Finder

Sunday, December 13, 2009

PLN 29

In the article “Volunteers Place 16,000 Wreaths at Arlington” by Samantha L. Quigley what matters is The Arlington Wreath Project, an unofficial national tradition, prompted about 6,000 volunteers to wake up extra early this morning to help place 16,000 wreaths on graves at Arlington National Cemetery. Morrill Worcester, president of Maine-based Worcester Wreath Company, started the tradition in 1992, although the seeds for the idea had been planted 30 years earlier. The cemetery’s hallowed ground first impressed Worcester in 1962, when the 12-year-old Bangor, Daily News paper boy had won a paper-sponsored contest and a trip to Washington. I think that it's really nice that America still remembers our troops, and people still care about the troops even if they are dead. Men who died in recent conflicts and are buried in Section 60, wreaths are not typically placed on those graves. This year, however, the USO asked to sponsor 1,000 wreaths specifically for that section, which is set aside for U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 300 volunteers, including 125 military family members, helped place the wreaths in less than an hour.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

PLN 28

In the article “U.S., Russia Make Progress on Nuclear Reduction Agreement” by John J. Kruzel what matters is The United States and Russia are making progress on a pledge to reach an agreement on a nuclear weapons reduction pact to replace a long-standing treaty that expired last week. Negotiations have proceeded quietly in Switzerland under tight secrecy, according to reports. But an administration official this week said the two sides are making progress on reaching an agreement. I think that this will be a great thing because it will help stop nuclear stockpile and the nuclear threat. The START treaty, signed in July 1991 by President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, is considered the biggest arms reduction treaty ever brokered. Under the agreement, Russia has more than halved its nuclear arsenal, destroying over 3,000 intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, 45 atomic submarines and more than 65 strategic bombers, Russia’s foreign ministry said. The United States also reduced by more than 3,000 its arsenal of intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and cut the amount of launchers and heavy bombers.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

PLN 27

In the article “Corps of Engineers Preps for Afghan Surge While Looking Long-Term” By Donna Miles what matters is as 30,000 additional troops move into what will be “pretty intense conditions” in Afghanistan, the Army Corps of Engineers is working in partnership with unit level engineers and contractors to provide basic comforts. They should expect some tough conditions, bedding down in tent cities both at their arrival point and at the forward operating bases they move out to. I think that we should go to Afghan to make sure that we eliminate the terrorist threat. U.S. Forces Afghanistan has geared up the entire engineering community to provide the incoming troops the support facilities they’ll require. Troop engineers and the contractor-supported LOGCAP program -- Logistics Civil Augmentation Program—will provide amenities such as dining, laundry and post exchanges.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

PLN 26

Team Uses Afghan Airwaves to Counter Flu Misinformation by Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne, what matters is Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team service members used radio waves to combat misinformation about the spread of the H1N1 flu virus here. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, team senior medical officer from McLean, VA, and Navy Lt. j.g. Stacy Gross, team information operations officer from Lakeville, Minn., broadcasted public health messages about the virus Nov. 19 on Radio Kalagush, a U.S.-funded Afghan radio station transmitted from Forward Operating Base Kalagush. The messages informed people how to react to the common cold or H1N1 symptoms, and what to do if they suspect they have the virus. I think that this will help people get more informed of the virus and what to do if they get the virus. This will help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu. Every radio message the team broadcasts with useful information about the virus is another opportunity to take power away from the enemy’s information campaign.