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As President Obama announces the end of combat operations in Iraq, let's look at how much Bush's war cost us, compared with the destruction of 9/11. How many Americans did Bush send to their deaths, and how much money did Bush cost us, when compared with Osama Bin Laden?

Author's note: This article was originally published on the website for the 69th NYSV, Co. B.  Reprinted by permission.

I was raised believing that Irish immigration to the New World was due to the Irish potato famine in the 1840's.  This was a lie.  There was no famine; the starvation of the Irish people was caused by the British as a form of genocide.  Does that sound harsh?  Read on.

Apparently there's a proposal to build a mosque on the site of the World Trade Center.  I like this idea.  No, really.

Of course, my knee-jerk reaction was "absolutely no way."  I don't believe that America is at war with Islam, but it's nevertheless true that the building was brought down by Muslims.  Building a mosque on the site would be like building a giant swastika in Israel.

Except, not really.

First, let me make something clear: I hate Netanyahu.  I hate him because he's a hawk who isn't really interested in making peace with the Palestinians.  The occupation is anti-Democratic and anti-Jewish and it must end.  To be sure, Israel has a right to defend itself, a right which most of the world doesn't recognize, due to hypocrisy and anti-Semitism.  (As Americans we forget that most of the rest of the world actually does still hate Jews.)  But there is a whole swath of Israeli polity that is willing to defend Israel and make peace.

A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitudeand spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, "Excuse me, can you
help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know
where I am."

The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, "You're in a hot air
balloon, approximately 30 feet above ground elevation of 2,346 feet above
sea level. You are at a latitude of 38° 53' 30" and longitude of -77° 0'
29".

"She rolled her eyes and said, "You must be an Obama Democrat."

I think the Mehserle verdict was fair.  Let's break it down.

Involuntary manslaughter is the unlawful killing of another human being, without malice or intent.  You're still guilty of a crime--a felony, no less--and you'll still be punished.

The New York Times is covering a bill introduced by two Republican senators to strip someone of their citizenship if they've aided terrorists.  Although I support the War on Terror, I can't get behind this.

Why?  It's not because of what the bill does, but what it allows.  It's also about our attitude as a nation toward our citizens.