Saturday’s historic Senate vote to move forward in ending the military’s unconscionable “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members marks a turning point for our country and our armed forces. At long last, our nation’s military will soon bestow upon our men and women in uniform the very freedoms they [...]
It is now in the hands of the Senate. The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” is an all-too-rare example of Congress’ attempting to reconcile policy (and law) with common sense. While virtually all other significant military powers in the world have long ago lifted their bans on gays serving [...]
Saying that his “commitment to [his] God supersedes [his] commitment to the DOD,” Air Force Lt. Col. Stacy L. Maxey has publicly vowed to violate military regulations and his oath to the U.S. Constitution if DADT is repealed. In a letter published by Stars and Stripes, Lt. Col. Maxey claims that it would be hypocritical [...]
Hundreds of mines, mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades discovered in 2008 by the Iraqi National Police and U.S. troops. Image courtesy Army Spc. Daniel Herrera No one deals more weapons to the rest of the world than we do. During 2008 alone, the United States drummed up an extraordinary $37.8 billion in arms-transfer agreements, largely [...]
Specialist Tammy K. scoots around a throng of patients, visitors and staff in the wide hallways of the VA hospital in Palo Alto. Her should length blonde hair swings as her slim figure maneuvers expertly between wheelchairs and gurneys on her way to her job in the rehabilitation unit. She quips with patients, the picture [...]
The House of Representatives has just voted overwhelmingly to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (DADT), which forbids gays from openly serving their country. The vote was an impressive 250 to 175 — which is 16 more votes for repeal than the previous tally in the House (when they voted on the issue [...]
Today I had the privilege of meeting a young woman who is serving our nation and carrying the LIVESTRONG message with her every day. While I could have talked with her for hours, all we had were a few brief minutes together. In that time, here’s what she told me: Nearly five years ago when [...]
The Gray Lady has been banished from the browsers of Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force bases — and so has virtually every other national newspaper of record in the Western hemisphere, all due to the recent release of a treasure trove of previously classified military documents by WikiLeaks. Capt. Frank Hartnett, public affairs chief for [...]
I can’t remember the last time I learned so much in one 24-hour stretch. From Iraqi history to geography to public policy. We covered a lot of territory by air and land. I also learned — what I had suspected for many years — that our men and women in uniform are the most courageous [...]
SAN FRANCISCO — Three military veterans who were discharged under the law that prohibits gays from serving openly in uniform sued the government Monday to be reinstated and to pressure lawmakers to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law before a new Congress is sworn in. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San [...]
