BAGHDAD — “As I drove by the Army canal every day, I saw this park, and I said this is something we can do to help the citizens,” said Col. John Hort, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Dover Park, as it is known by Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, sat abandoned for years; located in the Qahira neighborhood of the Adhamiyah District of Baghdad, its carnival rides were unusable and the land was overgrown with weeds.

“It was your typical abandoned park here in Iraq,” said 1st Lt. Rosita Rodriguez, a civil affairs team chief with Company C, 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B.

Thus, the mission to rehabilitate the park became Rodriguez’s mission. Two months later, the refurbished park was completed and handed over to the local neighborhood council, Oct. 28, 2008.

“This is our first park in Qahira. We never had one before,” said Mohamed Madaloom, the Qahira Neighborhood Assistance Council chairman.

The park has a small pond with a generator-run fountain with a flock of geese as well as benches, solar lights, several swings, slides and seesaws. There is also a tiled path lined with flowers and new grass has been planted. A gardener and a security guard, he added, will be hired.

The park is intended to be self-sufficient, and seven small kiosks will be rented to vendors. The rent will provide an income stream to buy fuel for the generator, pay the salaries of the staff and any other expenses.

“Everybody admires the park. I know the families are so excited to get here,” said Madaloom, who, along with fellow local officials and Coalition leaders, gathered for the official hand over. Iraqi officials and Col. Hort raised the Iraqi flag to symbolize the opening of the park as doves were released. Some families and their children couldn’t wait – they were already on the rides.

“I’m so pleased; our kids aren’t able to go many places because of the security situation. I am so pleased that we have such a park in our neighborhood,” said Aum Achmed, who was there with her daughter and a niece. “It’s important for every kid to have a place to go to.”

“It’s good. It used to be awful before. I wouldn’t even look at it before,” said Mostfa, a 3-year-old Iraqi child, before running off to a nearby slide.

(By Sgt. Jerry Saslav, 4th Infantry Division)

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This week’s edition of The Weekly Claw is being published about 12 hours early, so that the readers of VAJoe can digest it properly before Election Day. Lord knows all real Americans will have severe indigestion come Wednesday if the marxist/socialist wins.

Seventy five years ago, a man of questionable citizenship and zero experience came to power in a nation that was dissatisfied with their current government. He was known as a great orator. He was a community organizer. He used a combination of misleading propaganda and his personal charisma to drive the crowds wild, while stroking his planet-sized ego. He promised great sweeping change. The change that he was really planning, but would not admit in his speeches was clear to see through his own writings and previous statements and deeds. He had as his associates many unsavory and shady characters, including some definite lawbreakers. Those who opposed him were attacked by his minions. He pitted the poor against an evil rich portion of the citizenry, and made boogeymen of that portion of society. We know that this story ended with his nation in ruins, but what will happen to us if we allow history to repeat itself? This comparison even comes with the current version calling for a civilian military force within the nation, similar to what was referred to 75 years ago as The Brown Shirts, or the SA. What is the Civilian National Security Force? And why has the media covered it up?

The Big O, not Oprah…Obama, really does take care of his relatives well, doesn’t he. First was his half-brother living on just a few dollars a month in Kenya. Now, the aunt that he so affectionately describes in one of his books, along with a supposedly long lost uncle, have been located. They live in crrappy public housing in Boston. Of course, the American media refuses to bring forth a story such as this about The Chosen One, so we go to a British paper for the info. The Obamedia also glosses over the fact that she is in this nation ILLEGALLY! Yeah, we can really expect Obama to do something about illegal immigration, can’t we.

Is it just me, or are the rest of you noticing how every issue on which The Chosen One has blatantly stepped in it (2001 radio interview, “spread the wealth”, support for PLO-types, obvious Marxism/socialism…) is labeled as a “phony controversy” by the Obama camp. How can all of this be PHONY if it is all the TRUTH and his own words? Just remember…socialism is NOT really socialism

Of course, Obama has admitted many times that he does indeed have socialist/Marxist leanings. He has carefully cultivated them over the years, and even wrote about them in his memoir, “Dreams From My Father.” Until his race for the White House, everyone he surrounded himself with was from the Marxist/socialist/anarchist school of thought. Bill Sammon must be a racist and perpetrator of phony controversy, because he wrote about it.

Another story out of London, and all The Crawfish can do is LAUGH! The Prophet Algoracle’s minions, The Gorons, were trying to get a Glo-Bull Warming bill pushed through Parliament, when London got hit with their first October snowstorm since 1922. How’s THAT for WARMING, you idjuts?!?! Then there is record October snows in Switzerland and record cold in Florida, and all of this is just in time for Algoracle to go to Florida for the final campaign rallies! Folks, this is better than any television comedy writer could come up with, but it is all true!

Here in the Filthadelphia area, the folks are celebrating the World Series victory by the Phillies. Hey, what’s a celebration in Philly without lots of vandalism and other crime. You stay classy, Philly!

Annenberg. Remember that story? Obama and his good friend, who is just an acquaintance, Terrorist Bill Ayres, had millions of dollars to spend on the Chicago public schools. Most of it got spent on Marxist/socialist “revolutionary” indoctrination. This is part of being a “community organizer.” Well, now, if you have any doubts about Terrorist Bill Ayres and his ideals for education, read this speech from two years ago at the World Education Forum, hosted by that God of Capitalism, Hugo Chavez.

80s sex/style/music “icon” Grace Jones says she “can’t stand” Sarah Palin. My question is….who gives a *#$^%#@ what Grace Jones thinks?

Does anyone believe that an Obama Administration will actually allow freedom of speech to continue if it is of a conservative or pro-military nature? The Democrats have already started to shut it down.

This is rather puzzling. American Jews in America will vote for Obama by about a 3-1 or 4-1 margin, while American Jews in Israel will vote for McCain by a 3-1 margin. I guess folks in Israel don’t want Israel to get sold out to the terrorists, but Jews in America don’t care about Israel.

On the subject of Israel, HERE is the LA Times story about Obama and terrorist spokesperson (and now, of course, a college professor) Rashid Khalidi.

Energy. That issue kinda went away in the middle of this election, didn’t it? For many in America, the prospect of clean coal usage shows great promise for our future. Those folks are assed out in this election since Obama is on the record as saying he will BANKRUPT THE COAL INDUSTRY! Needless to say, the folks in West Virginia are NOT pleased.

From the two-faced politician files….we find (prepare for a shock) Barack Obama! He says he opposes gay marriage, but also opposes California’s Prop 8, which would make gay marriage illegal. Will you make up your mind and quit voting PRESENT?!

A-TEN-HUT!
All of you are hereby ordered to get out there and vote. Remember that all of you vets swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so that means you can’t vote for Obama and the rest of his Party.
May God have mercy on us all.
DISMISSED!

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I have had a hard time even thinking about blogging today. It’s not that I don’t enjoy writing and chatting with those who read my entries, but I think I am staggering through a haze of exhaustion, post-surgical blahs, and a lot of anticipation.

My husband goes back to MEPS on Friday of this week to see if the Army still wants and needs him. My son called and he will be deploying much earlier than we had anticipated. He has an opportunity to break away and deploy early and fill a different position. It’s a great opportunity for a young soldier who is eying a career in the military. It took me by surprise, but I was not shocked. He will be gone for around 15-months and will leave early next year. He will have only had 10-months state side. At least the chances of he and Mr. Hooah! being deployed at the same time is minimum due to the newest assignment.

So, I am gearing up and preparing myself for another long year. This time will be a little easier since Mr. Hooah! will be home more than not. He will be absent during his BOLCII and OBC after his commission. Outside of that I should only have to say good-bye for a weekend each month and then the week during the year.

It’s amazing to me to look back over the past year and realize all of the triumphs, joys, losses, griefs, and challenges we have come through. I feel overwhelmed to think of the amount of living that we have done in that short period of time. If anyone had told me 10-years ago that we would be living on the edge of deployments, war zones, and tradoc purgatory, I would have told them they were crazy!

Now I am left wondering what next year will hold for us. Regardless of what it holds, I know that faith and fortitude is what will get us through.

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It’s the first of November! I can barely believe we are this close to Thanksgiving. The news coming from Iraq just gets better and better — and more normal. Enjoy this week’s roundup.

******************************************
Gone Fishing: Marines Enjoying Unexpected Leisure
Posted on 10.29.2008 at 07:55PM

Posted on 10.29.2008 at 07:55PM

By Lance Cpl. Achilles Tsantarliotis
Regimental Combat Team 1

CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq – It’s early Sunday morning, the sun is just beginning to rise, and Master Sgt. Troy Buss walks across the desert sand with a fishing rod in tow. (more…)

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I have anguished over blogging about my current situation but I think that my silence only will perpetuate the abuse that I am going through. What follows may be familiar to some of you out there. Remember you are not alone. I have discussed domestic violence previously so many of you know what I have been through.

For as strong and independent as I am, I am so thankful for my parent’s support and guidance. They have reached out to my son and I recently. I don’t know what I would do without them.

My ex-husband has begun a calling and voice mail campaign once again. He is threatening and verbally abusive. My home has become my prison. I eat, breath and sleep fear. My weapons are always close by. I never go out of my home without my gun on my hip and when I come home at night from work, the gym or school I have to clear my yard.

My fear is that he will be laying in wait for me. I am so angry. I have asked myself what have I done to deserve this and I realize that it is his problem. He has a anger management issue to say the least and is a control freak. He is hiding from his financial responsibilities in regards to his son and drops out of sight at will. He is being paid under the table. His social security number has gone dormant. He changes his phone numbers and won’t give out his address. When we have talked he is insulting, mentally and verbally abusive. He refuses to work with me as co-parents. His girlfriend is often in the background hurling insults. Her day is coming. Mark my words. He will turn on her very soon. He claims that I MAKE him abusive. Now that is so classic. It’s such a text book comment. Hardly a surprise. Blame the victim.

I have not answered his phone calls for several months based on the recommendation of law enforcement, my son’s counselor and other legal professionals. I have recorded several of his previous calls and they are hard to listen to. They are sick and no productive not to mention damaging to have to listen to. I refuse to participate anymore in his sick rantings. I was only feeding his illness.

It has started all over again as of last Sunday, October 19 after not hearing from him since June. He called me 17 times in a 12 hour period. He gave me a 5:57 wake up call on Monday to start my day. How lovely. I never answered the calls but have taken measures to make sure this incident has been documented. His voice mails are beginning to show his anger and he is beginning to reveal himself more and more. On Thursday he had called me “restricted.” When I listened to the message he left it was strange. He said, “If this is Julie’s number then you need to call me and if this is not Julie’s number than you need to call me.” He then gave his name and phone number. Why call restricted if you are going to give out your number anyway?

Sunday, October 26, I received a phone call from a number I did not recognize. I made the mistake of answering it. It was his mother. I knew she was up to no good. She and I have not spoken in nearly 2 years. I realized she was verifying the number and she must have been so proud of herself. Of course she raised my abuser. She is his enabler right?

Her call was so casual. She wanted to know how the boys and I were doing. Was I still going to the gym? Do I work? What toys do the boys like and what size are they? She was trying to pry information out of me. I kept it simple and was “pleasant.” It took all that I had in me to be calm. Her son’s name never came up. I made sure of that.

His calls came several hours later as not to appear suspicious. As if I would not have already figured out the game. He called me 14 times in less then an hour just this evening and has left very hostile voice mails. Some calls were within the same minute. He threatened to come to my location. He called me from his mother’s phone as well so I know they are all together. He must have been listening to our previous conversation on speaker phone. This scares me even more. Strength in numbers. I did answer and hang up the phone as to ping the tower. I had a bead on his location this way. I am able to go into my account on line and check for each call as it comes in. It keeps me aware of his location by what tower he is using. It is so crazy to have to live like this.

The next morning I received a txt message from a woman that knows both of us. She asked what was going on between him and I. I contacted her and discovered that he is contacting her and her husband in order to obtain information about me. I am not even comfortable talking to these people. Sad thing is, he never liked them. They were my friends but he uses people for his own purposes and I have told her time and again that she needs to stay out of it. Needless to say I don’t talk to this couple anymore.

Again I made the appropriate documentation and obtained the police reports. It is so sad to know that in order for anything to be done someone has to get hurt at this point. The police told me that I can file harassment charges. I don’t know if it will do much good but I did.

My quality of life is suffering. I do not enjoy my yard as I am always on edge and looking around. I am afraid that he will just show up and I will be out in the open. Imagine if you will living in a constant state of fear. It a terrible feeling. Your heart feels as if it is always beating out of your chest and you never have true peace. I don’t ask for much. I am going to school and working. I don’t want to be rich. I just want to be happy. My ex is making it his mission in life to destroy me from within. He gets pleasure from traumatizing me and keeping me from moving on in my life. He doesn’t want me to be happy. He was unable to kill me on his first attempt and now I feel as if I am dying slowing. He is my cancer. My disease. I want to find a cure. I am so tired. I just want peace in my life.

He has moved on with his life. In fact a 1.5 years prior to the attack he started an affair. I found out about it and now I have no rights to any happiness. He has a child with this individual. His focus on my demise is curious. I wonder what it is really about. It is sick for sure. I don’t look for money from him. Half of nothin’ is nothin’ right? Besides IF he were to pay his child support it would not make up for all that I do and spend to maintain a nice home for our child. He fails to understand this concept. He has refused to pay child support and has told me that he doesn’t care what the divorce decree says. He told me to shove it up my butt. How nice!

I was able to get an Ex Parte Order Of Protection through Legal Aid but haven’t heard if he has been served. My hearing date is November 12th. It may have to be moved if they can’t locate him. I know where he is based on caller ID information. It only verified what I already knew. He hides though and if he sees the sheriff coming the women he surrounds himself with will hide him and deny knowing his location. I am sure eventually he will be served but his ability to skirt the law has become mind boggeling. He will be in a rage once he does get served. It WILL hit the fan.

My hope in writing all of this down is that none of you fall into the Hell in which I am now living. It is no way to have to live. I survive. My life has no joy. Just remember to have joy in your lives and never let anyone take it away from you. I am fighting to get mine back. It has been a long battle but maybe one day I will actually smile in a genuine way and be truly loved.

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Operation Urgent Fury

October 25, 1983

Twenty five years ago, the United States invaded the island of Grenada to remove the illegal government that had deposed and executed the elected Governor. The United States and a coalition of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States battled the forces from Grenada and Cuba. On December 15, the island was returned to her people.

The invasion came just two days after the Beirut Bombings.

U.S. forces suffered 19 fatalities and 116 injuries. Grenada suffered 45 military and at least 24 civilian deaths, along with 358 soldiers wounded. Cuba had 24 killed in action, with 59 wounded and 638 taken prisoner.

Once again, when called, the United States Military performed admirably and heroically.

To see a beautiful tribute video, click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaZUX3P-9dQ

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Each branch of the military has bands - and each of them are top notch musicians!

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Today’s column is still under construction. It will be ready by 1800 Eastern.

Okay, so the majority of my material is on my home computer, and I’m not on leave this week. My brain didn’t kick into Joe gear in time to send that file to work this morning. I was too preoccupied with the thought of doing my semi-annual physical fitness test this morning, and knowing that the temperature of the pool was a whopping 72 degrees. My voice should return to normal by the Saturday Supplemental Edition.

UPDATE: Here we go!

Okay, now that I’ve fought my way through a FRIGGIN’ SNOWSTORM to get home….Yes, It started snowing on base at 0700, got heavy about 0900, got extremely heavy by 1000, then started sticking about 1145. By 1300 there was over 5” on the ground in Warrington, PA, and I was slipping and sliding while trying to drive. Where’s Algore so I can punch him in his Glo-Bull Warming face?

We start the column with an exercise in wealth redistribution:
Redistribution of wealth…

Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read “Vote Obama, I need the money.”

I laughed.

Once in the restaurant my server had on a “Obama 08″ tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference–just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need–the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I’ve decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

The arrogance of The Chosen One is beyond compare! Now he is demanding that news organizations pay his campaign lots of $$$ for the privilege of covering his election night party. This is simply nuts!

The Obama campaign claims that most of the bad stuff we hear from the eeeeevillll right wing talk radio and the eeeevilllll right wing bloggers about The Chosen One is a pack of lies. They even have a website to “fact check” the “lies.” Too bad that the fact checking website parses its words and spins in circles so much that all it really does is shovel loads of “fertilizer” on the “lies” to cover them up. A website investigates Obama’s fact-checks.

John “Purple Heart from a shaving nick” Kerry has jumped into the fray. He states that Obama finally got asked the tough question from the Clinton campaigns, boxers or briefs. He says that McCain’s answer would be Depends. Real class from the junior gold-digger from Taxachussetts.

Obama and Terrorist Bill Ayres spent millions of $$ on the Chicago public schools while running the Annenburg Project, which was a socialist indoctrination program for the kiddos, but he sent his own kids to private schools. Oh, and he opposed school vouchers that would let other parents send THEIR kids to private schools, where the education is good and the indoctrination into socialism is non-existent. Hypocrisy? Meanwhile, he claims his family was poor, but he went to the most expensive private school in Hawaii and then to Harvard. Where’d THAT money come from?

Speaking of Terrorist Bill Ayres, he openly declared, on video, that he was a Marxist just before an event with The Chosen One. Watch and learn, my young Padawans.

Too bad Terrorist Bill Ayres wasn’t convicted and sentenced in Texas. The Crawfish’s home state knows what to do with violent criminals

I’ve gone this far without mentioning ACORN??? Shame on me. Here’s their organizations “People’s Platform”, updated in the 90s, just before He started training their people but he was never part of them, right?

For the Greenies out there, and the rest of us who are interested in alternative sources of energy, here’s one that shows real promise, and could produce fuel for aircraft, heavy equipment, ships, trucks, and cars! This is going on in Gila Bend, south of Phoenix. Be sure to listen to the final sentence. This is not a hoax or a joke. American scientists solving problems!

If any of you still believe academia isn’t extremely biased, here’s a story for ya. Over 3200 people, mostly in academia, have signed a statement in support of Terrorist Bill Ayres, saying his terroristic past is “just history.” Well, gee willikers, Osama Bin Laden’s terroristic actions are also just history, aren’t they?

Now I’m not gonna say that the Obama campaign has been active in accepting unlawful donations, but….Newsmax will! And so does Michelle Malkin, and American Thinker, and…

A TV station DARED to ask some actual pointed questions about the Obama-Biden campaign to Senator Biden. They DARED to ask questions that aren’t on the approved list. The result? That TV station is banned from contact with the campaign. Shades of Pravda and Isvestia

I can’t believe that the Noo Yawk Slimes actually printed this article. His disdain of small town America is already well-known, those darned bitter Americans who cling to guns and religion, but now…”In a rare slip, he told The Associated Press: “I’m not interested in the suburbs. The suburbs bore me.”” I’m SHOCKED!

And now the winner of the BOVINE EXCREMENT STATEMENT OF THE YEAR, we go to our illustrious Speaker of the House, Red Nanny P-Lousy, who said “But I do tell you that if the Democrats win, and have substantial majorities, Congress of the United States will be more bipartisan” and she actually expected us to BELIEVE IT!

More news coming out about what Obama and that guy he hardly knew (Terrorist Bill Ayres) did together. Here’s how they spent millions of dollars when they were on the board of the Annenburg Project and the Woods Foundation. Ayres is just a neighbor and Obama’s really NOT a marxist socialist

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It all started one evening last year. Nate, my youngest son, came to me before bedtime. He wanted to learn to iron a dress shirt and make good creases.

I knew this day was coming.

He also asked me to take him out earlier that day and buy him a shoe shining kit.

Yep. He’s got it bad.

The real indicator for me was when he told me his high and tight was not high or tight enough.

Yes, you guessed it.

My youngest son has the mutant military gene!

He is 17, and would rather drive a Bradley than a Mustang (although he would ’settle’ for the Mustang when the Bradley wasn’t available.) He is headed on to be a solider one day like his older brother and his papa. That’s OK by me. I will have it down to a science by the time he is in theater. Nate pre-enlisted earlier this year, but will be taking an ROTC scholarship and will serve once he finishes his 4-year degree.

He teases his older brother sometimes “Mike, I am going into the Marines instead of the Army!” They love to chide one another — especially since Mike is former JROTC Marines. Nate is now involved in a branch with which I have had no prior history. I have enjoyed learning more about the Air Force. I have had the great blessing now of getting to know a little bit about each of the four major branches of the US Armed Forces. The Army is my main affiliation since I have two of my guys serving. I have a brother who served in the Navy, two of my sons (Mike and Noah) who went through a Marines Junior Recruit Officer Training Corps (JROTC) in high school, and now Nate is in the Air Force JROTC at his high school.

JROTC has been a wonderful experience for my oldest two, and now my youngest son is loving his program. JROTC is a great program to be involved with from a parent’s perspective as well.

The experiences that are offered in these military run programs are a very good mixture of book work, lecture, practice and field trips. Most of the kids I have encountered through the school years within this program were bright, motivated kids who may or may not have an interest in the military as their adult career.

Kids join for many reasons. Some join for the close knit cohort group that forms due to different activities offered within the JROTC. Some kids join because they want some help with their self discipline, or they want to do more PT. The reasons kids join tend to be healthy because the JROTC is a program based on promotional practices.

JROTC promotes and encourages growth in its students in many areas. One vital area that is taught in JROTC are the core values of the branch represented. These values encourage and foster the development of things such as: respect, loyalty, selfless service, duty, honor, courage, etc. These values are taught at a classroom level and then implemented into the activities in which the kids participate. They learn through reading and through practical application. They also have the presence of an experienced military leader, who serves as a role model as well as a teacher.

The values taught in JROTC are values that I promote in the home, so having my sons in JROTC has simply been an extension of what they have already learned here. When my oldest finished high school he went to college for a while. He later decided to join the military and went Army. My middle son has never joined and never will. He is physically disqualified due to some serious medical problems. He was pretty disappointed when he learned that he would not be able to join, and is currently in college. As I mentioned earlier, Nate will be serving once he finished college on his ROTC scholarship. He is Army.

I know that there are those who are working very hard to get JROTC programs taken out of high schools across the Country. They do this on a misguided thought that the students who participate in JROTC are somehow duped into joining. I have been around these programs and the JROTC programs I have had contact with are run professionally as an academic activity.

It was not the JROTC that made my guys want to serve. It is a value system they have been raised in, as well as a personal desire to serve. They have been taught that serving their Country, even if for only a small period of time, is a duty that is good to fulfill. They have been taught that freedom is not only a right, but it is also a responsibility.

I don’t think that JROTC programs make soldiers. I think that the program actually compliments and adds a formal component to values and attitudes that are first taught in the home, and for those already interested it can pique their interest. I liken it to students who have an interest in working for the media one day, taking journalism classes. It’s a non-required special focus class that helps kids explore their options.

I hope that the JROTC programs across America grow and flourish. It is good for kids to have as many viable opportunities opened up to them as possible when it comes to skills, knowledge and possible career choices. JROTC can certainly provide students with the opportunity to learn more about their Country, and also learn some very important skills that are easily transferred into many areas of life. If you don’t believe me, just wait until I snap a picture of my 17-year old son ironing his own shirt and creasing his own slacks! That’s proof if there ever was any!

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Cortoba School Celebrates Completion
Saturday, 25 October 2008

Excerpt
BAGHDAD — Teachers, children and Coalition forces celebrated the completion of construction and renovation projects at the Cortoba school in Muhallah 603 of the Mansour District of Baghdad, Oct. 21, 2008.

The projects included building a new bathroom for the students, replacing tile floors, fixing lighting and electrical problems and a fresh coat of various shades of blue paint. (more…)

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