Iraq

On the Fourth of July, President Obama?s campaign words of promise echoed in my ears: ?breaking the power of the lobbyists, providing affordable health care for all, cutting middle-class taxes, ending both the Iraqi war and our dependence on foreign oil, and uniting us.? Like many, I wanted to believe, and our critical times seemed to provide more certainty. At any rate, I thought that these Herculean tasks could be completed by the man from the planet Krypton. Incidentally, that is why unimaginative neo-cons can?

JIM ERWIN Americans serving in the military, who generously offer their lives so that all of us can be free, ask only one thing of us. Don't put them in harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary. That's the controversial message of Michael Moore's newest film, "Fahrenheit 9/11." It's a movie that makes you feel proud of everyone serving in Iraq, regardless of any feelings you have for the war. It also makes you want to protect the faith and trust our troops put in us, while condemning those who frivolously squander the gift of service offered by our finest citizens.

Jeanne Tennant couldn't hold back her tears June 23 as she waited to see her son's name and picture raised up a light pole across from Huntington Beach City Hall. "It takes me back, and all my feelings, when he was there," she said. "I was a very nervous mother. " Her son, David Tennant, was among the first set of U.S. military personnel whose names and pictures were featured on the banners. He toured Iraq twice, his mother said. The city installed the first seven banners in its Hometown Hero program on Main Street's center median between Yorktown and Utica avenues.

U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday that Roy Hallums, described in news reports as a former Newport Beach resident, had been freed from captivity in Iraq after he was captured Nov. 1. Hallums and an unidentified Iraqi were reportedly freed Wednesday in a raid at a farm house 15 miles south of Baghdad, according to the military. Central Command, which coordinates military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the raid was launched after forces received information from an Iraqi detainee.

She's survived five roadside-bomb explosions, but living with them doesn't faze her. That would be a crippling thought for Col. Diana Bodner, a Huntington Beach resident who is deputy commander of the 49th Military Police Brigade stationed about 30 minutes away from the Green Zone in Baghdad. "I can't allow that to dwell on my mind," Bodner said in a telephone interview from Iraq. Bodner's job ? to train Iraqi police ? has its ups and downs. "Iraqi police are eager to do a good job and make a difference," she said.

Students are making sure even soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq have a bit of holiday cheer with a stocking care package. Peterson YMCA, Huntington Beach Cub Scout Pack 290 and John R. Peterson Elementary School are working together to collect items for soldiers. They are collecting items for Words of Comfort, Hope and Promise, a nonprofit military outreach organization. People can donate 7-inch-by-9-inch stocking, items to fill the stockings, or a filled stocking. The stockings can be filled with candy canes, chocolate candy, assorted Christmas candy, beef jerky, Cup Noodles, chewing gum, nuts, dried fruit, cotton socks, trail mix, Nature Valley Sweet & Salty peanut bars, Gatorade Propel, a variety pack of Quaker oatmeal breakfast bars, individually packaged cookies, small packs of baby wipes, and cards or letter of encouragement.

  918 RECORDING ARTISTS “ATTACKHEAD” TO DONATE 50% OF ALL CD SALES DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY TO THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF AMERICA (IAVA) The Southern California heavy metal band, “Attackhead” will be supporting Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to help raise funds for our Veterans. Attackhead is donating fifty (50) percent of all profits from the sales of its CD’s during the month of February to the non-profit organization.

When Glendale native Bradley Little first arrived in Iraq in April 2005, there was a stretch of road between Baghdad International Airport and the United States Embassy that was being ambushed two to three times a day, he said. The last of Saddam Hussein's regime and members of Al Qaeda had control of Route Irish and were targeting everyone ? Americans, Iraqi civilians and Iraqi officials, Little said. "I can remember coming down and there was an [improvised explosive device]