in the Iraq war, then left it to the Iraqis. Seven months later, U.S. troops again had to storm Fallujah, with great destruction and loss of life, because it had become a center of the Iraqi resistance in Anbar Province.

"We don't want Fallujah," McChrystal told The New York Times as Marines entered Marja. "Fallujah is not the model."

McChrystal's new model is one where troops make every effort to minimize destruction and loss of life, particularly civilian deaths. The test is what happens after the territory has been secured, he says. With that in mind, McChrystal has what he calls a "government in a box" Afghan civil servants, foreign advisers and Afghan police ready to set up shop in Marja as soon as the Marines have cleared out thePoetry is what gets lost in translation-Robert Frost

January 03, 2013

Winter Break 2012: Seattle

The pictures never do justice to the amazing Cascade Mountain Range. There have been several clear, sunny days in Seattle during my visit, which is a bit of an anomaly.

Both of the pictures above were taken from the Sand Point Country Club near my brother's house in north Seattle.

I had a nice panini sandwich, The Firehouse (turkey, cheddar cheese, jalapeno, roasted red pepper, chipolte, cajun seasoning, mayo with a side of ranch dressing) at Van Gogh Coffeehouse, a local coffee place in the Wedgewood area of Seattle.

On New Year's Day I went with my brother's family to the new attraction downtown at the wharf, Seattle Great Wheel.