This terribly sad photo becomes even more poignant with the news that this misbegotten war may be about to expand.

Newsweek reports that with a third carrier group is about to steam off to the Persian Gulf.

Chris Nelson of "the Nelson Report" talks about the difference between two and three carrier groups in the Persian Gulf. Via Steve Clemons' "the Washington Note" from Jan 17, 2007:

"This deployment is carefully calibrated. It could have been larger. Increasing to two carrier strike groups in the AOR serves as a firm signal and deterrent, reminding everyone US has bench strength; the US also still can 'reach out and touch someone.'

Along with announced deployments of two UK minesweepers and the Patriot battery, it is also an actual contingency force that has significant defensive and offensive capability (e.g. ., could initiate heavy 24 hour air ops if necessary).

OK. . .what to watch for if the US really thinks bad things are about to happen? (my emphasis)

On the other hand, increasing to three carrier strike groups would be noticeably more 'robust', belligerent and suggestive of intending or anticipating attack. The difference between two and three strike groups is huge. Two ='s strong and capable, but existing offensive intent is less probable; three ='s 'we don't care about provocation, we're preparing to fight in this new dimension'."

That is a great photo, but I wonder if any man would ever marry a woman who looks like that. Why is it always the other way around.

A wonderful, inspiring story, indeed.

I'm sure there are cases of men marrying women who are severely disfigured, though it is probably more common the other way around. Men are by nature more visually oriented than women--which is why men look at porn and women read romance novels. Anyway, it's a different situation when two people fell in love before one of them was disfigured.