I listened and watched the latest episode of the State of the Union message and was left confused. ...more

January 30, 2010

First, it was Vietnam, which tore our country apart, ruined LBJ's presidency and stunted an entire generation, not to mention the enormous casualties. Then it was Iraq, and all that happened there, which tainted the Bush years. Now it's Afghanistan, "the graveyard of empires," where we have already spent nearly eight fruitless years. ...more

December 5, 2009

The term "exit strategy" seemed to gain favor after the United States left Vietnam under less-than-favorable circumstances. Back then, it seemed like a good idea not to get into a war without a "plan" to fight it and ultimately get out honorably and victoriously. However, wars are extremely unpredictable, with many twists and turns of fate. An example would be the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, an unexpected last gasp by Hitler in which the Allies eventually prevailed. ...more

December 3, 2009

A historic Coast Guard cutter that had performed search-and-rescue missions between the Florida Keys and Cuba during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift has arrived in Key West to serve as a floating military museum. ...more

November 28, 2009

A man has pleaded guilty to smuggling songbirds into Los Angeles from Vietnam by hiding them under his pants. ...more

September 29, 2009

Where is the welcome-home ceremony being held for our troops returning from Iraq? ...more

July 9, 2009

A man has been charged with smuggling songbirds into the United States by hiding more than a dozen of them in custom-tailored leggings during a flight from Vietnam to Los Angeles. ...more

May 7, 2009

The crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in New York set off a flurry of emotions in the Tampa Bay area. The pilot, Marvin Dean Renslow, lived in Lutz in Pasco County with his wife Sandy and their two children. Passenger Clay Yarber, a wounded Vietnam War hero, resided in Pinellas County until last year. ...more

February 13, 2009

If they gave medals for anthem singing, U.S. athletes wouldn't get any. The Chinese would dominate because they all seem to know their national song cold. They sing the words with full-throated abandon, like so many robots with fresh batteries. ...more

August 16, 2008

The owners of a local business are making sure everyone can ride a "hog" if they want to. ...more

June 18, 2008