Essay on Health Care Reform

September 4, 2009
A Bill Moyers essay on health care reform.



Articles from the Essay
Josh Marshall's article

Henry Giroux's article

Bill Moyers Journal

BILL MOYERS: The editors of THE ECONOMIST magazine say America's health care debate has become a touch delirious, with people accusing each other of being evil-mongers, dealers in death, and un-American.

Well, that's charitable.

I would say it's more deranged than delirious, and definitely not un-American.

Those crackpots on the right praying for Obama to die and be sent to hell — they're the warp and woof of home-grown nuttiness. So is the creature from the Second Amendment who showed up at the President's rally armed to the teeth. He's certainly one of us. Red, white, and blue kooks are as American as apple pie and conspiracy theories..............Rest Here

5 Life Sentences - Good!!

I've been wondering why I hadn't caught anything more about this.

Ex-Soldier Gets 5 Life
Sentences for Iraqi Girl Rape, Family Murders

A former soldier received five consecutive life sentences Friday for his role in the rape and murder of an Iraqi teenager and the slaying of three of her family members.

"What the defendant did was horrifying and inexcusable," U.S. District Judge Thomas Russell said in sentencing to Steven Dale Green, 24, of Midland, Texas. "The court believes any lesser sentence would be insufficient."

A civilian jury in western Kentucky convicted Green in May of raping Abeer Qassim al-Janabi, conspiracy and multiple counts of murder.

Green shot and killed the teen's mother, father and sister, then became the third soldier to rape her before shooting her in the face. Her body was set on fire March 12, 2006, at their rural home outside Mahmoudiya, Iraq, about 20 miles south of Baghdad.........Rest Here

Not only did he do what he did to Abeer and her family, but the blowback on his fellow soldiers started shortly after that, those numbers will never be known but as happened in 'Nam it happened in Iraq, and any war, especially when outright atrocities occur!!

RIP Abeer and your family, RIP!!

Pairing dogs and troops with PTSD

McClatchy Washington Bureau continues their extremely stellar reporting on the effects of Wars and Occupations of others on those that serve in these theaters of operations, especially as to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder {PTSD} with the following report printed in their Kansas City Star:

Defense Dept. funding study pairing dogs and troops with PTSD

Persian Gulf War veteran Chris Kornkven (left) greeted Rainbow, a female Rhodesian ridgeback, as fellow Gulf War veteran Anthony Hardie met Kenji, another ridgeback, and his handler, Joan Esnayra. The dogs demonstrated how they could help troops with post-traumatic stress disorder during a military health research conference this week in Kansas City. Kornkven has PTSD.

Can a canine companion soothe the volatile emotions of a soldier haunted by post-traumatic stress disorder?

It may sound far-fetched, but the Department of Defense wants to find out.

It is spending millions of dollars on medical research projects like this that may yield groundbreaking results but are too speculative for other government agencies to consider.

While PTSD, especially from the trauma of combat of military operations, has always been a result of Wars, and not only for the combat troops, it didn't start getting recognized for what it was until we started returning from Vietnam and it not only recognized but given the name. Studies followed but way to few and not funded properly. Much of that early work was done by us 'Nam Vets and a few in the civilian population, who also recognized that this occurs with many suffering traumatic experiences in their lives. But when you have huge numbers of individuals you send into combat invasions and occupations, huge numbers of them return with varying degree's of the stresses and trauma's of what took place, everyone is changed, no matter how or what the training, some more severely with the reliving and recurring memories of.

Kenji (left) and Rainbow are specially trained by the Psychiatric Service Dog Society to assist people with severe mental disability. Their handlers were Joan Esnayra, the society’s founder, and Craig Love, a psychologist.

These psychiatric service dogs have been assisting people with a variety of mental illnesses since the late 1990s. About 10,000 such dogs are now in use.

New but preliminary research suggests that the dogs may be particularly helpful for people with PTSD.

And that has the military interested.

Snip

“Where there’s a good idea but not much data, we’re willing to take a risk.”

The Defense Department has measures in place to make sure that innovative ideas get a fair hearing, Kaime said.

When the department sends applications for research grants to its review panels, it deliberately leaves out the names of the scientists and their institutions, so decisions are based on the merits of their proposals and not their reputations.

Finally, after some four decades of strong advocacy by many of us, there are many programs and studies taking place all over the country to help those suffering from the results of their service in combat occupations of others countries. Some of these will wither away depending on the results of, but others will flourish and give the help and better understanding needed, and more will come from further studies.

It's really great to see the DoD getting more involved and finally recognizing the existence of especially as they are finally recognizing the actions of some who suffer from in their taking of their own lives or the lives of others, which in most cases can be the causes of their trauma and lack of help and counseling for, plus the stigma within the ranks of even reporting one is having problems.

An online Veterans news group, Veterans Today, made up of mostly free lance Veterans doing reporting on the many issues of the Veterans community, do an almost daily Top 10 called Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country, this current one is for 9-03-09. And in this issue page it carries this:

5. Tracking Suicides By New Vets Said To Be A Problem. The Indianapolis Star (9/3, Marshall, 241K) asks, "How many veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have come back, haunted by memories of war and struggling to cope with life at home, and taken their own lives? Nobody knows," and therein "lies one of the most serious obstacles to preventing suicides by returning veterans. A 2008 Congressional Research Service Report on the issue put it
bluntly" when it said, "There is no nationwide system for surveillance" of veteran suicides. The Star adds, "Recognizing the crucial gap in data, the Army and the National Institute of Mental Health have partnered for a five-year, $50 million study on military suicides." The Department of Veterans Affairs, meanwhile, "has launched" a "10-year health study examining 60,000 'new' veterans, mostly those involved" in Iraq and Afghanistan operations.

The bolding above I placed in as to highlight the fact that this is also not new as to Wars and Occupations of others, Post Traumatic Stress developing from, and especially coming out of Wars of Choice! Add on these Multiple Tours in not only one but two military operations and Guess What! There is also five related topics and links following the one, from the Indianapolis Star, above, at the link above.

Much has finally been coming out of the DoD and especially the Veterans Administration, much of it coming from a Congress finally doing their jobs with investigations and hearings as well as over-site, these past two plus years, which wasn't done by the previous congresses as they walked in lockstep towards sending, and then doing so, our military into two long running occupations, and rarely mentioned nor hearings held for the first five and six years of, respectively, these still running occupations!

Lets hope the forward actions continue, they're all now taking place in a Catch Up mode, but that will only happen if and when the American Public stop their representatives from Obstructing what already should have long ago been, proper funding and over-site, which would be cheaper now if it had been done before, especially as to keeping these agencies up to date with the advanced technology, placing it in or advanced of the 21st century, not the 20th century!

This is also at The Veterans Today link above:

HAVE YOU HEARD?
They call it Warriors Walk, a ten-bed unit where a dedicated team of doctors and nurses to care for terminally ill veterans during the last days of their journey. The new hospice care facility is opening at the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia; SC. Warriors Walk will be dedicated to assisting veterans during the final months of their life, with a talented medical staff specially trained in end of life issues. The focus is on relieving pain, managing symptoms, and offering emotional and spiritual support to comfort terminally ill veterans. In addition to the nursing staff, Warriors Walk includes support areas where families and friends of the veterans can come and visit and spend time with their loved ones. They are encouraged to bring memorabilia and mementos to personalize the veterans’ space and make them feel at home. In addition to VA staff, Warriors Walk is supported by many special volunteers who give their time and energy to support the terminally ill. For the grand opening, the Daughters of the American Revolution stitched blankets for every room to make it more like home for the veterans. The VA always strives to give the best care and support to our veterans’ that is possible. This is the last care they will receive and Warriors Walk staff is working hard to ensure it is of the highest quality and comfort.

'I Have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'

Full Episode: Veterans cope with the horrors of war

True Life - MTV Shows

Arthur, Kenny and Adam struggle to adjust to civilian life despite having PTSD.

Kabul: U.S. Embassy "Lord of the Flies" {UpDated}

We're being charged an extremely high price for this, called security, not only in the monetary but in how our country is perceived, which feeds into stamping as correct the propaganda about us given by others, and just adds to the mounting number of reports already from Afghanistan and also Iraq about our private armies, mercenaries,mercs, hired guns!

Security Contractors Under Scrutiny at U.S. Embassy in Kabul

A nonpartisan watchdog on Tuesday charged that language barriers, overwork, and lewd behavior by U.S. government contractors are undermining security at the American embassy in Kabul. Margaret Warner reports.

POGO Letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding U.S. Embassy in Kabul

September 1, 2009

The Honorable Hillary Clinton
Secretary, Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton:............rest of letter here

Web Site of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul

Where are, hell where were, all these so called 'teabaggers' when reports like this come out, they're supposedly complaining about their tax dollars and the disintegration of their america, yet they were silent, and always are, these last eight years and two long running occupations where the actions of these mercenaries place our soldiers in greater harm.

Where are they now as this report hits? Going to Health Care Townhalls calling everyone who disagrees with them a whole host of childish and dangerous names, while those they listen to and watch hint at harm to the newly elected President and those others not agreeing with them as they come packing weapons!

Even been recent reports, like this dedication tomorrow, of the, doing their thing at Veterans Clinics newly opened and dedicated or at ground breaking ceremonies for, supposedly voicing their opposition to 'socialist? health care' programs, but us Vets know that ain't the case, they just don't want to pay for the needs of those who serve, been that way for ages!

UpDate:

Our very expensive 'Private Army'

Rachel talks about those now making the news, and getting paid extremely well, 'Lord of the Flies' security and 'Animal House' moral U.S. values in a foreign country, one being occupied! As well as our policies in!

Military Health Research Forum

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF U.S. WARFIGHTER IS FOCUS OF MILITARY HEALTH RESEARCH FORUM

Promising Research on Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Gulf War Illness, Substance Abuse and More is Presented at Key Scientific Meeting

Snip

Research to address these needs is underway, and the work of hundreds of investigators engaged in the effort is being showcased September 1-3 at the Military Health Research Forum in Kansas City....................

Posted by: Science Applications International Corporation, SAIC, Sep 1, 2009 7:03 am
Opening Video: The CDMRP... Improving the Quality of Life for Our Warfighters, Their Families, and Our Veterans. New approaches and innovative plans provide breaking news at the Military Health Research Forum.
All footage used in this video is for the sole purpose of depicting Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). Requests to re-use or re-cut any footage should be directed to the CDMRP: 301-619-7071

This is a video, not above, they give the embed code for


Among the highlighted abstracts:

* Innovative treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder. Depending on the conflict in which they served, 10 to 30 percent of soldiers who have spent time in war zones experience the debilitating and life altering symptoms of PTSD. Topics examined include employing virtual environments and novel medicines to help military personnel diagnosed with PTSD and or/other co-morbidities, and the use of psychiatric service dogs to help troops manage the symptoms of PTSD. Read more......

* General military health, including potential treatments for spinal cord injury, nutrition's impact on cognitive performance in pilots and the effectiveness of a family based reintegration program. Read more.....

* Treatment for and prevention of traumatic brain injury. Often called the "signature injury" of the Iraqi war, TBI can lead to a range of symptoms including headache, confusion, behavior change, memory trouble, convulsions and others. Topics examined include brain tissue regeneration, driving problems after mild TBI and the use of biomarkers to determine the extent of TBI. Read more.....

* New research on treating Gulf War Illness, a condition that affects approximately 25 percent of service men and women who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Read more.....

Please visit US Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs for updates on the Military Health Research Forum.

One wonders why conferences and even congressional discussions, not to mention reported by the U.S. media and citizens demanding all be covered and funded, weren't taking place all over this country in the work up to these invasions and occupations and continuing throughout.

One wonders?, Not Really, the GOP {Grand Obstructionist Party} were in total control and to busy beating the drums while coming up with new excises for their Wars of Choice and leaving the one that had anything to do with the 9/11 attacks! Way to much flag waving, magnetic ribbon buying, and slandering of those opposed to the destructive policies by the 'super patriots', and the media joined in across the board, not one mention about the lessons supposedly learned from our conflict way back, 'Nam, or even time to listen to us, of the long term results of War!

And 8years later our soldiers are still in both theaters, now it's once again 'catch-up' time, on the results of, on the veterans administration, on these agencies gaining the modern technology to cope with the huge influx of these new combat veterans......................., and much more, same ole same ole, DeJa-Vu all over again!

'teabaggers' Protesting Opening of VA Clinic

The little 'teabaggers' protesting a VA Clinic in the guise of going after a Congressional Rep. and Health Care Reform, sorry folks we know the game and the propensity to not want to pony up for the care needed for those who serve you! And guess where, it's going to take place in that state that wants to leave the U.S. behind, by them super patriots in Texas!

Fayette County judge urges Doggett protester not to act at dedication of veterans clinic

That’s when Janecka told Boyle, vice president-secretary of the Fayette County Taxpayers Coalition, that it wasn’t a good idea to have the protest at the dedication Thursday morning of a Veterans Administration clinic in La Grange.

Snip

Doggett said through an aide Tuesday evening: “With meetings in both Washington and Texas, I have been working on getting this clinic to La Grange since 2006. Last year, I invited the VA to a meeting with veterans at the Fayette County Courthouse to involve them in the planning for this clinic. Some may call government provision of doctors and clinics like this ‘socialism,’ I call it fulfilling our responsibility to those who defended our freedom.”

He closed: “These Teabag extremists have every right to protest my unwavering commitment to health insurance reform anywhere that I go, but I hope they will do so in a way that respects the service of our veterans to whom my success in getting this new clinic open is very important.” ...................

While Serving, Family Fights Ins. Company

While this is a Government Military Health Insurance program it's another example of the private sector running government programs, unregulated or under regulated and probably lacking a doctors recommendation, this is administered by 'Humana Insurance', under Tricare, as a supposedly separate operation from their other health insurance endeavors.

Soldier's wife battles insurance company

While a North Texas soldier fights overseas, his family is in a fight with his insurance company to pay for a medical device that could help his daughter lead a normal life.

For months, Kelsi LaRoe, a 22-year-old mother living in Grand Saline, has been fighting with Tricare, a government insurance plan for military families, to pay for a $3,000 medical device for her 13-month-old daughter Chesni.....................

Rest In Peace {UpDate}

Marine killed in Afghanistan served country in many ways

Marine Sgt. Bill Cahir was a public servant his whole life.

He served as a congressional staffer, as a journalist, as a political candidate and, finally, as a Marine reservist in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Snip

"There it was," Cahir wrote. "My last, best chance to serve."

Marine Sgt. Bill Cahir's Arlington funeral

Cahir served two tours of duty in Iraq, blending his military work with his journalism.

A year ago, Cahir bought a home in Pennsylvania and settled down to run for Congress, filing for the 5th Congressional District seat left open by the retirement of Rep. John Peterson.

Cahir was one of three Democrats in the race, and he faced criticism for living away from State College for so long. However, Cahir was quick to emphasize his roots, talking about the hospital where he was born, recalling his youth and greeting a former English teacher from the dais at a political forum.

On the stump, Cahir advocated a responsible exit from the war in Iraq and pushed for universal health coverage............Rest Here

Marine Sgt. Bill Cahir's first-person account of his training as a Marine

They spoke of his thoughtfulness and humor, of his integrity and sense of fairness.

But when Capt. Jason C. Brezler recalled his friend and colleague Bill Cahir, he honed in on Cahir's dedication to his comrades and country.

"On paper I was his commanding officer and team leader," Brezler said. "But his opinion mattered to me as much as any senior officer." ...........Read Rest Here

The Question 'Why?'

A Hero's Death in Afghanistan, and the Question 'Why?'

Bill Cahir joined the Marines after 9/11 to fight in Afghanistan, and he finally got there after two tours in Iraq. He was buried Monday at Arlington.

On Saturday, millions watched as Ted Kennedy made his final trip to Arlington National Cemetery. With rather less attention, Arlington's soil opened again Monday to accept the remains of one of Kennedy's former aides, 40-year-old Bill Cahir.

The deceased, an Alexandria resident, was unknown to most Americans, but he did no less for his country than his old boss -- and, gauged by the last full measure of devotion, he did even more. He went from his job working for Kennedy in the Senate to become, at various points, a Washington journalist and a failed congressional candidate. But it was the Sept. 11 attacks that inspired Cahir, at age 34, to get an age waiver from military recruiters in 2003 and enlist in the Marines...............

Rest In Peace with the rest of your, and those of us who preceded in our service to, brothers and sisters, the best of the best, who have fallen while in service to your country, right or wrong it's policies may be, the Noble Cause becomes the protection of those serving with you and they to you!

Maybe some day we will find this countries promised direction once more, that which we had pride once of what we said we were and in many ways showed that, maybe!

The above could be about any of the 5,149 who have fallen, and that continues, in these occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, and while the Country was burying Sgt. Cahir at Arlington two more U.S. and two British troops were killed in Afghanistan, from the many cities and small towns around this country, but it's just one of the recent Honors given to those who serve with pride and honor, their country and constitution.

The pride and honor from many, in this country, seems more towards tearing it and the constitution apart, especially that coming from the extreme groups, and present and previous public servants, given the microphones and press to loudly condemn anything and everything and not backtracking and apologizing when caught in their many lies, just bringing on more!

UpDate: Statement From Rene

Cahir's widow: "Bill was a hero to me"

The following statement was issued Monday by Bill Cahir's widow, Rene Browne:

"While this is a time of incredible loss and sadness for our family, we are deeply grateful for the tremendous outpouring of care and support we've received since the news of Bill's death.

"He was a loved and cherished husband, son, brother and excited father-to-be, as well as a friend and colleague who touched the lives of so many. From across the globe, the shared prayers, tributes and stories have meant so much and will keep Bill's memory alive for all of us.

"Bill was a hero to me, and to his family and friends, long before he gave his life for his country. He acted with the courage of his convictions in every facet of his life. Although I will forever miss him, I am blessed for the years that we spent together and for the stories that I will be able to share with our children of Bill's ideals, bravery, love and compassion.

"Bill would also be grateful to see that his story helped to raise awareness of the untold sacrifices of the men and women serving their country around the world today. It is their sense of duty and patriotism that inspired Bill to serve and will be the legacy of honor and commitment that he leaves to our children, and to the rest of us."

As MoJo Calls It: A Few Good Kids?

The Pentagon in the Classroom

We were saying what was actually going on but those doing it kept denying, as they passed on the talking points to their public mouths and those were carried forward by the flocks, that relished in being led, on any online board, right wing feeding troth site, and in reply's wherever they could be placed.

No child left behind.... the battle lines?

How the No Child Left Behind Act allowed military recruiters to collect info on millions of unsuspecting teens.

This was just more from the cheney/bush cabal acts against the country, and their growing list of proof of crimes against this Nation and Our Constitution, no one was safe, especially our children, needed to fill the ranks of bringing democracy? to others by extreme force!!

John Travers was striding purposefully into the Westfield mall in Wheaton, Maryland, for some back-to-school shopping before starting his junior year at Bowling Green State University. When I asked him whether he'd ever talked to a military recruiter, Travers, a 19-year-old African American with a buzz cut, a crisp white T-shirt, and a diamond stud in his left ear, smiled wryly. "To get to lunch in my high school, you had to pass recruiters," he said. "It was overwhelming." Then he added, "I thought the recruiters had too much information about me. They called me, but I never gave them my phone number."

Nor did he give the recruiters his email address, Social Security number, or details about his ethnicity, shopping habits, or college plans. Yet they probably knew all that, too. In the past few years, the military has mounted a virtual invasion into the lives of young Americans. Using data mining, stealth websites, career tests, and sophisticated marketing software, the Pentagon is harvesting and analyzing information on everything from high school students' GPAs and SAT scores to which video games they play. Before an Army recruiter even picks up the phone to call a prospect like Travers, the soldier may know more about the kid's habits than do his own parents.

Gee now who was that that foretold the coming future, and how close were the predictions of this thought of "Big Brother!"!!

Recruiters hit pay dirt in 2002, when then-Rep. (now Sen.) David Vitter (R-La.) slipped a provision into the No Child Left Behind Act that requires high schools to give recruiters the names and contact details of all juniors and seniors. Schools that fail to comply risk losing their NCLB funding. This little-known regulation effectively transformed President George W. Bush's signature education bill into the most aggressive military recruitment tool since the draft..........Read Rest Here

Now why does this Vitter name ring a bell, hmmmm, known but only important as to show what a total snake and lackey to his masters, not those he's hired to represent, is capable of doing while under the guise of being a family values man.

The MoJo article is from David Goodman who is a contributing writer for Mother Jones and coauthor {with wife Amy} of "Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders and the People Who Fight Back". For more of his stories, click here.

Decades After the Wars

JPAC team on mission to recover remains of U.S. servicemembers missing from WWII

Not long after lunch, they laid themselves to rest in a soft green pasture, this 10-person team that traveled from the far side of the globe to probe for the remains of a man missing for more than six decades.

“We’re not here for ourselves,” Army Sgt. 1st Class Ron Baker says shortly before the pastoral pause. “We’re here for the families of the veterans of past conflicts who are missing in action.”

Baker, a veteran of three combat tours, isn’t one to mince words. While Baker values what he and the others are doing in this cow pasture in western Germany, his soul seems to be elsewhere, Iraq and Afghanistan in particular. You can sense it in his mud-speckled face, and though reluctant to admit as much at first, Baker eventually does.

“They know where my heart is,” he says. “It’s over there.”

“Those piles of dirt over there,” Sprague says, pointing to a few nearby mounds, “it’s all stuff we have sifted through, and we only found a few bits and pieces (of evidence).”

At this stage, JPAC officials usually don’t discuss if they have unearthed any human remains. That comes later, back in Hawaii, where potential remains are tested, analyzed and reviewed by other anthropologists. It’s an exhaustive process that entails layers of scrutiny and a lot of lab work, including DNA testing.

Sprague’s team has found a number of items that seem to confirm a plane crash. The pieces range from shards of the cockpit canopy glass and bits of a parachute to part of a fuel pump and the pilot’s leather headgear.

“We were [sweeping] with metal detectors and digging up all the metal hits,” Sprague says. “One of them was the snap on the helmet.”............Rest Found Here

Not just soldiers, who fight in War, turn up missing, most forever, but also many residents where Wars are fought!

Packing Up, and Moving Out.........Iraq

There have been a few smaller reports about how they would withdraw, seems they've been steppin up the operation.

American commander: US on the road out of Iraq

The U.S. military is packing up to leave Iraq in what has been deemed the largest movement of manpower and equipment in modern military history — shipping out more than 1.5 million pieces of equipment from tanks to antennas along with a force the size of a small city.

The massive operation already under way a year ahead of the Aug. 31, 2010 deadline to remove all U.S. combat troops from Iraq shows the U.S. military has picked up the pace of a planned exit from Iraq that could cost billions.

Snip

Convoys carrying everything from armored trucks to radios have been rolling near daily through southern Iraq to Kuwait and the western desert to Jordan since President Barack Obama announced the deadline to remove combat troops, leaving up to 50,000 troops under a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement until the end of 2011.

First out, Brown said, will be the early withdrawal of an Army combat brigade of about 5,000. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said a brigade would leave by the end of the year, months ahead of schedule, if violence in Iraq did not escalate beyond current levels.

That will be followed by the Marine Corps, which has already shipped out about half of its 22,000 troops and more than 50 percent of its equipment since May.

"In about six months or less, they will be gone," she said.

The U.S. military also plans to shrink the contractor force from roughly 130,000 to between 50,000 and 75,000 by September 2010. Those remaining would pick up additional duties from departing troops, Brown said.........Rest Here

Rendon Group, cheney/bush Lackies, Gone!

More of the scum from the previous 'blood money' administration, these the propagandist, and the corrections of that, watch, more comin!!

Military terminates Rendon contract

This leads off the breaking report at S&S:

RELATED STORIES:

* Army used profiles to reject reporters
* Pentagon: Reporter profiling under review
* Files prove Pentagon is profiling reporters
* Journalists' recent work examined before embeds
* In the newsroom: Military puts its spin on PR story

Visit the report, the above are backlinked to in the follow up to.

The U.S. military is canceling its contract with a controversial private firm that was producing background profiles of journalists seeking to cover the war that graded their past work as “positive,” “negative” or “neutral,” Stars and Stripes has learned.

“The Bagram Regional Contracting Center intends to execute a termination of the Media Analyst contract,” belonging to The Rendon Group, said Col. Wayne Shanks, chief of public affairs for International Security Assistance Forces–Afghanistan.

The announcement follows a week of revelations by Stars and Stripes in which military public affairs officers who served in Afghanistan said that as recently as 2008 they had used reporter profiles compiled by The Rendon Group, a private public relations firm in Washington, D.C., to decide whether to grant permission to embed with troops on the battlefield..........

Katrina

The Secret History of Hurricane Katrina

There was nothing natural about the disaster that befell New Orleans in Katrina's aftermath.
—By James Ridgeway

Confronted with images of corpses floating in the blackened floodwaters or baking in the sun on abandoned highways, there aren't too many people left who see what happened following Hurricane Katrina as a purely "natural" disaster. The dominant narratives that have emerged, in the four years since the storm, are of a gross human tragedy, compounded by social inequities and government ineptitude—a crisis subsequently exploited in every way possible for political and financial gain.

But there's an even harsher truth, one some New Orleans residents learned in the very first days but which is only beginning to become clear to the rest of us: What took place in this devastated American city was no less than a war, in which victims whose only crimes were poverty and blackness were treated as enemies of the state.........Read Rest Here

Afghanistan: Soldier Killed, CBS Reporter Injured

August 28, 2009



CBS News radio correspondent Cami McCormick was injured while on assignment in Afghanistan, as Harry Smith reports. McCormick injured in an IED blast while traveling with U.S. soldiers.

Soldier killed, CBS reporter wounded in bombing

KABUL — A CBS Radio News correspondent was being treated Saturday at Bagram Air Base after being seriously wounded by a roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan that also killed a U.S. service member, officials said.

The U.S. troop death made August the deadliest month of the nearly eight-year war for American forces. The intensified fighting has raised the risk to journalists embedded with the military............

An Arlington Afterlife

Ted Kennedy's wish was to eventually join his brothers John and Bobby at Arlington cemetery. Wyatt Andrews has the story of how the Kennedy's came to rest in a military cemetery.

Brothers' final resting place

CNN's Barbara Starr looks at the Arlington National Cemetery site where Edward Kennedy will be buried.



Laid To Rest Beside His Brothers