War in Iraq among top ten N.M. stories of year

AND 29-THOUSAND MORE INJURED. THAT'S THE PRICE THE U-S MILITARY HAS PAID SINCE THE WAR WITH IRA...  More »

AND 29-THOUSAND MORE INJURED. THAT'S THE PRICE THE U-S MILITARY HAS PAID SINCE THE WAR WITH IRAQ STARTED. THIS YEAR 13- MORE NEW MEXICO SERVICEMEN DIED. AND WHILE THE BATTLES RAGE IN THE MIDEAST... ANOTHER BATTLEGROUND IS BEING FOUGHT BY POLITICIANS. IT MAKES THE WAR IN IRAQ OUR SIXTH BIGGEST STORY OF THE YEAR. HERE'S SHELTON DODSON: 'Please join me in a moment of silence for Lance Corporal Sanchez and the other brave New Mexico men and women who have given their life for their country in Iraq and Afghanistan.' IN JANUARY GOVERNOR RICHARDSON PAID TRIBUTE TO MARINE LANCE CORPORAL EMILIAN SANCHEZ. HE WOULD BE THE FIRST OF 13 NEW MEXICANS KILLED IN 2007 IN THE WAR ON TERROR. THE LAST BEING SPECIALIST BRYNN NAYLOR. A GODDARD HIGH SCHOOL GRAD WHO WOULD FORGO COLLEGE TO JOIN THE ARMY. 'Does that star spangled banner yet wave?'ALSO KILLED WAS MARINE MAJOR DOUGLAS ZEIMBIEC. THE ALL-AMERICAN WRESTLER AND TWO TIME STATE CHAMPION WOULD LATER HAVE THE GYM AT LA CUEVA HIGH SCHOOL NAMED IN HIS HONOR. VALLEY HIGH GRAD JAMES AKIN WENT INTO THE ARMY WITH HIS EYES WIDE OPEN. THE MAN WHO WANTED TO ONE DAY SERVE HIS COUNTRY AS ITS PRESIDENT WOULD DIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD JUNE 3RD. 'James was one of the most loyal, sincere, effervescent I've ever known in my life.'WITH THE WAR NEARING ITS FIFTH YEAR, AND SUPPORT CONTINUING TO DROP... PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES MADE IRAQ THEIR PRIMARY ISSUE. LIKE IN THIS BILL RICHARDSON POLITICAL AD FROM JULY... 'We need to get all of our troops out of Iraq.'AND AN EVEN STRONGER MESSAGE FIVE MONTHS LATER. : 'I will get all of our troops out of Iraq. That is the only way to end the war.' RICHARDSON HAS TAKEN THE TOUGHEST STANCE ON THE WAR, VOWING TO BRING EVERY TROOP HOME. TAKING THAT MESSAGE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND TO NATIONALLY TELEVISED DEBATES AS WELL. 'Their position basically is changing the mission. My position in bring all troops out of Iraq is to end the war.' THE YEAR BEGAN WITH PRESIDENT BUSH ANNOUNCING A CONTROVERSIAL TROOP SURGE -- SENDING 28- THOUSAND MORE MEN AND WOMEN TO THE WAR ZONE. WHETHER THAT WILL TURN THE TIDE REMAINS TO BE SEEN -- BUT IT'S OF LITTLE CONSEQUENCE FOR THE WIFE OF ARMY SPECIALIST CLIFFORD ADAM SPOHN -- WHO RECEIVED AN UNWANTED NOTICE FROM HER HUSBAND'S SUPERIORS. : 'The next thing that came out of his mouth was that I'm sorry.'SHELTON DODSON, EYEWITNESS NEWS FOUR. OF THE 13 MEN WHO DIED THIS YEAR -- 12 SERVED IN IRAQ, THE OTHER IN AFGHANISTAN. 43 MEN AND WOMEN WITH TIES TO NEW MEXICO HAVE DIED SINCE THE WAR  « Less