A Senate panel expressed its outrage Thursday over Pakistan’s conviction of a doctor who helped the United States track down Usama bin Laden, voting to cut aid to Islamabad by $33 million — $1 million for every year of the physician’s 33-year sentence for high treason.
The punitive move came on top of deep reductions the Appropriations Committee already had made to President Barack Obama’s budget request for Pakistan, a reflection of the growing congressional anger over its cooperation in combatting terrorism. The overall foreign aid budget for next year had slashed more than half of the proposed assistance and threatened further reductions if Islamabad failed to open overland supply routes to U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Read more: www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/24/senate-panel-cuts-pakistan-aid-over-conviction/#ixzz1vpNuLoGy

It is about time someone in our Government quit coddling our enemy and grew a pair long enough to put them in their place. Anyone that has ever served in Afghanistan along the Pakistan border will tell you they are in fact the REAL enemy over there. This is why you see so many editorials, blogs, opinions from people that say the way to success in Afghanistan is through Pakistan.

It is real simple, you want something from us then you need to earn it. Being nice and turning the other cheek to what Paksitan has been doing over the years did not get us anything. We kissed their butts for years because we needed their supply routes and open water ports. Since they cut those off and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars to be lost in materials due to conveys being looted and destroyed, our military found other ways to get stuff into and out of Afghanistan.

By cutting off those routes, Pakistan did the most damage they could to themselves. That action forced our military to find those other routes, which in turn made our country realize we don’t have to kiss their butts anymore. I am sure now they are realizing that was not too smart of an idea.

Oh and to top it off, we launched some more drones today and killed 10 tangos hiding out in Northwest Pakistan. If we are gonna spend money on Pakistan I would rather it be in building more drones and hellfire missiles. Personally I think that is a much better spend of our taxpayer dollars.

For years I have struggled with how to address Memorial Day when greeting people on this weekend. I know many of my brethren have told me they sometimes struggle with the same thing.

I mean saying Happy or Merry Memorial Day does not seem right at all. Would you walk up to someone on the anniversary of the date a loved one of theirs died and say Happy Anniversary!! I think not.

I think that is one of the reason’s why I am not a big fan of parades on this day. Parades are meant to be fun and joyous, not sad and somber. But many communities have them and even though I know they mean well, it just doesn’t sit well with me. Maybe I am weird like that, I don’t know.

So how does one give a greeting on this honorable and reverend of holidays that our country actually takes a pause to recognize?

Like I said, for years I have been struggling with this issue.

Until today!

Today while driving from one cemetery to another to visit past soldiers of mine I had an epiphany. It suddenly popped into my head. Rather than “Happy” or “Merry” , use the word Honorable. That is what we are doing, or at least supposed to be doing on this day. Honoring.

I know it does not flow as well as Happy or Merry, but quite frankly I don’t care. I think it is the best word to use. Maybe there is a better one that I can’t think of, but I know for now I will stick with Honorable. So when I see someone today I will say “Hope you are having a HONORABLE Memorial Day” or maybe just “Honorable Memorial Day”.

I hope you will join me in changing the way we greet people on this weekend and day. Lets make this a grass-roots effort to HONOR those that have made the ultimate sacrifice and their families and friends who have memorial day 365 days a year and not just one.

My good friends over at Ranger Up are sponsoring what they call the greatest Tailgate party in the history of Rugby. They are offering free tickets to veterans both past and present.

If you would like to attend this awesome event, can get to Philadelphia, PA on June 2-3 and you are a veteran of any branch or any component then this is a party for you. All you have to do is email trex@rangerup.com with your name and number of tickets needed. Food, drink, booze will all be provided for free.

Even if you have never watched Rugby or care about it, I guarantee you that this will be a party you don’t want to miss.

UPDATE- More info can be found at rhinoden.rangerup.com/free-beer/

Thank God we still have independent journalists and bloggers like my good friend Mark Seavey from the American Legion “The Burn Pit” blog who are willing and able to go there and bring some of the stories back.

Unlike some who wish they were there (instead of other places like Thailand), Mark spent a good month on the ground with the Black Knights of 3-66 Armor and was able to bring some of those stories back.

Here is a little video he has put together of images and videos he took while there.

Also, be sure to check out my good friend John Lilyea’s post on This Ain’t Hell with this feelings on the conference. Check it out at thisainthell.us/blog/?p=29924

Another reflection on the weekend is up at This Ain’t Hell also. This one was contributed by StrikeFO. It can be found at thisainthell.us/blog/?p=29940

In this non-scientific poll I pose the question to you, my readers, “When is the right time to leave Afghanistan?” There are all types of polls conducted my research firms, media outlets, think-tanks, etc. about the public perception and opinions on our presence in Afghanistan. There are almost daily reports of Afghan soldiers and police murdering our soldiers. Plus I recently put up a blog post saying it was time to leave (www.bouhammer.com/2012/05/this-is-it-bring-our-troops-home-now/).

So I am curious, what do you think? Please take a moment and participate. I have even created an “Other” option and ask that if you select it that you leave a comment explaining your option that does not correspond to the selections I have in the poll.

Well I sort of didn’t win, because the one of the other blogs I write on, (the 2nd most behind this site) YouServed.com did win in the Veteran Category. I, along with my good friend Marcus, were honored to accept it on behalf of all the bloggers at YouServed.com. In addition to that honor You Served Blog was honored by USAA as the Military Blogger of the month for May.

Head over to www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/2012/05/14/my-personal-review-of-2012-milblog-conference-weekend-friday-night/ and check out the 1st part of my review. Part two will be posted tomorrow morning, so be sure and check back there.

Take a look at these headlines and story snippets

Marine killed in Afghanistan by person wearing Afghan army uniform

A Marine from Camp Pendleton has been killed in Afghanistan, fatally shot by someone wearing an Afghan army uniform, the Department of Defense announced Monday.

Sgt. John Huling, 25, of West Chester, Ohio, was killed Sunday in Helmand province. He was an explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, from Camp Pendleton, Calif.

“The incident is under investigation,” the Department of Defense said.

The individual in the Afghan army uniform opened fire on U.S. troops in the Helmand province community of Marjah, a onetime Taliban stronghold.

Link to story at www.stripes.com/news/marine-corps/marine-killed-in-afghanistan-by-person-wearing-afghan-army-uniform-1.176619

Man wearing Afghan National Army uniform kills American soldier, official says

A man wearing an Afghan army uniform shot dead a U.S. service member in the east of the country, one of two NATO troops killed on Friday, military officials said. The Taliban took credit for the attack.

Also Friday, the U.S.-led military coalition offered condolences to the families of Afghan civilians who were killed in airstrikes earlier this month.

The shooting was the 15th incident this year in which Afghan soldiers or insurgents disguised in military uniforms have turned their weapons on foreign troops. The killings have increased the level of mistrust between the U.S.-led coalition and its Afghan partners

Read more: www.foxnews.com/world/2012/05/11/attacker-in-afghan-uniform-kills-nato-trooper/?test=latestnews#ixzz1uakuc7LA

What is even more disturbing that in a story about how the military is under-reporting these incidents, they still word things the same way.

The military is under-reporting the number of times that Afghan soldiers and police open fire on American and other foreign troops.

The U.S.-led coalition routinely reports each time an American or other foreign soldier is killed by an Afghan in uniform. But The Associated Press has learned it does not report insider attacks in which the Afghan wounds — or misses — his U.S. or allied target. It also doesn’t report the wounding of troops who were attacked alongside those who were killed.

Such attacks reveal a level of mistrust and ill will between the U.S.-led coalition and its Afghan counterparts in an increasingly unpopular war. The U.S. and its military partners are working more closely with Afghan troops in preparation for handing off security responsibility to them by the end of 2014.

In recent weeks an Afghan soldier opened fire on a group of American soldiers but missed the group entirely. The Americans quickly shot him to death. Not a word about this was reported by the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, as the coalition is formally known. It was disclosed to the AP by a U.S. official who was granted anonymity in order to give a fuller picture of the “insider” problem.

Read the story at: civiliancontractors.wordpress.com/tag/us-soldier-killed/

Do you see the trend that has been disturbing me? Every time an Afghan security force member turns on us or our coalition, they are not listed as Police member or Army soldier but as Afghan in Uniform or Someone wearing a uniform.

However the second one of our warriors is alleged to have done something like pose with bodies, pee on bodies or murder civilians they are called out, many times identified, convicted not only in the press but essentially by our military and civilian leadership who race to give apologies and tout they will “investigate and punish to the fullest extent of the law”.

Why is that? Why are our brave soldiers who lose it, snap, make bad judgments, or whatever essentially crucified in the public arena while the soldiers and police of Afghanistan are never held accountable and always referred to as some “Afghan” in a uniform.

I don’t like it, not one bit and it makes me hate the media that much more.

The culprits; my beautiful wife and son playing in the living room, I peek through the open window just to watch and listen in amazement.  They have become the brightest of my colors, stopping the beating of my heart at times.  They fill my soul with compassion and tenderness but even more, strength.  As I turn back to admire the storm I couldn’t help myself with the overwhelming feeling of relief.

I have an amazing family that loves and cares for me so much and for this life to come full circle is a blessing.  I have finally made it to where I value the quiet bliss of holding my son while in the rocking chair, feeling his subtle heartbeat against my chest or playing lion, where we rub noses together and laugh.  I revel in watching my wife move about the house while singing her favorite country songs or holding her and simply saying “I love you”.  She takes my pain away and eases my fears.  For all her beauty and compassion, I find it is her forgiving eyes that consume me the most.

As I look east of the property I gleefully watch the lavender suckles succumb to the heavy rain. As it falls, it relinquishes its scent overpowering its predecessor; the rain.  Still the laughter continues through the open window, I hear the music in my head.  These are the lyrics that have kept me remembering the very best of this life.  Some say the best is yet to come; for me the best has arrived and even as it changes, it is still the very best to have.

For the war I know is over, I have come to terms with my little piece of it.  I have taken ownership of my version of PTSD.  Part of me believes that I will never recover from it, nor should I.  Someone once said “you can never truly heal from anything”, and I am fine with that.  I think that will be a constant reminder for me to always appreciate what I have and continue on for those who didn’t come back home.

I slowly shift my weight and begin making my way to the door following the pleasant sounds of laughter and small screeches, my son’s version of talking to us!  I think to myself; you should laugh more, cry more, love with compassion, dance and sing more, bite my tongue a bit more and remember how this life is what I fought for…more.

This is for my wife and son, as you have given me life, joy, happiness, a sense of purpose but most importantly you have given me a new shade of colors that are so bright. I thank you.

Love Michael.