Because freedom doesn't come for free.

Some of you may have already seen these. You may have to click the play button twice to get them going.

To those who do their duty, regardless of the price...we thank you.

Alpha Co., 2nd Platoon, "Red Devils" from Edmonton, Canada are ambushed 7/15/'06 in Sangin, So. Afghanistan:








+ Ethiopian doctors battling an AIDS epidemic are learning new methods of treatment in Israel from local physicians
+ Christian Aid is launching its Autumn/Winter 06 Present Aid gifts catalogue. People can buy an unusual gift from www.presentaid.org for a loved one who will receive a card and the money goes to a project fund that is relevant to the gift: • agriculture and livestock • emergency and disaster preparedness • healthcare inc. • power and energy • training and education • water and environment

There is a good editorial on Former NBC TV reporter and current documentary film-maker Arthur Kent's views on the war in Afghanistan. Although I don't share his views on the US-UK effort in Iraq, I post the editorial as I agree with his reasons on why we cannot leave Afghanistan at this time:

"Canada owes it to the people of Afghanistan to try to root out the oppressive Taliban...The Taliban are brothers-in-arms with al-Qaida terrorists and find refuge in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Osama bin Laden is widely thought to be hiding out in Pakistan, says Kent...admits some are "extremely good" fighters but many aren't and could be made to surrender...I wanted to see what my Afghan friends were feeling ... The majority despise the Taliban and want help...You can't negotiate with the Taliban or Osama bin Laden. They kidnap, kill and behead people. You're talking about Grade-A ghouls. They're a nasty bunch.

"Despite dozens of casualties, Kent came away from his latest visit to Kandahar convinced our troops are doing a stellar job, led by Gen. David Fraser, whose home base is Edmonton. "I was deeply impressed with the Canadian troops, with their sense of purpose, with their officers, their leadership, their preparedness and their weapons. While some have carped that Canadians have the hardest task in highly dangerous Kandahar, Kent figures both the British and American forces also have tough assignments. The veteran newsman believes Western politicians must help win the fight by putting more diplomatic heat on Pakistan. "Most of the Taliban war effort is the result of the safe haven the Taliban and al-Qaida enjoy in the tribal regions of Pakistan. "

+ Young Canadians are flooding into military recruiting centres even as top commanders caution that more and more of these future soldiers can expect to see frontline service in Afghanistan, whether they want to or not. "Kids are flocking to our recruiting centres across our country," Gen. Rick Hillier, the chief of defence staff, said yesterday.
+ Masked vandals set ablaze two buses near Paris overnight, police said on Thursday, in an upsurge of violence on the eve of the anniversary of riots in France's multi-ethnic suburbs...In the first six months of 2006, some 21,000 cars were burnt out and some 2,882 attacks registered against the police, fire and ambulance services, the RG police intelligence service said.