Today: Mayor Phil Hardberger's regular Tuesday visit 1:38pm (as of 10 o'clock this morning, this week's City Council agenda had not yet been posted on the city's website)

Christopher Piper sat at graveside yesterday during services for his father, an Army sergeant who bore the same name.

Grieving town mourns fallen Greet Beret hero Piper, a 43-year-old member of the Army's Special Forces, died June 16 at a military hospital in Texas [BAMC], 12 days after a roadside bomb in Afghanistan wounded him and killed two of his fellow soldiers. [His Honor the Fallen listing HERE ]

add 1pm -- CNN
Bush to tout 'clear strategy' for Iraq
BRAD'S COMMENT: The White House is STILL using the propaganda technique of linking two unrelated issues. Today Scott McClellan referred to Iraq, saying, "I think we have a clear strategy for success" AND THEN LINKING the 9-11 attacks with Iraq: "The president made it clear after September 11 that some will want us to grow complacent and forget about, or put the attacks off as a distant memory. But it does require patience and resolve to see this struggle through to the end. We have no option but to defeat the terrorists, and the terrorists will be defeated."

Media offensive by Bush administration now underway, aimed at reversing growing doubts among Americans that the war in Iraq can be won. President Bush is scheduled to address the nation this evening on the issue. KTSA will carry the speech at 7 p.m. Central time

Ten-Foot Poll on Bush---RESULT

posted 10a-11p Tue 6/28/2005 Do you believe President Bush will have anything new to say about Iraq in his primetime speech this evening? Yes 57 15% No 326 85% Total votes 383

USA Today
Poll: increasing doubts on war and Bush's reasons President Bush delivers a prime-time address Tuesday to a public that is increasingly doubtful of his justifications for going to war in Iraq and wants a timetable set for U.S. troops to come home — a step Bush has ruled out.
.Just one in three Americans now say the United States and its allies are winning the war
• For the first time, a plurality of Americans, 50%-47%, sees the war in Iraq as a separate action from the war on terrorism.
• By 46%-43%, a plurality says the war in Iraq has made the U.S. less safe from terrorism.
• By 53%-46%, Americans say the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq.

Statistical look at the past year in Iraq

Memos show Britain's doubts about Iraq invasion Behind the scenes, British officials believed the U.S. administration was already committed to a war that they feared was ill-conceived and illegal and could lead to disaster.

US may double prison capacity in Iraq The prison population at three military complexes across the country — Abu Ghraib, Camp Bucca and Camp Cropper — has nearly doubled from 5,435 in June 2004 to 10,002 now

Two Democrat senators report no abuse at Gitmo

Gold Star Mothers will admit non-citizens More than 140 military service members who were not U.S. citizens have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Audit questions $1.4b in Halliburton bills Pentagon audits have flagged about $1.4 billion in expenses submitted by Halliburton Co. for services the firm is providing in Iraq.

SPECIAL SESSION
Buy booze for Texas underage drinker, lose driver's license
New law revokes driver's licenses of any adult — other than a parent, guardian or spouse — who provides alcohol to drinkers under 21. Gov. Blow-dry signed off on the measure June 18 but will hold a ceremonial bill signing at the Capitol today. The law will take effect Sept. 1.

Forty-some kidnap victims found in Nuevo Laredo The eyes of those kidnapped were taped, their hands cuffed and many had been tortured

TxDOT may drop some college license plates Texas Department of Transportation has decided to phase out specialty alumni license plates that have fallen below certain order levels

Nancy Drew has a birthday Girl who helped lead the way for strong female characters in pop culture turns 75