Asked But Didn't Tell

Clintonesque.

Lack of Funding Report

Good thing Jim Webb is banging that gavel so the President can't make a recess appointment. Good grief.

I Love You

Use Your Liberty To Promote Theirs

I am not free if you are not free.

Give Thanks and Praises to the Most High

Thanks and Praise: I photographed men and women, both Christians and Muslims, placing a cross atop the St. John’s Church in Baghdad. They had taken the cross from storage and a man washed it before carrying it up to the dome.

A Muslim man had invited the American soldiers from “Chosen” Company 2-12 Infantry to the church, where I videotaped as Muslims and Christians worked and rejoiced at the reopening of St John’s, an occasion all viewed as a sign of hope.

The Iraqis asked me to convey a message of thanks to the American people. ” Thank you, thank you,” the people were saying. One man said, “Thank you for peace.” Another man, a Muslim, said “All the people, all the people in Iraq, Muslim and Christian, is brother.” The men and women were holding bells, and for the first time in memory freedom rang over the ravaged land between two rivers. (Videotape to follow.)

Consider making a donation to Michael Yon so he can continue to bring us news from Iraq.

The Marlboro Marine

This is the photo that made Marine Lance Cpl. James Blake Miller -- the "Marlboro Marine" -- famous.


This is part of the story the photographer wrote about how a photo blurred their lives together.

He returned to Camp Lejeune, N.C. His high school sweetheart, Jessica Holbrooks, joined him there, and they were married in a civil ceremony.

Then came the nightmares and hallucinations. He imagined shadowy figures outside the windows. Faces of the dead haunted his sleep.

Once, while cleaning a shotgun, he blacked out. He regained consciousness when Jessica screamed out his name. Snapping back to reality, he realized he was pointing the gun at her.

He reported the problems to superiors, who promised to get him help.

Then came a single violent episode, which put an end to his days as a Marine.

Blake is on a mission to get Congress' help with his PTSD. Give it a read, there's more to it than you could imagine.

Nov 11, 1918

Veteran's Day (Armistice Day until 1954), originated as a result of the end of the great war, WWI. It is meant to honor those who lost their lives and those who served and currently serve.

For me personally, I thank those who serve whenever I am made aware of it, no matter the day. But on Veteran's Day I seek out those I know served and thank them, hug them, and if they're a Vietnam Vet I say Welcome Home. Every year. Do they get sick of it? No. They come to expect it and smile when they see me coming.

Today, thank as many Veterans as you can, and say a prayer for those you can't thank personally. Devote a special thought of honor for those who died in action, for you and yours, and me and mine.

Together We Fight

French President Nicholas Sarkozy's speech to the US Congress

Part I


Part II


Part III


Part IV

PVT Dietrich: FLW, MO

A little blurry, but the stage was set for graduation.

My number 1 son and one of his buds from boot camp. *ear to ear grin*

Now he can use his cell on more than just Sunday! Woohoo!

My Hero!

The Kook Is At It Again

Kucinich Tries and Fails to Impeach Cheney



Too fricken funny.

Punishable By Death

Sounds good to me:

Murdering a service member would be a federal crime, punishable by death, under a bill introduced Thursday by Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa.

The “Capt. Scott Corwin Armed Forces Protection Act” would treat the murder of, attempted murder of or conspiracy to murder a member of the military as the same level of crime as the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer.

Under current law, it is a federal crime to murder a member of the military only if the accused knows the victim is a service member. Murphy’s bill, HR 3884, would treat service members murdered when in civilian clothing or in settings where it is not clear they are in the military the same as undercover law enforcement officers, Murphy aides said.

The bill is Murphy’s response to the 2004 shooting death of Army Capt. Scott Corwin in Savannah, Ga., as Corwin was returning home in the historic district of that city. Corwin’s shooting is unsolved.

The Corwin family has formed a foundation in his name that is raising money for a soldier and family support center to be located near Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and is also establishing a scholarship in his name.

When one says 'I Support The Troops', this is the sort of thing we should mean.

h/t: beachbaby

Wounded Veterans Update

It's a start:

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration announced preliminary steps Wednesday to improve treatment for wounded veterans with the hiring of staff to coordinate care between the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department.

The agreement signed Wednesday by the two departments creates "federal recovery coordinators," a recommendation of the presidential commission chaired by former Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala that was set up following disclosures of substandard care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

"There's a lot that we can do through the executive branch with those recommendations, but the president will also continue to call on Congress to do its part," said White House press secretary Dana Perino.

The coordinators will oversee medical care coordination between the two departments, which have joint responsibility in caring for wounded veterans. The coordinators will also work closely with family members to take care of services and needs.

The first 10 coordinators, scheduled to be hired by Dec. 1, will work at military health care facilities and at any other locations where patients are later assigned. They will be located at Walter Reed; the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.; the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and Balboa Park Naval Medical Center in San Diego.

I trust Bob Dole will keep his eye on this. I sure will.