There's been a lot of writing about the 3,000th death of a U.S. soldier in Iraq. But, take a look at who he was and see if it doesn't really bring home the stupidity of this war and the perceived lack of choices facing some of our youths.

Dustin Donica, 22, an army specialist from the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment....[was] a soccer-loving college dropout from Texas with a weakness for trance music and ham-and-pineapple pizza....

This being the new year, it's time to check in on Schapelle Corby who is serving 20 years in a hellhole of a Bali prison following her conviction for smuggling four kilos of pot into Bali. (Full coverage here.)

The news isn't good. Despite the fact that conditions at Kerobokan prison are disgusting, she has made friends there, is able to visit with her sister who resides in Bali and receive visits from her parents.

That is about to end. She is expecting to be moved to a prison on the remote side of the island:

Indonesian authorities are set to transfer the 29-year-old Brisbane woman to a prison in the East Java city of Malang, hundreds of kilometres from Kerobokan.....Papers authorising the transfer were sent weeks ago from Jakarta authorities to the warden of Kerobokan, Ilham Djaya, who says the transfer must go ahead because the prison is overcrowded.

John Amato at Crooks and Liars wishes everyone a happy new year. He also reminds readers of Atrios' apt comments, with which I agree, on what it means when a candidate takes out an ad on his blog.

I suppose this is as good a time as any for my occasional reminder as we enter the silly season. Ads appearing on this site by candidates are paid ads and do not imply any support or endorsement by me. I actually don't expect to get behind one candidate or another, though that could change, especially if suitcases filled with money appear on my doorstep. I'll try to do my best to avoid at least some of the food fight once it begins, though I'm human and have opinions and happen to write a blog about politics, so I imagine I'll get sucked in at times.

I'll definitely give my opinions about the policies candidates support and the way they try to deliver their message. And, of course, I'll be busy trying to push back against unfair media smears of any of the candidates. But, again, the fact that I praise or defend candidate X does not mean I've joined their team.

The other day I called Saddam Hussein's hanging "barbaric." Criminal defense lawyer David Seth expounds on hanging and barbarism over at Daily Kos. It's well worth a read.

Can a non-profit news network survive without corporate contributions, government funding or advertising?

The Real News thinks so and is set to launch its first daily newscast.

The Real News is a product of Independent World Television. Paul Jay is the Chairman and CEO.

I've had the pleasure of working with Paul in the past (in 2000 on the TNT documentary, Was Justice Denied?, which we spent six months filming part-time around the country) and I would bet that if anyone can make this a reality, he can. Check out his video message on the Real News site.

I hope you will keep your eye out for the launch of The Real News, and make a point to watch.

Denver Bronco cornerback Darrent Williams was gunned down at 2:00 a.m. last night in a drive-by shooting at 10th/11th Ave. and Speer Blvd. in Denver.

The Fort Worth, Texas native, according to team officials, was shot in what police had informed the team was a drive-by shooting. Williams was in a Humvee limousine with several others when it was hit with several bullets fired from another vehicle shortly after 2 a.m. Monday morning. Williams was one of three people in the limousine who were shot. All three, including Williams, were taken to hospitals.

The execution-style murder may have resulted from an altercation at a nightclub earlier in the evening. Another Bronco player may have been in the vehicle. As of this writing, no one has been arrested but suspects have been identified.

At midnight in Albany last night, Eliot Spitzer was sworn in as Governor of New York.

"Day one has begun," Spitzer said to a resounding cheer after being sworn in. "It is a joy to be here. It will be exciting. I will do my best as the public has asked me to do."

Also sworn in was Andrew Cuomo -- as state Attorney General -- the position Spitzer had before the election.

Gov. Pataki, Spitzer's predecessor, tried but failed to implement significant reform to the state's draconian Rockefeller law for drug offenders. Spitzer needs to make real reform or repeal of the law one of his top priorities.

As a commentator in the Albany Times Union wrote last month:

Happy New Year to all.

How are you celebrating the new year? Predictions? Personal resolutions? Hopes? How about a good riddance list?

A record one million people are expected in Times Square tonight to celebrate the new year. Mayor Bloomberg says people will be safer there than any other place Here are the logistics:

Police will control access to Times Square, closing streets to vehicles beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Anyone wishing to enter the "core area" will be required to pass through metal detectors first, and then be corralled into viewing sections.

Once one section has filled, new arrivals will be directed to the next viewing section. Backpacks, large bags and alcohol will be prohibited. There are also no public bathrooms in the "core area."

As for security,

Regular police units will be supplemented by emergency service squads, drug- and bomb-sniffing canine units, counter-terrorism personnel and the FBI. Representatives of New York's Office of Emergency Management and Fire Department will be in the square, and police in helicopters will monitor the skies and rooftops.

I don't doubt it will be safe, but I'd still rather watch it on tv than be there.

No, Hillary has not announced she will run for President yet, but the LA Times today has a four page article on her well-oiled campaign machine, which is loaded for bear and ready to strike the moment she makes her decision.

The article names the key players in her campaign, discusses Bill's role and then drops a big hint as to Hillary's strategy for winning. She is counting on the vote of those for whom the primary issue is seeing a woman elected President.

Along with the professionals, Clinton aides expect a groundswell of women — political operatives, donors, volunteers — would flock to Hillary Clinton because she is a female presidential candidate.

Bump and Update: The AP is now reporting there have been 3,000 deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

*******
Original Post
2,999th Soldier Killed in Iraq

Another soldier was killed in Iraq today, bringing the total number of troop deaths to 2,999.

The soldier was also the 110th to die so far in December, the deadliest month for the U.S. forces in more than two years.

....A toll of 3,000 U.S. dead is likely to be an emotive one for Americans but it is less than the number of Iraqi civilians killed in a typical single month in the latter part of 2006, according to the most recent statistics from the
United Nations.

A Washington Post editorial today calls for an end to the prosecution of the Duke Lacrosse players.

It recalls the words of U.S. Attorney General Robert Jackson in 1940:

"THE PROSECUTOR has more control over life, liberty and reputation than any other person in America. His discretion is tremendous. He can have citizens investigated, and, if he is that kind of person, he can have this done to the tune of public statements and veiled or unveiled intimations."

....The prosecutor, as Robert Jackson said so many years ago, "can have no better asset than to have his profession recognize that his attitude toward those who feel his power has been dispassionate, reasonable and just."