Ostracised in Oakland?

Have you caught up with the Oakland Kerfuffle between the Malkin Corps and the Kossak Legions?

Marines and Soldiers Returning from Iraq not allowed into Oakland terminal. On September 27th 204 Marines and soldiers who were returning from Iraq were not allowed into the passenger terminal at Oakland International Airport. Instead they had to deplane about 400 yards away from the terminal where the extra baggage trailers were located. This was the last scheduled stop for fuel and food prior to flying to Hawaii where both were based. The trip started in Kuwait on September 26th with a rigorous search of checked and carry on baggage by US Customs. All baggage was x-rayed with a "backscatter" machine AND each bag was completely emptied and hand searched. After being searched, checked bags were marked and immediately placed in a secure container. Carry on bags were then x rayed again to ensure no contraband items were taken on the plane. While waiting for the bus to the airport, all personnel were in quarantined in a fenced area and were not allowed to leave.

Re: Marine v Ex Marine

US Constitution

Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place.

I'd like nothing more than Mouth Murtha to get his just due. I give credit to the Federal Judge that is at least prepared to question the limits of Article 1, Section 6 of the constitution. Unfortunately, there is no speach more protected than that of a Congress Critter.

Update via Findlaw

U.S. Supreme Court HUTCHINSON v. PROXMIRE, 443 U.S. 111 (1979) Indeed, the precedents abundantly support the conclusion that a Member may be held liable for republishing defamatory [443 U.S. 111, 128] statements originally made in either House. We perceive no basis for departing from that long-established rule. Mr. Justice Story in his Commentaries, for example, explained that there was no immunity for republication of a speech first delivered in Congress:

Marine v Ex-Marine

- Round three:

WASHINGTON - A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a defamation case brought by a Marine from Connecticut against Rep. John P. Murtha and ordered the Pennsylvania Democrat to give a sworn deposition in the case.

Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, from Meriden, is suing the 18-term congressman for alleging "cold-blooded murder and war crimes" by unnamed soldiers in connection with the deaths of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha

The investigating officer overseeing the Haditha case is expected to recommend soon whether Wuterich should stand trial.

...did not set a date for Murtha's testimony but said she would also require him to turn over documents related to his comments.

"You're writing a very wide road for members of Congress to go to their home districts and say anything they choose about private persons and be able to do so without any liability. Are you sure you want to do that?" Collyer said, adding later, "How far can a congressman go and still be protected?"

Collyer said she was troubled by the idea that lawmakers are immune from lawsuits regardless of what they say to advance their political careers.

Hard Corps

Navy Cross recipient Sgt. Marco Martinez's new book, Hard Corps: From Gangster to Marine Hero, is about as gritty a book as NYC publishers will allow. The neck-breaking action comes, of course, in the combat scenes and also his portrayal of his former gang life. But you have to love this USMC bootcamp scene wherein Martinez is trying to get around the fact that he has a gang tattoo.

My interrogation would be conducted by a staff sergeant. These men knew gang tattoos like sports fans know jersey numbers. And unlike the gunny back at the MEPS, this man didn't need a reference manual. As soon as I rotated my torso to display my past, the staff sergeant instantly recognized my gang's markings.

"Are you a punk-ass gangster?" the staff sergeant demanded.

"No, sir."

"Then why the f--k do you have a gang tattoo, ass?"

"I was stupid, sir. I'm here to change my life, sir."

"Martinez, you better not f--ck up my Corps."

"Aye, sir."

I'd eked through again, but the same could not be said for the guy
right after me.

"What the f--ck is that?" I heard the staff sergeant yell. "Is that a f--cking
swastika? Get the f--k out of my office, you piece of s--t!"

A DI quickly came and escorted anti-Semite swastika boy through the doors where all the other
nonhackers went. It was at about this point that I thought I would pass out from sleep deprivation.

Love You, too, Mom... I will.

My cell phone rang...

Actually, the area of my cell phone was vibrating just as we were walking into "The Kingdom" (more on that later). I was originally going to ignore the fuzzy buzzing, but as I was just inside the doorway, I looked to see who was calling. I didn't recognize the area code, but there were those last four numbers telling me it was coming through a DoD switching station. We'd become accustomed to those last four numbers when Noah and Our Guys were in Iraq the last time.

At first, there was that pause and fleeting moment of confusion 'cause, of course, Noah's not there, he's here... and just as quickly I knew it was someone calling from The Sandbox. Having had one of those calls once, my heart did a quick uptic in beats as I reversed course back out to the lobby, flipped open the phone and said, "Hello?"

The rest at Some Soldier's Mom