These are all the Blogs posted today: Monday, 4, 2008.
IRAQI REFUGEES FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION
Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) has not reached a consensus on Afghanistan
86 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) has not reached a consensus on the U.S. Military Role in Afghanistan.
"Bobby you asked "for the official response from leaders in THE ANTI-IRAQNAM WAR MOVEMENT." Then you said, "I personally have and see nothing wrong with Senator Obama retaining a policy of "Win the war on terrorism/redeploy (or deploy) troops from Iraq to Afghanistan" as long as Senator Obama makes it CLEAR to the American people that he expects WE THE PEOPLE to make all out sacrifices (including THE DRAFT) in order to sustain, let alone win, any War on Terror. No offense, and with all respect intended, but exactly how do you "win a war on terror"? It's impossible. The moment you (militarily) invade an innocent nation, you have lost the moral high ground, any local support, and the "war"...especially when you kill hundreds of thousands in the process. More to follow, but suffice it to say that those most ACTIVE in the anti-Iraq War movement since the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq way back in 2003 are divided on just how to deal with Afghanistan and any politicians plans to divert attention from Iraq to Afghanistan. The next post AFTER this one will hopefully make using military operations to fight the War on Terror obsolete. It is a defense report from RAND Corporation that questions the phrase "War on Terror," instead calling it what it is - Counter-Terrorism. Bobby Hanafin, The Mustang Major IS THERE REALLY A WAR ON TERROR?SHOULD WHAT THE U.S. IS DOING IN BOTH IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN BE CALLED SOMETHING ELSE, AND WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM? These are questions that I hope will be addressed in the next two posts. "Exactly how do you "win a war on terror"? It's impossible. The moment you (militarily) invade an innocent nation, you have lost the moral high ground, any local support, and the "war"...especially when you kill hundreds of thousands in the process." Ward Reilly, Veterans for Peace (VFP) and writer/activists for Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW).  "Terror" is an ideal, and it's not a thing you can "defeat". Our "War on Terror" is a war OF terror, for all involved, Middle Easterners, and for our troops. Our troops are being used as occupational-oppressors and policemen, not as soldiers. They are sitting targets fighting an invisible enemy. Although not a member of the VVAW board, I am heavily involved "in the streets" in the movement, and the Veterans on the street say "U.S. out of Afghanistan and Iraq, now". We have to save THIS country, and we will never be able to export to other countries what we don't practice here (democracy). Our Constitution has been shredded by criminals in Congress and the White House. Bush and Cheney need to be in jail, for committing Constitutional crimes AND invading 2 innocent nations. You know what we all swore a blood oath to; "....to defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and DOMESTIC". Bush and Cheney lied us into both "wars".  If it is truly necessary to take out "evil terrorists", such as bin Laden, then it should be done by assassination of single targets, with NO casualties to any innocent citizens, and done by our incredible Special Forces, who can easily kill any single man with proper planning. In and out, game over. The neocons want the "wars" to continue, in occupation form, because war is a money-making monster for them, especially with our new "privatized" army. I don't speak for the organization as an officer, but most of our members feel this way, in my opinion. Afghanistan IS NOT "the good war". It's the same as Iraq. Illegal, immoral, unconstitutional, and criminal. No Draft. The people of this country will defend it if we are attacked by any invading military. U.S. Military COMPLETELY out of Afghanistan and Iraq, yesterday. The real questions are, can we force Obama to act on the will of the Majority of our citizens (70%) who want us out of both countries, NOW, and can we save the Constitution peacefully, or not? (Sp4) Ward Reilly, SE national contact, VVAW Veterans For Peace ************************************************************************ This feedback was sent to me by Brother Stephen Noetzel of California, who I've known since 2003 and personally met in March 2005 at the first formulating meeting of the democrat party leaning Veterans and Military Families for Progress in Wisconsin. I frankly disagree with the views of many moderates to right of center Veterans and Military Families who met there; however their opinions are to be just as respected as mine or Stan Goff's. Stephan says that, "I have been reading the interesting posts on Peace Movement Policy on Afghanistan. I wasn't going to ring-in on this but [my name was mentioned]. May as well offer my two cents, some of you know of my history with VVAW. I go back to the Original Crew in NYC. I was an active member and organizer as early as '69 & '70. I testified at the original WSI in Detroit, and I testified w/ Kerry in congress. I traveled on speaking tour w/ Jane. TV appearances regarding my testimony on war crimes I observed as a Green Beret in 'Nam. I worked w/ Bobby Muller [founder of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and former VVAW member] on Long Island to organize a mini-WSI at the Garden City Hotel in Republican Nassau County the summer after the original. I ran an activist VVAW chapter @ Queens College. [Count] me [among] the 'originals' Jan, Urgo, Bangert, hell, even Al H. Ditto with the Citizens Commission, ask Rifkin, Uhl, Todd. Ask all the old saints. I mention all this not because I think my view on Afghanistan has any more validity than yours, but simply to establish that I have been in lock-step with liberal/progressive (even) radical political views, lo these many years. I then got bitten by the Political Bug and been there ever since. When I started working in the Obama campaign over a year ago, I never told them these things. Remember why the Spinal Tap guys couldn't find a new drummer? That’s right, a Jinx, six previous drummers died on the job. The thing is, though I say 'lock-step’. I was never into Group-think. I marched in step because I was in full agreement. When I disagreed, I simply didn't march. I don't march with the Replace Israel with Palestine crowd. It's WAY more complicated than that. I don't march with the Hands Off Afghanistan crowd. It's a bit more complicated than that. Not a lot, but a bit. Lot's of people know I'm no Hawk. Fewer know I'm also not a pacifist. I 'cherry pick,' that’s why I like the name VVAW better than VFP. Though I moved out of NYC in the mid-70s and now feel perfectly at home here in the land of fruits and nuts, I still get highly pissed when I see occasional film of the Towers coming down. My 'New Yorker' patriotism kicks in. I'm not yet evolved to the point where I'm ready to let bygones be bygones around 9/11/01. I want justice. Hell I'm baser than that. I want revenge. But revenge against the perpetrators and that doesn't rule out GW Bush and his henchmen as far as I'm concerned. I long for the day when there's a crack in that insulation. But I sure as hell did enough homework to know who the 'rag head' scumbags are. That's why I got so pissed (with barrack Obama and 30-million other Americans.), when King George told me we'll get our revenge by attacking...Iraq? No sale douche-bag. Not for a minute. That's why I started working with OIF vets to start Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) here in the Bay Area as early as 2003 - a full year before the finally evolved at the VFP convention in '04. But Afghanistan, that's where that OBL (Osama Bin Laden) bastard was hiding. IS hiding, and continues to hide. What also starts to 'kick-in' is the old 'Mission Mentality' of my Sneaky Pete training. That's why NONE of the arguments against going after that bastard make a lick of sense to me. Let's talk 'Mission'. Though I knew from the very start of 'Shock and Awe' that the 'mission' that Bush conjured up to invade IRAQ (f'gadsake) was outrageous (whatever it was)...Once it got started I was SURE he had enough experienced military people advising him to insure that there was a clear MISSION to this bombastic excuse for a war. I'll be honest. If the Bush Mission turned out to be revenge against Hussein for trying to kill papa Bush, I would have begrudgingly even given him that. Had he 'pulled out' (like poppa did) after clumsily accomplishing his 'mission, (i.e. Topple Hussein) I could have held my nose and swallowed that. Under two conditions, first, that they destroyed/secured the WMDs, and second, that they (re-) turned IMMEDIATELY to the primary mission (that being) full force deployment to the capture of the Bastard OBL. That Mission, I insist is viable. Don't tell this old Green Beanie it's not. The Israeli Special Forces used to excel at this. Until they started taking lessons from Rumsfeld & Co. on How to [Screw] Up a Perfectly Good War. The mullahs, sheep-herders, and poppy-farmers in Afghanistan are bigger Ho's than Ho Chi Minh and his Charlie's ever were. They had a lot of True Believers. Of COURSE the Russians got their ass kicked when they tried a conventional war in Afghanistan. Same-same the French at Dien Bien Phu, and same-same 'Hello Marines -Welcome to our Tet Celebration!'. Of course if the Mission is not clear and concise, and if the Strategy is CFM (Clear as Mud remember?) there will be "Instant Afquagimire" (This coinage with apology to [Bobby] Hanafin who long has touted his appropriate "Iraqinam" term). I insist that with a disciplined effort and a rigorously controlled MISSION, there are poppy-farmers and Mullahs that will give up OBL and his hole-in-the-wall gang (for the right price), and Sneaky Pete can get in there and Spirit him Out. Yes, there may be some collateral damage - as the slime-ball insulates him self with civilian hostages, but if the MISSION is right the job can be done with minimal civilian loss - less than a hundred souls. Maybe even less than the number of souls who jumped from the 110th floor to avoid live cremation. Maybe it would get messy enough so that the Bastard OBL might not make it out alive. Choy Oi. Or even 'sin loi'. Or whatever is the equivalent in Arabic. Mission Accomplished. Neat and relatively clean. Then we go back to defending our borders and paying attention to waz happnin' in our own 'hood. THEN, and only then, I go back to being a Peacenik. He was smart enough to see that Iraqinam was bullshit, and he's smart enough to avoid 'Afquagimire'. But we have a job to do there first. He knows it, I know it, and I'm confident that a lot of peace-loving vets know it as well. That's my view comrades, and the best evidence I have for it is when Obama speaks perceptively about 'not just ending the war, but starting to end the War Culture' that America has become during the nightmare of Iraqinam. And as a final note to Bobby Hanafin. When the Afghanistan Mission has been accomplished (about a year from right now), I agree that to rebuild the security of our Republic, we need to institute the "oblitunity' of an organized system of Mandatory National Service for every single young person living in the US...male or female, citizen or no, handicapped or no, gay or straight, rich or poor. All sincere replies sincerely appreciated. Yours for an America to Love again, ************************************************************************ I believe it is safe to say that the most active or "have been in the streets Veterans and Military Family organizations who have QUESTIONED the Iraq War have pretty much the same divided position on the role of U.S. Military in Afghanistan. From feedback I have received and consider the most reasonable and realistic, I conclude that much of the division within those groups and organizations that QUESTION the Iraq War, much less OPPOSE it, revolves around how the rank and file has either been sold on the concept of a Global War on Terror (GWOT) or don't buy it. On that note I continue with an intellectual discussion of the GWOT by long time Peace Activist Stan Goff. Stan has been part of and with those folks who QUESTION and OPPOSE the Iraq War BEFORE day one of the Invasion of Iraq. After digesting the political games being played with what it takes to be Commander-In-Chief, Stan goes on to insightfully take issue with the same political gamesmanship being played with the Global War on Terror (GWOT) by both established political parties and Presidential campaigns trying to outdo themselves on not only continuing to promote and sell the GWOT myth but to compete with each other on which political party can best deal with the GWOT.************************************************************************ On Commanding-in-Chief by Stan Goff This analysis was submitted by William Terry Leichner, RN, a Denver member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), USMC combat infantryman - 5th Marines....Dec 1967-Feb 1969. Brother Leichner posted this excellent commentary by fellow military retiree, and Peace Activist, Stan Goff. Stan has been instrumental in the Anti-Iraqnam War movement even before the Invasion of Iraq began in 2003 (along with most of the folks I've received feedback from). With the exception of a non-committal statement from Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) due to the different views on Afghanistan within that organization and lacking an annual meeting to reach any consciences, NONE of the feedback that I quote in this article is to be perceived as an OFFICIAL policy, views, or opinion of VVAW, Veterans for Peace, or any other organization with "AGAINST," or "PEACE" in their logos and/or banners. To make my intent clear, the mainstream media interviewed and quoted so-called anti-Iraqnam War groups or organization members who are NOT Veterans or Military Family Members. I'm not degrading the contributions of non-Veteran or non-Military Family focused peace groups in anyway, but the American public should not be given the illusion that groups such as Moveon.org. United for Peace and Justice, and such SPEAK for or on behalf of America's Veterans and Military Families who QUESTION, let alone OPPOSE the Iraq War or HAVE QUESTIONS or CONCERNS about escalating WAR in Afghanistan without the full commitment and burden sharing of the American people. WE THE PEOPLE look at war beyond our shores as divorced from the U.S. economy, as WE focus on the economy or are distracted by politicians and the media to GET OFF focus on just HOW prosecuting any war and our national economy cannot be separated. Extracted below is what Peace Activist Stan Goff had to say about the War on Terror and Afghanistan in his commentary, "On Commanding-in-Chief," on his outstanding blog The Feral Scholar. Thanks Stan for this insightful, thought provoking insight. The Mustang Major FROM "ON COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF," Stan Goff says, "The media focus...cops to the most dangerous accomplishment of the Bush administration: the publicly-accepted idea of a "global war on terror."  There is no such thing, of course. There is a war to control Southwest Asia and its strategic resources. The "global war on terror" (GWOT) is a legal pretext that apparently slipped right past all those fine lawyers in Congress. What GWOT does is consolidate US executive control over both domestic and foreign policy, by redefining the entire planet as a battlefield. This "global battle space" justifies actions that are only sanctioned by international law on the battlefield.
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Thought many of you would find this interesting...
25 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog I'm Tired"
By Joe Repya, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour. Read more | 0 comments
2 US SOLDIERS KILLED BY ROADSIDE BOMB IN BAGHDAD
"An Individual is Only As Disabled, As He / She, Chooses to Be", says Tom Wren
122 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog Tom Wren, never figured on all the Negativity, that would take place in his life, but it happened, & yet Tom Wren, of Eastern Oklahoma, has "Survived the Ordeals of Life"...Walking With Pride, as a Military Veteran & as an Individual. At the age of 17, Tom wanted, more than anything, to become a U.S. Military Soldier, which he did convince his mother, that he would be a Devoted Soldier, & she signed for him to join the Armed Forces of America. Tom had NOT REGISTERED FOR THE DRAFT. This in itself, would be a detriment to him, at a later date... Tom joined the Army, trained in Mechanic Career & also, in being a Medic for the Military. Tom had an IQ of about 170-180, & felt he could accomplish a lot of tasks, on behalf of the Military. Tom was stationed in a Foreign Country for 33 months. While there, he was able to perform many tasks, that had to do with the Mechanics of all types of Military Equipment & Automotive Parts. Tom was a Natural at being a Top-Notch Mechanic. Tom had agreed to Serve 6-Years of Military Service, but after 3-Years, he was given a DD-214, but not a Regular Discharge Document...& he was allowed to live as a Civilian. When the 6-Years was ended, Tom received a Notice, that he was being Drafted for Military Service. Instead of Dealing Directly with the Draft Board, Tom dealt with a Local Judge, who assured Tom, that he didn't need to report, since he had Already Served his Tour of Duty. The Judge had stated to Tom, that he would contact the Draft Board & handle the situation, for Tom. HE DIDN'T. And Tom was on the job, one day, & the FBI arrived, to arrest Tom & jailed him, for failing to comply with the Draft Notice. Again, Tom was assured that the Judge would Take Care of the Problem, & Tom was allowed to be on his way, & live his life...as a Civilian. THIS JUDGE DIDN'T DO AS HE SAID HE WOULD EITHER...and... Tom, went to work as usual, with a new job, in the next county from where he lived, in California. It wasn't long, before the FBI showed up again...& Tom was jailed again, at the age of 23+. Tom was taken to the court...& this Judge, told Tom that Tom would be notified, about the process that had taken place with him, & ALL WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF, ON HIS BEHALF. Altho, Tom has Never Heard Anything from the Draft Board or the FBI again, He has Never Received a Document of Discharge from the Military Service. Tom went on to be employed by Oil Companies, working on their gas / oil well equipment...but his life & health would take a Turn for the Negative. Tom had joined the Military in 1960, & by 1962, his eyes would begin to degenerate, WHILE HE WAS STILL ENLISTED IN THE MILITARY...& he was told that he would "go blind, completely". (It is Now 2008, & Tom's eyes, are Not Healthy, but He is Not Totally, Fully Blind). Tom began a Career as one of the Most Outstanding Foster Parents, in the Nation...while he lived in California, & this followed him, when he moved to the State of Oklahoma, where he was born & has many relatives, still residing here. (By the way, one of the Cousins of Tom Wren, is the "Duvall" who plays in the Famous Movie, "Lonesome Dove".) Tom continued to work as a Mechanic, but his health was declining, moreso...besides his eyes degenerating, so was his heart, & eventually Tom was required to have heart surgery, & a Pacemaker, to be installed. Even this Did Not Deter Tom from wanting to Work & Stay Busy...& the Knowledge of His Understanding of Automotive Mechanics, became known across the State & even some of the Vocational Education Automotive Teachers, would come to Consult with Tom, about certain parts of a vehicle, & found out that "Tom knew More Than They Did, Who Possessed a Degree in Automotive Education." Tom, like many Military Veterans, would have Marital Problems, which would sometimes be a negative part of his life too. Tom has currently, Almost 40 Years as a Outstanding Foster Parent...but then, those years, may have ended, just as a marriage did for him. He had three to five children in his home, including a "drug addicted baby" whose health had much improved with the Patient Care Tom provided to that infant...when changes took place, & the children went back to their families, in time...& Tom was Alone, for awhile...to face life, as Only He Could...for himself. Tom was advised by the VA Doctors that he should be Eligible for Service-Connected Disability, but then Tom didn't know how to file for / obtain those benefits, & no one seemed interested in helping get that done. Tom had Retired, some years back, & has an income of Social Security Retirement, & Tom has Full Understanding of his (Partial) Blindness & the Use & Care of a Pacemaker...so Tom was placed on Homehealth Services, for his health to be Maintained...& the Pacemaker to be Calibrated, as necessary, routinely. Tom has discovered that, even though he is Partially Blind, he is Still Entitled to Possess a Drivers License, as long as he Feels, He Can Be a Qualified & Responsible Driver of a Vehicle. Tom refuses to be given a "Seeing Eye Dog" at this point in his life...he says..."that time will come, soon enough" but right now is Not the Time. Some people, wonder how Tom can Repair any Part of a Vehicle Motor...but his reply is this: "I can do it, by the Feel of the Equipment & the Sound of the Engine"...& when Tom, diagnosis the Problem of a Motor, he is "right on the mark"...every time... Tom has been offered a job, as an Instructor, of Automotive Mechanics, to Teach at a Boot Camp, where Teens are Sent, to Become Rehabilitated, & where they are required to Enter Military Service, after some months. But, there's a Hitch ! Tom is Required to Possess a CDIB Card. Tom is of Native American Indian, & has at least One Good, Indian Roll Number...& there is probably at least one more, for his ancestory, too. When Tom was placed on Homehealth, the Homehealth signed him up for the Personal Care / Advantage Care Program, which is through the Department of Human Resources office. Tom didn't realize, until he viewed a Financial Statement, about the Monies that would be paid out for his Care...& he was Greatly Surprised to Discover that this Homehealth Agency is being Paid, more than / about $30,000 a Year...to Provide Care for Him...& YET... HE IS NOT A HOMEBOUND PATIENT !! Tom is age 66, with Partial Blindness, & with a Pacemaker, & he has a fairly good income, of Retirement, & is Eligible for VA Service-Connected Compensation & that would DisQualify Tom, for Personal Care & other Services, by a Homehealth Except for the Monitoring / Care of the Pacemaker... SO WHY IS THERE $30, 000 BEING PAID OUT FOR A PATIENT / A VETERAN, WHO IS NOT OF HOMEBOUND STATUS? Tom still has ability to Handle All of His Own Personal Business, has an Income, that is Not Considered a Low Income...to qualify for Personal Care..& he still keeps employed...& has ability to be a safe driver & Eats All His Meals in a Restaurant that his Relatives Own, & doesn't stay at home, except to sleep..and Tom has a Local Physician & there's a Hospital / ER, just 9 miles from where Tom works / lives...& yet... IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ?? Tom is taking a New View of His Life, & deciding...what is best for him & setting his own priorities, with the help of an Advocate...who encourages Tom to be "All He Can Be" for his own Self-Satisfaction & Peace of Mind. Tom is an Example of the Way, Veterans & Soldiers, Lives can Be Negatively Affected, by the System !! But he has Rose Above it, & Others Can too. Tom Never Gave Up, Nor is he "giving in, to a Disability". This Advocate is also, assisting Tom in filing for the Service-Connected VA Benefit of Compensation, & following up with assisting Tom with filing for the CDIB Indian Card. THIS WRITING IS CONTRIBUTED BY HAZEL DAVIS, WHO BELIEVES THAT: "OUR U.S. MILITARY SOLDIERS / VETERANS, DESERVE NOTHING...LESS THAN ...OUR FULL SUPPORT...FOR ASSISTING IN IMPROVEMENTS...FOR THEM & THEIR HEALTH & WELFARE...FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE MILITARY SOLDIERS / VETERANS...& not so much for the convenience of anyone else...BECAUSE... IT IS THE "HEALTH & WELFARE OF THE SOLDIER / VETERAN, THAT....MATTERS MOST !! ", not Employees of Agencies. Our Veterans / Our Soldiers, Deserve a Good Quality of Healthcare & Health Maintenance !! It is Their Lives, Which Matters !! Not Ours !! (Hazel Davis, bojacks1@yahoo.com).
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BRAIN INJURY TREATMENT, "MUST IMPROVE"....added by Hazel Davis
23 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog From the VFW Magazine 2008: BRAIN INJURY TREATMENT MUST IMPROVE: A VA Study, by its Inspector General, Concluded that the Department, Must Improve It's Care of Veterans, With Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Results of the Study were Released May 1, 2008. Researchers studied the Medical Cases of 52 Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans with TBI & wought to Determine, If Their Care Had Improved Since a July 2006 Report. The Study Noted that VA "FAILED TO PROVIDE'' at Least 10 of Those Veterans or Their Families, With Medical Care, Awareness of VA Vocational Assistance or Counseling. On the Same Day as the Study's Release, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Announced that GI's & Civil Defense Employees who have received Mental Health Care, WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO NOTE THAT, ON SECURITY CLEARANCE FORMS, Unless the Treatment, was Court-Ordered or Involved Violence. On April 30, 2008, the American Psychiatric Association released a Study Showing Three Out of Five GI's believed, that Seeking Help for Mental Health problems, Would, in fact, Negatively Affect Their Opportunity for / or Current - Future Job / Employment. This article, submitted by Hazel Davis, bojacks1@yahoo.com Read more | 1 comments
Bob Schieffer baselessly claims Obama reps 'denigrate' McCain's military service
23 recommendation(s).
+Recommend this blog McCain's people apparently don't lie and spin with sufficient gusto, so his darling media minions have recently been picking up the slack: On Face the Nation, Shieffer baselessly claimed “Obama’s people are trying to denigrate” McCain’s “military service”, Media Matters for America, 3 August 2008 Summary: On Face the Nation, Bob Schieffer alleged that "[Sen. Barack] Obama's people are trying to denigrate the war hero's military service," referring to Sen. John McCain. Schieffer did not explain which of "Obama's people" he was talking about, but a few days earlier he said that "[retired Gen.] Wesley Clark, who was speaking for Obama, tried to marginalize John McCain's military service" in a June appearance on Face the Nation. In fact, Clark did not "denigrate" McCain's "military service"; rather, he questioned the relevance of McCain's combat experience as a qualification to be president. This piece is worth digging into, as Media Matters for America has repeatedly noted that Gen. Clark's June 29 comments on Face the Nation were not intended as an "attack," but as an expression of sentiments once conveyed by, well, McCain, of all people: McCain himself has previously said he does not "accept the notion" that military experience is necessary to be an effective commander in chief. As the blog Think Progress noted, in an interview published in the February 13, 2003, edition of the National Journal, Kirk Victor asked McCain, "Do you think that military service inherently makes somebody better equipped to be commander-in-chief?" McCain replied: McCAIN: Absolutely not. History shows that some of our greatest leaders have had little or no military experience -- Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Harry Truman was in the artillery in World War I, which was magnificent. Ronald Reagan did most of his active duty in the studio lots in California. It might be a nice thing, but I absolutely don't believe that it's necessary. A video of Sheiffer's commentary is included with the Media Matters article, but here's the text of his contibution to the current "mutual mudslinging" fray: From the August 3 edition of CBS' Face the Nation: SCHIEFFER: Finally today: When it began, this was a campaign of great expectations. Two extraordinary candidates -- Obama, the son of a Kenyan exchange student, raised by American grandparents; McCain, a true American hero. What a statement it could have been to the world, what a learning and inspiring experience it could have been to us, two such very different people giving us their vision for America. And yet, it has come to this: Obama's people trying to denigrate the war hero's military service, McCain's people comparing Obama to a couple of frivolous tarts. As I watch the latest back-and-forth over who did or did not inject race into the campaign, I thought back to the political consultant who once told me that he began each political cycle by rereading Machiavelli, who argued the only ethic that should matter to those seeking power was the ethic that benefited them. In other words, the end justified the means. That's where we are in today's politics: do or say whatever it takes to win the daily news cycle, deal with the collateral damage later. And that's the part that bothers me. What comes after this? I can't help but remember what Gandhi once said: "Ends do not justify the means, they reflect the means." The government we get generally reflects the campaign that produced it. What kind of government can we expect from this one? This time it could have been so different. That's it for us. We'll see you next week right here on Face the Nation. Thanks to even-handed old hands like Shieffer we can all step back, look at our sorry selves and ask: "What would Ghandi editorialize?" But, alas, it ends up that Shieffer's means mean more than he implies they means: From the July 31 edition of CBS' The Early Show: MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ (co-anchor): Do you think it's inevitable that Barack Obama will eventually go down the same road? And if so, what is it about John McCain that he would attack? SCHIEFFER: Well, I mean, they've already tried this, there's no question about that. Look, when Wesley Clark, who was speaking for Obama, tried to marginalize John McCain's military service and said -- I asked him on Face the Nation why, you know, that he thought McCain shouldn't consider -- you know, his military service shouldn't be considered as something that was a plus for somebody running for president, and he said, "Well, you know, just being shot down over Hanoi does not qualify you for being president." So both sides are engaging in this. I don't think the public likes it, but I think we're going to see more of it. One thing for sure: when you're running ahead, you don't normally run negative ads about your opponent. I think this does say that John McCain's people know that he's behind right now. This is how the talking heads roll! Bemoaing the tragedy of "he said/he said," when the real message is: "Look, Obama said! What do you think of your messiah now?" "I don't think the public likes it, but I think we're going to see more of it," says Shieffer. Methinks we'll see more of Shieffer's duplicitious licking of McCain's combat boots to boot. But how does Bob face the nation from down there? Read more | 1 comments
FABULOUS VIDEO: CHARLIE CO. 391st ENGR BN IN AFGHANISTAN
McCAIN STUTTERS AND STAMMERS TRYING TO ANSWER REPORTER'S QUESTION ON RACE CARD
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Though not on the National Board of Veterans for Peace (VFP) or Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), I receive this response from passionate anti-Iraq War writer/activist Ward Reilly from Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 
The Taliban can be broken beyond repair within two months - no longer. Not mopped up to the last Al Qaida True Believer, but enough to break their back. Enough to convince the poppy farmers and sheep herders (who like the Taliban about as much as the Rice Farmers of Tan Phu liked the occupiers of the NVA or the USA!) that they don't need this trash in their 'hood either! 
"The whole world" cannot be shoehorned into any definition of a "battlefield" embodied in international law on the issue of war. That's one of several reasons the US won't sign onto the International Criminal Court.