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POPSIraq Vet Congressman Patrick Murphy Slams DADT Don't ask, don't tell is a ridiculous, outdated policy that will likely be gone within a year. Most troops don't support it, and those who do are just going to have to deal with it. When the military was de-segregated, obviously there were racists that opposed that, too.
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POPSIranian Trade With Iraq But since Saddam's ouster, there has been deluge of Iranian goods into the country, particularly in the strip from Baghdad to Basra, said anthropologist Hosham Dawod from the French national center for scientific research. "Some sources quote figures such as $8 billion," for the value of Iranian imports in 2008, he said, but added there were no official figures on import levels. 'Iranian products are not truly political tools' - shoppers in the Shiite district of Kadhimiyya in northwest Baghdad snatch up not only Iranian-made cookers, fridges, air conditioning units and generators, but also toys, rugs and medicines.
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POPS The Late Col. David Hackwoth's take on McCain's service What is very revealing is how he treats the spouses of the men who were MIA or believed to be POW. He has no compassion for them at all. I think he wants these POW to stay missing for fear that one of them may remember what he did as a POW.
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POPSMilitants Kill Nine U.S. Troops in Afghanistan The difference in tactics is telling (4.00 / 1) In Iraq we are fighting a guerilla insurgency made up of numerous different groups, most of which are also fighting each other. It is a hit-and-run type of fighting made up of IED's and random attacks on moving groups. What you are talking about in Afghanistan is an organized assault directly on a military encampment. This type of structure and cohesion on the part of the enemy should have been annhialated several years ago. "The wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy" - General Omar Bradley
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POPSMcCain Does Best Bush Imitation And for a guy who claims to support the troops more than anyone, I'm always astonished that McCain would make these kinds of statements while we have troops in the field. It's a funny joke to the old guy who gets to sleep in a nice bed tonight; it's less funny to the soldier who has to deal with angry young Muslims who think America wants to destroy them.
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POPSVoteVets Responds to Iraqi Calls for Timetable or Withdrawal Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chair of VoteVets.org said: "It is wholly inappropriate for Vets for Freedom to be running an advertisement that advocates staying in Iraq indefinitely, given Prime Minister Maliki's request this week that the U.S. set a firm timetable to redeploy our troops. Our nation must stand firm and in lockstep to support the sovereign democratic government of Iraq, and unfortunately an ad like this only tells the Iraqis that our nation is divided on whether to support Iraq's government. "We agree with John McCain of 2004, who said that if the Iraqis asked us to leave or set a timetable to leave, we would do so. It's unfortunate, and indeed dangerous, that Senator McCain has flip-flopped on that position, and disappointing that Vets for Freedom would support that flip-flop from a sensible policy with an ad like this.
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POPSSo Much For Those Permanent Bases "The direction we are taking is to have a memorandum of understanding either for the departure of the forces or to have a timetable for their withdrawal," a statement from Maliki's office quoted him as telling Arab ambassadors to the United Arab Emirates. "The negotiations are still continuing with the American side, but in any case the basis for the agreement will be respect for the sovereignty of Iraq," he added. As I have mentioned before, most Iraqis view the SOFA with the US as an encroachment on their sovereignty. It was the first time that the Shiite prime minister had specifically demanded a timetable for a US withdrawal, something that President George W. Bush has repeatedly refused to set. Bush and Maliki agreed in principle last November to sign a Status of Forces Agreement in Iraq by the end of July to set the basis for a US troop presence beyond December this year when the UN mandate runs out.
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POPSNew Program Aids Homeless Vets, But Not Nearly Enough The shelter that housed the two homeless Vets, called "Soldier On", was mentioned in an article from the Boston Herald today. Veterans in the Boston area and across the nation are getting some much needed assistance in securing their own rental homes, thanks to a new federal program. Last week, housing authorities from Boston to Northampton began issuing 245 rental assistance vouchers to chronically homeless veterans. In the Boston area, 1,950 former service members are considered homeless. "With the new number of homeless vets that we are creating because of Iraq and Afghanistan, this is focusing on their needs," said U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Somerville), who will make a formal announcement Tuesday
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POPSWar Photographer "Disembedded The Marine commanders who saw the photograph were not happy, saying it violated a "trust" between the military and journalists. The reason the Marines gave--that Zoriah had "provided the enemy with specific information on the effectiveness of the attack and the response of U.S. and Iraqi forces to the attack"--was nonsense. Now, I don't like seeing dead Americans at all. But if the country is going to fight a war, then the population needs to see the cost. What's next? Should we also ban combat-wounded paraplegics, amputees, and burn victims from going out in public after they return home? Is it just too shocking? Would not banning them from public allow the terrorists to achieve a victory on our own soil by inflicting dangerously low morale on the American public? Would it help al Qaeda with their battle damage assessments? And we certainly don't want the kids to see that kind of stuff--like Purple Heart awardees walking around without body parts.
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POPSMcCain's Surge in Iraq Crippling Efforts in Afghanistan The death rate for American troops in Afghanistan last month was four times that of Iraq. The last two months have been the deadliest of the war for U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan since 2001. And today, Afghanistan sustained the deadliest single terrorist attack since 9/11 when suspected Taliban militants blew up the Indian embassy in Kabul. This is directly attributable to negligent policies set forth by the Bush administration--an administration dangerously obsessed with Iraq at the expense of the Real Global War on Terror. When many were urging the U.S. to focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan in early 2007, the Bush administration--with the support of Senator John McCain--launched the "surge" of troops into Baghdad. Unfortunately, Iraq is not, as John McCain says, the "central front" in the War on Terror--and it never has been. If there is such a thing, it is in Afghanistan and Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
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POPSDeadliest Attack in Afghanistan The Afghan Interior Ministry hinted that the attack was carried out with help from Pakistan's intelligence service, saying that "terrorists have carried out this attack in coordination and consultation with some of the active intelligence circles in the region." The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said Pakistan condemned the attack and terrorism in all forms. Unfortunately we have no more troops to send to Afghanistan.
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POPSWhy Army Officers Won't Speak Out
Personally, I think it's because many officers have no idea just how badly their voices are needed in the national debate over what to do in Iraq and Afghanistan. In my experience, most people (not just soldiers) are completely unaware as to how absolutely clueless most politicians--and the general public--are when it comes to the wars. They don't realize that they can actually make a difference by speaking out. I think many officers are terrified of saying something wrong that could be construed as "buddy-fucking." They don't want to let their soldiers down , they don't want to embarrass their peers and higher-ups. It's easier just to stay quiet. I know this one's true, because I dealt with it myself. Other than that, I'm at a loss. We all know the officer corps is frustrated. We know the Congress is uninformed to a large degree. And we know the Congress makes decisions that affect the officer corps (and the entire military). So what's the deal? Where is everybody?
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POPSTours Being Extended in Afghanistan * Bush admits to 'tough month' in Afghanistan (4.00 / 1) WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Wednesday acknowledged that June was a difficult month for American and allied troops in Afghanistan, saying the higher death toll there was because troops are taking the fight to Taliban militants. Because they are taking the fight to the Taliban? What does he think they were doing before? Haven't they always been taking the fight to the Taliban in Afghanistan? Forty-six U.S. and allied personnel lost their lives in Afghanistan last month, the highest monthly toll since the war started. The 28 American troop deaths also marked the highest U.S. monthly death toll in Afghanistan in the conflict. In May and June, the American and allied death toll surpassed those in Iraq, where there are far more U.S.-led coalition troops.
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POPSChickenhawk Smears Clark;Tries to Speak for Military But the fact that CNN had this kid on to talk about things for which he has no understanding wasn't the only thing that was disturbing. I love how it's totally unacceptable to give anything other than glowing reviews of John McCain's military experience in Media World, while it's okay to slander General Clark's military service. After Ferguson said that Clark had "ticked off everyone in the military," he went on to say that John McCain had "been in actual war zones while Wesley Clark was sitting in an air-conditioned room, telling people what to do with NATO." Ben needs to brush up on his talking points, because Clark was actually shot four times in Vietnam, and left the country on a stretcher. Most people would consider that having been in an "actual war zone." And to be honest, the next person to debate this kid on TV should ask for an apology--or just ask him what he has against wounded Vietnam veterans.
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POPSMcCain Flips at Legit Question McCain's response? "Please," he said, recoiling back in his seat in distaste at the very question. Uh uh. That's not good enough. You would assume that given all the whining over General Clark's legitimate point, that John McCain had some obvious answer to the question. Instead, he refused to answer the question, and let Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham come to his defense, babbling to the reporter about character, but not a word about qualifications. The fact of the matter is that General Clark was absolutely right. McCain's service, while heroic and honorable, is not very relevant when it comes to preparing him to be the military's ultimate commander. His experience didn't involve executive decision making in the military, or global strategy. Very few candidates for the presidency have had the experience in life that prepares them for that role. In fact, McCain said it himself in 2003, that some of our best Commanders in Chief had no military experience at all.
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POPSMore Delays With Iraq SOFA A majority of the Iraqi parliament wrote to the US congress last week rejecting a long-term security deal with Washington if it is not linked to a requirement that US forces leave. "The majority of Iraqi representatives strongly reject any military-security, economic, commercial, agricultural, investment or political agreement with the United States that is not linked to clear mechanisms that obligate the occupying American military forces to fully withdraw from Iraq," the letter to the leaders of Congress said. A majority of the Iraqi population does not want a long term military presence in Iraq, and Iraqi politicians are mindful of this as election time nears. At the same tine, the US is also approaching elections, and the war in Iraq is extremely unpopular among the majority of the American people.
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POPSIn Their Boots If we don't listen to the ones who are really fighting this war. We will have another Vietnam. And a regime that knows it can get away with anything.
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POPSThe Media's "Wes Clark Hyperventorama" Gen. Clark was absolutely right in his praise and valid criticism of Sen. McCain. Bob Schieffer has an opportunity here to show himself to be a responsible journalist by putting the comments back in their proper context, i.e. when he makes his closing comments on Face the Nation. But I'm not holding my breath on that one! Brandon, can you get the vets in your "Veterans Respond to General Clark's Comments" on video? YouTube would be a great vehicle for this. Thanks for the posts. for the last four years, so I am not acclimatized to the US media anymore. WTF happened to my country????? No one has bothered to look at McCains voting record on vet issues for the last twenty years. He's voted no on practically every piece of legislation benefiting the VA. If he used his "military/vet/pow" creds to boost the VA, then I and many of my younger brothers and sisters from Iraq and Afghanistan would probably not have the serious problems they have getting their benefits.
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POPSVeterans Respond to General Clark's Comments The bottom line is this: If Democrats tuck tail and run from Republicans in this instance, we run the risk of ceding authority on military issues to John McCain for the rest of the campaign. Whether you like Clark or not, everyone has an interest in defending him vigorously in this case. We cannot allow the Right and the media to get away with trashing the first guy to come out in prime time to slam McCain's military "expertise." If our organizations don't defend Clark as being right in this case, we give in to the idea that Republicans are the parents in terms of national defense, and Democrats are the children--something those on the Right will be more than happy to reinforce. This idea that we can't question someone's expertise on military matters simply because they served could very easily become the next "whoever is against the war is unpatriotic" mantra. And that's not something I'm prepared to accept.
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POPSMcCain's "Truth Squad" John McCain, Bud Day and Paul Galanti are all war heroes. As is General Clark who returned from Vietnam after receiving four bullet wounds. The difference is that while General Clark reasonably questioned a political candidates ability to lead a nation, John McCain welcomed into his flock two dishonest, deplorable political operatives who he previously described as "dishonorable" Day, and the swifties, opened themselves up to not only criticism but also the complete loss of face, i.e. hero worship and that Honored Discription of others, Hero, by their Blatant Lying with nothing to back up their charges against a Sailor doing an Extremely Dangerous Job On The Ground, i.e. in small boats on the rivers of, Vietnam! And not only one Sailor but those serving with him directly, those serving on the other boats from that base, All Navy Personal Serving In-Country
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POPSAdmiral Mullen is Wrong There are some soldiers that are adamantly against an activist foreign policy. They are individuals that would share the philosophy in this regard with Patrick Buchanan. Foreign policy is an area that falls completely within the purview of the Executive Branch. It would be completely inappropriate for a soldier to "campaign" for one of the candidates because that candidate is less interventionist or more interventionist. No we get to the "elephant in the living room." I am a senior Officer in the United States Army who has attended the senior service colleges. I have served in a multitude of command, instructor and staff positions over two decades.
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POPSRemember this About where the moneys going, More of sending the few into Multiple Tours and Stoploss! More of Not Taking Care of those sent when They Return! As long as most of them don't have to Sacrifice and can continue to call themselves a Party of Moral Americans! I never heard an APOLOGY to the few who Serve and are Awarded Purple Hearts, America's Highest Honor, for Dying and being Maimed in America's Wars, Wars mostly of Choice not Need!
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POPSA Tale of Two Johns We? Out of the 92-6 vote, two senators were not present. One of them was Ted Kennedy, who is home recovering from brain surgery. The other was John McCain. Even John Cornyn was faux-brave enough to vote "yea" after his defiance was stomped out of Congress like a flaming bag of dog shit. Time and time again, John McCain has been a detriment to troops and veterans, not only for his disastrous plans for Iraq but for the curtailing of benefits soldiers receive when they come home. His loyalty no longer resides with fellow veterans but to slick D.C. politics. I know you're not reading this, Senator McCain, but we'll be watching for more of the same.
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