The Case Against Abdul Rahman to Be Dropped. Now if he can get out of Afghanistan before the whack-jobs kill him, this would be a good thing.

I keep hearing that most Americans are pessimistic about how things are going in Iraq. It seems that Iraqis are much more optimistic than we are. So American Soldiers who are there and the Iraqis themselves feel better about what’s going on than we do here. I guess we should tell them to start reading 20 Newspapers a day.

And finally, this. just. cracks. me. up.

Many Marines Shun Added Body Armor Because Of Its Weight
By Antonio Castaneda, Associated Press via The Early Bird.

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — Extra body armor — the lack of which caused a political storm in the United States — has flooded into Iraq, but many Marines here promptly stuck it in lockers or under bunks. Too heavy and cumbersome, many say.

Marines already carry loads as heavy as 70 pounds when they patrol the dangerous streets in towns and villages in restive Anbar province. The new armor plates, while only about five pounds per set, are not worth carrying for the additional safety they are said to provide, some say.

“We have to climb over walls and go through windows,” said Sgt. Justin Shank of Greencastle, Pa. “I understand the more armor, the safer you are. But it makes you slower. People don’t understand that this is combat, and people are going to die.”

Staff Sgt. Thomas Bain of Buffalo, N.Y., shared concerns about the extra pounds.

“Before you know it, they’re going to get us injured because we’re hauling too much weight and don’t have enough mobility to maneuver in a fight from house to house,” said Bain, who is assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. “I think we’re starting to go overboard on the armor.”