It’s got to be heartbreaking for President Bush and John McCain to be on the wrong side of the GI Bill debate. Interestingly, their position exemplifies what Democrats have failed to recognize in the nearly 2 years since taking over Congress: responsibility brings with it the requirement to do unpleasant things. Mark Kleiman says that…
Category: Military
Like This is Gonna Happen
The Jerusalem Post says that a "senior member" of President Bush’s posse said that Bush and Dick Cheney said that military action against Iran is warranted. In other news, the Chicago Cubs will win the World Series this year and al Qaeda has issued a public statement saying that the terrorist network is laying down…
No Votes For Veterans
Steven Rosenfeld says that some wounded veterans may not be able to vote as a result of being confined to Veterans Affairs facilities during their recovery: "VA remains opposed to becoming a voter registration agency pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act, as this designation would divert substantial resources from our primary mission," [Secretary of…
Toledo Mayor Boots Marines
Here’s more evidence that democracy can yield piss-poor leaders. Happily, the process is self-correcting. Carty Finkbeiner, the mayor of Toledo, Ohio – you know, that eminent American city in the heart of the midwest that’s known for producing the Mud Hens of M*A*S*H fame and very little else – has kicked the United States Marines…
U.S. to Defy Putin re Missile Defense
Reuters reports that U.S. officials intend to move ahead with plans to locate a missile defense system in central Europe despite pointed protests made by Vladimir Putin of Russia. "We are continuing negotiations with those countries (Poland and the Czech Republic)," Daniel Fried, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, told a news conference in Baku. "We…
Blackwater Shooters Given Immunity
Why? Three senior law enforcement officials said all the Blackwater bodyguards involved — both in the vehicle convoy and in at least two helicopters above — were given the legal protections as investigators from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security sought to find out what happened. The bureau is an arm of the State Department. The…
Ron Paul Tops for Military Donations
My hometown paper, the Houston Chronicle, got this write-up placed on memeorandum this afternoon: Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, the congressman from the Houston area who opposes the Iraq war, has gotten more contributions than any other White House contender from donors identified as affiliated with the military. According to a Houston Chronicle analysis of…
There You Go Again, Jimmy
Jimmy Carter says that the United States tortures prisoners in violation of international law. From CNN: “I don’t think it. I know it,” Carter told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “Our country for the first time in my life time has abandoned the basic principle of human rights,” Carter said. “We’ve said that the Geneva Conventions do…
National Guard Shorted Benefits?
WCSH, a NBC affiliate in Portland, Maine, reports that members of the Minnesota National Guard, who had been deployed in Iraq for 22 months, are being denied GI Bill education benefits. [1st Lt. Jon] Anderson’s orders, and the orders of 1,161 other Minnesota guard members, were written for 729 days. Had they been written for…
Black Waters Indeed
Congress has issued a report that is critical of the private security firm Blackwater, according to the NY Times. The report by the Democratic majority staff of a House committee adds weight to complaints from Iraqi officials, American military officers and Blackwater’s competitors that company guards have taken an aggressive, trigger-happy approach to their work…