Target Centermass

The Dallas Morning News is reporting a surprising display of respect for American soldiers.

It all began with a chance encounter at an airport, a glance, an offer, a quiet chat.

What’s your seat number, soldier?

It’s 23-B, sir, the soldier told the businessman.

No, son, that’s my seat. Yours is in first class.

As more soldiers boarded, similar offers quickly came from the other first-class passengers.

And eight soldiers heading home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R found themselves with their officers in the big seats up front instead of the center seats in coach.

That spontaneous act of good will transformed American Airlines Flight 866, from Atlanta to Chicago, on June 29.

“The soldiers were very, very happy, and the whole aircraft had a different feeling,” said Lorrie Gammon, one of the Dallas-based flight attendants working the trip.

“There were 14 seats in first class, and there were 12 soldiers there. The other two first-class passengers wanted to give up their seats, too, but they couldn’t find any more soldiers.”

Flight attendant Candi Spradlin of Conway, Ark., said she was impressed with how passengers treated the soldiers.

“If nothing else, those soldiers got a great homecoming,” she said.

The soldiers were so surprised they barely knew what to do, said Ms. Gammon, who lives in Frisco.

“They were so humble and thankful – they spent the whole flight saying thank you,” she said.

“But we should have been saying thank you to them for what they’re doing for us.”

Almost sounds like an urban legend but, if true, this is very cool.

The U.S. is going back on the attack to help ensure Afghan elections.

Major Jon Siepmann, a U.S. spokesman, says the new countrywide operation, dubbed “Lightning Resolve,” aims to protect civilians against militants opposed to the coming elections.

Afghanistan is due to vote for president on October 9 and for a parliament next spring, replacing the transitional government that has ruled since a U.S.-Afghan alliance ousted the former hard-line Taleban regime in 2001.

Remnants of the Taleban have been waging an armed struggle against the current government. They want to block the elections, which they say are meant to ensure U.S. domination over Afghanistan.

Be democratic or die. Not quite “Don’t tread on me” but it’ll do.

Following her recent allegedly bawdy performance at a Kerry fundraiser, Whoopi Goldberg has been dropped as a spokesperson for Slim-Fast.

“I only wish that the Republican re-election committee would spend as much time working on the economy as they seem to be spending trying to harm my pocketbook.”

Whoopi, check the economy. It’s strong. Oh, and welcome to a world where actions have consequences.