READY...AIM...

From Stars And Stripes:

VICTORY CAMP, Iraq ? Army Sgt. Maj. Thomas Clark didn?t know whether to laugh or cry when he saw his graduating daughter?s image flash on a makeshift screen on a palace wall at V Corps? headquarters just outside Baghdad.

?I?m disappointed I can?t be there because I?m so proud of her,? said Clark, assigned to the 440th Signal Battalion out of Darmstadt, Germany. ?She?s the finest young lady you?ll ever meet.?

Check the link and you'll see a picture of the ol Sar'major choking back a couple tears. I know I would be. There's a part of military life most folks are aware of, but really don't fully grasp. These are people who can't run home to see the kid they've raised graduate. The kid they helped with homework, science fair, scouts, mean kids, mean teachers, spelling tests, real and pretend sickness, first dates, drivers' ed, and on and on, for twelve years or so, graduating from High School.

These people brought their families to a foreign land, and then had to leave those families there while they went even further "down range." Some are single parents, which means they left the kids with friends to help them through their last few months of High School while dad or mom put it on the line. No stress there, eh?

And they probably feel privileged to be able to see it on TV. I would. Because most folks stationed over there won't even get that opportunity. And of course, to put even that in perspective, 18 years from now there will be kids graduating without mom or dad there because of this war. Think about it.

And then read this.

Senator Blocks 850 Air Force Promotions

WASHINGTON, June 8 ? Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho is blocking the promotions of more than 850 Air Force officers, including young pilots who fought in Iraq and the general nominated to bail out the scandal-plagued United States Air Force Academy, in a rare clash between the Pentagon and a senior Republican lawmaker.

Mr. Craig's price to free the frozen promotions now awaiting final Senate approval? Four C-130 cargo planes for the Idaho Air National Guard.

And this:

White House arbitrates dispute between Craig, Air Force

The White House sent representatives Tuesday to meet with Idaho Sen. Larry Craig and the secretary of the Air Force and try to resolve an impasse that has stalled nominations of nearly 400 Air Force officers.

"As talks progress, if we're able to make some progress with the Air Force, I think Sen. Craig would be willing to look at releasing at least some of these folks," said Hart, "but he refuses to get the same brick wall that he got before."

Is he that sure of his re-election? Or not running again? I see no excuse for this. I will hope the people of Idaho (or all of America) will do the right thing here.

I have no idea what this guy is thinking. But if you, like me, want to ask him real nicely to please let the people who helped secure his freedom have their well deserved promotions so they can get on with the business of the nation's defense his e-mail is here. See the title of this post? Now you get to fire.

Free the hostages, Senator Craig.

His phone is (202) 224-2752

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

-- "Tommy" Rudyard Kipling, 1892