*US House backs Iraq withdrawal

"The US House of Representatives has voted in favour of pulling most combat troops out of Iraq by April 2008, defying the threat of a presidential veto. The move came hours after the Bush administration conceded that an interim assessment showed the Iraqi government was making only limited progress on military and political issues. The Democrat-controlled house approved the troop withdrawal measure, 223 in favour to 201 against. The legislation would require combat troops to begin pulling out within 120 days, with a full withdrawal completed by April 1, 2008. A poll has showed more than 70 per cent of Americans favour withdrawing nearly all US troops by April [AF The measure says only a limited residual force would remain to train Iraqi troops, protect US assets and fight al-Qaeda and other groups. Earlier George Bush, who has ruled out any immediate shift in policy, sought to defend his troop "surge" strategy in Iraq, saying he would wait until a fuller report is delivered by the head of US forces there in September. "I believe we can succeed in Iraq, and I know we must,"' Bush said at a White House news conference at which he stressed the interim nature of the report. The much-anticipated assessment released on Thursday said that the security situation in Iraq remained "complex and extremely challenging", and that the level of violence had "undermined efforts to achieve political reconciliation". "Amid such violence, it became significantly harder for Iraqi leaders to make the difficult compromises necessary to foster reconciliation," it added. Benchmarks The interim assessment said only eight of the 18 US benchmarks in Iraq have been achieved satisfactorily. It said progress on eight other benchmarks, intended to grade Iraqi political and security developments, had been unsatisfactory, while progress on two others had been mixed. The interim report gave a bleak assessment of progress in Iraq [EPA] The interim report gave a bleak assessment of progress in Iraq [EPA] The report found that the US-backed government had failed to achieve goals considered necessary to bring sectarian violence under control, such as passing legislation to divide the nation's oil revenues. But despite the bleak tone, Bush said he continued to have confidence in Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister. "Yeah, I've got confidence in him, but I also understand how difficult it is. I'm not making the excuses, but it is hard," said Bush. Bush highlighted the benchmarks that had been satisfactorily achieved, including the Iraqi government's co-operation in letting Iraqi forces combat anti-US fighters and money spent to train and equip its forces. But Hoda Abdel Hamid, Al Jazeera's Baghdad correspondent, said military people on the ground – both American and Iraqis – have told her that co-operation is well below levels Bush might expect. She said: "A lot of recruits do not show up for work. "The Iraqis are more reluctant to go into neighbourhoods because of sectarian reasons and other times because they just don't have the equipment. "Sometimes they don't have bulletproof vests, they don't have bulletproof cars and sometimes they don't really have bullets." Breaking ranks Bush signalled he would veto any legislation requiring a "hasty" withdrawal [EPA] The report came as several prominent Republicans broke ranks with Bush on Iraq, saying the so-called troop "surge" was not working and it was time to rethink US policy. Asked about waning Republican support, Bush said he took what was said into account. "I value the advice of those senators, I appreciate their concerns ... and I will continue listening to them." But he said he would also waiting to hear from General David Petraeus, the most senior US commander in Iraq, in September. Some analysts have suggested Bush is trying to shift blame for failure of the so-called "surge" on to the military. Speaking before the vote on withdrawing troops in the House of Representatives, Bush signalled that he would veto any legislation requiring what he described as a hasty pull-out from Iraq. "I don't think Congress ought to be running the war," he said. "The idea of [Congress] telling our military how to conduct operations, for example, or how to deal with troop strength, I don't think it makes sense today, nor do I think it's a good precedent for the future." A USA Today/Gallup poll this week showed more than seven in 10 Americans favour withdrawing nearly all US troops by April."

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies _________________________________________________________________ As of right now I am in support of us pulling back out troops. We have been there for a long time and if it isn't working yet ...I don't know if it ever will. Apart of me wants our troops to stay to help them get established and have their democracy ...but it doesn't seem that is what they want or that right now it is even possible. I think we have lots of issues that should be taken care of right here in our own country. Imagine if we had put half the effort ,required of our troops over these long years, into ending poverty or violence. Those are just a few deas. But you get my point. It is just hard for me to understand sometimes why soooo much effort, time, and money has been spent on this effort. Please help me to understand!!!

Alex's Lemonade stand for Cancer

I saw a precious commercial for Alex's Lemonade stand. You may be wondering what's the big deal? Well, read this and you will understand.

Here is the touching story behind this childs desire to raise money to fight cancer!

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ABOUT ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND
In 2000, a 4 year old cancer patient named Alexandra "Alex" Scott announced a seemingly simple idea -she was holding a lemonade stand to raise money to help "her doctors" find a cure for kids with cancer. The idea was put into action by Alex and her older brother, Patrick, when they set up the first "Alex's Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer" on their front lawn in July of 2000.

For the next four years, despite her deteriorating health, Alex held an annual lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research. Following her inspirational example, thousands of lemonade stands and other fundraising events have been held across the country by children, schools, businesses, and organizations, all to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for childhood cancer. On August 1st, 2004, Alex died peacefully at the age of 8 -- she had raised over $1 million for childhood cancer research in her short lifetime.

Alex's spirited determination to raise awareness and money for all childhood cancer while she bravely fought her own deadly battle with cancer has inspired thousands of people, from all walks of life to raise money and give to her cause. Alex's family and supporters are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501c3 charity. As of June 2007, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised over $12 million for childhood cancer research. The result -- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has given millions of dollars for childhood cancer research across the country!

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please visit the link below to see how you can be apart of the solution!

www.Alexslemonade.com

*Kids today...WHAT IS GOING ON???

"Preteens allegedly kidnap baby, demand ransom

ENID, Oklahoma (AP) -- Detectives arrested a 12-year-old girl and her 10-year-old sister for allegedly abducting their neighbor's 1-year-old son and demanding $200,000 for his return.

Authorities escort two sisters, ages 10 and 12. The girls are accused of abducting their neighbor's baby.

Brandon Wells was back at home Thursday night, hours after intruders broke into his family's residence and took him while his mother, Sheila Wells, slept, police said.

"I've been doing this 18 1/2 years, and this is the first time I know of when a 10- and a 12-year-old kidnapped a 1-year-old," said police Capt. Dean Grassino. "It definitely ranks up there with the unusual crimes."

"If you want to see your son again then you won't call police and report him missing and you will leave $200,000 on the sofa tonight and we will return your son back safe," the note read, according to police.

The girls appeared in Garfield County District Court on Thursday afternoon and were taken to Community Intervention Center for juveniles. They have not been formally charged.

"I know they're so young, but they need to learn from their mistakes," Wells said.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

"If you want to see your son again then you won't call police and report him missing and you will leave $200,000 on the sofa tonight and we will return your son back safe," the note read, according to police.

The girls appeared in Garfield County District Court on Thursday afternoon and were taken to Community Intervention Center for juveniles. They have not been formally charged.

"I know they're so young, but they need to learn from their mistakes," Wells said."

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

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This is a crazy story! I wonder what gave these kids this idea? It also makes me wonder how kids can think that they can get away with this...or if they thought they were doing it as a joke....what gave them the idea that it was funny? What do you think? Do you think the media or video games or some other influence causes kids to behave like this? Do you think it is parents who don't teach their kids how to respect others? It just all makes me wonder. This is just one story but I am sure there are many others with children acting out in ways as outrageous as this. What can we do to change the course of a generation?