Exercise: None yesterday; 9 good & 17 bad.
Diet: OK - I had an extra helping of low carb pasta, however.
We have received invitations to Virginia & Stefanie's weddings. This remains a source of some soul searching. Travel plans are firmed up for the crew from Canada.
Current Events: Ironically I met with a local business associate who has a personal connection to the helicopter crash in Iraq tragedy. The co-pilot was a member of their church in Escondido; he was 24 years old, recently married (around 1 year ago), stationed at Miramar and a Texas A&M grad. He was deployed last summer and was scheduled to return home next month. The church has rallied around the widow, her family arrived from Texas yesterday after hearing the news on Tuesday night. The pastor at the church has spent full time with her in this time of grief. He reports that the widow stated that the Marine was very happy with what they were accomplishing in Iraq. He constantly received thanks from the people there and he felt that the USA was doing the right thing. It was said that he believed this was the most fulfilling thing he had ever done. Clearly these aren't the messages that are being reported to us by the mainstream media. In fact we typically hear just the opposite; we are receiving reports now of increased pressure from politicians and activists to pull out of Iraq. Pulling out would mean that the terrorists have achieved their goal and freedom would be denied the Iraqi people. The elections scheduled Sunday are crucial in that they will demonstrate to the Iraqi people and others in that region that there is an alternative to terrorism and violence. The failure of the radical fringe in the region to participate in the free election process is the best evidence we can have that they do not represent the interests and the views of the people of Iraq. If they were confident that they had the support of the majority of the Iraqi people they would run for office themselves. Because they do not represent the people of Iraq all they have left is terrorism, murder, intimidation and endless violence against the very people they profess to be on a crusade to save.
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