Early August is filled with poignant anniversaries–Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Nixon's resignation.  Another to ponder.

Aug 7, 1964:  The US Senate, with an 88-2 vote and the US House, with a 416-0 vote, approved the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, based on lies, half-truths and deliberate manipulation of intelligence.  It served as the legal basis for our war in Viet Nam, which lasted another 8 ½ years.

Over the next few years, may we read the following entries:

Aug 31, 2010:  The number of US troops in Iraq was reduced to 50,000, in accordance with an agreement made between Iraq and the US in 2008.

July 31, 2011:  The Governor of Iowa welcomed home all of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry and the 334th Brigade Support Battalion.  The Iowa  National Guard units returned to the US from Afghanistan as part of the reduction promised by President Obama on Dec 1, 2009.   In a separate news conference in Wash, DC, President Obama congratulated Afghan Pres. Karzai on reaching the goal of a well-trained  Afghan army of 134,000 and a police force of 82,000.