Important Reads of the Week

Operation Valor IT

Major Jim Gant, receiving Silver Star

Kopp-Etchells Effect

Top billing for outstanding reads of the week goes to Small Wars Journal for joining forces with Team Navy in raising money for OPERATION VALOR IT at Soldier's Angels. The support that Dave Dilegge, former Marine and editor of SWJ extended, is much appreciated. Read Dave's fine shout out: Now Hear This... And take the time to read the comments...

The important thing to keep in mind is that the money raised goes to provide voice activated computers and other equipment for America's wounded veterans. I urge all who pass this way to take the time to click the link and give what you can. Every little bit helps. If every person who visits this blog today, gave $5 dollars we would raise enough to buy one computer.

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Next up, Mark at Zenpundit has two posts that examine strategy in the area of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Strategy, Dilemmas and Choices and a guest post by Charles Cameron Guest Post: Speak the Languages, Know the Modes of Thought

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Steven Pressfield's It's The Tribes Stupid! continues to impress and inform with insightful posts. This series One Tribe At A Time #4: The Full Document at last! is well worth the time to download and study if you want some insight from someone who has walked the walk.

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Small Wars Journal, returns with this post by Bing West Finishing Firefights Difficult in Afghanistan

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And in a final note about the war, Michael Yon filed this sad dispatch,Great Britain Loses one of its Finest , just before passing along this inspiring news, Smithsonian Air&Space on Kopp-Etchells Effect

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This last read will raise your spirits and help to encourage you to go back and click on the Valor IT banner before leaving.

Steve DeAngelis of Enterra Solutions writes In Praise of Optimism. He begins.

In numerous posts about development and entrepreneurism, I have written about the optimistic nature of entrepreneurs. The Lebanese-born, American writer Khalil Gibran, once wrote: "The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose." I don't believe entrepreneurs are unaware of the thorns when they set out to establish a company. They nevertheless remain optimistic.

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The sad news coming out of Texas reminds us that this will be a long conflict. We as a nation and a people are reminded that we must remain steadfast in our belief in liberty and optimistic in our resolve to persevere.

UPDATE: When I sought a photo of Major Jim Gant, this post surfaced that proves the metal of this man. http://www.legion.org/vision/currentevents/2007/05/soldier_in_heroic_battle_to_re.html