Author: TSO

I will have a lot to say about this when I recover from Ebola virus.  In the meantime, after reading this AP article, go and read my book review of his shit-tastic book wherein he lies about damn near everything.

Ex-soldier appeals court martialBy ROCHELLE HINES 
Associated Press Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY — A former soldier who was court-martialed for desertion after not returning with his Florida National Guard unit to Iraq in 2003 has filed an appeal in his case.

A brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Services in Washington on Wednesday seeks to reverse the May 2004 desertion conviction of Camilo Mejia-Castillo, overturn his “bad conduct” discharge and reduction in rank from staff sergeant to private, and reinstate his pay.

Mejia, of Miami, served about nine months of a one-year prison sentence at Fort Sill Regional Corrections Facility in Lawton. (He was detained from May 2004 to February 2005)

“Right now, we’re asking them to just grant us a review. Ultimately, the goal is to get his conviction overturned,” said Anjana Samant, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights.

The Army Court of Appeals denied the request earlier this year, Samant said by telephone from New York.

Mejia was a psychology student at the University of Miami before he was deployed. He decided not to return with his unit while on a two-week leave in October 2003.

He asked the military to change his status from deserter to conscientious objector, but an Army officer overseeing the proceeding recommended the request be denied. Mejia said he saw Iraqi prisoners treated cruelly while he was overseeing the processing of detainees at al-Assad, an Iraqi air base occupied by U.S. forces.

“The military is in a pretty tough situation with regard to this case because at the time I was court-martialed, before my trial I presented testimony before the court to the effect that torture was being committed in Iraq and this was ignored,” Mejia said by phone from Washington.

“Then Abu Ghraib came out and the military had to officially respond to allegations of torture.”

Samant said attorneys argued in the appeal that Mejia acted responsibly when he refused to return to Iraq.

“If anything, this is the height of good soldier conduct,” she said. “Part of military training is that a soldier knows there are certain rules of warfare, rules that surround treatment of detainees.”

Lt. Col. Nathan Banks, a spokesman for the U.S. Army, said he couldn’t comment specifically on Mejia’s case.

“The panel will go over the record to see if it should be opened up for review and then they either decide to stick with the recommendation of the lower panel or overturn it,” Banks said from Washington.

Since his release, Mejia has become chairman of the Iraq Veterans Against the War and wrote the book, “The Road from Ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Mejia.”

“I’m not doing it because of the rank or trying to restore my personal reputation,” Mejia said. “I’m trying to open the way for other servicemen and women to be able to blow the whistle.”

BTW, Ltc Banks, tee hee

White House: ‘War on terrorism’ is over

If I may be so bold: Mission Accomplished!!!

OK, so by now everyone knows about the crazy celibate dude who shot up the gym. Absolutely horrid. The guy was quite clearly out of his gourd, and had been for a long time. I look like Shrek and I have a beautiful girlfriend, so I don’t buy into the whole “I couldn’t get a girl” thing. Anyone can meet someone, you just need to look.

But anyway, the man clearly had some deep seeded emotional and psychological informities. He also had a blog apparently. And he had fewer readers than us I guess. Watch this NBC video here, bearing in mind the hysteria around a sworn statement with regards to Blackwater yesterday. Mind you I have no clue if Eric Prince wiped out whole communities, but no way I get all excited about a sworn statement that starts out with “it appears…”

Seriously? This little deposit of rage brought to you by Intelevision and the people at Mattel, bringing me happiness since the last time this dude was with a chick.

Quoth Dicksmith:

This means that the company [Xe/Blackwater] and its employees are not subject to the 2000 Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act and thus fall under to criminal jurisdiction. Read that sentence again and think about how that sits with you.

Dick, I’ve read it about 10 times now, and it still isn’t in a language I can read. As a matter of fact, I don’t think you can ever use the phrase “thus fall under to” and have it make sense. But you keep this stuff coming okay bud? Without a shred of anything Dick is willing to believe noted investigative reporter Olbydouche, who just yesterday was maligning Glenn Beck, and noted pathological liar/imbecile Jeremy Scahill, last seen by me at the Winter Soldier Investigations that he accepted wholesale. The man couldn’t find water falling off a boat, much less the truth of Blackwater from unnamed sources. Just watch this Olby video and laugh along with me. I don’t know what the truth is, but what I do know is that this is the weakest shit sworn statement in history.

For Spongebob’s sake dipshits, he started his sworn statement off with “It appears”… That should be a dead giveaway that the dude doesn’t know anything he’s talking about. If I went to the Red Sox game last night, came home and blogged about it and said “It appears they lost” you’d think me out of my mind. They either lost or they didn’t, and/or I have no friggin clue. Option C is the one being utilized by this anonymous guy. The man has 3 “or”‘s in 1 sentence. I can do it too: Jonn, take this down….

Dicksmith is an asshole or insane or a conspiracy monger.  [Curses that is only two, ok, add or “a tranny with a love of poodles.”]

This is a classy guy, and I really appreciate the way he has treated bloggers in general, especially us Milbloggers. For those that don’t know, we got to meet him a while back at the Pentagon, and he was kind enough to answer a question I had that was not a softball, and which he handled excellently. I am honestly sorry to see him go, but applaud him for the fine work he has done.

As a Democrat, and as a Texan, Pete Geren represents the finest of both species.

As Secretary of the Army, I’ve met countless Soldiers, Family members, and Army Civilians-men and women who devote themselves to keeping our Army strong and ready, and our Nation safe. It has been an extraordinary journey to work for those fine men and women – and their children – over the past 3 1/2 years. They are a part of a group of Americans who make up less than one percent of the U.S. population during this time of war. They volunteer to do the hard and dangerous jobs for our nation, and their Families stand along-side them every step of the way . Our nation owes them a debt that we can never fully repay.

This is the longest war that we have ever fought with an All-Volunteer Force. When the question was raised 30 years ago, when we launched the experiment of the all volunteer Army, if we could stay at war for eight years and not have to resort to the draft, most said, “No way.” They were wrong. Our Soldiers and Army Families proved them wrong. Our Soldiers are volunteers, patriots, the pride of our nation – I will never forget their selfless spirit and commitment to service. I have been inspired by the service of our Soldiers and humbled by the sacrifice of their Families. The all volunteer force is a national treasure.

More than anything else, I’ll remember the many examples of selfless service and devotion to duty. Like the grievously wounded Soldier at Walter Reed Medical Center who told me that he wouldn’t change a thing – if he had to do it all over again he’d still join the Army – but his only regret was that he wouldn’t be able to rejoin his buddies. I’ll remember conversations with family members, including those who suffered tragic losses, telling me how much their Soldier loved our country and their Army-they were doing what they loved.

It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Soldiers, Army civilians and Army Families. For this “last time,” let me say thank you – Soldiers, Army Civilians, and Families – for what you’ve done for generations and for what you will do for generations to come. Thank you.

I meant to do this last week, and again this morning, and kept forgetting to do so. Here is Brandon from last week:

So here’s the big announcement: After a little over two years at VoteVets.org, I’ve accepted a position at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. I’ll be working in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. As most of you know, this is the office run by Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth. I start there on Monday, and, of course, I’m excited about the opportunity–not only for myself, but for the chance to directly impact the way in which VA interacts with veterans of all eras.

Good for him, and I hope he is sincere about wanting to help all veterans. I don’t neccessarily like him, but it’s about the job, not the person holding it. I’ll probably cross paths with him, and when we do, I hope he will forgive me for my farewell post to him:

For those worried about what this will do to VV and our abllity to blog them, fear not, the bomber bay doors are still opened, and they are locked and loaded with weapons grade stupidium:

Blackwater (Xe): Murder Inc.
by: jimstaro
Wed Aug 05, 2009 at 06:52:26 AM EDT

Causing the Deaths and Maiming’s of our Soldiers in the Blowback, easing the recruitment of more insurgent fighters and support for same, and in the long term will cause the blowback of criminal terrorism anywhere, and done on our dime! We share the guilt of their actions even if these statements aren’t true!

Most of these mercs are ex-soldiers, yet for their good paydays they fought on an ideology completely uncaring of their brothers and sisters still serving!

The casket of Cpl. Benjamin Kopp is carried into a high school gymnasium by fellow Army Rangers at the start of a memorial service on August 1 in Rosemount, Minnesota. Kopp was wounded in Afghanistan on July 10 and died of his wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on July 18. (Photo by Thomas Whisenand/Getty Images)

This story kind of hits home for me, from Army Times:

Army Cpl. Benjamin Kopp, a Ranger, died last month after being wounded in Afghanistan, but a part of the Minnesota soldier lives on.

His family agreed to donate his organs, and now a 57-year-old Chicago woman feels privileged to have received the Rosemount soldier’s heart.

Judy Meikle says she got a call about Kopp’s death two weeks ago from the soldier’s cousin, who’s her close friend. His heart was a perfect match for Meikle.

She says she now has the heart of an Army Ranger who’s a bona fide hero.

Kopp served two tours in Iraq before his tour in Afghanistan as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based in Fort Benning, Ga. He will be buried Friday at Arlington National Cemetery.

The 21-year-old died July 18 after being wounded in battle.

[I generally try not to take an entire article, but think it was warranted here. I’ll make it up to Army Times later by not busting on Rick Maze for a week or so.]

My Mom died unexpectedly the day I joined the army. She had a brain aneurism and struggled for several days, but they just couldn’t save her. I skipped my flight to Benning, called my recruiter and flew home to be with her. As a nurse, my mom was a huge advocate of organ donation, and she donated hers.

I left her funeral and got back on the plane to go to Columbus, GA. Had to talk to about 3 psychs before they would let me back in, but they were cool about it. When someone close dies, they tell you to stay busy. You don’t get much busier than basic training. Anyway, about a month and a half in my dad got a letter about what parts of my mom had been used. It hit me really hard. Not sure why, I just felt so glad my mom could help someone else. Anyway, my battle buddy, the incomparable Mark Seagreaves (if you’re out there) and my Drill Sergeant took me on a road march that night to burn off some of the feelings, and I’ve always appreciated that gesture.

Anyway, it makes me happy to know that this Ranger’s service continued on after he did. Thank you Banjamin Kopp, and RIP bud.

This is where I would plug being a donor, but I am not good at telling folks what they should do. I will only say I hope someone can take advantage of whatever I leave when I go.

EDIT: Not surprisingly, my blogfather beat me to the punch. I could have an Acme rocket strapped to my arse and never be fast enough to beat him.

EDIT x2: And read this from Soldier’s Angels Germany. Powerful.

Several weeks ago I did this post on VoteVets grand master Marionette Jon Soltz. In it I noted that:

I would now take several hours dismantling all of your expert testimony before the House and Senate as the Military and Veterans expert you are, but alas, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY TESTIMONY YOU’VE SUBMITTED. If I happen to be wrong, I look forward to reading your cogent analysis on other issues.

Now, I know VoteVets doesn’t read This Ain’t Hell at all. How do I know that? Well, if they did, they would have noted this post of mine about an Onion article about a change in the DADT policy. I posted mine on July 9 at around 2pm. And then the next day I saw this:

Military Institutes New “Don’t Ask, Let Me Guess Policy” (the Onion) by – CarissaPicard
Posted on: Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 03:27:50 AM CDT

Now, I didn’t even get a h/t so I know she didn’t get it from me. Also, it was inexplicably removed right after that and sent down the memory hole, where all the bad stories go.

Need more proof? Last week Claymore did what I thought was an outstanding post about our losses in Afghanistan and Iraq, and comparing coverage of those to the “truly important” things, like “Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush calling it quits (I really had high hopes for those kids), iPhone prices drop to a ‘mere’ $250, we got a new Harry Potter movie which apparently a few people went to go see….” Claymore posted his on July 29, and lo! Jim Staro did the exact same post on August 2. And again, no H/t or any other suggestion that the genesis for the post was from TAH. Now, since they are all unimpeachable individuals of the highest quality over there, we can take this as ipso facto proof that they never read us.

Thus, we also know that VV was not aware of my criticism regarding their lack of testimony.
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