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POPSTaliban Launches Large Coordinated Assaults The Taliban claimed responsibility for all three attacks in Khost. Their spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahed, reached by telephone at an unknown location, said that 15 suicide bombers, equipped with machine guns and vests packed with explosives, with 30 militants backing them up, attacked the base, one of the largest foreign military bases in Afghanistan. He claimed that some of the bombers had gotten inside the base and had killed a number of American soldiers and destroyed equipment and helicopters. This last claim was denied by General Azimi of the Afghan military.
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POPS10 Weeks of Hell: Afghanistan Death Rate Exceeding Highest of Iraq War in an ambush, with four of them being captured and subsequently executed. Around the same time, Afghan insurgents launched a coordinated attack on a major U.S. base. The fatality rate in Afghanistan during the past 10 weeks would be equivalent to 353 deaths in Iraq at the same time--a rate not even seen during the bloody crescendo of 2007. This is a crisis.
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POPSSill Officials Force Mold Whistleblower to Resign Roeder's departure Friday, following his contact with USA Today, was purely coincidental, said Col. Sam White, an executive officer at Fort Sill. He said Roeder has a history of confrontations with base officials. "Purely coincidental." Guess the guy just had it coming, huh? "They can say whatever they want to say, but they're not being truthful," Roeder said. "I stand up for soldiers. I'm sure the word got out that I'd encouraged soldiers to speak." Roeder, a retired soldier, said he was told to resign or he would be fired. A long time ago, I would have erred on the side of the Army and its professional leadership. But not after the past half decade or so. Given its recent track record, I think the Army has to answer for this one: Why are we punishing people for trying to improve the lives of soldiers? I also think it's worth repeating what I wrote a few months ago about whistleblowers, the military, and the media:
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POPSMcCain Doesn't Disagree that We Might Need a Draft
Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org said, "At least Senator McCain is being honest. A vote for him is a vote for the draft. Period. Unless Senator McCain radically changes his worldview, there would be a draft to implement his plans." Soltz added, "When you take into account his indefinite military commitment to Iraq, his desire to send more troops to Afghanistan, record lows in recruiting and retention, and possibly more wars he is looking to get into, like "Bomb Bomb Bomb" Iran, his numbers don't add up without a draft. Whether America likes it or not isn't relevant - a draft is the only way to do everything Senator McCain wants to do. I give him points for being honest and upfront, though, that we're going to need a draft if he is elected." This isn't the first time that Senator McCain has hinted at a reinstitution of the draft if he is elected. Asked on September 29, 2007 in New Hampshire about the draft, McCain said he would "consider it."
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POPSJohn McCain Attempts Spin to VFW Audience You can decide for yourself which version is the "better bill". For what its worth, VFW endorsed the Webb-Hagel version and is even awarding Senator Webb a a gold medal and citation of merit for his work on Veterans' education benefits.
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POPSFail: More Moldy Barracks for Wounded Soldiers Is it really that hard to square away barracks for the wounded? Given this latest eruption of maintenance incompetence and failure in leadership, I'd just like to direct everyone's attention back to a statement made in April by Brigadier General Dennis Rogers--Director of Operations and Facilities for Installation Management Command--in regard to the Fort Bragg barracks situation: "I'll tell you right now before we even start: I assume responsibility for the shortfalls in barracks maintenance which were referenced in the video by Mr. Frawley. We let our soldiers down. And I note that a number of you are veterans, or most of you are veterans, and you served. So you know that there is no excuse for that. We let our soldiers down." Of course, this statement was made after the much-hyped "nationwide walk-through." So what's the deal now? Can we meet the standard, or what? This is pathetic. What incentive do you give people to enlist when this is what you offer them?
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POPSMcCain's Elitist Response to Military Donor Story But aside from the fact that the McCain campaign lied is confused, does anyone catch a whiff of elitism here? Is support from within the ranks somehow more credible if it comes in the form of a general officer or an admiral? If so, that would be strange. . .since flag officers aren't the ones fighting the insurgencies in Iraq or Afghanistan. This comes as no surprise--and it reinforces the message: It's clear that McCain values the opinions of flashier, high-ranking, inside-the-wire types over the views of the grunts, the medics, and the lieutenants who wade waist-deep through the muck and blood and shrapnel of insurgency, day in and day out. And while he may easily dismiss the actual combatants of these wars in a moment of political self-defense, those same troops will not so easily forget his bellicosity, his foreign policy ignorance, and his general lack of respect for them when it comes time to vote in November.
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POPSAfghan Militants Butcher American Soldiers I didn't say anything about it here or elsewhere because a.) I didn't know what the families knew, and b.) I couldn't confirm it with anyone else. As for the soldiers being alive when captured, I still don't know with certainty whether or not that's true or just battlefield rumor. But everything else my source told me has turned out to be correct. The New York Times explains in more detail: The three were identified as Sgt. First Class Matthew L. Hilton, 37, of Livonia, Mich., of the Michigan Army National Guard; and Sgt. First Class Joseph A. McKay, 51, of Brooklyn; and Specialist Mark C. Palmateer, 38, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., both of them part of a reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition unit of the New York Army National Guard, according to a Pentagon news release. Their Afghan interpreter was 21-year-old Muhammad Fahim from Kabul, who had been working with the Americans for the last three years. His body was burned beyond recognition, his family said.
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POPSYour 6:1 Open Thread The comments from these troops is pretty compelling. And these guys are the ones fighting for us. Too bad we don't give a shit.
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POPSMcCain: 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq not International Crises Perhaps this is why McCain's ideas on national security are so terrible. Forget about Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden and REAL Al-Qaeda. That isn't a major conflict. Let's not dwell too much on figuring out this Iraq problem. It isn't an international crisis. And maybe he was just having a "senior moment" and completely forgot about the Gulf War, apartheid, and genocide in Darfur, Rwanda and the Balkans. If you are reading this and are currently deployed or about to deploy, which at the current OPTEMPO should include anyone who is active duty, keep that chin up. Its not like this is a crisis or anything. And if you're a loved one of someone who made the ultimate sacrifice, remember that Senator McCain seems to think that your loved one died for something so trivial that it doesn't even break the "crisis" threshold.
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POPSJohn McCain is in New Jersey Today. Half of NJ's National Guard Isn't When John McCain is in New Jersey today, we urge him to address the thousands of families that have been affected by this deployment and describe the relief he would provide them as President. In addition, VFA had been repeatedly contacted by NJ Guard members and other servicemembers from New Jersey who want to know Senator McCain's position on compensating members of our armed forces who have been stop-lossed. Recently, Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey introduced a bill calling for compensation to provided to those who affected by this regrettable policy. VFA calls on Senator McCain to clearly state if he supports Senator Lautenberg's "Stop Loss Compensation Act." Our servicemembers deserve answers, especially after considerable questions were raised regarding Senator McCain's support for our troops' well being when he opposed the successful effort to expand the GI Bill, as called for in a bill that Senator Lautenberg also co-sponsored.
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POPSThe Iraq Chicken Has Come Home to Roost From the story; Churkin (Russia): ". . . The statement made by Ambassador Khalilzad with regard to terror against the civilian population is absolutely unacceptable, particularly from the lips of the Permanent Representative of a country whose actions we are aware of, including with regard to civilian populations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Serbia. So if indeed we would like to find a military solution to this conflict, then let us try to find serious political solutions, and not indulge in propaganda, even if perhaps some politicians would like that. Whatever your policy might be, please do not undertake to engage in propaganda activities in the Security Council. . ." (p. 8) Khalilzad: ". . .I am taking the floor to respond to what Ambassador Churkin said in his earlier statement. We heard Ambassador Churkin's polemics, which did not respond to the call we have made for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to the status quo ante. He has acknowledged his Government's r
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POPS"My Guantanamo Diary" Seven years, hundreds of thousands dead, millions displaced from their country, several trillion dollars spent (including estimates of future costs), and all we've really got to show for it is ... (drum-roll) ... a sentence of 5.5 years for Osama's driver. Fracking amazing.
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POPSDisabled Vets Shun McCain in Las Vegas Still obsessing over the privatization of the VA for some reason, John McCain is poised to lose the veterans' vote for good. In fact, in response to his Saturday speech to the DAV, Iraq War veteran and double-amputee Tammy Duckworth had this to say about McCain's proposals: "John McCain has said that improving veterans' health care would be his top domestic priority as President, yet he has repeatedly voted against increased funding for veterans health care. And now he offers up an plastic card option that will lead to privatization of veterans health care. No one knows how to help and heal veterans like veterans -- had I ended up in a regular hospital after returning from Iraq, I would lost my arm. McCain's plan will only hurt the VA and our veterans more than they are already hurting."
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POPSThe Most Important Story So Far This Month I join you in your anger, disgust and dismay. I'ts the best news corporate can buy! (0.00 / 0) Between this story and the Matthew McConaughey placenta spectacular, I thank God I've lived long enough to remember what journalism used to be. Including the status of our servicemen and women, there are so many issues to be tackled and this...is the best that media can come up with? I'm too flustered to read more than the headlines of this swill. Specifically gave up on network television news 2 years ago...is print next?
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POPSAttack on Iran Might Not Work So Well Let me break this down: Essentially, an attack on Iran like this would be nothing more than a glorified raid. At the same time, Iran, sandwiched between hostile forces to the east and west, would likely fight for its life. And the U.S. has no forces available to initiate a ground invasion (or even a response, really). The people pushing for military action against Iran are crazy.
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POPSMcCain, America's Security Is No Joke Using less Middle East puts us in a stronger position to demand security in the region and fight terrorist organizations which often get much of their funding through oil profits. Using less Middle East oil could also keep us out of future wars, and save the lives of those Americans serving in uniform. According to TIME magazine, John McCain's sole idea to "drill here and drill now" won't produce oil until the year 2030, and then it will only be 200,000 barrels per day. In comparison, the government estimates that if everyone made sure their car tires were fully inflated, we could start to reduce our oil consumption by 800,000 barrels per day, right now.
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POPSBait and Switch Something is wrong if news like this doesn't anger you. The President has "reduced" tours in Iraq. Never mind that he will not be the President when the time comes to determine whether the situation on the ground allows for redeployment. All the while, the situation in Afghanistan is rapidly deteriorating. Deployment timelines are being pushed to the right repeatedly, much as we saw during the crescendo of violence in Iraq. The sole solution presented is one that the Administration and its endorsed candidate have fought against tooth and nail: redeployment of a significant number of troops from the waste of time, money and American lives that is the occupation of Iraq.
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POPSU.S. Military Frees 10,000 Detainees in Iraq Detainees are sometimes released for political purposes. For instance, the recent amnesty law which released thousands of suspected insurgents in an effort to bring certain Sunni groups back into the government. They are also released when it is determined they held no intelligence value, or posed no threat. In Iraq, the average time of detention is just under one year. Of those now in detention, 12 are women, more than 300 are juveniles, 200 are third country nationals and about 200 are over the age of 60, the US military statement said.
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POPSI never thought I would see an anti-soldier veterans group comments from article. * Should have added (4.00 / 1) 'gathering of eagles' and now this offshoot 'eagles up' were formed mostly to continue the blantant Spitting on Kerry, Cleland, and Us 'Nam Vets that don't tow the bushy doctrine, most aren't conflict veterans, many aren't even veterans, though they'll wear colors, patches, etc.. Their main claims of support, if you visit their sites, is doing 'battle' with 'code pink' and crowing about it' mostly false bullshit, I've caught them on a number of times putting up crap of incidents with ''code pink' and 'pro peace' activists they're crowing about and I was witness to. And Boy do they Hate OIF and OEF soldiers that don't tow the same bushy doctrine, reason they're big supporters of VFF and the mercs!!!!!!
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POPSBloggers Pushing Wes Clark Back to the Forefront What Clark said - that McCain has no experience in national security decision-making - is absolutely true, and it's a point that needs emphasis repeatedly and effectively by someone who can deliver it. Clark has a 34 year service record, has won a war, commanded troops all over the world, and nearly died of his injuries in Vietnam. He has run for President and been a surrogate for hundreds of Democrats all over the country, including Ned Lamont. He was against the war in Iraq, and knows the military bureaucracy inside and out. This is someone who would make an insanely good Vice President, and someone who has deep connections to the newly formed progressive communities that emerged from 2002-2006. Senator Obama would do well to choose Clark as his running mate.
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POPSDiscuss :: (6 Comments) ANDREA MITCHELL Were you ready with an advertisement, as some have suggested, in case he had visited the troops to criticize him for doing it while on a political trip? DAVIS No, I mean, frankly, we learned about the trip from the media. We, like many people in the media, weren't very well informed on what the details of Barack Obama's trip were going to be. But when we learned about it, it was disappointing to us, because I am very confident that the soldiers at Landstuhl would have enjoyed a trip and a visit by Barack Obama. Does this guy have a crush on Barack Obama or what? Until now, listening to the McCain campaign all week, you would have thought the troops despised Obama. Oh well. Maybe now we're all in agreement that Barack Obama's popularity is derived in large part from his policy positions on the war, the military, and veterans' affairs--positions that are clearly supported by those whose countries we occupy and by those who've served there.
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POPSThe Ironic Destruction Of Our National Guard Under President "Do Not Volunteer For Overseas Of all the statistics and stories I have read on this issue, many from the work I do with Veterans For America, one sticks out. This fall, half of New Jersey's National Guard will be in Iraq, half. What happens if there is another attack this fall at the end of the election cycle and half of New Jersey's National Guard is gone? What happens if a hurricane strikes the Jersey Shore? What happens if the National Guard is needed and they simply aren't there? Other issues with Iraq get more attention, but the silent destruction of our National Guard and the impact of this administration's policies on the future of the guard are often over-looked. As this administration breaks with long-standing Guard policy, like the fact that the Guard used to give five times as much time at home as deployed, morale and enrollment in the Guard will surely decline.
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