chance Encounter in Afghanistan

Bob Woodruff Thanks the Men Who Saved His Life

Three years ago ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff suffered a severe brain injury in a roadside IED attack in Iraq. He was flown to a military hospital in Balad, about 50 miles north of Baghdad, Iraq, where the medical team there saved his life.................

Obama Afghanistan Operation

New Strategy Is Tested

As U.S. Troops Mount Offensive in Afghanistan

U.S. Marines marked the start of a new offensive in Afghanistan Thursday, as part of the Obama administration's efforts to stabilize the Afghan-Pakistan border region. A Washington Post reporter embedded in the Helmand province provides an update

This is the Embedded Video report

Analysis from the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer: As U.S. Troops Mount Offensive in Afghanistan, New Strategy Is Tested: U.S. Marines marked the start of a new offensive in Afghanistan Thursday, as part of the Obama administration's efforts to stabilize the Afghan-Pakistan border region. ............>>>>>Transcript, audio feed and streaming video here

To late for this type of Counterinsurgency, actually it is when the bombs start dropping and troops start invading, DeJa-Vu 'Nam, for winning Hearts and Minds, to many innocents killed to much destruction of their homeland! But as those that cheered on, and continue to do so but won't serve, this is what those that do are doing while you Ignore!

Another Embedded report of the operation, in the 110 degree heat of Afghanistan now.

US Marines Push Deeper Into Southern Afghan Towns
US Marines meet little resistance as they push into south Afghanistan, try to win over locals......Rest Here

Iraq: Secure?

Martha Raddatz: A Soldier Fights for Life

After giving power to Iraqis, Lt. Col. Tim Karcher loses legs in explosion.

Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz reports on Lieutenant Colonel Tim Karcher, who lost both his legs this week when his vehicle was bombed near Baghdad’s notorious Sadr City neighborhood. A vivid reminder on this day when US forces hand control of Iraqi cities and towns over to Iraqi command, that the war is far from over.......

US military says 4 soldiers killed in Baghdad

The U.S. military says that four soldiers were killed in Baghdad on the eve of the American withdrawal from Iraq's cities.......

ABC News Exclusive: Ex-Gitmo Prisoner

Recently Released Gitmo Detainee Talks to ABC News

Held Seven Years, Former Aid Worker Tells ABC News He Was Tortured

This report is up at ABC News site and probably will be telecast tonight.

For 7½ years, Lakhdar Boumediene was known simply by a number: "10005."

These were the digits assigned to him when he arrived at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, swept up in a post-Sept. 11 dragnet and accused of plotting to blow up the U.S. and British Embassies in Sarajevo.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Boumediene said the interrogators at Gitmo never once asked him about this alleged plot, which he denied playing any part it......Rest found here

"I cried, just cried. Because I don't know my daughters," he said. "The younger, when I moved from Bosnia to Gitmo, she had 18 months, only 18 months. Now 9 years. Now she's big. Between 18 months, baby and 9 years, she walking, she's talking, she play, she's joking. It's a big difference."

And one doesn't need to wonder why some that have been released are reported to be, not back into, fighting American Troops in our occupations!!

Bob & Lee Woodruff's New Cause

A Memorial Day Goal for Bob and Lee Woodruff

"Hey Friends -- Would you give a dollar to someone who risked their life for you? We are in a big push this weekend to try to get every American to give $1.00 (or better yet $5.25 - to signify the date of Memorial Day) to help our wounded troops. This is what Memorial Day is all about.

"Yesterday by being on CNN and CNBC to talk about it-- Bob and I raised $21,000 just from people twittering and going to the website to give."............

ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and wife Lee raise funds for injured service members. They join CNN's TJ Holmes.


You can Visit Tweet To Remind, or ReMind.org to find out much more about 'A Memorial Day Goal for Bob and Lee Woodruff'.



******************************

Beyond the Invisible: Living with Brain Injury

Produced by the Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS), and narrated by Lee Woodruff:

This 30-minute documentary focuses on three veterans who sustained a
brain injury in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The film is designed to educate
the public, professionals, and advocates about what it means to live with a brain injury...........More at the Documentary Site

******************************

Memorial Day a time to pledge

that we never again enter a war based on whim or blind mistakes

The sight of those rows of white headstones dotting the rolling acres of Arlington National Cemetery evokes chills and tears, for each is a testament to bravery; a monument to sacrifice.

I have never gone there when I did not cry.

On this Memorial Day, each of the more than 300,000 gravesites there — containing the remains of individuals from every war fought by this country — will be decorated with small U.S. flags, the symbol of the republic they held dear.................

The Pledge we 'Nam Vets made, the Pledge this Country made, "We will never forget the lessons of Vietnam!", back than! Those lessons weren't on how to fight a Guerilla Insurgency of residents of another country We Invade, But Never Wage Wars Of Choice!!
And our collective Apathy and Arrogance allows failed policies towards others which leads the few to Beat The Drums Of War Of Choice and we encourage the slaughter!!

Greg Mortenson: Three Cups of Tea

Targeted by the Taliban, the 'Three Cups of Tea' Author Never Gave Up on His Peacebuilding Efforts

The ABC Video Report

His Book: Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time (Paperback)

How Peace Is Won!! The Hearts and Minds Understand, That's Universal!!

Michelle: "It Hurts!!", "It Hurts!!"

I went over to ABC News to see if they had posted a video report that I caught last night, never got to that as this is what I found, and will be airing this morning on GMA.

Exclusive: 'It Hurts,' Says First Lady of Military Families on Food Stamps

First lady Michelle Obama wants military families to know they have a friend in the White House, she told "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts in an exclusive interview today at Fort Bragg, N.C. -- her first network television interview since her husband took office.

"It hurts. It hurts," the first lady said of hearing about military families on food stamps. "These are people who are willing to send their loved ones off to, perhaps, give their lives -- the ultimate sacrifice. But yet, they're living back at home on food stamps. It's not right, and it's not where we should be as a nation."

It is so refreshing to actually watch as those in this new administration, especially the First Family members, speak the words of the real needs that should have come from those in the previous administration, especially as to anything connected to our Military and their Families as we sent them into two, now long running, occupations! All they gave us, and our soldiers as well as their families, were "Go Shopping!" and 'Magnetic Ribbons'!

And when they do you can read the dedication to those words and thoughts in the faces of those speaking, and the want to Really make a difference by doing what already should have been but wasn't even thought of.

Mrs. Obama's comments to ABC News followed an emotional private meeting with military families at Fort Bragg. The first lady traveled to North Carolina to hear their stories about the support services that are available to them and what can be done to better serve those who serve their country.

"I think that's one of my jobs, is to try and shed some light on some of these issues," she said, "to not just be in that conversation with military spouses and hear those stories, but to take that information back to the administration to share it with the nation, so that we can think again about how we can better support these families."

Working with and for military families is at the top of the first lady's agenda as she settles into her new role in the White House -- so for her first trip outside of Washington, she chose to highlight the struggles of the nation's servicemen and servicewomen.

The Military and their Families can really believe they have more than just a Friend in the White House, and that what wasn't before will be fought for to be now!

Lets hope the Country follows their Lead, especially as to this generations New Veterans, it hasn't since after World War II, and the Veterans Administration administrative offices have been nothing but political appointee's, from the very top down, and especially these last eight years as they vigorously sent our troops into two Wars, Incompetence and Corruption Reigned!

Michelle Obama begins advocacy as first lady

First lady Michelle Obama reads to children at the Prager Child Development Center at Fort Bragg, N.C., where she met with relatives of service members.
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — The nation owes not only gratitude but tangible assistance to the nation's military and their families, and she'll make that a focus of her time in the White House, first lady Michelle Obama says.

Underscoring her commitment to the plight of America's military families, Mrs. Obama used a trip to Fort Bragg as a stage for her first television interviews since the inauguration. One with ABC's "Good Morning America" was to air Friday.

In the interview she said she wanted military families to know they have a friend in the White House.

On the local news here they showed a short clip of Michelle reading to the children. See the cute young lady standing next to her in the above pic, this is one youngster that will never forget this meeting, in the clip she seemed to be constantly talking to Michelle, touching her, and striving to savor the moment. Michelle kept smiling as she gave her answers to her questions and wrapped her arm around her. All the kids were enjoying this moment and Michelle's reading to them.

A footnote:

Here's Really Hoping

The obstructionist 'rushlicans' will Not Stop the Real Need to move forward in Giving Our Veterans that which should have always been, What They Are Owed For Our Service To Country especially after their Wars of Choice!!

Bearing the Wounds of War

The youngest victims of the Wars we adults wage, especially our Wars of Choice!

Bob Woodruff, of ABC News, did another of his outstanding reports on the 'Wounds of War', this one about the youngest victims, the children of those who serve.

As a Country cheers on the 'Shock and Awe' of Waging War on others, those others having done nothing to warrent our Invasion and Occupations, that same Country does little in Sacrifice!

We wear our shame with our Apathy and Arrogance!

This, Camp for Kids Coping With Parents at War

Community Helps Kids Deal With Parents Fighting, Wounded or Killed in Service, is the Woodruff report.

But first I would like you to view the Video that Bob Woodruff narrates, this will tug at your heart, you'll cry with the child, you'll cry with the father, and if you have any humanity at all you'll think about the children of Iraq and Afganistan and cry for them, thousands of the youngest victims!

More than 1.5 million troops have deployed in the last five years, meaning that as many as 700,000 children in this country have at least one parent deployed. And, according to the Department of Defense, there are at least 12,000 children with an injured parent. While their parents have been recognized for their service, these children are also veterans -- they each bear the wounds of war.

Visit the story link above to read more and here's a link to some photo's

What he wrote brought his father to tears. "Dear Journal," wrote Hunter. "My bad days are with Daddy."

Ask yourselves, "What are we doing? Especially to the children!"!

"Coming Home: Soldiers and Drugs,"

On Tonights ABC News 11-26-07 - There's a short video at site link

They were prepared for war. They were prepared to die for their country. But Fort Carson soldiers say they weren't prepared to come home and fight a different battle -- addiction to illegal drugs.

Many of this country's bravest men and women who volunteered to defend America in a time of war have come home wounded -- physically and mentally -- and are turning to illicit drugs as they adjust to normal life, according to soldiers, health experts and advocates.

High at the Mountain Post
Part One of the Series: 'Coming Home: Soldiers and Drugs'

Photos

Editor's Note from Brian Ross: In the third year of a joint project with the nonprofit Carnegie Corporation, six leading graduate school journalism students were again selected to spend the summer working with the ABC News investigative unit.

This year's project involved an examination of whether, as happened in the wake of the Vietnam War, Iraqi war veterans were turning to drugs as a result of the trauma and pain of war.

The U.S. military maintains the percentage of soldiers abusing drugs is extremely small and has not increased as a result of Iraq.

The students' assignment was to get the unofficial side of the story from soldiers, young men of their own generation.

Today's report is the first in a series of five reports.

Watch Brian Ross' exclusive investigation, 'Coming Home: Soldiers and Drugs,' Friday on '20/20' at 10 p.m. EDT

Operation Mend

Healing Wounds and Bringing Hope

Click To Play

UCLA Plastic Surgeons Bring Expertise to Iraq Veteran Burn Victims

It took Cpl. Aaron Mankin six weeks after his injury in Iraq to finally look at himself in the mirror. What he saw brought him to tears.

Bob Woodruff: TBI

Turning Personal Injury Into Public Inquiry

The ABC News Anchor Returns With a Candid Look at Brain Injuries and Veteran Care

They just had this on ABC News about Woodruffs injuries and comeback, along with a short report on a soldier who also lost an arm an had TBI, Tramatic Brain Injury.

He will be reporting on his story along with military personals similar stories, tomorrow and in coming months!!

With All that's been coming out, Finally, and my respect for his past reporting, my Hope Is That They Don't Constrain Him and Allow the Truth!!!!!

Go in and read the ABC Article!