The previously noted “controversy” over female American Soldiers wearing a headscarf resembling the Islamic hijab has resurfaced with gusto.
A Chicago Tribune opinion piece written by Kyndra Miller Rotunda, a former JAG, displayed a bit of ignorance when the author said Read more
Below is an update on ongoing issues with respect to the planned repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Included below:
Update: The nearly 2 hour Prayer Breakfast is available on C-SPAN video.
According to the Christian Post, President Obama will speak today at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. He previously did the same last year; Admiral Mullen also attended last year.
Astronaut Mark Kelly, husband to wounded Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, will reportedly deliver the closing prayer.
Obama is Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces; Kelly is a US Navy Captain. Military members have routinely taken part in prayer functions every year on bases around the world, just as they will this year in places like Fort Jackson, SC.
The military’s defense of their religious freedom ensures their continued ability to do so, despite the unConstitutional demands of those who would take away the rights of the troops.
In a topic related to the prior “moral compass” discussion (in fact, the NDU speech was specifically cited), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen recently said
What I really think it comes down to is accountability. Within the military, we need to be constantly asking ourselves, “Am I holding myself and those I am responsible for to the highest standards?”
Ultimately, our quality of work and our personal conduct will say far more about who we are and what we stand for than any other thing we do.
So, are “quality of work” and “personal conduct” the defining icons of what the military stands for?
If so, what governs “personal conduct” in the US military?
In a recent address at the National Defense University, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said this in response to a question about whether the “tolerance…has changed regarding ethics” in the military:
We have to have a true compass ethically. We have to have a true compass morally. We have to have a true compass inside our profession.
He’s right, of course. No one has ever debated the need for a moral standard by which military members must live and serve. The question, however, has been what defines the truth of that “true compass.” “True” implies Read more
Summary of recent articles/news on the potential change to the law banning homosexuals from serving in the US military. Below:
As reported at FoxNews, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen took those who might still support DADT to task:
Military members who have a problem with a change in policy to allow gays to serve openly may find themselves looking for a new job, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned Thursday.
This seems consistent with prior leadership statements that those who support the current law could “vote with their feet.” However, to be fair, it seems the Admiral was excessively paraphrased. It seems the relevant quote is actually: Read more
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates issued his annual holiday message this past week. As is often tradition when mentioning the military and this “holiday season,” he cited George Washington’s Christmas crossing of the Delaware in 1776:
On Christmas Night, December 25, 1776, General George Washington and his band of 2,400 men crossed the icy Delaware River, won victories against British and German troops, and stirred new hope into the struggle for freedom and liberty… Read more