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If Barbara Boxer has her way.
Democrats in the U.S. Congress want to force a vote of no confidence on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld after the August recess.Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., plans to attach a resolution calling on President Bush to fire Rumsfeld to the defense appropriations bill, CNN reported Friday.
Even many supporters of the Iraq war blame Rumsfeld for carrying out the invasion with too small a force and ignoring unrest until it blossomed into an insurgency. A speech he made this week to the American Legion national convention comparing opponents of the war to those who tried to appease Adolf Hitler in the 1930s reportedly outraged Democrats.
"This latest Rumsfeld rampage cannot stand," Boxer said. "By comparing critics of this administration's policies in Iraq with those who wanted to appease fascism and Nazism in the run-up to World War II, he is slandering the majority of the American people, who oppose the war in Iraq."
Whew, she's mad. Wonder if she was this mad when her collegue Dick Durbin compared the actions of our troops to those of Pol Pot, Hitler and Stalin?
Remember the gnashing of teeth and rending of clothes at Annapolis because at LT had a potty-mouth moment in front of a Midshipman, made and apology that was accepted, and was still going to a Courts Martial? Well, after the Midshipman Owens CM failure - Annapolis punted. Sent him to Admiral's Mast at the Washington Navy Yard, where he received a Non Punitive Letter of Reprimand.
Mark Wilkerson explains his decision to disappear. Well, sort of...
There were some interesting nuggets in the lengthy Killeen Daily Herald Story. First of all, I'm left wondering what Wilkerson's fellow soldiers think about this:
Wilkerson said he was happy about the prospect of seeing soldiers with whom he served in Iraq in 2003, adding that he respects, supports and honors every military veteran."They all worked with the highest level of professionalism, and I was honored to serve beside them in Iraq," Wilkerson said.
"With open arms" doesn't come to mind....
Secondly, this is quite interesting:
The Colorado Springs, Colo., native avoided answering questions about his life since Fort Hood. He has separated from his wife, who lived with him in Killeen. He mentioned odd jobs, but didn't elaborate.An Internet search, however, found a site listing a soldier by the same name and rank participating in a 50-minute film, produced by New Spark Media & Arts that chronicles the life of the soldier on the run.
The Web site at www.newsparkproductions.org describes the film, dubbed A.W.O.L., as a work in progress that "takes viewers into the life of a young American soldier, who after a year-long tour in Iraq, defied his commanders and refused to return to Iraq for a second tour of duty."
"The documentary is a collaborative effort between the filmmaker and the soldier, who is currently keeping a video journal while in hiding," the site states. "The film has been in production since October of 2004."
And finally, can I just say that I don't understand these people who are always trying to "find themselves."
Wilkerson left for basic training in the summer after he graduated from high school and became a military policeman. One month after joining Fort Hood's 720th Military Police Battalion, he deployed to Iraq.
There, he had a crisis of faith. He questioned where God was, whether the American government had done the right thing and what he was willing to do for his beliefs, once he figured out what they were.
[snip]
Since he returned from Iraq, Wilkerson has decided to learn more about current events and the world.
He has tried to answer his questions of faith.
"I'm still trying to get right with that," he said. "I've been spending the last year and a half trying to find my niche in life and discover who I am."
Apparently, I'm so NOT "hip".
Come to the Castle and render honors to a literally dying breed.
Hollywood heroes.
No, really. A real hero in Hollywood.
...you should.
Follow Israeli Infantry in a night attack. It's long, but worth it.
Some of you vets will find your palms sweaty.
[Update: Looks like the link may have exceeded the bandwidth, or someone asked that it be removed.
Mebbe if you check back later it will work. You can try a right click and save as - that worked for me - but could also be because I've played it before and the file is stored on my machine (though I did flush the cache to check)]
Now you know why base security can get pissy if you don't lock your car.
Cars stolen from the US are linked to suicide bombings in Iraq. Shades of "Hoist on your own petard!' "Alternative capitalism" reprises selling scrap metal to Japan in the 30's only to have to sink it in the 40's... (No snarks about weapons sales and being shot at by your own stuff - different sourcing!)
One a completely unrelated note... What the helk *is* on 527's left wing?
Via Smash comes this report of a uniformed National Guardsman being assaulted in Parkland, Washington.
PARKLAND, Wash. -- The Pierce County Sheriff's Department is searching for five people who allegedly attacked a uniformed National Guardsmen walking along 138th Street in Parkland Tuesday afternoon.
The soldier was walking to a convenience store when a sport utility vehicle pulled up alongside him and the driver asked if he was in the military and if he had been in any action.
The driver then got out of the vehicle, displayed a gun and shouted insults at the victim. Four other suspects exited the vehicle and knocked the soldier down, punching and kicking him.
“And during the assault the suspects called him a baby killer. At that point they got into the car and drove off and left him on the side of the road[.]”
Generally such an act would fall under state criminal law. However, I got to thinking whether 18 USC 111 might have some applicability.
Back in 2002 and 2003, the mainstream, anti-war left drew a lesson from the pages of Vietnam era protest and excess. They promised that this time, they'd fight against the war, but honor the warrior. In return, many of us on the other side of the argument conceded to them the presumption of good intentions, choosing instead to argue with their assumptions.
Is this compact fraying? And if so, what will be the consequences? More - much more - over at my place.
It's been known to end military careers, but what about congressional aspirations?
David Harris, a Democratic candidate for a North Texas congressional seat, is under investigation by the military amid allegations that he carried on a three-year affair with an enlisted soldier under his command in the Army Reserve.Harris, an Iraqi war veteran challenging 11-term Republican Rep. Joe Barton of Arlington, is accused of "conduct unbecoming an officer" for maintaining a "close and continuing relationship" with a female Army sergeant from 2003 though 2005, a military investigator said.
I suppose we'll see come November.
AWOL soldier turns himself in.
A Fort Hood solider that went AWOL for two years surrendered on Thursday.Army specialist Mark Wilkerson said he returned to face his fellow soldiers and superiors rather than live in constant fear.
Wilkerson disappeared just before his second deployment to Iraq.
He says he never left the country but won't say where he was.
There is no word on what Wilkerson's punishment will be. Others have served time in military prison.
Wilkerson has been keeping poor company.
Wilkerson recently traveled to Cindy Sheehan's war protest camp near President Bush's Crawford ranch, about 40 miles north of Fort Hood's main gate.
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