The Sun effectively supports what many Cornell and Ithaca military veterans know is a critical mission: maintaining a connection between the University, the Ithaca community and the military services.

On April 3, a Marine from Ithaca, Cpl. Christopher D. Bordoni, died from injuries sustained in a suicide attack in Afghanistan in January. Last week, thousands of people lined the highway as his body was transported from the airport in Syracuse to Ithaca for burial. Hundreds of Ithacans stood outside with American flags to welcome this Marine home for the last time.

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials stepped up pressure on the United States on Tuesday to agree to a specific timeline to withdraw American forces, a sign of the government's growing confidence as violence falls.

The tough words come as the Bush administration is running out of time to reach a needed troop deal before the U.S. election in November and the president's last months in office. Some type of agreement is required to keep American troops in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires on Dec. 31.

The Iraqi timeline proposal made public Tuesday appears to set an outer limit, requiring U.S. forces to fully withdraw five years after the Iraqis take the lead on security nationwide — though that precondition could itself take years.