#2
Ice? What is it with your hate campaign against Hotair, Malkin, and Allahpundit? You aren't making any converts here.
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/14/2007 9:15 Comments ||
Top||
#3
This guy is an ISRAELI ambassador. He's not likely to get ANY kind of post in the US. After this incident, I doubt Israel will let him out to go to the bathroom alone. He might as well immigrate back to Russia.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
03/14/2007 14:41 Comments ||
Top||
Former US President George H. W. Bush was released from hospital on Monday after being taken ill while playing golf in California, a statement said. Bush, 82, was admitted to the Eisenhower Medical Center on Sunday after becoming dizzy and dehydrated while playing golf with friends in blazing sunshine and 94-degree heat near Palm Springs.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/14/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Here in Guam I'm telling my senior citizen Mom to stay inside as the recent volcanic haze is not good for the elderly, despite any seeming cool weather.
#2
Elderly people are far more susceptible to heat-induced injuries than most other subgroups of the population -- infants are at similar risk. It is as if they can no longer recognize they're overheated. That combined with poorer circulation, for many reasons, brings them down when others are not affected.
I noticed this happening to my mother when she became elderly. She was not aware of hot conditions at times when I felt extremely uncomfortable, and this wasn't a matter of personal taste. She would become dizzy or weak, but never hot. She objected to decent airconditioning until I noticed that what she really didn't like was cold wind blowing on her. I persuaded her to wear a knit cap & light sweater when she was in a/c areas, suddenly we were both very happy with the same environment. I still had to watch her closely when she was outdoors in the summer.
Part of the problem is widespread borderline dehydration -- most people are mildly dehydrated most of the time. They don't feel this until they become ill in some other way, then they collapse. Another contributing factor is hats being out of fashion -- they really do help you keep cool in conditions like those that knocked down HW. I doubt he wore a decent broad-brimmed sun hat that day.
The leader of Zimbabwe's main Opposition party and about 50 democracy activists many of them bandaged and bruised were taken to hospitals following a court appearance on Tuesday, two days after they were arrested and reportedly beaten for trying to attend a meeting. The activists were ferried to private hospitals in ambulances and other vehicles under police guard as their lawyers said the state intended to charge them with incitement to violence.
If they were the ones inciting violence how come they're the ones in the hospital?
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main Opposition party, walked slowly to an ambulance looking disoriented but able to board unaided. He left with about six activists who were part of a group of 14 a court had ordered be sent for medical care. One ambulance carried one person on a stretcher and two on crutches. Another woman could barely walk. A lawyer for the group, Beatrice Mtetwa, said the state intended to charge the activists with incitement to violence and that bail had not been granted to any of them.
Mr. Tsvangirai was allegedly tortured after being arrested when police crushed the gathering on Sunday that was organised as a prayer meeting by a coalition of Opposition, church and civic groups under the ``Save Zimbabwe'' banner.
Many members of the group brought from jails to the magistrate's court Tuesday in the open bed of a large police truck arrived singing and chanting, but Mr. Tsvangirai was silent. Police presence was heavy. A crowd outside the court sang and waved the Opposition party's open hand salute as Mr. Tsvangirai and about six activists left the court. Mr. Tsvangirai did not respond but others in vehicle returned the salute. ``The right side of Morgan's face was swollen as was his eyes which were bloodshot but he seemed coherent. It was damn barbaric,'' said Britain's Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Andrew Pocock, who was in court.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/14/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
Rich and powerful Bangladeshis now being sought by corruption busters have started ditching their luxury cars and illegal pets to avoid being tracked down and caught, police said on Tuesday. On Monday, police seized three Hummers from streets and abandoned parkings in and around the capital Dhaka, amidst a massive hunt b y the army-backed interim government to arrest and punish corrupt figures before holding a free and fair election. Police said each of the vehicles cost more than 40 million taka ($579,710). "Not only costly vehicles, but they (corruption suspects) are now abandoning deer, peacocks and other wildlife species they possessed illegally," said Nur Mohammad, Inspector-General of Bangladesh police. "The cars were imported either through illegal channels without valid documents or without paying due tax," the police chief added. Not many Bangladeshis can afford luxury cars, having to settle for a used Toyota or cheaper brands.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/14/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
The offices of all political parties across Bangladesh are under lock and key after the military-backed caretaker Government imposed a total ban on political activities. The strict implementation of emergency rules has thrown politicians virtually out of their jobs, at least for the foreseeable future. "As political activities have been banned, I'll pass my time writing," said Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina.
She had welcomed the caretaker Government after it cancelled the controversial parliamentary elections set for January 22 and took action against "corrupt leaders" of the immediate past government led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). However, Ms Hasina is now in an unenviable situation with her own house having been searched at midnight and key party leaders and aides arrested on charges of crime and corruption. Putting the shoe on the other foot's not quite so comfy...
Panic has gripped the rank and file of political parties after security forces arrested thousands of local level activists of the two parties and rounded up at least 40 key "corrupt politicians and businessmen". Reports said Ms Hasina is likely to leave for the U.S. next week to visit her ailing daughter-in-law. "How long y'gonna be there?"
"At this point it looks like about 15 years!"
For the BNP, the situation is not only a big setback but also a personal tragedy for Khaleda Zia. Her eldest son, Tareq Rahman, has been arrested along with some of his close friends and comrades, for allegedly amassing huge wealth. Scores of mid-level leaders of the BNP, who are facing corruption charges, are on the run. The Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) has allegedly found his secret bank accounts in at least five countries Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Africa and India.
According to the new chief of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Lt. Gen. (Retired) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, the revamped ACC has declared a jihad against corruption. The caretaker Government has also formed a 16-member National Coordination Committee on Curbing Grave Offences.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/14/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
Recent reforms of China's capital punishment laws should lead to a discernable reduction in the numbers of those executed, the country's Chief Justice, Xiao Yang, said on Tuesday. The Chief Justice was presenting a report at the ongoing session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's Parliament.
"Resolutely carry out the policy of strict and solemn control to ensure the death penalty is applied only for an extremely small number of crimes and execute criminals according to the law only where the damage to society has been very severe and the evidence is sufficient," Justice Xiao said in his report.
As of January of this year, the sole right to hear death penalty appeals was returned to China's Supreme People's Court after a gap of more than two decades.
In other comments, the Chief Justice announced that 23,733 cases of embezzlement, bribery and dereliction of duty were handled by the courts in 2006.
Official corruption has been at the centre of a crackdown in the past year with several prominent party members and officials coming in the line of fire. The most prominent amongst these were the former head of the National Statistics Bureau, Qiu Xiaohua, and the former director of the State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu. A total of 825 government officials were convicted of corruption last year. Admitting to corruption within the judicial system itself, the Chief Justice said 292 judges were found to have "abused power for personal interests" in 2006 of which 109 of them were given "criminal penalty according to law."
Mr Xiao announced that Chinese courts heard and concluded 17,769 cases of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement in the last year. The laxity of China's IPR protection has come in for much criticism from western firms and governments. The U.S. Government, for example, estimates that piracy within China costs U.S. companies $20-24 billion a year in damages, a figure that rises to $50 billion if European and Japanese firms are included.
China is currently in the midst of an attempted overhaul of its legal system. The Government's stated aim is to create a "rule of law" in which citizens are entitled to legal rights, defendable in a court of law.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/14/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Reducing the number of people executed is going to put a kink in the spare parts supply.
Two-thirds of Canada's rapid population increase over the past five years came from immigration a force that in coming decades will account for almost all of the country's growth, according to census figures released Tuesday. The data released by Statistics Canada show the country's population grew 5.4 percent, the highest rate among the Group of Eight industrial nations.
Among the G-8 countries, only the United States, at 5.0 percent, approached Canada's growth. France and Italy grew 3.1 percent and Britain 1.9 percent, while growth for Japan and Germany was near zero and Russia's population shrank 2.4 percent.
With births slowing, Canada is reaching a unique situation, said Laurent Martel, a Statistics Canada analyst. "We're heading towards a point where immigration will be the only source of growth in Canada," he said. About 1.2 million new immigrants accounted for most of Canada's growth over the five years, far outpacing the addition of 400,000 native-born citizens, for a total population of 31.6 million.
Canada's net migration, per capita, is among the world's highest. It recorded an estimated net migration of 5.85 migrants per 1,000 population in 2006, compared to 3.18 migrants per 1,000 population for the U.S., according to the CIA World Factbook. "We have not strategically thought through how we should manage our largest single source of population for net growth," Michael Bloom, a vice president with the Conference Board of Canada, told The Canadian Press.
Canada's birth rate is about 1.5 children per woman, well below the replacement rate of 2.1.
The country's shift toward immigration as the only source of growth is still a couple of decades away. That point will not be reached until after 2030, when the peak of the baby boomers born in the 1950s and early 1960s reach the end of their lives. "You're going to see an increase in the number of deaths in Canada, and the number of deaths will exceed the number of births so natural increase will become negative," said Martel. "The only factor of growth will then be immigration."
Posted by: ed ||
03/14/2007 07:49 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Are there any indications of the origins of this emmigration? I wouldn't be alarmed to see an influx of Europeans (eastern or western), but if it similar to the European model of third world moslem immigration, that could spell trouble.
#2
I live in the suburbs northwest of Toronto, and over the past 10 years it has gone from European to 80% Pakistani, and other 3rd world countries. Beautiful middle class homes have been destroyed, with 30 to 40 Pakis per home. I only fear for the future.
#3
Rob06, there is no Canrabia plan equivalent to the Eurabia project.
Sure, the multi-cult paradigm skewes the immigration quotas towards "visible minorities", but that does not necesarily mean mohammedans.
I believe that the trend would be to exclude them, as it will become more clear, in time, that the risk/threat they represent outweights any perceived benefit.
Of course, from my POV this focus of resolving population problems through immigration only is rather stupid. Policies should target increase of already present population's birth rates, despite that it is eaier said than done.
#4
It recorded an estimated net migration of 5.85 migrants per 1,000 population in 2006, compared to 3.18 migrants per 1,000 population for the U.S.
Assuming those figures for the United States are in the ball-park. I suspect they do not include a larger number of undocumented immigrants than is the case for Canada due to geography if nothing else.
#6
Many immigrant groups are productive and are assets to host countries. However, Arab and Arabist fanatic groups like Muslims are generally either parasitic, and exploit the welfare system, or prefer to take menial jobs like taxi driving. During slow periods Muslim taxi drivers go to mosques to bow down before their fictious "god, and pray for extermination of "disbelievers" in the moon-god cult."
There is no god named "Allah" and Muhammad is a fraudster "prophet."
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales rejected growing calls for his resignation Tuesday as scores of newly released documents detailed a two-year campaign by the Justice Department and White House to purge federal prosecutors.
Gonzales acknowledged his department mishandled the dismissals of eight U.S. attorneys and misled Congress about how they were fired. He said he was ultimately to blame for those "mistakes" but stood by the firings. "I acknowledge that mistakes were made here," Gonzales told reporters at a news briefing after he canceled an out-of-town trip. "I accept that responsibility," he said and he promised changes "so that the mistakes that occurred in this instance do not occur again in the future."
Posted by: Fred ||
03/14/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Another one of many non-issues the MSM continues to throw in our faces. As I recall, federal prosecutors can be fired at will for no reason at all, and one of BJ Clinton's first acts in office were to fire all federal prosecutors, no big uproar at the time from the Friends of Bill. Am I missing something here?
It doesn't sound like Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be supporting any changes to the Clinton-era "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military.
"I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts," Pace, the president's top military adviser, said during an interview with the Chicago Tribune. "I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way. As an individual, I would not want [acceptance of gay behavior] to be our policy, just like I would not want it to be our policy that if we were to find out that so-and-so was sleeping with somebody else's wife, that we would just look the other way, which we do not. We prosecute that kind of immoral behavior," Pace said.
Pace expresses regret over gay remark The Pentagon's top general expressed regret Tuesday that he called homosexuality immoral, a remark that drew a harsh condemnation from members of Congress and gay advocacy groups. In a newspaper interview Monday, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had likened homosexual acts to adultery and said the military should not condone it by allowing gays to serve openly in the armed forces. In a statement Tuesday, he said he should have focused more in the interview on the Defense Department policy about gays and "less on my personal moral views."
He did not offer an apology, something that had been demanded by gay rights groups. "General Pace's comments are outrageous, insensitive and disrespectful to the 65,000 lesbian and gay troops now serving in our armed forces," the advocacy group Servicemembers Legal Defense Network said in a statement on its Web site. The group, which has represented some of the thousands dismissed from the military for their sexual orientation, demanded an apology.
Pace's senior staff members said earlier that the general was expressing his personal opinion and did not intend to apologize. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak on the record.
Rep. Martin Meehan, who has introduced legislation to repeal the current policy, criticized Pace's comments. "General Pace's statements aren't in line with either the majority of the public or the military," said the Massachusetts Democrat. "He needs to recognize that support for overturning (the policy) is strong and growing" and that the military is "turning away good troops to enforce a costly policy of discrimination."
This article starring:
Gen. Peter Pace
Posted by: Fred ||
03/14/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
don't back down, Peter
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/14/2007 0:53 Comments ||
Top||
#2
I've got no particular view on the moral dimension, but the practical good-order-and-discipline argument about the special situation of the military seems still a very solid position, and I wish Pace had stuck to that. Seems like a very solid Chairman - I just think s**t like this is a pointless distraction. Rather have him get in hot water for being blunt about strategic issues - would sucker the Dems into even broader responses, most of which would only redound to the country's benefit at the polls down the road .....
#3
Concur Verlaine. Purely prejudicial to good order and discipline - enough said.
Rep. Meehan is also a liar - most of us mil guys don't want openly gay folks serving next to us in uniform - period. Our lives and jobs are already difficult enough w/out that stupid distraction.
#4
Gen. Pace is not creating this pointless distraction. The MSM and idiots like Rep. Meehan are. This resembles the excessive attention given to Abu Ghraib in order to divert attention from the really important issues of the WOT. If we lose this war, homosexuals will be subject to severe discrimination and judicial murder. Is that what the MSM and Meehan support? Apparently.
I found a new term [new to me, anyway] on the Burg the other day -- Lawfare, which refers to the manipulation of the legal system by fifth columnists to serve the purpose of weakening the defense of the West and promoting its downfall. We need another term for the kind of manipulation of public attention and redirection of purposes this kind of phoney "media uproar" serves -- Newsfare; Mediafare; B*S*fare?
#5
Agree. Meehan would be the last person to condem Islamic stoning of homosexuals. Proving once again that Christian hating liberals are more bent on defeating Christians at home instead of fighting for freedom from Dhimmitude.
Just watch, gay RINOs like Malkin and Allahpundit will lather up over this one. Like Coulter's speach, not a big deal unless you haven't got anything better to do. Like report on WWIII.
#9
Part of the issue involved is what I have to label as dishonesty upon the part of the advocates of gays opening serving in the military. Its playing lose and fast with truth and the record.
First, it is not just policy. It is policy implementing law. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution reserves upon Congress the power to make the laws of the land and naval forces. That power is there for a reason. The writers of the Constitution still had not only the experience of the king but of also the nightmare of Oliver Cromwell in their thoughts. In the confrontation known as the English Civil War, the scripted first part was that of the crown versus Parliament. However, after Parliament was victorious they insisted upon disbanding the Army without pay. That lead to the second part of the civil war and the Army in charge of England for a period known as the Commonwealth. Oliver Cromwell ruled England till his death. So when the writers of the Constitution got around to the issue of the new American Army, they made the President the commander-in-chief. However, they retained the power of the purse, the approval of officers, and the making of the law.
That law is implemented in Title X United States Code. Subsection of which is known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In the Punitive Articles of the code is Article 125, Sodomy. (a) Any person subject to this chapter who engages in unnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex or with an animal is guilty of sodomy. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense. (b) Any person found guilty of sodomy shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. Now while some argue that straights may also engage in some form of sodomy, the nature of our law calls for reasonable doubt. Therefore a pair of heterosexuals behind closed doors is granted such doubt while a same sex couple could not logically be granted any doubt. However, the military being different from civil society also have to abide by Article 78 Accessory After the Fact Any person subject to this chapter who, knowing that an offense punishable by this chapter has been committed, receives, comforts, or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial, or punishment shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. Thus, the compromise of Dont Ask, Dont Tell (DADT), because under military law, if you know you have to tell and act. This is Congress law. Those in the military establishment may like it, but it is not their law. I doubt that other than the most antagonistic individuals would want to establish a principle that the uniform military should disobey law imposed by Congress that is their Constitutional power to do so. That is why it is not like blacks or women. Segregation was policy not law. A president could alter policy, he can not alter law*. Women are still facing limitations within the military establishment because of laws in place. We are still working our way through that one too, but in the halls of Congress.
Second the advocates ignore that heterosexuals are routinely discharged, punished and courts martial for their behaviors whether it is adultery, fraternization, or sexual harassment. Does the name Kelly Flynn ring a bell? Even if the policy were altered, gays would still be prosecuted for the same offenses that straights are. However, be assured they will just as loudly object, claiming that they were unfairly targeted. Its not really about equality. Its about power. Power to impose what they want to do, not to meet the standards that all others must conform to. The military suppresses heterosexual behaviors because it does destroy unit cohesion. Those of us whove been in a unit where one squadie has been engaged in extra curricular activities with another squadies significant other can attest it is a quick way to lose control. Combat depends upon covering the other soldiers back with your life. You fight and die for each other. When sex comes into play it creates competition not cooperation. Combat is no time for a Springer episode. So we repress the behavior. It is no different than all the discipline we expend to suppress another basic human behaviors of fear and flight. The battlefield is the most pure Darwinian environment we have in this world.
Right now, the military is altering historically long association with camp followers. Side note, look up the source of the word hooker. It is interesting that now straights will find themselves facing Article 15 punishment and even discharge for associating with a prostitute while at the same time others in the general community are pressing for open acceptance of activity between consenting adults. Do you grasp the fundamental contradiction of these actions? Further suppression of hetero activity was posted at Strategy Page:
The U.S. Army prohibits troops married to each other, when overseas, from being alone together, kissing or showing any PDA (Public Displays of Affection.) Violations can be punished by court martial. Unmarried troops are also forbidden to engage in this sort of behavior. Last year, a female reservist, serving near her husband in Iraq, had enough, and fired off an email to her congressman. As a result, the army relaxed the rules. As a practical matter, there is a lot of sex between troops (with many pregnancies to prove it), although they know better than to engage in a lot of PDA. The unofficial army policy is to let it go if the sexual escapades of the troops dont get into the news and embarrass the brass (which can do serious damage to a commanders career). So much for straights serving openly in the military.
The third dishonest point of the advocates is in the raw numbers of those discharged for homosexuality. Since the behavior no longer has the stigma that it had forty years ago, it is seen as a means to quickly get out of the service. Females have always had the pregnancy out. Now, young men see this as a means to not honor their contract. It works. Many straights are in those numbers just not gays. That abuse of the system is not grounds to alter the law. To quote from Henry V, by William Shakespeares Band of Brothers Speech [Act IV, Scene III]-
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy be put into his purse;
We would not die in that mans company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
Now has this communication said gay should not be permitted to serve? No.
As noted by other communications, gays have served honorably under the existing standards of service. Just as those entering the Catholic priesthood take a vow of celibacy to conduct their work and labors, many gays have forgone their personal sexual drives. Yes, a good number of priests have failed, some spectacularly. However, unless someone can come up with hard numbers and not opinion to show otherwise, it appears the general population of priests are able to achieve their calling in life without breaking those vows. The terms and conditions of service are known both to those seeking the priesthood and those seeking to serve in the American military. Those terms have to be complied with until Congress changes its law.
I want honestly. However, Im very tired of the misrepresentation and distortion of the facts by the advocates. Im tired of the emotional arguments which basically are I wanna, I wanna. I want the consequences thought through. If Congress changes the law and gay serve openly, then what is going to happen when the first gay couple married in some trendy state shows up at the housing office asking for equal consideration to family housing? Going to restrict family housing to those with children and make all others live off post? So, the barracks rats figure out the by getting a piece of paper from the civil government is all they need to establish a lawful marriage even though it would be an asexual relationship. That is a non sexual couple. Now they apply to get out of the barracks. At what point did the command structure lose control? However, these are things no one wants to address in their race to make someone happy.
* Commissioned Officers in the US Armed Forces take an oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. They, unlike the enlisted personnel, do not take an oath to obey the President. Our officers are taught that unlike the Wehrmacht which swore an oath to obey the Leader, they swear to the instrument of the nation. A Presidential order to alter the law would place the officer corps in a dilemma. To uphold their oath, the order being in contraction to the law, would require the officers to disobey the President. Not good. To obey the President would mean that they will follow the orders of any leader. Enter Caesar. Not good. The third choice is that unable to continue to serve, they will submit their resignations. Now, during time of war with everyone needed as they are, this is very not good. So how many officers and senior non-commissioned officers are you going to lose along with their years of experience in return for how many gays?
The debate is for Congress. From the look of the makeup of the legislative branch, that is unlikely to occur unless the advocates come up with far better arguments, better answers and understand that equality means just that , not a special class exempted from the discipline as it is administered to others. That hasn't happened yet, because they don't have the answers.
#10
Malkin is gay? No Way, she walks heavy in her tennis. she ain't gay I don't follow Allah pundit so I wouldn't know or care very much for that matter.
I am for maintaining GOOD ORDER in our SERVICES though, it's Constitutionally mandated to defend America against our enemies and defend our interests abroad. BTW no where in our founding document does it mention the DemoCrap party.
Watch out for the social engineers who call themselves progressive liberals, lol "progressive liberals" means they'll destroy everything decent and good here in America if we let just them.
Our Vigilance is the key. We used to be few because we were disconnected. Fortunately we are now many, which makes our job very much more doable, a little vigilance, voting in every election and some financial contributions. In lieu of that physical help for the election process or helping your canidate out .
It's too important to ignore our adversaries ladies and gentlemen we're in this fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..
#12
Michelle is smokin' hot and has brains to match. Anyone criticizing her is just plain crazy.
Posted by: Mac ||
03/14/2007 17:58 Comments ||
Top||
#13
Nice essay, Proc. Laid out the argument very clearly. I agree. The military needs to enforce the rules it has with no preference for homosexuals. If they can't do what is required, throw them out.
Posted by: Mac ||
03/14/2007 18:00 Comments ||
Top||
#14
Pace should point out that as a general it is his duty to win battles with as few casualties as possible, and to help him to accomplsih such difficult tasks he needs the favor of higher authorities, unlike democrats and queers who don't have a duty to win anything, which shows, therefore they can earn the wrath of said higher authorities. For those of you who are both conservative and gay, don't tell, please. Deal with God on your own.
#15
As a gay man (I've been with my partner for almost 15 years now), I want to say that I think that Gen. Pace's remarks were perfectly legitimate and reasonable. They asked him what his personal opinion and he expressed a quite traditional Christian view in a perfectly reasonable manner. He didn't say he wanted gays drummed out of the military. Quite the contrary, he seemed supportive of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, probably the best compromise gay people could hope for. Everyone in the military makes many sacrifices, and to ask gay people not to act in ways that cause (or even could potentially cause) group disharmony is a rather small sacrifice. Those who disagree don't really understand the mission of the military.
I also want to express my indignation at the hypocrisy of my supposed advocates. They are the ones being "outrageous, insensitive and disrespectful" towards an honest answer to a question about a personal opinion. And is Rep. Meehan aware that a lot of good people can't hack the stringent requirements of military service? The military should not be obligated to change to meet the needs of people who aren't up to the challenge. Far from it.
I've also must say there are many thoughtful responses in this thread. Procopius's essay, in particular, is a ray of clarifying light in a sea of MSM sludge on this topic.
If I were to ever meet Gen. Pace, I would shake his hand and tell him that some of us get it and appreciate his service. Hell, I'd salute him, but I'm not sure if that is appropriate from a lifelong civilian. Perhaps it wasn't the "smartest" thing for him to say, in terms of his career or the military bureaucracy's needs. But I hope our society comes to respect those who speak the unadorned truth as they see it over those who say what they calculate will make them more popular. Someday maybe.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The leader of Zimbabwe's main Opposition party and about 50 democracy activists many of them bandaged and bruised were taken to hospitals following a court appearance on Tuesday, two days after they were arrested and reportedly beaten for trying to attend a meeting. The activists were ferried to private hospitals in ambulances and other vehicles under police guard as their lawyers said the state intended to charge them with incitement to violence. 
The offices of all political parties across Bangladesh are under lock and key after the military-backed caretaker Government imposed a total ban on political activities. The strict implementation of emergency rules has thrown politicians virtually out of their jobs, at least for the foreseeable future. "As political activities have been banned, I'll pass my time writing," said Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina. 
Recent reforms of China's capital punishment laws should lead to a discernable reduction in the numbers of those executed, the country's Chief Justice, Xiao Yang, said on Tuesday. The Chief Justice was presenting a report at the ongoing session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's Parliament. 
It doesn't sound like Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be supporting any changes to the Clinton-era "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military.
The Pentagon's top general expressed regret Tuesday that he called homosexuality immoral, a remark that drew a harsh condemnation from members of Congress and gay advocacy groups. In a newspaper interview Monday, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had likened homosexual acts to adultery and said the military should not condone it by allowing gays to serve openly in the armed forces. In a statement Tuesday, he said he should have focused more in the interview on the Defense Department policy about gays and "less on my personal moral views."
