One of the four men killed and mutilated in Fajullah has a local connection here. As reported in the Ocala Star Banner, Scott Helvenston left family both in Ocala and to the south of us in Leesburg.
He apparently led a life worthy of a Tom Clancey novel with his Navy SEAL training, and after military work in movie production, stunt work, personal training and entrepreneural business startup.
According to FoxNews Scott was a devoted dad, spending time with his kids in outdoors activities. I've no doubt the horrific images out of Iraq weighed heavily on these family members. I pray these images don't outweigh the memories of the wonderful times together as family. They have expressed pride in Scott and the work he was doing, but that pride is surely tempered by the sorrow of loss. Our hearts go out to the family and we pray for their comfort.
At the same time, we still wait for the military response. Paul Bremer has said the atrocities will not go unpunished. While the arrogant terrorist of Fajullah are daring the military to come, senior commanders say a response is forthcoming, at a time of their choosing, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt characterizing that response as "deliberate, precise and it's going to be overwhelming."