Non-Paper Daily, 2.20.09

*Ray LaHood, the Secretary of Transportation, floated the idea of taxing miles driven rather than gas. The result is that people drive less, but it does not encourage the use of efficient vehicles. A similar idea was floated in Oregon that received very negative reviews from many, myself included. Today, Obama nipped that idea in the bud. Thank you, sir.

*The United States military base in Kyrgyzstan is set to close in six months. Yesterday, that country served our military an eviction notice, asking us to leave. Apparently there is wiggle room for a compromise, but our military leaders are already looking for an alternative entry point into Afghanistan.

*Speaking of Afghanistan, earlier this week Barack Obama announced he will be sending an additional 17,000 troops to that country, thus raising our commitment by about 50%. Perhaps some additional troops will make a difference, but we have been there for seven years, it's about time they come home too.

Yes, We're Still in Iraq and Afghanistan

A friendly PSA:

After a closely fought, high-profile election that gobbled up headlines and in the heart of a global financial meltdown, I would like to remind you all that yes, we still have hundreds of thousands of troops abroad. This may come as a surprise, considering the lack of news coverage on the topic. Don't shoot the messenger, I just thought you all should know.

Hostages

Another question (the last one has elicited a grand total of zero responses, so my hopes are not high): Have there been an any American soldiers captured and held hostage during the Afghanistan and/or Iraq Wars? I don't know the answer, do you?

UPDATE: Thanks to Vicki in comments who reports there have been hostages, however in limited numbers. With all the fighting and deaths in the last five years, the low number of hostages is certainly a testament to the military's ethos of leaving no man behind.