i have very little to say, except:

1) this was her THIRD tour of duty in iraq
2) we should NOT be in iraq (as warriors)
3) to the family and friends of tracy birkman, i am so very sorry for your loss. you are all in my thoughts and prayers

from greg mitchell at pressing issues
Mother of three dies in Iraq
As some of you may know, I have tracked "nonhostile" deaths among U.S. troops in Iraq for more than four years, including those caused by accidents, illness, suicides. There was another reported today (the number is approaching 900 now) and I just came across one from last week: a 41-year-old mother of three from the Roanoke, Virginia, area, named Tracy Birkman, an Army mechanic. Cause of death not yet released (as per norm). Two of her three sons are in Middle School........