Patrick Edaburn reminded us that 50 years ago today, on August 13, 1961, construction started on the Berlin Wall. I don’t remember much about the day or the event. I was too busy completing the last few weeks of Officer Candidate School, and the Berlin Wall itself did not start going up immediately, as I remember. However, barbed wire went up everywhere, streets were dug up, East German military guards were ever-present and the people from East Berlin were made virtual prisoners. I do remember,...

A weekend New York Times column on the depressing—and depressed— fiscal condition our nation finds itself in begins as follows: The boasts of Congressional Republicans about their cost-cutting victories are ringing hollow to some well-known economists, financial analysts and corporate leaders, including some Republicans, who are expressing increasing alarm over Washington’s new austerity and antitax orthodoxy. As President Obama capitulated to Republicans on the terms of the deficit...

In exactly one month, America will observe the 10th anniversary of that dreadful day when our country, in so many ways, lost her innocence. Between now and then we will read many thoughtful writings and see many poignant programs reminding us of what we probably will never forget. I just received an e-mail from a lady who last year, on Memorial Day, told us about how a casual encounter with a World War II veteran brought back proud memories of her father’s World War II service as a Marine in Okinawa,...

UPDATE: Now we can see the faces, too, of these brave troops. Please click on Photo gallery: Servicemembers who died in the Chinook helicopter crash ****** The Department of Defense announced today the names of all 30 servicemembers who, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. At this web site one can see that these heroes came from across these United States. Their names, ranks, units, hometowns...

Joe Gandelman commented yesterday on the first nine members of the so-called “Super Committee” —tasked with solving our nation’s financial woes—picked by Democrats and Republicans. The Washington Post has just announced the final three members of that committee. Actually, they were just announced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), via her Twitter feed. They are “top members of the House Democratic leadership and include Reps. Jim Clyburn (S.C.); Chris Van Hollen...

How much is that F-35 in the Window? Some will say, if you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford that puppy. But since that question is so frequently and persistently asked, let’s first take a good look at the puppy. It is a pedigree puppy that has been carefully “developed” following years of exhaustive and expensive research and selective breeding in order to make it an excellent companion dog, show dog, watch dog, attack dog, etc. In other words, a multi-function...

As we hurriedly walk in the scorching San Antonio heat to the Scottish Rite Auditorium, my thoughts go back to a much cooler day about 50 years ago when I became an American citizen. I wonder if anything has changed in either America or in those who have traveled thousands of miles, who have left loved ones in far-away lands, who sometimes even risk serious repercussions in their native lands in order to come to the “promised land”—some simply hoping for a better life, some desperately...

In an interesting mailing I just received from a political group—Democratic, I believe—I find some points that I think merit some discussion by the experts among you. (I was going to say “among us,” but I will readily admit I am not one when it comes to economic issues.) So, let me just “throw it out there,” after deleting or modifying some of the more partisan words and claims. First, the main point of the mailing is that the debt ceiling should be abolished: If one thing...

A very tragic development in our involvement in Afghanistan. Several news sources are reporting that “dozens” of U.S. soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash near the Afghan capital, Kabul, late Friday night. The New York Times reports that the Chinook helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade launched by insurgents just west of Kabul. It is believed to be the deadliest helicopter crash in the Allies’ decade-long involvement in that country and, if confirmed, the deadliest day for...

There has been a lot—perhaps too much—written about the debt reduction bill, its potential impact and its implications—long on rhetoric, but short on facts and details. If you are as confused as I am, you may want to read the following concise and straightforward summary I just received from the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). It is preceded by: The agreement, signed by the President on Tuesday, sets a course for future reductions in federal spending. But the compromise...

Trying to both caution and reassure his Department’s personnel, and beyond, that Pentagon spending cuts won’t be done in a hasty, irresponsible way at a “time of considerable fiscal challenge in our country”—i.e. at a time when defense hawks are suffering from angst and uncertainty— “Defense Secretary Leon Panetta penned a letter to them today. The letter, titled “Meeting our Fiscal and National Security Responsibility,” addressed to “all Department of Defense personnel,”...

While one reader here at TMV reflected that Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford’s last night’s courageous and emotional appearance on the House floor to vote on the debt limit bill may have been “ political theatre and showmanship, maybe even a little arm-twisting to drum up support for the bill,” others are speculating that it may be the start of her run for re-election in 2012. According to the Washington Post, Giffords spokeswoman C.J. Karamargin rejected speculation that Giffords’...

Depending on which side of the military spending issue one is in, thrills or chills are running up and down the respective spines in light of the debt ceiling deal that now looks quite certain to become law. While to sighs of relief from those for a strong military, it looks like the cuts in next year’s defense budget will probably be small, for the years beyond there is at best uncertainty, at worst some real angst in the minds of the same defense hawks. Some of the headlines sound ominous. The...

UPDATE: I happened to be watching the vote on the debt ceiling bill, when the delightful images appeared of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on the floor of the House surrounded by applauding and smiling Representatives. Below, in my original post, are my impressions of this wonderful moment—albeit rather short. The Huffington Post, however, has more background and reaction on the event along with photos and a video. The following are some excerpts: Giffords entered the chamber to sustained,...

The “lead” in a Washington Post story this morning reads: The United States is planning to provide the Iraqi government with a wiretapping system to eavesdrop on cellular calls and messages “to assist in combating criminal organizations and insurgencies,” according to a U.S. Air Force contract solicitation. And continues with: The proposed system would allow Iraqi officials to monitor and store voice calls, data transmissions and text messages and would be installed with the acquiescence...

We have been so focused on, almost mesmerized by the goings-on in our nation’s capital that it might not be a bad idea to—for a moment—move our eyes and attention way southward, past the Gulf of Mexico, past the Caribbean, across the Cordillera de los Andes, towards a little country straddling the Andes and right smack on the Equator. You got it, that little country is Ecuador. A country that is not without its Washington D.C. moments and theater, but at least a country that you...

UPDATE: For a more in-depth discussion on how “Struggling with debt, Congress talks defense cuts,” please click here. Starting with the words, “Taking a stance once unthinkable in a time of two wars, Democrats and Republicans alike are insisting that the billions spent on the military can be significantly cut back over the next decade as the nation struggles to reduce its spiraling debt,” the AP article gives the reader a good insight into the various plans, proposals, ideas and sometimes...

Tensions have been growing at the Jones family for quite a while now. Recently, it has been getting downright ugly. A couple of years ago, Mrs. Jones met an attractive, silver-tongued man—we’ll call him simply T.P. —who at first wooed her with compliments and lured her with pied piper tunes. But as their romance grew, so did T.P.’s influence on and demands from Mrs. Jones, including that she distance herself from Mr. Jones; that she criticize and oppose his every word and action....

UPDATE: Politico reports: In the battle of budget scores, the Senate Democrats’ deficit reduction bill is the clear leader thus far over an alternative by Speaker John Boehner, which had to be pulled back from the floor Tuesday night for retooling. The Congressional Budget Office released a report Wednesday morning that credits the Senate bill with reducing budget deficits by about $2.2 trillion through 2021, nearly three times the $850 billion credited to the Boehner bill on Tuesday. In all...

The Air Force Times is reporting today on a sweeping proposal by the Defense Business Board—“the wellspring for many cost-saving initiatives adopted by the Defense Department in recent years”—that would drastically overhaul the military retirement system and could affect today’s troops. The new plan “would give some benefits to all troops and phase out the 20-year cliff vesting system that has defined military careers for generations.” It calls for “a corporate-style benefits...

As we have seen occur repeatedly over the weekend, the tragedy in Norway sparked a deluge of premature accusations, finger pointing and instant analyses—sometimes followed by retractions and apologies, sometimes not—as journalists and bloggers blamed Islamic militants, religious groups and even “leftist” political thought, movements and parties for the carnage in Norway. Once it became clear that the perpetrator was “an over six-foot blond Norwegian,” the pendulum of...

Polish-born, four-star general Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, the first immigrant to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs, died yesterday at age 75 in Tacoma, Washington, of complications from a stroke. I always liked the general—the Noble General—with the “unpronounceable” name who Mindful of his history of living through World War II in Poland… was particularly sensitive to the plight of people displaced by war and famine. In 1991, when he was NATO commander, he led Operation Provide...

When New York’s law allowing same sex marriages goes into effect this weekend, a host of civil benefits and legal protection will become available to the newly married couples—except for members of the U.S. military. Why? Well, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) “prohibits military officials from granting medical coverage, housing allowances and a host of other married-couple benefits to same-sex partners,” according to an article in the Stars and Stripes this weekend: That leaves same-sex...

Many have been offended by Rep. Allen West’s (R-FL) disgusting and unnecessary verbal attack on a fellow, lady Representative—an attack for which he has “steadfastly” refused to apologize. Some were also offended by the Congressman’s sleazy use of these very same insults for fundraising purposes. Others have found quite reprehensible this former military officer’s attempts to blame the military and his military service for his boorish behavior. All of the above offended me. When...

Today’s headlines on the Pentagon being set to certify that it is ready to end “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell,” remind me of a recent column written by Michael Smerconish at the Philadelphia Enquirer. At the time I read the Smerconish column, I said to myself, “Wow, I could have written this myself—perhaps even better than Smerconish.” Now, do not get me wrong, I am no Michael Smerconish—I can’t even spell his last name correctly without referring to his byline. But, first, allow...