re: "Attack on American Convoy in Baghdad Kills USAID Contractor, Wounds Three"

Domani Spero at Diplopundit ("Just one obsessive observer, diplomatic watcher, opinionator and noodle newsmaker monitoring the goings on at Foggy Bottom and the worldwide available universe.") plotted to two data points.

Money quote(s):

"This is the second time in several days that a civilian convoy was attacked in Iraq."

It's not as if the bad-guys in Iraq have ever differentiated between civilians and military in terms of attacks.

"Two is not a trend, but this is worrisome; how much worse can this get post-military withdrawal?"

Lots.

re: "Pissed!"

Digger at Life After Jerusalem ("The musings of a Two-Spirit American Indian, Public Diplomacy-coned Foreign Service Officer") was pissed. And so was I.

Money quote(s):

"(W)hile we value all American life, and indeed, all human life, we are talking about people who are in a place at the service of the Nation. It is the ultimate sacrifice of service, not an unfortunate tragedy befalling a tourist or a duel national. More Americans besides Victoria DeLong were killed in Haiti, but she died in the service of our country."

&

"What the hell is the New York Times thinking putting a picture of the two dead Americans online?!"

S&S - Children of fallen troops will be allowed to stay in stateside DOD schools

From my archive of press clippings:

Stars and Stripes


Children of fallen troops will be allowed to stay in stateside DOD schools


By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes

Stars and Stripes online edition, Thursday, May 14, 2009


ARLINGTON, Va. — Children of fallen troops can continue attending Defense Department schools in the United States all the way through high school, the Department of Defense Education Activity announced Thursday evening.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Under the old policy, children of the fallen could remain in Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools until the transition from elementary to middle school or middle school to high school, according to a DODEA news release. "

"The new policy does not affect children in Department of Defense Dependents Schools, who move back to the United States after the loss of a loved one, said DODEA spokeswoman Connie Gillette."

&

"If the spouse of a fallen servicemembers can stay overseas per the terms of a Status of Forces Agreement, his or her children can continue to attend DODDS schools tuition-free on a “space-available basis,” Miles said. "

S&S - Poland shifting its Iraq focus from war to business alliance

From my archive of press clippings:

Stars and Stripes

Poland shifting its Iraq focus from war to business alliance

By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes

Mideast edition, Sunday, May 18, 2008

Lisa Burgess / S&S Poland’s Ambassador to Iraq, Gen. Edward Pietrzyk, said that with stability established in Diwaniyah, the Iraqi province that Poland’s military forces are overseeing, economic partnerships are his country’s new priority.

ARLINGTON, Va. — After spending nearly six years as a member of the coalition providing security to Iraq, Poland is preparing to draw down the last of its troops from Iraq later this year, but America’s European ally has no intention of closing the book on Iraq for good, according to Poland’s ambassador to Iraq, Gen. Edward Pietrzyk.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Poland contributed 2,700 soldiers to the Iraq coalition in 2003 and Pietrzyk, who was commander of Poland’s Land Forces at the time, came with them as their leader.

Poland, and Pietrzyk, was then assigned command of 12,000 international troops in the Multi-National Division-Central South region, including Diwaniyah province.

Since then, most of the international coalition members have left, and the Polish contingent has also gradually drawn down.

After 10 six-month rotations, it now numbers about 900 troops, with the last Polish troops scheduled to leave in October, Pietrzyk said."

&

"Although Poland’s military has gained invaluable direct combat experience from Iraq, the mission has not come without a price, Pietrzyk said.

Twenty-three Polish military members have died in Iraq."