the conduct of the counterinsurgency operation is a roller coaster experience. there are setbacks, as well as areas of progress or successes. but the trajectory, in my view, has generally been upward despite the tough losses, despite the setbacks. but only today, two more u.s. service members were killed in an ied attack in northern afghanistan. a spokesman in afghanistan says that the troops were in a vehicle that hit a roadside bomb. closing arguments are under way right now in california s landmark proposition 8 trial, the first federal court test after state law banning day marriage. two same-sex couples sued to overturn prop 8 as a violation of their civil rights. they re represented in court by an odd couple, the legal profession, former bush white house solicitor general, conservative republican ted olson, and liberal democrat