Blog

President Bush declared progress in the Iraq war Thursday, saying terrorists "are on the run" and a generally improved security environment should permit further U.S. troop reductions. Standing on the Colonnade outside the Oval Office of the White House, Bush also announced that effective Thursday, the duration of troop tours in Iraq will be cut from 15 months to 12 months. Bush said this reduction "will relieve the burden on our forces and it will make life easier for our wonderful military families."

Looks like the anti-war crowd are going to have to start working over time to find a way to sabotage a victory in Iraq. Maybe after we win Iraq they will focus on trying to get us to surrender in Afghanistan? This really is great news for everyone that serves in the military. More family time, and less war zone time are always good things. Should we start considering 9 month rotations in Iraq?

Read the Full Story

U.S. combat deaths in Iraq appear headed to the lowest monthly level since the start of the war as the U.S. commanding general there said overall violence is declining toward normal levels. According to The Associated Press, the U.S. military has reported nine troop deaths so far in July. But the official death toll for the month is 11. The figure includes the recovery of the bodies of two U.S. soldiers kidnapped last year. The lowest prior number was eight in May 2003, according to USA Today figures.

As is not being reported in the Mainstream media, we are winning in Iraq. This also means that we are losing less and less of our best and brightest. I really hope that one day that number is zero. That lofty goal will not happen as long as we have enemies, and as long as we have enemies our bravest will be out there fighting them

Read the Full Story

Retired Sgt. Maj. Albert Brunson has known the racism of "Jim Crow." He can recall the South Carolina of his birth and childhood, where buildings had separate entrances for "Coloreds" and "Whites." But in 1965 Brunson, by then in Pennsylvania, found a life and culture that was as close to the society Martin Luther King envisioned -- where people would be judged by the content of their character instead of the color of their skin -- as then existed. What he found -- more accurately, what found him -- was the Army, which 60 years ago this month became fully integrated.

There will always be small minded people in this world. There will always be people who hates those who are not like them. The color of a persons skin cannot tell you what type of person they are. No matter the skin color, religion, ethnicity, and language there will always be good people and those who cannot and will not see the larger world around them. It is merit, what you have done and what you have proven, that we should be judged by, not the color of our skin. It is all Army Green on the outside.

Read the Full Story

The Military Postal Service Agency is preparing measures for this election season that officials say will help absentee ballots move through the military mail system. From Sept. 1 to Nov. 25, the military mail will prioritize absentee ballots, which will be specially marked and tagged, and personnel will be instructed to deal with those parcels first. Postal personnel involved will be briefed and trained soon, according to Faye Johnson, MPSA chief of operations. They will be instructed that "whenever they see trays, tubs or anything with absentee ballots, that is to be expedited."

Since the last two elections have resulted in a debacle of miscounted military absentee ballots, the military in a burst of quickness that only took 8 years will now expedite military ballots. The biggest question that comes to mind is why wasn't this done the first time they allowed the military to use absentee ballots? This should have been a policy that was enacted years ago. What else can the military do to increase the likelihood that a soldiers ballot will be counted?

Read the Full Story

The House Appropriations Committee is poised to approve a retroactive $500 monthly allowance for troops whose military service was extended by stop-loss orders. Up to 120,000 people would receive a payment for each month that their separation or retirement was delayed by stop-loss orders since October 2001, according to congressional sources working on the 2009 defense appropriations bill. Most of the people affected are in the active Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve, although the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps also used stop-loss for brief periods from 2001 to 2003 in the early days of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

An appropriate gesture to the men and women who are held over the expected enlistment period. Most of these personnel are in mission critical specialties, which requires the military to keep them longer than planned. This is part of the original contract which all sign as a part of joining the armed forces. It is nice to see that there will be some type of monetary compensation for these troops. Is $500 dollars enough?

Read the Full Story

Al-Qaida's foreign fighters who have for years bedeviled Iraq are increasingly going to Afghanistan to fight instead, the Iraqi ambassador to the United States said Wednesday. "We have heard reports recently that many of the foreign fighters that were in Iraq have left, either back to their homeland or going to fight in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is now seeming to be more suitable for al-Qaida fighters," said Ambassador Samir Sumaida'ie. Al-Qaida had training camps and a headquarters in Afghanistan, under the protection of the then-ruling Taliban, until the U.S. invaded after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. With al-Qaida forced out of Afghanistan, the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 quickly drew outside fighters there.

*sarcasm*This is because of the shift in political winds in Iraq. It is because the Sadr militia stood down and the Sunni tribes decided to flip and work with us instead of with Al Qaeda, it has nothing to do with U.S. Forces. They haven't done anything.*sarcasm* Please note the sarcasm tags. There is only one thing that can be said for this. The troop surge worked. Good job to our American troops, their Commanders, and above all the Commander in Chief President George Bush. At least the President had the cajones to stick with it after so much negativity and personal slander. GOOD JOB to all of the armed services. If this report is true then we can change our focus to eradicating Al-Qaida from the face of the earth, without sitting down to talks. Should we even consider having talks with terrorist groups?

Read the Full Story

Russia would cross "a red line for the United States of America" if it were to base nuclear-capable bombers in Cuba, the nominee for Air Force chief of staff has warned. "If they did I think we should stand strong and indicate that is something that crosses a threshold, crosses a red line for the United States of America," said Gen. Norton Schwartz. He was referring to a Russian news report that said the military is thinking of flying long-range bombers to Cuba, and possibly establishing a base there.

Can you say Cuban missile crisis? This sounds very familiar for some reason. Most of this posturing comes from Russia being toppled as a super-power and trying as hard as it can to make the rest of the world pay attention to it as it puffs out it's chest and acts like the Russia most of us know and love. Should the U.S. even worry about Russia in this day and age?

Read the Full Story

Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez is on a shopping spree for military hardware from Moscow, and already has a few energy deals in hand. On Tuesday, Chavez called for a strategic alliance with Russia to protect his country from the United States, having repeatedly accused Washington of plotting an invasion to destabilize his government. The United States denies such a plan, and a State Department official downplayed the suggestion of a deeper Venezuela-Russia partnership. "We've repeatedly communicated concerns with Russia about Chavez's arms build-up in the past, and we're going to continue to do so," State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said during a press conference, adding the U.S. also questions "whether such acquisitions are in line with Venezuela's defense needs."

Like the U.S. doesn't have enough to worry about. What would the U.S. want with Venezuela? More than likely because we continually ignore his breast beating, Hugo had to go drool on somebody else's pant leg. Should the U.S. even pay attention to this clown?

Read the Full Story

He is tired of waiting to become a U.S. citizen. Julian Polous was born in Mosul, Iraq, graduated from college and learned to speak four languages. But he fled Saddam Hussein’s army and found asylum in the United States. He got a green card and joined the Army. He served an extended tour in his homeland of Iraq. He earned several medals, including a Purple Heart. He passed multiple background checks. Yet the United States is not ready to let him become a U.S. citizen. His application for citizenship has been circling in naturalization purgatory since April 2007, caught in a backlog of FBI name checks.

Our government bureaucracy at it's finest. Instead of welcoming this hero with open arms and allowing him the fruits of his labor. We have shuffled him into line behind the illegal aliens and others that only talk about freedom never pursuing it's defense. Maybe this should be the citizenship test for those able bodied enough that want to enjoy the fruits of U.S. Citizenship. You want it defend it. As for this Soldier, the Army should start kicking collective butt till his application is processed.

Read the Full Story

The Army on Friday was holding an exercise involving shooting live pigs and treating the gunshot wounds in training it says is critical to saving soldiers' lives but which has sparked outcry from animal-rights activists. The training, held at Schofield Barracks for Iraq-bound troops, is being conducted under a U.S. Department of Agriculture license and the careful supervision of veterinarians and a military Animal Care and Use Committee, said Maj. Derrick Cheng, spokesman for the 25th Infantry Division. "It's to teach Army personnel how to manage critically injured patients within the first few hours of their injury," Cheng said of the medical trauma training. The soldiers are learning emergency lifesaving skills needed on the battlefield when there are no medics, doctors or facilities nearby, he said.

Will this save the lives of soldiers in combat? That should be the only question. If this is the best training technique and it has been proven to save lives then it is very hard to argue against. It is not an easy scenario to imagine but in this scenario if 1 soldier is saved for every pig who is shot then isn't the cost worth it? By the way the pig are under anesthesia and the medics are doing their best to save them just like they will be doing with our soldiers. Live patients just like in thee field. Now really what is more important the pig or the soldier?

Read the Full Story

A handful of veterans showed up at an Ocean View VFW post Wednesday for free legal advice on applying for disability payments and appealing federal government benefit rulings. It was a far quieter reception than Project Salute sometimes gets. When the 31-foot, custom-made RV staffed with students and professors from the University of Detroit Mercy law school kicked off its national tour in San Antonio in February, 200 veterans came out for advice. In Jacksonville, Fla., 400 people showed up, said Mark Gordon, the law school's dean.

Lawyers giving back to the community? It must be an election year. Actually this time the lawyers are right. It should not be that hard for a veteran to fill out a disability application, or to appeal if they think the VA is in error. Our veterans have honorable served their country, it is time for the country to give back. The VA processes we use should be scrutinized and revamped so that anyone who has served can apply for the benefits to which they are entitled.

Read the Full Story

Five Lebanese militants freed from prisons in Israel in exchange for the bodies of two captured Israeli soldiers strode down a red carpet behind a Hezbollah honor guard Wednesday to a boisterous welcome from hundreds of cheering spectators. Israel released Samir Kantar and four others after Hezbollah handed over two black coffins with the bodies of the Israeli soldiers, closing a painful chapter from the 2006 war in Lebanon.

Why would Israel even make an exchange like this. One for one maybe. But letting a brutal butcher like this loose is just plain stupid. What would happen if the whole lot was blown up by suicide bombers while they have their little ceremony?

Read the Full Story

Weary U.S. troops traveling through Syracuse’s airport will soon have a special room to pass the time while waiting for rides and flights — thanks to some local veterans. Hancock International Airport officials will establish a special hospitality room at the airport, which is frequently used by soldiers from the Army’s 10th Mountain Division who are stationed 75 miles to the north at Fort Drum.

Considering that the airlines are not giving military discounts this is a step in the right direct by the Airport. Wouldn't it be great to see this spread to all the airports. Next time you fly go early and mention it to the airport management. It is a good way for you to show your support for the troops.

Read the Full Story

A Pennsylvania congressman wants airlines to cut fares for service members on leave. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., is sponsoring what he calls the Homecoming Help for Our Heroes Act, which not only would order reduced fares but also ease rules for getting standby seats. Murphy said active-duty service members often get time off on short notice, so they don’t have much flexibility in their schedule or time to shop around for the cheapest fares — so they end up with expensive tickets and often lengthy delays trying to get home.

Airlines say that they have available seating with a military discount. However many have basically ignored what they have on their websites. One reader said "this is the high season and there are never any available seats to offer for military discounts." this was a quote from one of the airlines. In other words the airlines want to benefit from the image of supporting our troops but the bottom line is just that the bottom line. There is no charity or giving back to those who serve. Should airlines who practice this be allowed government contracts to fly our troops at other times?

Read the Full Story

If 120-degree summer heat and 70-pound packs weren't enough, American troops in Iraq have been getting sapped of energy by a surprising source: their own batteries. On a typical three-day deployment, soldiers carry around 65 batteries — weighing up to 30 pounds — to power their night-vision goggles, flashlights, GPS and other tools. This is in addition to a significant amount of dead weight in body armor and Kevlar. Now Lockheed Martin has stepped up to solve both problems in one go. It plans to turn a soldier's body armor into a power source, making the armor rechargeable and its total weight minuscule.

Sounds like something straight out of "Starship Troopers" (the book). While self powered armored suits have been around for decades in comic books they have been noticeable in their absence on the battlefield. With the blockbuster hit "Ironman" out this spring and this break through now. we may soon see these armored warriors on the field. Should the military pursue armored suits for the infantry?

Read the Full Story

An American national guardsman who refused to redeploy to Iraq was granted a last-ditch reprieve from deportation July 9 when Canada's Federal Court said he could stay while it decides whether to hear his case. Sgt. Corey Glass, 25, was the first Iraqi war dodger from the U.S. to face imminent deportation from Canada. Glass, who had already left his Toronto apartment and was set to return to the U.S. and possible jail time, was ecstatic.

What more can be said than this coward betrayed his brothers in arms. He was a volunteer in the military and didn't want to fulfill his contractual and moral obligations. If he ever crosses back into the U.S. or applies for aid at any U.S. Embassy he should be arrested on the spot. For the rest of his life he should be denied federal monies for any type of aid. and finally his citizenship should be stripped from him. That or they could do what they used to do and put him up in front of a firing squad. Or is that too harsh a sentence in a time of war?

Read the Full Story

Some military retirees disabled in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan pay more for health care than other retirees, and a new report recommends waiving their insurance premiums to correct the inequity. The report Tuesday by inspectors general of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs suggests waiving for life the Medicare Part B premiums for service members who have been medically retired and are unlikely to get another job.Service members judged unfit for continued service after a service-related injury or illness are called "medically retired" and are eligible to continue receiving care through the military health care system. But those who don't live near VA facilities can enroll in Medicare and go to civilian providers, the report said.Such retirees pay roughly $1,160 annually in monthly premiums until reaching the age of 65, while other retirees remain in the military health care system and don't need the Medicare plan.

Much like the insurance card that most Americans carry we should issue these brave men and women, who made huge sacrifices for us, a V.A. Medical Card. They should be allowed to use it at any medical facility and receive the same care for the same price they would at a V.A. hospital. Is this such a difficult concept to grasp? Is there a better way to take care of this problem?

Read the Full Story

Full-tuition educational benefits included in a new veterans’ program signed into law on June 30 will not take effect until Aug. 1, 2009, unless Congress approves a change in the new law. There will be a 20 percent increase, effective this Aug. 1, in Montgomery GI Bill benefits for active-duty veterans and veterans who have served two or more years of active duty, raising the maximum benefit to $1,321 for a full-time student who has three or more years of active service, under terms of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

Since when has any new piece of legislation not been complicated and cumbersome? It may be impossible for the congress of the United States of America to actually publish a straight-forward law. Take the GI Bill changes for example. Not only did they leave out key parts of the original proposal, they also forgot the time table that was to be included. Better benefits for our veterans is always a good thing, letting congress write up and determine what they are, not always the best course of action. Plus they still have not retracted the 10 year limit on using the GI Bill.

Read the Full Story

Summer, when school is over, is the military’s prime recruiting time. But when the Army goes looking for young people to enlist, says Gen. William Wallace, it runs into an astounding fact. “About 28 percent of them, based on our analysis, are fully qualified for military service,” he said. Put it another way: Only three out of 10 young people between the ages of 17 and 24 even qualify to serve in the Army, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

Does anyone find this surprising in an age where we buy video games to entertain our kids and keep them inside, instead of taking the time to play in the park with them? Is it surprising in an age where schools try to teach our kids morals that we find repugnant? Is it surprising in an age where it is not your fault that you are fat, lazy and worthless? No it is not surprising. The question is how do we go about changing it?

Read the Full Story

Two U.S. soldiers who disappeared from military installations on the U.S. mainland are hiding in Puerto Rico but should be left alone, their mothers told reporters Wednesday. The women asked police here to stop searching for their sons, saying that desertion from the U.S. military may be a federal crime but enforcement should not be up to local officials.

"My poor wittle son has run away from the Army and doesn't wanna go back, so please don't look for him Mister Policeman." What a crock! Local police enforce federal laws all the time. These mothers may not think desertion is a big deal but in a time of war it is. These boys (can't call them men) betrayed the trust and oath that they took upon entering the military. Nobody promised them it would be an easy life. Should the military go get them and press full charges?

Read the Full Story

The Pentagon has revised its policy for recruits who must get waivers for past bad behavior, but officials stopped short of eliminating waiver requirements for petty crimes, The Associated Press has learned. After a lengthy review, the Defense Department bowed to insistence from the services that they be allowed to set their own guidelines for what offenses trigger a waiver. Instead, officials say the Pentagon will unveil a policy Wednesday that improves and simplifies the reporting process, grouping the waivers into four broad categories.

In the big scheme of things this is a good thing. The military should take into consideration the past wrongdoings of individuals when assigning them their jobs. You would not want someone with a drug history working in the Pharmacy. Just like you would not want someone with a history of theft working in the accounting office. There is a job for everyone and those jobs should reflect the talents and past of the person. Should the military allow someone to join that has a checkered past?

Read the Full Story

Hezbollah instructors trained Shiite militiamen at remote camps in southern Iraq until three months ago when they slipped across the border to Iran — presumably to continue instruction on Iranian soil, according to two Shiite lawmakers and a top army officer. The three Iraqis claim the Lebanese Shiites were also involved in planning some of the most brazen attacks against U.S.-led forces, including the January 2007 raid on a provincial government compound in Karbala in which five Americans died.

It seems that the Honorable President Bush called this one quite some time ago. Does it come as any surprise that Iran is trying to gain control of Iraq and then possibly Saudi Arabia? What should the U.S. do about the growing influence of Iran?

Read the Full Story