The other side of doom and gloom

Doom

Al-Qaeda in Iraq's leader, Abu al-Masri, has issued a call for nuclear scientists to join the jihad and urged insurgents to kidnap Westerners so they could be traded for Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, the Egyptian cleric who was convicted in 1995 of seditious conspiracy for his role in a plot to blow up five New York City landmarks.

(Though personally I think it's a great sign that he feels the need to "advertise" for nuclear scientists. Wouldn't they already realize their skills are valuable to Al-Qaeda?)

Gloom

According to Woodward, insurgent attacks against coalition troops occur, on average, every 15 minutes, a shocking fact the administration has kept secret.

(read the rest of the post. It's actually a good one)

The other side

Part of the American spirit is the ability to accomplish seemingly insurmountable tasks. We, as soldiers, are instruments of a national policy that seeks to bring stability and freedom to the world –a seemingly insurmountable task. The soldiers that I work with are up to the task. That fact, that we are up to the task, is what gives me confidence and optimism. Despite the news, despite the airline warnings and troubling developments abroad, America will be OK, thanks to the American fighting man.

And we thank you! (both fighting men AND women. Sorry Charlie)