Fallujah, Iraq -- Contradicting President Bush's invitation to Iraqi resistance fighters to attack U.S occupation forces, many soldiers say they would much prefer that Iraqis lay down their weapons and begin the complicated work of rebuilding their country.

"There is no doubt that we are 'plenty tough,'" Marine Sergeant Jake Szymanski said. "But that doesn't mean we're suicidal."

CAPTION: Soldiers on patrol in Fallujah carry out their duties in a hostile population in 110 degree heat and say the only thing they want the Iraqis to bring them is an ice cold beer.

Szymanski is referring to remarks by George W. Bush last week in which he said, "There are some who feel like that conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is bring them on. We have the force necessary to deal with the situation."

Bush, the Commander in Chief of a U.S. military engaged in the occupations of two foreign nations--Iraq and Afghanistan--served bravely during the Vietnam war by patrolling the Gulf of Mexico for VietCong insurgents as a member of the Air Force National Guard. It is only fitting that he is now putting U.S. soldiers in harms way to further his political agenda.

CAPTION: Troops on the ground in Iraq have found themselves targets of Iraqi resistance since the occupation began. The say the Iraqis need no encouragement from a civilian commander bunkered down in the White House.

Troops on the ground in Iraq appreciate the encouraging words to Iraqi paramilitary units bent on killing Americans from a President with such a distinguished military career.

"If that cowardly son of a bitch ever gets the balls to come to the war zone I'm going to personally rip his head off," Lt. Commander Michael Dierdoff said. "I say that with the utmost respect for the President."

ENDS

Deaf Ears: Speaker On Support For Mojo Mathers

Scoop Audio: In a press conference this afternoon Speaker Lockwood Smith defended his handling of requests for support for profoundly deaf MP Mojo Mathers' participation in Parliament, and said he was "deeply concerned" by the way the issue had been portrayed.

Earlier today the Greens said they had been told they would have to fund support Mathers requires out of their own budget. More>>