Let's not beat around the bush. (or is it Bush?) The United States is, without a doubt, occupying the soil of far-distant lands. We were not invited there. Those occupying it have been there since 2003, without a United Nations mandate, roaming around in never-ending patrols that are frequently futile and non-productive.

And yet, our government continues to send more and more resources to maintain the occupation of that soil, hopefully to establish a permanent presence to plunder the natural resources for our own enrichment.

Worst of all, after an initial flurry of reports and wall-to-wall breathless news coverage, you pretty much don't hear the truth about what's going on there unless it's bad news. Or good news, depending on your political view and aspirations for 2006 and 2008.

Wait... you thought I was talking about Iraq? What, are you some kind of Hate-Filled Liberal Moonbat? Come on, people! We're building democracy there. That Freedom Thing.

Sheesh!

I was talking about Mars.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter lifted off on an Atlas V rocket on a seven-month journey to Mars. The booster rocket shut down and dropped off into the Atlantic Ocean minutes into the launch. Seconds later, the second-stage rocket engine ignited.

Circling the planet for at least four years, the orbiter is to provide unparalleled information on Mars' weather, climate and geology, which could aid possible future human exploration of the Red Planet.

...

Two NASA rovers launched in 2003, Spirit and Opportunity, continue to roam the planet and may be the first to relay information back to Earth via the reconnaissance orbiter.

Some people just can't resist reading their own agenda into things.

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