** My son took part in this accomplishment by US Marine Regimental Combat Team 8 in Iraq:

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division partnered with the U.S. Marines from Regimental Combat Team - 8, discovered a weapons cache and detained six terrorists during cordon and search operations in northeast Fallujah early Nov. 9.

Stephen’s own platoon discovered part of the arms cache.

** Here is the web site for the 2d Marine Expeditionary Force, which includes the unit my son is in. The site has an excellent PDF online newspaper, links in lower left.

** Joseph D’Hippoilto says, “The Church of England’s latest opinion on Middle Eastern affairs ranks among its most bankrupt.”

A recent report commissioned by the church’s bishops endorsed apologizing to Muslim leaders for the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq.

** While we’re on the subject of churches,

Ninety-five bishops from President Bush’s church said Thursday they repent their “complicity” in the “unjust and immoral” invasion and occupation of Iraq.

** Al Qaeda in Iraq has responded to Jordanian rage at it Amman bombings by releasing a statement that says the victims deserved it.

Striking a moral tone, the Al Qaeda manifesto said the hotels were a “secure place for the filthy Israeli and Western tourists to spread corruption and adultery at the expense and suffering of the Muslims in these countries.”

Warning that Wednesday’s attacks would pale by comparison, the statement promised “catastrophic” assaults in the future.

** Religion of peace watch:

LAHORE , Pakistan — Hundreds of Muslims attacked and burned two churches in Pakistan on Saturday after reports that a Christian man had desecrated Islam’s holy book. No one was injured in the blazes.

** The US Census Bureau estimates that no more than 50 American veterans of World War I are still living.

** Who’s really gouging us on gasoline sales? The gummint, dadgummit. Right here, state by state.

** The former diplomat who writes at Crossroads Arabia knew Mustapha Akkad and his daughter, Rima, who were killed in the Amman bombings. Akkad was the producer of the Hollywood series of “Halloween” horror films.

In the Arab world, he is noted for two films that didn’t get much distribution in the US: “The Messenger” and “Lion of the Desert”.

The latter movie “an uproar in the Muslim world, with many decrying it as blasphemous.” My kind of guy, a real shame the terrorists got him.

** Speaking of the Amman bombings, Doug Payton explains what a real quagmire looks like.

** The US Navy handled EOD tasks for the cruise liner Seabourn Spirit that was attacked Nov. 5 by pirates near the coast of Somalia. The Navy’s work included disarming left over from a rocket propelled grenade that struck the vessel.

** The Army may decide to start giving “orders by odor.”

The traditional way the army delivers orders to soldiers is by shouting at them. But researchers at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles think the US Army Research Office should consider an alternative – coded smells.

These can be delivered silently, in the dark and when loud noise is drowning out speech.

Can’t you imagine the gags already?