Dianne Feinstein: “with the dramatic and precipitous fall of many Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, the military conflict in Iraq is all but…”

“with the dramatic and precipitous fall of many Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, the military conflict in Iraq is all but officially over. Isolated pockets of resistance still exist and there is the looming threat of suicide bombings, as happened last Friday at an ammunitions depot. But we can now proclaim that the barbarous regime of Saddam Hussein and his Ba'ath Party has finally come to an end. As the military aspect subsides, the number of casualties--United States, coalition, and Iraqi--is also diminishing. And this, clearly, is wonderful news. Still, regrettably, there have been those over the last few weeks who have made the ultimate sacrifice, some of them with close ties to California. I would like to take a moment to honor these brave and selfless individuals. Marine Cpl Jesus Medellin: On April 7, 21-year-old Jesus "Marty" Medellin was killed when an enemy artillery shell struck his vehicle. The second of four boys from a very close family from Fort Worth, TX, Medellin was remembered as a warm and relaxed family man who was active in local church. As soon as he graduated from W.E. Boswell High School, in the year 2000, he went straight to Marine boot camp, having decided to do so when only 12 years old. "There's no prouder way of losing someone than through serving their country," said his father, Freddy Medellin, Sr., who was prevented from joining the military because of physical problems.”