Anybody else suddenly feel like there’s something that our government isn’t telling us? We don’t recall the zombie apocalypse ever being mentioned when the Obama Administration introduced the National Terrorism Advisory System back in 2011. We’d like to humbly suggest that a “Threat Level Gray” warning accompany any word of a zombie attack from here on out. source
This Memorial Day, we took a look back at how the U.S. soldier has evolved over the years. Did you know camouflage wasn’t introduced until the end of World War II?
A very smart piece by The Daily on the evolution of the soldier.
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Massive Military Mistake: The U.S. Defense Department admitted on Monday that an airstrike in Afghanistan three days earlier accidentally killed a mother and her five children. The airstrike mistakenly targeted a family home in the Sangin district, according to the New York Times. The strike was in retaliation for a Taliban attack, the paper said. The regional commander, Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus, is expected to issue a formal apology for the strike in a few days. [Photo: AP]
New York Times: U.S. confirms Afghan strike that killed mom, children
Feels like the U.S. is stepping on eggshells after prior incidents hurt their rep in the region.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3pxi9rCCK1qz5ew6o1_500.jpg)
Massive Military Mistake: The U.S. Defense Department admitted on Monday that an airstrike in Afghanistan three days earlier accidentally killed a mother and her five children. The airstrike mistakenly targeted a family home in the Sangin district, according to the New York Times. The strike was in retaliation for a Taliban attack, the paper said. The regional commander, Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus, is expected to issue a formal apology for the strike in a few days. [Photo: AP]
New York Times: U.S. confirms Afghan strike that killed mom, children
Feels like the U.S. is stepping on eggshells after prior incidents hurt their rep in the region.
POLITICO: Five members of the U.S. military stationed in Colombia violated curfew and may have been involved in inappropriate conduct.— Stefan Becket (@stefanjbecket) April 14, 2012
Some breaking news from Colombia, where the President is attending the Summit Of The Americas. Politico quotes General Douglas Fraser as saying he’s “disappointed by the entire incident and that this behavior is not in keeping with the professional standards expected of members of the United States military.” This ties in uncomfortably with yesterday’s news regarding prostitution use by some members of the Secret Service – it all took place in the same hotel, which also happens to be where President Obama himself is staying. All in all, this is becoming a major black eye for the United States.
This is not the first of those events, and it probably won’t be the last. But we cannot allow these events to undermine our strategy or the mission that we’re involved in.Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta • While discussing the recent shooting of 16 Afghan citizens, by a member of the U.S. military, with reporters on flight to Kyrgyzstan. During his remarks, the Secretary of Defense also mentioned that the government’s goal was to see the suspect tried in the U.S. military justice system. Panetta’s comments come amid increasingly loud calls for the soldier in question to face trial in Afghanistan, and for the United States to re-evaluate its long-term plans for operating inside the country. The calls have grown louder in recent weeks after a series of incidents including Sunday’s shooting, and the mass-burning of Korans at Bagram Air Base last month. source (via • follow)
Delta Airlines charges troop for bags: A military unit returning to the United States from Afghanistan was charged $2,800 — or $200 per soldier — in extra baggage fees on a June 7th flight.
Delta Airlines says its policy is to waive extra baggage fees for up to four bags in business and first class, and three bags in coach, to accomodate active duty US military service members. It’s not clear where the soldiers appearing in the video were seated, but one says he was charged $200 for his fourth bag.
Delta Airlines released a statement explaining their policy and apologizing to the soldiers, but offered no information on whether or not the troops in the YouTube video would be reimbursed their expenses.
The above video was sent to ProducerMatthew.com by a news producer at KING-TV in Seattle.
A while back, we posted a relevant video to this called “United Breaks Guitars.” Same concept — slice-of-life complaining about airlines — except set to music. Difference between that and this, not downplaying what the musician went through? This involves soldiers who were told they could check four bags, only to have someone drop the ball. Screwing with soldiers is the worst.
According to 7th Fleet Commander and Spokesman Jeff Davis, the radiation was first detected by air particulate detectors aboard three helicopters located 60 miles away from the shoreline. The helicopters were returning to the carrier from a relief mission to Sendai.
Most of the radiation was found on the crewmembers clothes, but it was also detected on the skin of one of the crewmembers.
Davis stressed that the commitment to the relief mission will continue. “We remain totally committed to our mission of providing assistance to the people of Japan.”
So far, the documents released by the government raise more questions than they answer, but they do confirm one troubling fact: that no senior officials have been held to account for the widespread abuse of detainees. Without real accountability for these abuses, we risk inviting more abuse in the future.A statement from the ACLU • Regarding a series of documents they released detailing the deaths of 190 US detainees, some of which have been reported by the media, but others are new. A handful – around 25 to 30 – are what the ACLU describes as “unjustified homicide.” One disturbing finding – over 25 percent of the deaths listed were due to cardiac problems, which leads to questions over how detainees are being confined. For its part, the Department of Defense, uh, defends itself. ”Although there have been cases of individuals involved in misconduct,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Tanya Bradsher, ”there is no evidence of systematic abuse by the United States military.” Food for thought? source (via • follow)
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