It's morning somewhere

"So long as I am president, we will stay, we will fight and we will win the war on terrorism," he told a supportive audience of National Guard members and their families in a sports arena in this Boise suburb. Pulling out now, he said, would "embolden the terrorists and create a staging ground to launch more attacks against America."...

...Scott Reed, a Republican strategist in Washington, said Bush had to do something to shift attention away from protests, GOP qualms and continuing U.S. deaths in Iraq. "The only way you change the subject is to get on the offense," he said. "It also may be time to get on the serious offense in Iraq in a military way."

....Bush thanked military families for their sacrifices and noted that Idaho has the highest state percentage of National Guard troops serving in Iraq. As a counterpoint to Sheehan, Bush highlighted the sacrifice of another mother. Tammy Pruett, who was in the audience, has four sons serving in Iraq. Her husband and another son returned from there last year. Bush quoted her saying that if one of her sons died in Iraq, "they would leave this world doing what they believe, what they think is right." There was a standing ovation when Bush added, "America lives in freedom because of families like the Pruetts."..

A federal commission voted on Thursday to close the crown jewel of Army hospitals as it began its second day of decision-making on sweeping plans to restructure military bases across the country...

Most of Walter Reed's work would be relocated to a more modern, expanded hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, that will be renamed Walter Reed in a nod to the old facility's heritage
...One-time costs, including construction and renovations, would total $989 million. The Pentagon would save $301 million over 20 years, the commission said. The current hospital has about 185 beds, but the expanded facility would have 340...

...Aircraft would be taken away from 25 Air National Guard units. Instead of flying missions, those units would get other missions such as expeditionary combat support roles. They also would retain their state missions of aiding governors during civil disturbances and natural disasters.....