News

Condoleeza Rice was nominated today as Colin Powell's replacement for Secretary of State. I'm not sure why this is news because it has been presupposed for months. Colin Powell has been known to be a one-termer and Dr. Rice's degree is in political science specializing in foreign relations. While I don't like her, I think she operates under the Henry Kissinger doctrine, strong arm to get what you want and if that doesn't work, deal under the table, I think she will be a better Secretary of State than she was a National Security Advisor. One thing is certain, the alienation of our allies will continue.

On a completely different note, Dr. Dre was attacked last night and a man was stabbed at the Vibe Awards. Snoop Dogg and Quincy Jones were onstage preparing to honor Dr. Dre, who was standing off stage with his wife, when a young man approached him, asked him for an autograph, and punched him in the face when he was preparing to give him an autograph. All hell then broke loose. Young Buck is wanted by police for allegedly stabbing the man who punched Dr. Dre.

And now we come to those soldiers who were killed in April of 2003. 73 Americans lost their lives which made it the 6th deadliest month in the war's history. By comparison, the 82 American's killed so far this month tie it for the second deadliest month.

Now to the casualties. On April 1: Lcpl. Joseph Basil Maglione III, Sgt. Jacob Lee Butler

On April 2: CW3 Eric Allen Smith, CW2 Scott Jamar, Lcpl. Brian Edward Anderson, Spc. Matthew George Boule, Msgt. George Andrew Fernandez, CW4 EriK Anders Halvorsen, Lt. Nathan Dennis White, Sgt. Michael Francis Pederson, Capt. James Francis Adamouski, PFC Christian Daniel Gurtner

On April 3: Ssgt. Nino Dugue Livaudais, Capt. Edward Jason Korn, Sgt. Todd James Robbins, Cpl. Mark Asher Evnin, Spc. Donald Samuel Oaks Jr., Ssgt. Wilbert Davis, Spc. Ryan Patrick Long, PFC Chad Eric Bales, SFC Randall Scott Rehn, Cpl. Erik Hernandez Silva, Capt. Russell Brian Rippertoe

On April 4: Captain Tristan Neil Aitken, 1st Lt. Brian Michael McPhillips, Pvt. Devon Demilo Jones, SFC Paul Ray Smith, Capt. Benjamin Wilson Sammis, Cpl. Bernard George Godden, Capt. Travis Allen Ford, PFC Wilfred Davyrussel Bellard, Spc. Daniel Francis Cunningham Jr., Sgt. Duane Roy Rios

On April 5: 1st Sgt. Edward Smith, Ssgt. Stevon Alexander Booker, Spc. Larry Kenyatta Brown

On April 6: Pvt. Kelley Steven Prewitt,PFC Gregory Paul Huxley Jr.

On April 7: Capt. Eric Bruce Das, PFC Anthony Scott Miller, Ssgt. Lincoln Daniel Hollinsaid, 2nd Lt. Jeffrey Joseph Kaylor, Cpl. Jesus Martin Antonio Medellin, Lcpl. Andrew Julian Aviles, Spc. George Arthur Mitchell Jr., Maj. William Randolph Watkins III

On April 8: SFC John Winston Marshall, Cpl. Henry Levon Brown, PFC Juan Guadalupe Garza Jr.. Ssgt. Robert Anthony Stever, Ssgt. Scott Doglas Sather, PFC Jason Michael Meyer

On April 10: Gsgt. Jeffrey Edward Bohr Jr., Ssgt. Terry Wayne Hemingway

On April 11: Ssgt. Riayan Augusto Tejeda

On April 12: Lcpl. David Edward Owens Jr., Cpl. Jesus Angel Gonzales

On April 13: Spc. Gil Mercado

On April 14: Cpl. Jason David Mileo, Spc. Thomas Arthur Foley III, PFC John Eli Brown, Spc. Richard Allen Goward, Cpl. Armando Ariel Gonzales, PFC Joseph Patrick Mayek

On April 17: Cpl. John Travis Rivero

On 22 April: CW2 Andrew Todd Arnold, Lcpl. Alan Dinh Lam, Spc. Roy Russell Buckley, Cw2 Robert William Channell Jr.

On 24 April: Sgt. Troy David Jenkins

On 25 April: Sgt. Narson Bertil Sullivan, 1st Lt. Osbaldo Orozco

On 28 April: 1st Sgt. Joe Jesus Garza

Details on each of these soldiers can be found at Iraq Coalition Casualties.