Military Affairs
War’s character is recondite in the flow of history to a civilization that seeks to avoid it. War is at once utterly logical and senseless. The examiner feels as if it must be possible to trace the chain of causes that sparked the bloodshed while thinking it incomprehensible that anything should ever burn so hot.…
There probably isn’t a single policy issue about which I agree with Governor Chafee. But this is a very good thing that he is doing. Governor Chafee is visiting with Rhode Island troops deployed in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan this week as part of a tour sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. “They were…
A quick follow-up to my post last week on how Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has a high batting average when it comes to departing from naval ship naming conventions: apparently the complaints worked. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, under fire from Congress and veterans for naming ships after fellow Democrats and social activists, plans…
This seemed like one of those articles that you read the headlines and think to yourself “Nah, it can’t really be about something like that.” The headlines read: Air Force: Remains of service members went to landfill Air Force dumped hundreds of remains of dead soldiers from Dover base into landfill: report Pretty horrible, right?…
I’m hardly a regular consumer of celebrity culture, but the fact that Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis followed through with their promises to attend respective Marine Corps balls gives me hope that at least some of our contemporary Hollywood stars “get it.” By all accounts, both were good dates. Timberlake blogged about the experience and…
Some Veterans Day events in Rhode Island
John Loughlin, currently serving in Iraq, sent a letter to WPRO (was this via snail mail?), mainly describing his duties and schedule but also touching on living conditions. Below is an excerpt; inexplicably, WPRO did not put up the entire letter. I found his description of the living quarters especially enlightening. Keep in mind that…
Further to Patrick’s post and in response to my question, You voted “No” on the following amendment. An amendment numbered 38 printed in House Report 112-88 to require that the rules of engagement allow any military service personnel assigned to duty in a designated hostile fire area to have rules of engagement that fully protects…
Congressman Cicilline: I turn to this forum to communicate with you because your Congressional website bars you from receiving e-mail from anyone outside of your district. You voted “No” on the following amendment. An amendment numbered 38 printed in House Report 112-88 to require that the rules of engagement allow any military service personnel assigned…
We’re going to send you to war in hostile territory. We’re going to put you in the line of fire with your life on the line. Will we let you defend yourself when the enemy is shooting at you? No. Or at least so says Congressman David Cicilline. (h/t Helen Glover) An amendment numbered 38…