An LA Times article on the drawdown in Afghanistan had an interesting lede:
Photo at LATimes.com (David S. Cloud / Los Angeles Times / December 9, 2012)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Fifteen U.S. soldiers huddle in a circle. A blue Toyota packed with explosives has been reported somewhere in the city. The troops bow their heads and clasp hands.
“Dear Lord, protect us and protect those entrusted to us as Read more
The new trial judge for US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, accused in the 2009 massacre at Fort Hood, has said Hasan’s decision to wear a beard violates Army regulations, but that’s ok. Notably:
The judge, Col. Tara Osborn, said she won’t hold it against him but that military jurors might.
That, of course, is one of the points raised Read more
Update: A letter to the editor of the Stars and Stripes questions Torpy’s “odd idea of religious freedom.”
Former Army Captain and current atheist Jason Torpy was working overtime doing damage control over the past week, as various outlets picked up the story of his complaint over the “live nativity” occurring during NSA Bahrain’s annual “Holiday Tree Lighting.” His comments appeared on a variety of sites covering the controversy; in each case, he basically said he didn’t demand NSA Bahrain cancel it — he just called it “unconstitutional” and a danger to US troops — that’s all. Of course, he did say that cancelling it was “preferable to” letting it happen:
If the scene had to be cancelled, that is unfortunate but it is also preferable to the government-sponsored proselytism [*See note, below] the Live Nativity would have added to an otherwise positive celebration.
FoxNews accurately reported that Torpy’s complaint to the Inspector General led to the cancellation of the event to occur during Read more
Some people claim there’s a “war on Christmas” when retailers substitute “Happy Holidays” for “Merry Christmas.” While some customers or employees may take issue, the retailers’ choices of words probably have little impact on anything, including their bottom line.
By contrast, some atheists are actively working against “Christmas” in the US military — which has a direct and measurable impact on US troops, especially those stationed thousands of miles from the familiar celebrations of home.
As noted previously, the annual raising of “holiday” or “Christmas” trees and Menorahs has begun on US military installations around the world. The chapels of some bases also put up nativity scenes, as Travis AFB famously did last year.
The US military facility known as “Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain” has held an annual Christmas tree lighting for years. As part of that activity, carols have been sung, Santa has found his oversized chair, and excessive amounts of cookies and Christmas drinks have been consumed. In addition, the event has featured a “live nativity,” composed of base children and local animals. The event even included a photogenic camel.
Jason Torpy, a former Army captain and current atheist activist, considers “a Christmas tree, presents, some [non-Christian] songs, and even Santa Claus as trappings of secular Christmas.” The nativity, then, had to go. So an IG complaint was filed [emphasis Read more
The Reverend Sarah Lammert, the next President of an overarching group of US military chaplain endorsers, the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, has endorsed a surprisingly hostile article on the role of military chaplains.
OutServe — the homosexual advocacy magazine focused on the US military — recently published an article questioning whether military chaplains were “force multipliers” or “force distracters.” The author, a reserve US Army Lieutenant Colonel and homosexual, centered much of her discussion on a quote from a “code of ethics” for military chaplains. In particular, she returned to:
When conducting services of worship that include persons of other than my religious body I will draw upon those beliefs, principles, and practices that we have in common.
Through several paragraphs LtCol Vicki Hudson ultimately seemed to distill her displeasure down to chaplains praying, and she said: Read more
Jews in Green recently announced LtGen Howard Bromberg, US Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, and Col Glenn Goldman, Director of Military Instruction at West Point, will be speaking to the Aleph Institute’s 2013 “Military Training Course” in January. (Gen Bromberg has spoken there before, and prior speakers have included Speaker of the House John Boehner.)
The annual conference is intended for Jewish members of the military who Read more
An article at the Unitarian Universalist website notes an increase in Unitarian military chaplains and chaplain applicants after decades of under-representation. The article reports the denomination now has 10 chaplains, with 7 more applying. While a significant increase from the “one or two” chaplains before (including Army Chaplain Rebekah Montgomery), it still isn’t a high number. The reason for the low interest?
It’s no secret that for many years after the Vietnam War many UUs harbored some hostility toward the war and the politicians who promoted it. In some cases veterans themselves were treated distantly in our congregations, even shunned.
One UU chaplain said they are needed to balance out “evangelicals”: Read more
Sohiel Omar Kabir is a former US Air Force Airman who has been arrested in Afghanistan for recruiting and plotting terrorist attacks against US interests, including US military facilities in Afghanistan.
Kabir, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Afghanistan, served in the Air Force from 2000 to 2001. He spent some time at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., pulling aircraft or vehicle parts from a supply store. He was administratively separated for unknown reasons Read more