191 posts from August 2012
US diplomats wounded by Mexican Police
Mexico's military says federal police have shot at a vehicle carrying two U.S. government employees south of Mexico City. The two were wounded in the incident.
Reports from Mexico quote officials as saying police were pursuing suspected criminals, and mistook the vehicle carrying the two Americans.
The two were hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
The Americans were riding in a vehicle with diplomatic plates when they came under fire on a highway leading to the city of Cuernavaca. There are conflicting reports about their identity.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S. government. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 07:59 in Current Affairs, Drugs, Politicians | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
War in Afghanistan News - 25 Aug 2012
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Aug. 25, 2012) – Afghan and coalition forces killed eight insurgents, detained three, located a weapons cache and cleared two improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 24.
Ghazni Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Ghazni District. The cache contained homemade explosives and items being used to construct IEDs.
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Andar District.
Khowst Province
Afghan Border Police and coalition forces detained an insurgent during an engagement in Khowst District. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.
Kunar Province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces killed two insurgents during an engagement in Pul-E Alam District.
A coalition airstrike killed four insurgents in Charkh District in response to an imminent threat to Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces.
Paktika Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sar Rowzah District.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed two insurgents and wounded two during an engagement in Sharan District. The wounded were provided medical treatment and transferred to a base for questioning.
Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 07:58 in Afghanistan News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Syria shells Damascus; 140 dead
Syrian forces have shelled targets in Damascus suburbs in a bid to oust rebels, while anti-government protests erupted in several other cities.
The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says approximately 140 people were killed in anti-government unrest, on Friday, most of them unarmed civilians.
President Bashar al-Assad's government has said it views the rebels as foreign-aided terrorists who are trying to destabilize the country.
Meanwhile, the new U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria says he is "honored, flattered, humbled and scared" as he takes on the role that had been carried out by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
In a Friday meeting with U.N. officials, Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi said the Syrian people were the group's "first masters," as he pledged to make their interests a priority.
Also, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters the number of Syrian refugees had surpassed 200,000, with the largest number in Turkey.
The Syrian conflict spilled over into Lebanon for a fifth day, on Friday. Officials say at least three people were killed in clashes between pro and anti-Syrian factions in the northern city of Tripoli. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 07:35 in Syria | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
SeAL book about OBL raid on sale September 11
The name of the anonymous U.S. Navy SEAL who penned a book about the special U.S. military team that killed terrorist leader Osama bin Ladin last year has been revealed.
U.S. media report the author is Matt Bisssonette, who retired from the Navy shortly after the operation in Pakistan that killed bin Laden.
U.S. publisher Dutton had asked news organization to withhold his identity.
Dutton had said the fictitious name of the author was Mark Owen. The book titled, "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden," will be released on September 11, 2012.
The U.S. Department of Defense has said if a member of the special U.S. military team that killed bin Ladin has disclosed classified information in the book, the matter could be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The CIA has also said it had not reviewed the book to ensure no classified material is revealed. Former military and intelligence personnel are required to submit any writings to their agencies before the work is published.
Dutton says the book was reviewed by a former special-operations attorney.
The book's release comes as the Obama administration is being criticized for leaking classified details about the bin Laden raid for what some say are political reasons. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 06:02 in Books, History, History - Terrorism | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
National Guard prep for Hurricane Isaac
By Amaani Lyle, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2012 - National Guard Coordination Center officials are stepping up efforts to prepare for the possibility that Tropical Storm Isaac, now in the Caribbean, could strengthen and affect the U.S mainland.
"Though no states have yet sought assistance, we're planning on a Gulf strike at Category 1 [hurricane] level in Mississippi, Alabama or the Florida panhandle," said Air National Guard Col. Matt Wessel, the Coordination Center's operations director. "We've identified Army Guard aviation rotary assets from numerous states, including Gulf region states outside of the storm's path, as well as fixed wing C-23s and 38 helicopters within the local region ready to respond."
Wessel said state and Guard officials will closely monitor the course of the storm to determine what assets may be needed and how to quickly to respond.
The National Weather Service reports the center of Isaac will move near or over southeastern Cuba Saturday and is expected to strengthen. While the exact track is uncertain, residents in South Florida and the Florida Keys are being told to monitor Isaac's path.
"National Guardsmen are on a 'prepare-for-deployment' status, in that they're not yet being called into the armories but ready to assemble into a brigade-size, regional response force that can fulfill states' required needs should they escalate to a Category 3 or Category 4 status," Wessel said.
Lt. Col. Al Gorman, Army National Guard current operations director, said NGB officials are prepared for a worst case scenario and will act swiftly to coordinate troop movement should it cross state lines.
"If the storm looks to be greater than a Category 2, we'll start moving people," he said.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 05:36 in Military News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Army Deployments - Winter 2012
DOD Identifies Units For Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation
The Department of Defense today identified three major units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan. The scheduled rotation involves three brigade combat teams (BCT) -- one Infantry brigade combat team with roughly 2,800 personnel; one armored brigade combat team with roughly 4,000 personnel and one infantry brigade combat team with roughly 2,870 personnel -- to rotate in winter 2012. The deploying units include:
Brigade Combat Teams:
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 05:31 in Afghanistan News, Military News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Aug. 24, 2012) - Afghan and coalition detained two and cleared twelve improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 23.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Giro District.
Logar Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained an insurgent while clearing two IEDs in Charkh District. The IEDs were cleared and the detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared eight IEDs, one in Mata Khan District, two in Sharan District, two in Yosuf Khel District and three in Jani Khel District.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained an insurgent during an engagement in Sharan District. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.
Wardak Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sayyidabad District.
Empire State Building Shooting
10AM ET: Shortly after 9:30 AM Eastern, an individual, fired approximately 1 year ago from his clothing designer job, believed to be an employee of the building opened fire near the building. At least 10 individuals were hit by bullets, including the shooter, Jeffrey Johnson, who was killed when he attempted to fire on Police.
Reports indicate Johnson fired 3 bullets at his victim. Police fired at least 16 rounds, which are believed to have caused the injuries to bystanders. One other person is reported to have been killed in this shooting.
New York City has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the Nation.
No further information available at this time.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 18:43 in Stateside | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Taliban kill 9 Afghans including 6 civilians
Authorities say insurgents have kidnapped and killed three Afghan soldiers in eastern Afghanistan.
Police official Mohammad Zaman told reporters insurgents stopped the soldiers' vehicle in the Ahmad Khil district of Paktia province and forced them off. The soldiers' bodies were found along the road later on Thursday.
Zaman said the troops were off-duty and were on their way to visit their families.
Meanwhile in southern Afghanistan, authorities say a roadside bomb killed six civilians traveling in Kandahar province. The blast took place Thursday in the Spin Boldak district.
The United Nations says 1,145 Afghan civilians were killed in the first half of this year, 80 percent of them by militants. The U.N. says roadside bombs planted by insurgents remain the leading cause of death among Afghan women and children. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 18:15 in Afghanistan News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Explosion kills 18 in Pakistan
Security officials in Pakistan say missiles fired from a U.S. drone have killed at least 18 suspected militants in the country's northwest, the fifth such attack in a week.
Officials say three compounds were hit Friday in the North Waziristan tribal agency, a known hub for Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants. Several people were wounded in the strikes.
The attack was the fifth since August 18, with a total of 35 suspected militants killed in North Waziristan in the last week.
Friday's drone strike comes a day after Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned a senior U.S. diplomat to protest the attacks, calling them "unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Moazzam Ahmad Khan repeated Pakistan's objection to drone strikes during a weekly press briefing Friday in Islamabad. Khan said Pakistan is working with the United States "to come up with a mutually acceptable solution."
Pakistan has repeatedly criticized drone attacks, but U.S. officials say the strikes are an important tool in defeating the insurgents.
Elsewhere in Pakistan's northwest Friday, military officials say security forces repulsed an attack on a checkpoint in Dir by some 100 militants who crossed into the tribal agency from across the Afghan border. At least five militants were killed in the ensuing fighting, the remaining attackers fled.
In neighboring Bajaur tribal agency, local officials say militants from Afghanistan raided a remote village and kidnapped several members of a pro-government militia.
And in nearby Orakzai tribal agency, the military says eight militants were killed in clashes Friday. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 18:13 in Pakistan | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
RIP SGT Louis R Torres
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Louis R. Torres, 23, of Oberlin, Ohio, died Aug. 22, in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds suffered when he encountered an enemy improvised explosive device, Aug. 6, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Torres was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 05:35 in Afghanistan News, Moment of Silence | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Islamists defend execution of Sharia Law in Mali
A spokesman for an al-Qaida-linked terrorist group in northern Mali says its members are "ready to die" in order to Sharia law.
In an interview with VOA , the spokesman for Islamist group Ansar Dine defended actions such as amputating the hands of thieves, destroying historic sites and silencing all non-Islamic music.
Islamist terrorists helped seize northern Mali from government forces five months ago, and later took full control of the region.
Ansar Dine spokesman Sanda Ould Boumama said shortly after taking control Islamists began teaching people about "all things that are forbidden by their religion." He said the population was initially "very reluctant" to accept the terrprists' point of view. But he said eventually they did and – in his words – "now we don't have any problem."
United Nations officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, have accused groups in northern Mali of extremist and criminal activities.
Boumama defended recent punishments by extremists, including public floggings and the amputation of a suspected thief's hand.
"We are Muslims. We are going to implement Sharia law, and Sharia law punishes thieves this way."
In July, Ansar Dine executed a couple accused of adultery by stoning them to death.
Boumama also justified the destruction of the ancient tombs of Muslim saints in Timbuktu, saying it is forbidden to pray there.
This week militants ordered radio stations in the region to stop broadcasting all non-Islamic music, saying it is "forbidden" by Islam.
Witnesses say Ansar Dine and another group, MUJAO, are being supported by al-Qaida's North African branch, known as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (West).
The United Nations and western powers have expressed concern that northern Mali is becoming a safe haven for terrorists.
Mali's interim government has vowed to retake the north from extremists.
The 15-member West Africa regional bloc ECOWAS has offered to send more than 3,000 troops to help restore order in Mali. The bloc is awaiting a formal request from Mali's new national unity government. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 05:31 in Africa, Mali | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Syrian Civil War reaches Damascus
Parts of Syria's capital were under siege Thursday, with pitched fighting reported between Syrian government forces and rebels.
Activists reported shelling and house-to-house raids in Daraya, on the edge of Damascus, as well as clashes in the city's Hajar al-Aswad district.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebel fighters killed or wounded 10 government troops at a military checkpoint on the Daraa-Damascus highway.
The group told VOA at least 41 people were killed during fighting in Damascus on Wednesday.
The Observatory also said clashes continued in the northern city of Aleppo, where some foreign fighters are reported to have joined the opposition.
Speaking in Damascus, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad accused Turkey of providing arms to Syrian rebels opposed to the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.
"The aspects that have fueled this crisis are well known. Armed groups, terrorist groups, support by regional circles including the dangerous support by Turkey of the terrorist gangs, of providing these with sophisticated weapons and of giving each terrorist in the world, including al-Qaida, free access to Turkey to come to Syria.''
In Ankara, Turkish and U.S. officials were holding their first "operational planning" meeting to coordinate military, intelligence and political responses to the Syrian crisis.
Miqdad also expressed sorrow for the death of Japanese journalist Mika Yamamoto, who was killed earlier this week when she was caught in a gunfight between rebel and government forces in Aleppo.
But Miqdad was also critical of the way Yamamoto entered the country, and he said Syria's government is not to blame for her death.
"When a certain journalist acts in an irresponsible way he/she would expect all these hard probabilities. But the Syrian government is definitely not responsible for this, and I guess some armed gangs committed levels of crime including killing such an innocent person and then accusing the government of it."
Yamamoto was traveling with rebels at the time she was killed. Two Alhurra TV journalists who were with her are still missing.
Alhurra's parent organization — which also oversees the Voice of America — has urged the Syrian government to ensure the safety of the two journalists, correspondent Bashar Fahmi and cameraman Cuneyt Unal.
Meanwhile, fighting between pro- and anti-Assad gunmen erupted for a fourth day Thursday in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. The clashes breached a truce agreed to by political leaders less than 24 hours earlier in a bid to halt fighting fueled by the conflict in neighboring Syria.
Sunni Muslims have led the revolt against Mr. Assad, whose minority Alawite sect has mostly stood with him. Sunni-Alawite tensions have been growing in parts of Lebanon as well, such as Tripoli, where the two groups live in neighboring districts. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 05:20 in Syria | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
JCS Dempsey to Troops/Veterans: Be non-Partisan, unlike me
By Jim Garamone, AFPS, ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, Aug. 22, 2012 - Using the uniform for partisan politics erodes the trust the American people have in their military, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said today. [WOTN Editor comments in bold & brackets: Since his appointments by Obama as the Army Chief of Staff, and Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey has worn the uniform while supporting the partisan positions of Obama, on multiple occasions, including media interviews and testimony to Congress.]
During a discussion with reporters aboard a C-17 returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addressed a question about a group of Navy SEALs who have put together a political action committee. [Unlike the SeALs who maintained silence about politics, until they left the Military, the JCS is in this very interview making a political statement, in uniform, aboard a military aircraft, which is ferrying journalists, for the interview.]
Dempsey has been outspoken that service members have truly earned their right to vote, and that all Americans are entitled to private and personal opinions.
But, the chairman said, he and his fellow members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are the stewards of the profession of arms, and must ensure service members don't cross an important line. [If he is the example of that line, then all but an extremely small minority are well within boundaries.]
"One of the things that marks us as a profession in a democracy is it's most important we remain apolitical," he said. "That's how we maintain our trust with the American people. The American people don't want us to become another special interest group. In fact, I think that confuses them." [It is precisely because Active Duty military MUST maintain a distinct line between their personal political positions, and any appearance of official endorsement of party and politics, that it is SO very important that Veterans speak out on the issues that effect those Troops. It is also for this very reason that the Senior General of the Department of Defense should NOT be attacking OR defending the current elected politician.]
Dempsey said he believes partisan groups made up of former service members cloud the issue as well. "If someone uses the uniform for partisan politics, I'm disappointed in that," he said. "I think it erodes that bond of trust we have with the American people." [It is precisely this reason that it angers me that the Senior General in the US Military is hypocritically using a military aircraft as the stage to support a politician, while in uniform.]
The chairman noted he has expressed this opinion before on his blog, and he said he has had incredible conversations in the blogosphere on the subject. He also discussed this soon after a young Army reservist appeared in uniform at a campaign rally, he said. [That reservist, who went on a stage, in support of a presidential candidate, in uniform, after an interview with the news media, was clearly breaking regulation, and clearly wrong.]
"We must understand why our military as a profession embraces political neutrality as a core value," he wrote in his blog in June. "We show fidelity to the Constitution every day by embracing this foundational principle. We are not elected to serve; rather, we elect to serve."
And maintaining this bond of trust between the American people and its military is key to the survival of both, the chairman said. The American people trust that the professional military will remain out of partisan politics, he added. The U.S. military does not stage coups to topple governments and place their own in charge, he said, and the American military is justifiably proud of serving the Constitution and following the orders of elected leaders.
"We're not a profession simply because we say we're a profession," Dempsey wrote in a letter to the joint force upon assuming office as the nation's top military officer last year. "We must continue to learn, to understand, and to promote the knowledge, skills, attributes and behaviors that define us as a profession."
[Lead by example General!]
Posted by WOTN Editor on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 09:25 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Aug. 23, 2012) – Afghan and coalition forces killed six insurgents, detained four and cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 22.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Andar District.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained two insurgents during an engagement in Khowst District. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.
A coalition airstrike killed an insurgent in Asadabad District in response to Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces receiving indirect fire.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained two insurgents during an engagement in Muhammad Aghah District. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Charkh District.
A coalition airstrike killed three insurgents in Chak-E Wardak District in response to an imminent threat towards Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces.
A coalition airstrike killed two insurgents in Chak-E Wardak District in response to Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces receiving small arms fire.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 09:11 in Afghanistan News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
DoD budget shifted to Health Issues
By Cheryl Pellerin, AFPS, WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2012 - The White House has issued the first U.S. National Strategy for Biosurveillance to quickly detect a range of global health and security hazards, and the Defense Department has a running start in implementing the new plan, a senior defense official said.
Andrew C. Weber, assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs, told American Forces Press Service that many of the activities described in the strategy are ongoing at DOD.
Such efforts, he said, "have been a little bit siloed."
"So much of what we're doing is integrating the efforts and working hard on the overlap between global security and global health, in what [President Barack Obama] refers to as global health security," he said.
Biosurveillance is defined as data gathering, analysis and interpretation of data related to disease activity and threats to human and animal health to achieve early warning, detection and situational awareness.
In a letter that introduces the new strategy, Obama said the United States "must be prepared for the full range of threats, including a terrorist attack involving a biological agent [and] the spread of infectious diseases and food-borne illnesses."
Continue reading "DoD budget shifted to Health Issues" »
Posted by WOTN Editor on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 08:54 in Military News, Politicians | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Massachusetts Company involved in Fraud/Bribery case
The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted three people and a corporation on charges of fraud and bribery, accusing them of conspiring to use protected contract information to get an unfair advantage over other companies seeking government contract work in Afghanistan.
The department Wednesday said one of the men was an active military reservist who used his position in the U.S. Army to get information about a contract related to logistics and weapons maintenance support for Afghan military units. The indictment says he suggested a Massachusetts company, AISC, as one of a limited number of bidders.
The Justice Department says that company won the six-month contract and several extensions after submitting a bid that closely matched the military's price estimate. It says AISC received about $54 million from the contract, and the alleged co-conspirators distributed more than $20 million among themselves.
Wednesday's indictment contains a notice of intent to seek forfeiture of real and personal property including more than $6 million in funds; 20 houses in the states of Utah, Florida, Arizona, and New Hampshire; motor vehicles, a boat and an airplane, and hundreds of gold coins.
One of the men has been arrested in the state of Utah. AISC and the other two men are expected to be summoned to a U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 07:20 in Afghanistan News, Military News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Islamist Egypt begs for $4.8 Billion in handouts
Egypt has formally asked the International Monetary Fund for a rescue package of up to $4.8 billion, as it struggles with its faltering economy after more than a year of political turmoil triggered by an Islamist uprising.
Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil, speaking Wednesday, said the loan is aimed at lowering Egypt's borrowing costs. He said his government hopes to sign the deal by the end of the year, with a five-year repayment plan at an interest rate of 1.1 percent.
The request came during a visit by IMF managing director Christine Lagarde, who later said that "getting the country's economy back on track and raising living standards for all will not be an easy task." But she said the IMF will "accompany" Egypt "as it undertakes this challenging journey."
Lagarde said the two sides had not yet begun discussing details.
The loan request is the second from Cairo in a year. An application for $2.8 billion was rejected last year after months of political wrangling. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 06:39 in Africa, Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Disturbing Detention: Former Marine held for Facebook Rants
UPDATE (23 AUG 2012):
From the Richmond Times Dispatch;
"After an hourlong hearing, Circuit Judge W. Allan Sharrett said an involuntary commitment petition issued against Brandon J. Raub was invalid because it contained no allegation or basis to holding him.
"The petition is so devoid of any factual allegations that it could not be reasonably expected to give rise to a case or controversy," said the release order signed by the judge and sought by lawyers Anthony F. Troy and Brian D. Fowler.
Sharrett said that he was shocked by the failure of a magistrate to not include in the order any grounds for holding Raub, a Chesterfield resident who was transferred from John Randolph Hospital in Hopewell to the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center."
This Ain't Hell reports.
I have long stated that the 1st Amendment protects the right of the individual to not only be stupid, but demonstrate how stupid they are, to the rest of the World. The 5th Amendment comes into play into this case as well. It provides that "No person shall be... deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
Last week, Brandon Raub, a US Citizen, and Veteran of the US Marine Corps, was detained, based on "tips" about his Facebook postings. According to some reports, the US Secret Service, the FBI, and County Sheriff's office were involved and he ended up in involuntary detention for 32 days (so far) for "mental health" observation. So far, the FB postings I've become aware of, demonstrate a propensity for him to believe in various Conspiracy Theories, surrounding 9/11 and other events of historical relevance, but I've seen no indication that he has attempted to commit or conspire to commit any crimes. It does appear that he believes that the Nation is headed towards Civil War or Revolution in the near future, but I have seen nothing that indicates that he is calling for Armed Conflict, only that he believes it is coming, and that those opposed to the government will ask him to join their side, as a leader.
Some have speculated that there must be more behind the scenes, than what has been published about him, and his condition. "They" have stated their faith in the authorities that made the decision. And in most cases, I too extend the benefit of the doubt to my Brothers in Blue, but they are not infallible, and they are not all equal.
Now, I am not defending his rants, but I am defending his right to believe those things, and his right to tell the world about them. I think his 9/11 Conspiracy Theories are downright idiotic, though it is usually people smarter than me that are able to connect dots with lines that don't exist. The 1st Amendment doesn't protect only politically correct, uncontroversial, or unoffensive Speech. It protects offensive, politically incorrect, & incorrect opinion. It protects political speech against the government and ruling politicians.
Like Raub, I think a Civil War may be coming. I fear it may be coming. There is widespread support for a government spending out of control, doing things which the US Constitution does not support. And there is backlash to that. I believe it would be counterproductive, to the goals of Constitutionalists, for the Nation to devolve into war. I hold that if they cannot convince the People of the United States, with rhetoric, of the importance and value of the Bill of Rights, and the US Constitution, there is no amount of violence that would convince the people otherwise. Conversely, a Civil War would be sufficient excuse for their opposition to re-write the Constitution, or at least "temporarily" set aside the Bill of Rights.
Raub, is a difficult person for the average person to defend. Few people believe in the whacky Conspiracy Theories he spouts. Some might even call him paranoid. But paranoia is a subjective diagnosis. It rests on the fears of the individual being "baseless." And the information known in this case does not support his fears being "baseless." No information has been published giving a basis for crime or danger to anyone. He's vocally suspicious of his government, and his government has removed his liberty. His government has given a base for his fears.
I have engaged in verbal combat with all kinds of loons and quacks, as well as those across the political spectrum. It is my 1st Amendment Right to point out the fallacies of their arguments. In the course of the last few years, I've come across Islamists, Socialists, Communists, Conspiracy Theorists, as well as Republicans, Democrats, Constitutionalists, Isolationists, Libertarians, Militant LGBTers, and various other stripes. Some have accused me of wishing to deny their Rights to Free Speech, because I was exercising my own. But the bottom line is that Free Speech is every Citizen's Right, even those that disagree with me, and even those that believe stuff that is bats*** crazy. One even has a 1st Amendment Right to argue that the 1st Amendment should be repealed. The 1st Amendment protects the most unsavory of arguments. It just doesn't protect speech that conspires to commit crimes, nor does it protect crimes committed (including trespassing, espionage, or treason) prior to, during, or after the Right of Free Speech is invoked.
While I believe Raub would have been better served having exercised his Right to Remain Silent, rather than his Right to Free Speech, he also has a Right to Due Process, PRIOR to him being denied his Right to Liberty. And his detention is more likely to push more to fear their government, than to convince Conspiracy Theorists of the errors of their illogic.
((And for the record, having Adam Kokesh in one's defense team is a bad move. But I'm not going to link to that. You'll have to go to TAH to view the video: http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=31653))
In EVERY case, the government has the burden of proof and in this case it has not proven, in the court of public opinion, that Raub's 1st or 5th Amendment Rights should be revoked.
Even Rachel Maddow found the concept of "preventive detention" abhorrent when her favored politician proposed it, and he was talking about enemy combatants, not American Citizens:
Posted by WOTN Editor on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 09:17 in Perspectives, Stateside | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Aug. 22, 2012) – Afghan and coalition detained five insurgents and cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 21.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Muqer District.
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces detained five insurgents during engagements in Sabari District. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.
Afghan Border Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Khowst District.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Chak-E Wardak District.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 08:31 in Afghanistan News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
2 Iraqi Immigrants to US plead guilty to terrorism charges
An Iraqi man has pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to charges of planning to send weapons and money to al-Qaida.
Mohanad Shareef Hammadi could be sent to prison for the rest of his life when he is sentenced in December in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hammadi pleaded guilty to all 10 charges of conspiring to help al-Qaida and lying to federal agents about ties to extremist groups when he emigrated to the United States.
His guilty plea avoids a trial, which was to have started next week.
A co-defendant, Waad Ramadan Alwan, already had pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 03:57 in Iraq, Stateside | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
RIP SGT David V Williams
Sgt. David V. Williams, 24, of Frederick, Md., died Aug. 18, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The cause of death is under investigation.
He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 03:51 in Afghanistan News, Moment of Silence | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
RIP SFC Coater B Debose
Sgt. 1st Class Coater B. Debose, 55, of State Line, Miss., died Aug. 19 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
Debose was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment, 158th Infantry Brigade, 1st Army Division East, Camp Shelby, Miss.
Explosion kills 8 Turks
A car bomb that exploded near a police station in southeastern Turkey has killed eight people and wounded 64 others.
Police say the blast happened Monday night in the town of Gaziantep, near the country's border with Syria.
The remote-controlled explosion also set several vehicles on fire.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing.
Rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) are active in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast.
More than 40,000 people, mostly Kurds, have been killed since the PKK took up arms in 1984 to demand autonomy. VooA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 09:35 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Aug. 21, 2012) – Afghan and coalition forces killed four insurgents and cleared an improvised explosive device during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 20.
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces killed an insurgent during an engagement in Nari District.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Chak-E Wardak District.
A coalition airstrike killed three insurgents in Chak-E Wardakr District in response to Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces receiving small arms and indirect fire.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 08:31 in Afghanistan News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
RIP CWO Hornsby, CWO Krause, PO1 Carson, PO1 Feeks, SGT Essex, SGT Galbreath, PO2 Warsen
The Department of Defense announced today the death of seven service members who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died Aug. 16 in a helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Killed were:
Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hornsby, 37, of Melbourne, Fla., assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii;
Chief Warrant Officer Suresh N. A. Krause, 29, of Cathedral City, Calif., assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii;
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Petty Officer Technician 1st Class Sean P. Carson, 32, of Des Moines, Wash., assigned to an explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit in San Diego;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks, 28, of Edgewater, Md., assigned to a West Coast-based naval special warfare unit;
Sgt. Richard A. Essex, 23, of Kelseyville, Calif., assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii;
Sgt. Luis A. Oliver Galbreath, 41, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class David J. Warsen, 27, of Kentwood, Mich., assigned to a West Coast-based naval Special warfare unit.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 06:51 in Afghanistan News, Moment of Silence, SpecOps | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
RIP SSgt Gregory T Copes, PO1 Darrel L Enos
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two service members who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died Aug. 17 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to 3rd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Staff Sgt. Gregory T. Copes, 36, of Lynch Station, Va., and
Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer 1st Class Darrel L. Enos, 36, of Colorado Springs, Colo.
This incident is under investigation. These Warriors were reportedly killed by Taliban infiltrators to the Afghan National Security Forces.
Iraq assisting Iran skirt sanctions
Fern Robinson, VoA, A report in Sunday's New York Times says Iraq has been using a network of financial institutions and oil smuggling operations to help Iran skirt economic sanctions imposed because of its nuclear program.
Last month, U.S. President Barack Obama barred a Baghdad bank, the Elaf Islamic Bank, from any dealings with the American banking system. In a statement, Obama said the bank had "facilitated transactions worth millions of dollars on behalf of Iranian banks that are subject to sanctions for their links to Iran's illicit proliferation activities."
The newspaper says that despite Obama's order, Elaf continues to participate in the Iraq Central Bank's daily auction where commercial banks can sell Iraqi dinars and buy U.S. dollars.
According to current and former American and Iraqi government officials and experts on the Iraqi banking system, Elaf is just one of a number of institutions helping to funnel cash into Iran as sanctions choke its economy. The New York Times described the auctions as "a crucial pathway for Iranian access to the international financial system."
Several U.S. and Iraqi banking and government officials say Iranian organizations have gained "effective control" of at least four Iraqi commercial banks through Iraqi intermediaries, according to the newspaper report. That control gives Iran direct access to the international financial system, a system Iran should not have access to because of the economic sanctions.
David Cohen, the U.S. Treasury Department's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, told the Times the U.S. is "actively pursuing efforts to prevent Iran from evading U.S. or international financial sanctions, in Iraq or anywhere else."
According to the New York Times, some current and former American and Iraqi officials, along with banking and oil experts, say Iraqi government officials have largely ignored the massive financial flows, smuggling and other trade with Iran. The paper says some Iraqi government officials who have close ties to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki are directly profiting from the activities.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Monday, August 20, 2012 at 08:50 in Iran, Iraq | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Aug. 20, 2012) – Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained one and cleared five improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 19.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared three IEDs, one in Ghazni District and two in Gelan District.
Kapisa Province
Afghan Local Police and coalition forces killed two insurgents and wounded one during an engagement in Tagab District. The wounded received medical care and was transferred to a base for questioning.
Laghman Province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Alingar District.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Monday, August 20, 2012 at 07:16 in Afghanistan News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Taliban kills 2 Afghans; Infiltrator attacks again
Insurgents in Afghanistan two Afghan civilians, while a NATO airstrike killed dozens of Taliban militants in the country's east.
In southern Afghanistan, a person wearing an Afghan police uniform shot at a NATO service member. NATO did not release the names of the victims.
In another attack, insurgents opened fire on members of an Afghan family at a cemetery in the southern town of Lashkar Gah, killing two people and wounding seven others, including women and children. The Afghans were visiting the graves of relatives to mark the Eid al-Fitr festival that ends the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
NATO said it carried out an airstrike on Taliban militants engaging in hostile activity in the eastern province of Kunar on Saturday, killing dozens of heavily-armed fighters including a local Taliban leader. It said no civilians were harmed in the airstrike.
In a speech to mark Sunday's Eid festivities, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on Taliban leaders to renounce violence against civilians carried out in the name of the Islamist group. He said the enemies of Islam committed "cruel" attacks during Ramadan and will one day be held accountable.
NATO's top commander in Afghanistan, U.S. General John Allen, said thousands of insurgents already have renounced violence and returned home to find "honor and dignity" in their communities. In a holiday greeting, General Allen also said Afghanistan's more than 300,000 security personnel have become "capable and professional" and soon will have primary responsibility for areas where the majority of Afghans live.
But, Afghan security forces face a growing threat of infiltration by insurgents. In a series of attacks this month, Afghan security personnel or gunmen disguised in security uniforms have attacked NATO troops, killing at least eight Americans.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta discussed the issue of "insider attacks" with Mr. Karzai in a phone call on Sunday. The Defense Department said Panetta urged Mr. Karzai to boost counterintelligence cooperation with NATO, introduce more rigorous vetting of Afghan security recruits and engage in more dialogue with village elders who can vouch for such recruits.
The Pentagon said Mr. Karzai and Panetta agreed that U.S. and Afghan officials should work even more closely together to minimize the potential for future "insider attacks," which have killed at least 39 coalition personnel this year. VoA.
RIP SPC James A Justice
Spc. James A. Justice, 21, of Grover, N.C., died Aug. 17 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany from injuries suffered on Aug. 14 from enemy small-arms fire in Wardak province, Afghanistan. Justice was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Monday, August 20, 2012 at 01:46 in Afghanistan News, Moment of Silence | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Al-Qaeda kills 14 Yemeni troops
Yemeni officials say al-Qaida terrorists have attacked intelligence headquarters in the southern city of Aden, killing at least 14 Yemeni soldiers and security personnel.
Intelligence sources and witnesses say the terrorists attacked the building from two sides Saturday, firing rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. At least seven soldiers were wounded.
The attackers managed to escape.
Al-Qaida's Yemen-based network — al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula — remains active in southern Yemen. Terrorists have been carrying out a series of suicide bombings and assassinations on Yemeni officials.
The network is also suspected of trying to pull off attacks on U.S. interests, including a failed plot in 2010 to blow up U.S.-bound cargo planes with explosives hidden in printer ink cartridges. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 09:22 in Yemen | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Aug. 19, 2012) – Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained 15, located a weapons cache and cleared an improvised explosive device during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 18.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained seven insurgents during an engagement in Qarah Bagh District. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.
A coalition airstrike killed two insurgents in Giro District who were emplacing an IED.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained two insurgents while investigating a weapons cache in Terezayi District. The cache contained mines, grenades and explosives. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.
Paktiya Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained five insurgents during an engagement in Zurmat District. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained an insurgent who was wounded when the IED he was emplacing detonated prematurely in Jahi District. The detainee received medical care and was transferred to a base for questioning.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 09:08 in Afghanistan News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Islamist bomb kills 4 Afghan shoppers in Herat
Afghan officials say a bomb blast in a crowded marketplace in the western province of Herat has killed four people.
A Herat spokesman says 12 people were also wounded by the blast Saturday, including three policemen.
The attack comes three days after a bomb planted on a bicycle wounded 14 people in the city of Herat, capital of Herat Province. The remote-controlled bomb also exploded in a crowded shopping area, and was detonated as people were shopping for Eid, a major holiday on the Islamic calendar. VoA.
RIP PFC Michael R DeMarsico II
Pfc. Michael R. Demarsico II, of North Adams, Mass., died Aug. 16 in Panjwa'l, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he encountered an enemy improvised device. Demarsico was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 19:51 in Afghanistan News, Moment of Silence | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Aug. 18, 2012) – Afghan and coalition forces detained four insurgents, located a weapons cache and cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 17.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Gelan District.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Khowst District. The cache contained small mines and IED making materials.
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces detained three insurgents during engagements in Khowst and Sabari Districts. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Bak District.
National Security Forces and coalition forces detained an insurgent who was emplacing an IED in Baraki Barak District. The IED was cleared and the detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.
Ecuador defends decision to give Assange asylum
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa says the main reason his country has granted asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is that no one could guarantee that Assange would not be extradited to a "third country."
Assange has been sheltered in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since June. The Australian took refuge there after losing a legal battle to fight extradition to Sweden, which wants to question him in connection with sexual assault allegations which he denies.
Assange fears Sweden could send him to the United States to face possible charges related to the 2010 release of hundreds of thousands of classified documents, including diplomatic cables held by the U.S. State Department about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
President Correa told local journalists in Loja, Ecuador Friday that he does not agree with everything that Assange has done. Mr. Correa also said he feared that Assange would face a possible death penalty if he were prosecuted and convicted in the United States.
Ecuador granted Assange asylum Thursday, prompting Britain to say it would not allow him safe passage out of the country and could even enter the embassy to capture him. Supporters of Assange have set up camp outside the building.
The Organization of American States said Friday that it will hold a meeting of foreign ministers in one week to discuss the standoff.
A spokesperson for WikiLeaks said Assange will appear in front of the embassy Sunday to give a statement. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 07:27 in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Pakistan denies Joint US Military Operations
Pakistan's army chief is rejecting what he says is "speculative reporting" about a joint military operation with the United States in Pakistan's North Waziristan.
The northwestern tribal agency is a known stronghold of Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants and U.S. officials have repeatedly called on Pakistan to launch an offensive there. The militant Haqqani network, which is blamed for a number of attacks on U.S. forces in Afghanistan, is believed to be based in North Waziristan.
On Friday, Pakistani General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani released a statement saying he and the head of U.S. CENTCOM, General James Mattis, discussed military cooperation during talks the night before.
Kayani said "we might, if necessary, undertake operations in North Waziristan Agency, in the timeframe of our choosing and determined only by our political and military requirements."
Pakistan's army chief added that such operations "will never be a result of any outside pressure" and that "Pakistan's national interest continues to be the prime consideration in this regard."
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told the Associated Press earlier this week that Kayani has told U.S. military officials that Pakistan plans to conduct an operation North Waziristan soon.
Separately on Friday, Pakistani authorities say a bomb hit a bus carrying Shi'ite Muslims in the southern city of Karachi, killing at least one person.
The blast comes a day after suspected Sunni militants shot and killed 22 Shi'ites who were traveling on buses in Pakistan's northwestern Mansehra district.
Officials say the bus was carrying Shi'ites on their way to an annual rally marking solidarity with the Palestinians when the bomb exploded in Karachi. At least 11 people were wounded in Friday's blast. VoA.
Posted by WOTN Editor on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 04:38 in Pakistan | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
General Dempsey: Obama's plan will hurt Troops
By Claudette Roulo, AFPS, WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2012 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff [an appointee of Obama] says the military must undergo three transitions in the coming years, with each dependent on finding the best way forward in lean economic times. [WOTN Editor comments in bold & brackets.]
During a town hall Thursday in Rosemount, Minn., Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey told Minnesota National Guardsmen determining the best way to transform the military isn't just about what's best for the armed forces, but "really about figuring out what's best for the country" in the years ahead. [Translation: Obama is going to cut Troops, Pay, Benefits, & Equipment.]
"What does the nation need in 2020?" Dempsey asked. "How do we build that capability? ... How do we deliver in a way that's affordable for the nation?" [To be capable of defeating Terrorists, as well as foreign militaries and pirates of the High Seas.]
"We're all citizens first," he said. "Therefore, I think we've got to figure out how to help the country through that economic challenge while preserving the military that it needs." [Translation: bend over, this is going to hurt.]
Dempsey highlighted his three transitions. First, he said, is to move from a military that is generally focused on deploying for combat into one that can perform missions besides counterinsurgency. [It takes more Troops and better equipment to defeat foreign militaries, than it does a numerically inferior band of misfits.]
Service members of his generation were criticized as being "stuck in [a] Cold War mentality," Dempsey said. [Now he is stuck in a partisan attempt to cut the Military.]
"It was a challenge, I will admit to you," he said, "for us to change the way we looked at problems from that Cold War paradigm into the counterinsurgency paradigm."
"I would submit to you that those of you that have done nothing but [counterinsurgency] are going to have exactly the same challenge going back to looking at other kinds of warfare," he said. [That doesn't mean shiny boots and short haircuts. It means counter-ambush live fires and Infantry patrols.]
But that's exactly what service members must do, Dempsey said. "Not because we think it's on ... the horizon, but it could be someday and you can't wait until it's there to get ready for it." [There are multiple potential conventional wars on the horizon, not least of which are North Korea, Iran, and even China.]
The second transition is economic, he said, and involves managing a shift from the "largely unconstrained budgets of the last ten years -- 'if you needed it you got it' -- to something that is going to be more constrained." [Translation: In the future, you'll have to buy your own gear or go without. Veterans of the 90's remember those days.]
That might make service members uncomfortable, the chairman said, but the military has an obligation to become more affordable to the country. "Why? Because national power ... is actually the aggregate of three things, not just the military," Dempsey said. "It is the military, but it's also economic well-being and it's also diplomatic influence."
The last transition is the drawdown of military members. Over the next five to six years, the Army and Marines will reduce in size by about 120,000 people in total, he continued. [While the Obama Admin is busy hiring more unionized bureacrats, Dempsey is endorsing the Admin plan to cut Troops, while telling Troops to prepare for a Conventional War.]
"We owe it to those young men and women who have served so honorably and so well to make sure we take care of them," Dempsey said. [This is why he has endorsed the Obama plan to increase charges to Retirees for their own Health Care, and to decrease the pay of the remainder who have to do more, for less.]
"In all of that we've got to keep faith with our military family," he said, adding that family includes veterans, wounded warriors and the parents and spouses of service members killed in action. [His prescription plan means they will pay up to $60/prescription.]
One way to keep faith as the Defense Department draws down is to guarantee that resources continue to be dedicated to family support programs, Dempsey said.
"The challenge of course, is we've got 1,000 flowers blooming out there," he said. "We've got to make sure that we can identify the ones that are most important and ensure we continue to resource those."
"The second way we keep faith is by pay, compensation, healthcare and retirement," the chairman added. [That's why the Obama Admin has requested National Guard drill pay be cut in half.]
Finally, he said, keeping faith with the military family means providing the toughest training possible. "I'm not keeping faith with you if I resource all that other stuff and I don't train you," he explained, "because then I send you off to war and you're not ready for it." [That's why he wants annual training to be increased from two weeks a year to nearly two months.]
"Change is always uncomfortable," Dempsey said, "but often if we're agile enough, the change can actually make things better for us and improve relationships, not disrupt them." [Agility in this case may be in finding the exit, before he finds the exit only door. Fortunately for Dempsey, his retirement check will increase by an amount greater than his new Obama taxes will.]
Posted by WOTN Editor on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 04:33 in Military News, Politicians | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
RIP SSG Eric S Holman
Staff Sgt. Eric S. Holman, 39, of Evans City, Penn., died Aug. 15, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he encountered an enemy improvised explosive device.
Holman was assigned to 192nd Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group, 20th Support Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
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