ILAN RAMON, ISRAELI AIR FORCE COLONEL, A TRIBUTE<BR><BR>

The tragic disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia on 1 Feb 2003 
will forthwith change world history. A future Israeli Prime Minister was 
lost when Colonel Ilan Ramon, 48, went down with Columbia.<BR><BR>

When his country selected him to become an astronaut, Col. Ramon was 
clearly being groomed for a great future. His military honors for bravery 
and deeds in past Israeli wars and covert operations made him Israel's 
outstanding warrior. Having a wife and 4 children would assure his  
people's votes and soon make him a strong and wise leader.<BR><BR>

Prime Minister Ramon will never be. Just one fallen item, during launch, 
weakened ceramic tiles on the left wing of the shuttle, and changed world 
events from that moment on. Pity.<BR><BR>

Oscar Falconi
1 Feb 2003