In what is surely going to be fodder for months to come, President Bush responded to a briefing on the difficulties faced in Afghanistan by saying that he is envious of those able to be on the front lines. Given the controversy of his perceived avoidance of combat in Vietnam, it seems a rather curious and belated lust for battle. Continue reading “Belated but Combat Ready: Bush Says He is Envious of Soldiers Fighting on the Front Lines”
Category: Military
So this is why “there are no atheists in a foxholes.” Army Spc. Jeremy Hall says in a lawsuit that he was told that he could not be promoted because one of the jobs would be to pray with his soldiers. Of course, if true, this would mean that a puppy thrower like Marine Lance Corporal David Motari would be eligible so long as he professes to believe in God. Otherwise, you have no right to die for th e country unless you think that you will go to heaven. This could be a significant case in the making. Continue reading “Atheist in a Foxhole: Soldier Sues Over Discrimination on the Basis of Faith (Or the Fact Thereof)”
While some commentators have rushed to suggest that the puppy shown in this video was either dead or stuffed, the accused Marine has reportedly posted an apology. David Motari has been named as the Marine in the video, though the Marines are still investigating. In what is purported to be a posting from him below, he blames the stress of combat.
Continue reading “Semper Fido: David Motari Allegedly Apologizes for Throwing Puppy Over Cliff”
The United States Marines Corps is finally responding to international outrage over Marines the video below of a Marine throwing a puppy over a rocky cliff in Iraq. The Marine is called by the name Motari on the video and bloggers believe that they have identified the culprit.
Continue reading “Semper Fido: Investigators Close in on Marine Who Threw Puppy Off Cliff”
Defense Department General Counsel William Haynes has resigned after a disclosure by the former chief prosecutor for the Guantanamo military commissions, Col. Morris Davis, involving Haynes’ view of the true function of the military trials: to blindly impose guilty verdicts. Davis revealed that Haynes insisted that the military tribunals only produce convictions and no acquittals — leading to the demand of various military lawyers to be transferred. Haynes is the very same person that the White House and GOP fought to be made a federal judge. Continue reading “Top Bush Official Resigns After Reports that He Demanded Only Convictions from the Military Tribunals”
Remember the horrific accounts of how Al Qaeda used two women with Down Syndrome to carry out attacks killing roughly 100 people in Baghdad in February? It turns out that there is no evidence that they had any physical or mental ailments and may not have any connection to Al Qaeda. It turns out the the account of the Down syndrome bombers was traced to Iraqi officials who reportedly based their view on the appearance of the women’ heads – which had been severed in the blasts. Continue reading “Government’s Account of Al Qaeda Using Two Down Syndrome Women as Bombers Debunked”
President Bush is trying to use his final eleven months in office to guarantee that someone — anyone — will be convicted in his controversial military commission tribunal system. After millions of dollars, international scorn, and years of litigation, the Administration wants to try six detainees in the system. Some are reportedly victims of torture. Having destroyed evidence of the torture, it appears that the subjects could also be terminated — the military indicated it will seek the death penalty and Bush himself is the ultimate appellate “decider.” Continue reading “A Tribunal in Search of a Purpose: Bush Seeks to Execute Six in Cuba in His Final Eleven Months”
With the Bush Administration seeking to execute six detainees at Cuba including one identified as the “20th hijacker,” this prior column on the line of previously identified “20th hijackers” might be helpful. Continue reading “Bush Administration Seeks to Execute the Latest “20th Hijacker””
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., has called for Congress to strip the City of Berkeley, Calif., of federal funds because he does not agree with a slight to the Marine Corp. The Berkeley City Council voted this week to tell the U.S. Marine Corps to move its recruiting station outside the city’s downtown. What is astonishing is that DeMint has long defended federalism (as I do). There is no greater nightmare for states rights than the federal government taking in more taxes than it needs — only to give the money back to the states with strings attached. Thus, under this approach, states and cities will be denied money unless they conform their political judgments to the will of the Senate. It is a good thing that George Mason is safely six-feet under ground. Continue reading “So Much For Federalism: Republican Senator Asks Congress to Strip Berkeley of Federal Funds in Retaliation for Slight to Marines”
There is an interesting fight brewing over the arrest of Chris Wilson. Wilson is hardly Thomas Paine, unless Paine dabbled in porn. Wilson, 28, is the founder and manager of a controversial site, nowthatsfuckedup.com, where guys post sexually explicit shots of their wives and girlfriends. Nice. However, recently Wilson began to post explicit and disturbing pictures of the carnage from Iraq, photos reportedly sent by soldiers posted abroad. In October, Wilson’s home was raided, his computer seized, and he is now facing life in prison. Beneath the gore and porn, Wilson may have a valid first amendment case. Continue reading “Chris Wilson’s War: Publisher of Iraqi War Dead Arrested and Computer Seized: Was it Porn or Politics?”
A district court has ordered a military contractor to pay $5 million in damages to the family of Army Lt. Col. Dominic “Rocky” Baragona for his death in Iraq. It is a case that could open the door to more lawsuits against contractors in Iraq. Continue reading “Contractor Ordered to Pay $5 million to Family of Soldier Killed in Iraq”
Senators Ted Kennedy and Arlen Spector are drafting legislation to finally address the widespread abuse of the military and state secrets privilege, a law that would require courts to seriously review the basis and scope of these assertions. As lead counsel in the Area 51 cases involving the privilege, it is welcomed and long over-due news. Continue reading “Kennedy and Spector To Offer State Secrets Legislation”
It appears that the number of wounded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan is much higher than reported by the U.S. military. The official toll is 30,327. Continue reading “Military Failed to Disclose 20,000 Wounded”
The U.S. military is helping build a case against journalist, Bilal Hussein, an award-winning photographer in Iraq. Continue reading “Military to Turn Over AP Journalist for Iraqi Trial”
The costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are estimated to total $1.6 trillion, according to a new report by Congress’ Joint Economic Committee. Continue reading “War Bill: $1.6 trillion or $20,900 per family”