This Week marks the passings of Catherine 'Jean' Biden, Democratic fundraiser and socialite Smith Bagley, former Director of NSA and JPL Gen. Lew Allen, Jr and Ebony Magazine founder Eunice W. Johnson. In addition, the Pentagon has released the names of six servicemembers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Army SPC Brushaun X Anderson, 20, of Columbus, GA

Air Force SrA Bradley R Smith, 24, of Troy, IL

Army SGT Joshua A Lengstorf, 24, of Yoncalla, OR

Army SPC Brian R Bowman, 24, of Crawfordsville, IN

Army PVT John P Dion, 19, of Shattuck, OK

Army SPC David A Croft Jr, 22, of Plant City, FL

This brings the total number of allied soldiers killed in Iraq to 4,691; in Afghanistan, 1,576. During this same week, Iraq Body Count lists 143 Iraqi civilians killed. A recent NATO report has blamed the vast majority of civilian deaths in Afghanistan on the Taliban, the responsibility for which the Taliban not surprisingly, has denied. Meanwhile, drone attacks in Pakistan have claimed the lives of at least 538 civilians.