Away from home for the holidays

The holidays are a time of family and festivities in America, but for many soldiers deployed overseas the time can be lonely as they are away from family and friends. However, there are ways for Americans to help. Watch the following production to find out how you can help bring the holidays to the troops overseas.



By Angie and Jen.

The Journey from Soldier to Student: SGT James Ryburn Halstead III

SGT James Ryburn Halstead III joined the Army in 2003 at the age of 20, serving as a Forward Observer. Halstead has served two tours in Iraq since joining the Army. Today he spends his time in Pullman, Wash. studying construction management. Hear his story in the video below.

Obama Picks His National Security Team

Obama has just announced his National Security team, with Hillary Clinton leading the way as Secretary of state but a major concern is still the matter of pulling our troops out of Iraq. Obama's goal is to remove our troops from combat in Iraq within 16 months . President-elect Barack Obama also named Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Gen. James L. Jones as national security adviser; Gov. Janet Napolitano as secretary of homeland security, Susan E. Rice as ambassador to the United Nations, and Eric H. Holder JR. as attorney general. It will be exciting to see what this team can do for our country and pulling our troops out of Iraq in the next 16 months.

Obama's Iraq Plan Meets Reality

A recent article in USA Today analyzed President-elect Barack Obama's plan for Iraq and how the economic situation of the United States will affect what he can, and will, do in Iraq.

"The decisions Obama makes on Iraq will go a long way toward determining his other policies — namely how many troops he can shift to the war in Afghanistan, which he has called a priority in cracking down on al-Qaeda, and how much money he has at his disposal to help boost the economy.

The importance is certainly not lost on politicians and ordinary people in Iraq, where they are closely watching for any sign of how Obama will act." Read More

Obama and the Future of America's MidEast Wars

With Barack Obama as the new president-elect, America's policies toward its conflicts in the Middle East are expected to change.

The Taliban asks Obama to end the war in Afghanistan.
Obama plans new approach to Afghanistan.
Iraqi politics change in light of Obama win.


And on a lighter note, here is a story about dogs who help U.S. military veterans with disabilities. Watch Slideshow

Troops React to Obama Win

U.S. soldiers voice their reactions the the recent election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States. Obama will take office in January 2009 and assume the role of commander-in-chief of U.S. troops throughout America and the world. Soldiers deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq have a special interest in the president-elect. Watch Here

WSU Veteran

In light of the U.S. presidential election and the issues involved, the personal stories of the people behind the issues are easily overlooked. This is the story of one family and the impact the Iraq war has had, and continues to have, on them.



By Angie and Jen.

Our Vote...Students Voice their Opinions About the Election

Here is our video project Domineke, Duncan and I have been working on this past couple weeks. With the election just around the corner, WSU students give us their opinions on issues that are important in the election.

WSU Veterans Day Ceremony

The ASWSU Veterans Affairs Committee and the WSU Veterans Outreach Center invite you to honor Amercia's Veterans by attending the 2008 WSU Veterans Day Ceremony, Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.

The ceremony will be begin in the CUB Auditorium and conclude with a wreath laying ceremony at the WSU Veterans Memorial. Coffee and pastries will be provided beginning at 9:30am.

The Candidates Stance on Iraq

Although the economy as taken precedence over the war in Iraq with the up coming election, the war is still the biggest foreign policy issue in the election. CCN wrote an article on the candidates stance including the vice presidential candidates. It includes their voting history with the war and what they think should be done in terms of withdrawing from Iraq. There are so many adds on TV that misconstrue information and this article is very helpful in understanding where the presidential candidates stand on the Iraq war and the war in Afghanistan.

The Choice

One of the better articles I have found so far was this one called the “Choice” from New Yorker Magazine. The article sheds light on many important issues and shows the opinion of both McCain and Obama. The New Yorker claims, “the Iraq war seems to leave McCain and Obama roughly even.” Obama had opposed the invasion because he knew it would be so costly and would make America not well liked. McCain is on the opposite, whereas he wants more combat brigades in Iraq. Both hold varying positions that hold positive and negative attitudes to both of themselves. McCain still argues that Obama is valuing his career over his country. However, a lot of people do not believe McCain has political strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Either way the article points out restoring foreign affairs are huge to American success. American morals need to be restored as well. “The modern Presidency is as much a vehicle for communication as for decision-making, and the relevant audiences are global.”

Why Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda Might Try to Affect the Election Between Barack Obama and John McCain.

Although we have been focusing more of how going into war will affect voters, this article is more about how something might occur prior to election time. Intelligence officials are worried that al Qaeda might try to stir up matters to hinder the election. It is likely that members will commit acts of violence against Americans, not necessarily in the United States, but where our embassies are. Some people believe al Qaeda is going to do this to get the attention back on itself rather than on the election. Members want to remind us that they still pose a threat and should not be looked upon lightly. If an act of violence was committed soon, the media would go crazy. US News claims, "such a media-amplified attack might help them with recruitment and fundraising." An attack of such would possibly be more beneficial to John McCain's campaign than Barack Obama's. While all this is speculation, I personally do find it interesting and a likely, possible event. We will all just have to sit back and see what happens in the next week.

Iraq War Fades as Election Issue

Reuters concluded earlier this month that the Iraq war has considerably faded as an issue in the quickly-approaching presidential election. The news source cites three reasons, presented by analysts, for the shift: "the riveting of public attention on the battered economy and plunging markets, the decline in violence in Iraq, and a narrowing of the candidates' differences on the war..." Read More

Check back next week for Angie's and my video broadcast about a couple of WSU students for whom the Iraq war is still a big issue.

WSU Veterans: OEF/OIF Benefits Breifing

Found on the WSU Office of Veterans Affairs website, as well as an ad in the Daily Evergreen:

Veterans Benefit Briefing, the briefing is conducted by a representative from the Veterans Outreach Center in Spokane. It discusses various benefits such as disability, Veterans loans, and other educational benefits.

This will take place Oct. 23 in CUE @ 1730

Here is a link to the WSU Office of Veterans Affairs.

GI bill expected to increase veteran enrollment

Much like Cal, the University of Arizona offers veterans help in transitioning from deployment back to college. The university recently established VETS (Veterans Education and Transition Services) which organizes all the previous programs aimed at helping veterans under one program. Student veterans will operate a newly created veteran's office. The university also offers a class for returning veterans. These resources are meant to help veterans reassimilate to college life and learn about, and utilize, educational benefits that are available to them through the government, such as the revised GI bill which offers tuition money (paid in advance at the beginning of the semester rather than doled out in small increments throughout the year) to veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001. Universities around the nation expect this revision in the GI bill to increase college enrollment among veterans. Read More

Around the Nation:
UA expects influx of veterans
Four national universities offer training to vets
Veterans write about experiences in workshop at Colorado University
Oklahoma universities prepare for more veterans
Georgetown hosts panel to discuss veteran's issues in higher education

McCain and Obama on the revision.

Economy in War

The purpose of this blog is to focus on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in relation to the upcoming presidential election. The economy has taken over as the No. 1 issue during this election season, but do the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East affect the U.S. economy? Before the United States went to war, many economists and others predicted that America would have to bear the bulk of the financial costs of the war and reconstruction. This has proved to be true, but are there broader ramifications to the U.S. economy? This study by the Council on Foreign Relations takes a look at how the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have affected the U.S. economy, for better or worse. It quantifies the cost of the wars in terms of dollars and analyzes how an increased DOD budget plays into the current situation of the U.S. economy. Read the Study

Executive Power Reaches a Limit at the Economy

I know we have been focusing a lot on how going to war affects people's votes, but what about other things? I think the economy is a huge aspect to look at as well. While the current economic situation will not necessarily sway voters, it certainly will be a major concern when either Obama or McCain is elected. People are constantly freaking out at the high cost of gas, which affects so many other elements. But in all reality this is just one small factor, our economy is suffering. While people look at Clinton's era as being very successful and Bush's as being awful, it is hard to pass judgments because of certain elements. This article pointed out that in the 2000s there have been many devastating shortfalls. For instance, employment gains have been lagging and investments are sloughing as well. The next elected president will also need to decide whether to keep on implementing Bush's tax cuts. People should be watching the debates and see where the spending is going to go. A change needs to be made, our economy needs strengthening, and somebody needs to take action.

From Iraq to Afghanistan

The situation in Iraq has improved over the course of the election, but recent escalations in violence in Afghanistan have made the country the new hot issue. The Economist compares the two situations, as well as comments from Barack Obama and John McCain regarding the Iraq-Afghanistan split. As the election nears November 4, is Afghanistan the new Iraq?

"So which war is more important: Iraq or Afghanistan? Iraq has improved markedly, thanks in part to last year’s surge of forces, while Afghanistan has worsened. Barack Obama says it is time to switch priorities: leave Iraq and focus on Afghanistan. For John McCain, “victory” in Iraq is essential." Read More

Penn State Vets

A local radio station at Penn State, WPSU, recently interviewed veterans in Pennsylvania. The veterans talked about John McCain and Barack Obama's stances on veteran's benefits and VA healthcare reform. Both candidates have pledged to reform the system and have offered healthcare proposals. The Pennsylvania veterans sound off on this issue. Listen Here

Iran and the American election

I recently found an article that deals more with Iran. It talks about how going to war with Iran could be horrible, and likewise have an affect on who is elected. I thought this was a pretty good section of the article: "A calming of tensions with Iran would by contrast make the John McCain/Barack Obama contest more likely to focus on the domestic economy, an arena where Obama would have the advantage. Any Republican strategist worth his pay-cheque would see the killing or arrest of Osama bin Laden, coupled with an attack on the Tehran roadblock to victory in Iraq, as hugely tempting in electoral terms." There were numerous other quotes from both perspectives. The article does a very good job of showing what factors contribute to who is elected. I find it very unbiased and thus very resourceful information.

WSU Students' Views on the Wars

Over the past couple weeks Domineke, Duncan, and I have spent time interviewing WSU students to get their opinions on war and the upcoming election. Listen to our podcast below.

Veterans Sound Off On Issues

Angie and I spent the past two weeks compiling interviews with veterans on campus at WSU about what issues are important to them in the upcoming election. Listen to our 2-minute podcast for more information.

Does The Vice Presidental Candidate Matter?

The vice presidential debates were last Friday. A fair amount of the debate was centered around the war, especially because both candidates have sons who are currently serving in Iraq.

I found this clip from CNN's Election Express Yourself web site asking students at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri whether or not the the vice president candidates can sway their votes.

Take a look, and then let us know what you think. In your opinion, does the VP candidate matter in determining your vote? And don't forget the second Presidential debates are this Tuesday, October 7.

Non-Profits Fill Gap Left By Government

Angie and I interviewed some military veterans last week on campus for our upcoming podcast on what issues are key to veterans in the election. The vibe we've been getting from them is that they are concerned about the lack of mental health care and support for returning veterans. Many soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan don't get the care they need for problems such as post traumatic stress disorder and depression. Some non-profit organizations are working to fill the gap.

Give an Hour is one such non-profit that operates nationally. It provides free mental health services to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families. The Soldiers Project Northwest is a similar organization that operates in Washington state. These organizations provide care for soldiers who don't qualify for current Veteran's Affairs care.

Check back next week for Angie and I's podcast on what issues are important to WSU veterans.

Election Center 2008

Election center 2008 is a relatively short article on CNN. The information is all very well laid out and gets right to the point. The article basically goes on to tell how each candidate feels on the current situation in Iraq. At the bottom you can see how Obama, and McCain have voted on past bills on the subject of Iraq. This website is very useful because you can change the issues at stake. For instance if you wanted to look at how the candidates feel on another subject matter, such as Afghanistan. Then, all you would have to do is change the topic box in the upper right-hand corner. The web page is great for finding specific opinions of Obama and McCain, and has plenty of other good information.

Make Your Vote Count!

The voter registration deadline is quickly approaching in Washington state.

• In person: Saturday, October 4, 2008
• By mail: Saturday, October 4, 2008

For more information visit, http://www.vote411.org/bystateresult.php?state=WA

U.S. Elections: View from Afar

This particular article gives the perspective of a university student from a Middle Eastern country. Obviously this student is very concerned with the current presidential situation. After 9/11 the middle east has gone through a lot (to say the least.) The student seems to be less in favor of McCain because of his military experience could rage even more war. If the situation only elevates under McCain then our relationship with the rest of the world could be in great jeopardy. Obama seems more likely to be sensitive to the subject matter, and could potentially pull out of Iraq. I think a big factor to this is not just war, but looking down the long run. What resources are at stake? Oil prices are at an all time high, and with the latest hurricanes in Texas they are likely to increase more. Our economy is in shambles, which new president is going to get us out of this mess?

Election 2008: The Civilian Soldiers

I recently came across this web page, which contains a six minute video clip. The video is very touching and raises many issues for people to think about in the future. I do find it noteworthy because it displays how conflicting it is to go to war with a family. Many are facing financial burdens, and not only that, but being away from their loved ones for months at a time. These are just some of the aspects that will definitely influence a soldiers opinion of the next president. It is sad to see that people who are putting their life on the line, and who are defending our country are going through such difficult times

The Spin Zone

Check out these links to get information about where the presidential nominees stand on veterans and Iraq—straight from their own Web sites. Also check out the Vets for Obama/McCain Web sites to find out what some veterans have to say about the nominees.

McCain on Veterans
McCain on Iraq
Obama on Veterans
Obama on Iraq
Vets for Obama
Vets for McCain

Nominees See Sons Off To War

Sarah Palin and Joe Biden may be complete opposites politically, but the war in Iraq is giving them common ground. Both vice-presidential candidates' sons will deploy to Iraq soon. Their deployments have made the Iraq war a more personal issue for the VP nominees in the upcoming election. Read More

MTV: Clinton, Obama Speak with Young Veterans

In this video Obama and Clinton speak with young veterans on what they would like to see happen for veterans who are returning to the states after serving.  This discussion took place on the 5th anniversary of the Iraq war.

Veterans in Higher Education

Cal has a reputation for being tough on the U.S. military and war. However, the University of California campus in Berkeley, Calif., is taking new steps to make veterans returning to the campus feel more at home. A new class, Veterans in Higher Education, seeks to help veteran's reassimilate to the university campus after deployment. Read More

OVF Launches New Military Voter Services

OVF Launches New Military Voter Services is a short overview of the Overseas Vote Foundations new program that enables military men, women and their families to vote in the 2008 election who are overseas. The website cuts out extensive paperwork that had to be completed and walks them through the process step by step. In the beginning of the year OVF saw an increase in registration from 3 to 13 percent.

An Army Soldiers View on the Election and Iraq

An Army Soldiers View on the Election and Iraq is a short clip from Staff Sargent Alexander and his views on the upcoming election. Although Alexander's views vastly favor Obama he also voices his opinion on what military men and women would like to see from our government when they come home from the war. He discusses issues such as pay and benefits, policies, exit strategies and what would happen to his family if he was injured. Although the blog is one sided in favor of Obama I thought it would give Americans the opportunity to see what some of our military men and women are concerned about in the upcoming election.

U.S. Troops Watch Election Closely

Short clip from CNN about U.S. troops and the Iraq war. Barbara Starr, CNN's Pentagon correspondent, interviews U.S. soldiers in Iraq about their views on the upcoming election and the logistics of voting from Iraq. The clip aired in March 2008.

Military Service Shapes Soldiers' Views on Election

Military Service Shapes Soldiers' Views on Election is an article from the Fox News website, talking about the upcoming election and what soldiers and veterans are looking for when it comes to voting in the 2008 election.  The two individuals interviewed in this article gives two different perspectives, from both the Republican and Democratic parties. Both of these individuals have both been to Iraq and/or Afghanistan. At the end of the article there is also a place where readers can post their comments about the article. I thought it gave the American citizens an insight into how being involved in the United State Military may or may not effect the way soldiers and veterans vote.

Baghdad Bureau- Iraq from the Inside

I recently discovered this blog on the New York Times. Here it actually has stories that have been published in the New York Times newspaper. But as part of the blog anyone can join in and add comments to the particular articles. I find the blog useful because they are real stories, and those stories are followed up by public opinion on the subject matter. I find it rather interesting because not only do they have pictures and audio clips, but they also have streaming videos. The blog is always updated with the newest articles related to what is going on in the middle east. For instance you can look how American troops are being viewed over there? What our current status is? What direction are we heading in? There are numerous amounts of solid information on this blog, which I find it worthwhile to take a look at.

What Veterans Want

The following list by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) outlines their "Top Ten Actions for the Next President," and encourages members to sign the open letter to the candidates. While the list generalizes what all veterans may want the next president to do, it raises awareness about issues that are important to veterans of the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. IAVA is a non-profit organization with a mission to improve the lives of veterans and their families. It's no surprise then, that the list focuses on many issues related to the VA and mental health.

"Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the nation's first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will attend both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. IAVA veterans will meet with delegates and convention guests, raising awareness about the most critical issues facing the 1.7 million Iraq and Afghanistan troops and veterans and highlighting our historic fight for the new GI Bill. With the new president in office next year, America will have the chance to turn the page on the way veterans were treated after Vietnam..." Read the List

Add This To Your Blog Roll

Inside Iraq is a blog written and updated by Iraqi journalists based in Baghdad and outlying provinces. Journalists offer firsthand accounts of their experiences, and their opinions of the current situation. Their names are withheld for security purposes.

While the blog is often written in choppy English, it provides an insightful view. One compares their experiences on a bus to the Iraqi parliament, while another journalist expresses their frustrations with Iraqi officials after being escorted across the street. There is also a touching entry about the anniversary of September 11th.