Seven years ago the U.S. started its offensive to oust former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein. Since that time, it’s been difficult to find the peace that we and the Iraqis want. Thousands of American lives have been lost, not to mention one heck of a lot of money has been spent. The battle for peace is ongoing.

The troop withdrawal is continuing and plans to turn over security to Iraq forces are continuing. There is some hope that the country will experience peace when our forces leave, but others believe the violence will continue. I hope that the time and money we spent will be worth it in the end.

There are many types of homes. In America people are very diverse. This has led to a number of homes being built that are not the standard type you may find on your street. There are homes that are built of trash, earth, concrete, and even tires! The problem with some of these homes is that they can be hard to value. This is a problem for owners who want to finance their dream home.

Since the credit crunch is still in full swing, mortgage companies are leery of putting money into homes that may be hard to sell. The companies say that putting values on these types of homes is difficult and they don’t want to take a chance. I think that there should be some way of helping people who want to build their houses; even if they are made out of trash!

I was glad to hear that my cousin Judy is finally married and settling down. She and hew new husband Tom are going to start a new life and are moving away to Massachusetts. Tom has a job offer there and is planning to start his career with a big company. It’s been a busy time for them and we have all decided to chip in and help them get started. They asked me for advice on Insurance Franklin, MA, and I was glad to help them with that.

Since I do a lot of work with insurance from time to time in my duties at work, I have some knowledge of the best companies. I know one company called Berry Insurance in that area that could help them with Homeowners Insurance Franklin, MA. They are reliable and can meet any needs that my cousin may have.

Another thing I like about the company is that they offer many types in insurance. I was able to get a free quote for Auto Insurance Franklin, MA right over the internet. I was glad to take some of the strain of moving away from my cousin. They already had a lot to deal with and helping them out was a pleasure. I will also sleep better at night knowing they are protected by a reputable company.

After a long battle with Chinese authorities, Google is considering pulling out of China. Due to strict censorship measures put in place by the Chinese government, Google feels they no longer want to offer their services to Chinese customers. The move could have a negative impact on many people in China.

Some in China believe that the government should back off and allow free speech to flourish. Continuing the policy of blocking sites and whitewashing information is bad for everyone. I hope China will change their mind and allow access to the internet for all.

The U.N. held a trade meeting last Tuesday to discuss conserving marine species. The issue was sharks and the feeling that their populations are being depleted. This view is held by the United States and many other countries. The problem is that China, Russia, and Japan feel differently and defeated a measure that would help protect the sharks.

Sharks are in demand by many countries that make big money selling shark fin soup. The soup is very popular in China where it is served at weddings and banquets. In the meantime, many studies show that sharks are being overhunted and their numbers are dwindling. I hope these countries will soon realize that proper control of fishing and trapping will pay off in the long run.