Trading in the High Tops for Combat Boots

Tim James, a former NBA forward, gives back to the country that gave him a lot.

A former NBA player who often wondered about his true calling, Tim James is now a U.S. Army soldier, a transformation that even many of the people closest to him never saw coming.

"I got my degree, lived the life I was able, have my freedom and became a professional athlete," James said last week from Iraq. "I'm the example of the American dream."

James is at Camp Speicher, the massive base near Tikrit, 85 miles north of Baghdad, not far from Saddam Hussein's hometown and where insurgents still are a perpetual threat. For Miami Northwestern High, the Miami Hurricanes, three NBA teams and some foreign clubs, he was forward Tim James. For the Army, he's Spc. Tim James of Task Force ODIN — short for Observe, Detect, Identify, Neutralize.

In layman's terms, he's part of the unit tasked with watching and catching the bad guys before they plant bombs.

So long, charter jets, enormous paychecks and Ritz-Carlton hotel stays. Hello, 130-degree afternoons, 12-hour work days, $2,600 a month and 50-caliber machine guns.

It could go without saying that James' example make other wealthy guys like Matthew Continetti, Ethan Hastert and Jason Mattera look like cowards, but we'll say it anyway.

He can't wait to be too old to serve

Poor Jason Mattera. It appears some have called him out on his YouTube channel. Unsurprisingly he's too gutless to respond (he doesn't so much like conflict directed his way).

....I'm a conservative marine vet, and I was just curious as to why Mattera has never served in the military when he's always been supporting the war.

Damn! We're a little late on this one

Serial baby-kisser Ethan Hastert had a "town hall meeting" this week in the district of Illinois he's running in. We'd have loved to dispatched someone to ask him about serving Our Country in uniform.

Regardless, his lack of service hasn't gone unnoticed.

"Given that Ethan Hastert has no record of public or community service in the district, he has a lot of catching up to do if he wants to gain the trust of the people and build an understanding of the priorities of folks in the district," Adler said.

July Army Recruiting #'s

The Army over 100%. Reserve blew away their # and the National Guard slid a bit.

The Reserve reported 1,628 accessions in July. That’s 123 percent of its goal of 1,326. The Reserve also has reduced its recruiting goal, going from 26,500 new soldiers to 22,500.

Here's another one

Andrew Ciafardini is another former President Bush staffer who's running for office (State House in Ohio). For a young man, Andrew has an impressive resumé with one very notable exception: no Military experience.

Again we wonder where was Andrew during the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan? We can contact him here and hope he has the time in his busy life to get back with us.

A Land of Brothers: Israel Supports Its Troops!

Israel, almost alone among Western democracies, has mandatory conscription for a noticeable period of time [three years for men, two years for women, with waivers for traditional lifestyles (i.e., strictly Orthodox Jews) and Arab citizens, who are exempt]. Most Western European nations with national service require less than a year.

We have noted an increase in numbers/proportions of Israelis who do not serve [i.e., dodge the draft] AND who are criticized for it. However, the fact that average citizens Support Their Troops gives Israeli society many strengths. Here's a great article from an alumnus of Columbia University.

I have three children serving in the Israel Defense Forces. I am the father of Sgt. Nathan Weinberger (almost 21), Cpl. Rebecca Ross (19 and a half), and Pvt. Ruthie Ross (18). President-elect Barack Obama has spoken repeatedly of the need to engage young people in service for their country and for the world; in Israel, service is mandatory. Nathan is two-thirds of the way through his required three years of service, Rebecca is halfway through her two years of service and Ruthie was inducted on Nov. 5.

We moved to Israel from Miami in the summer of 1997. Thanks to the Russian immigration boom that preceded our arrival, when I showed up at the ripe old age of 36, the Israel Defense Forces was not interested in my services. My children, however, all immigrated way before the induction process begins, and the IDF very much expects to induct each one of them. A few weeks before a child turns 17 the Induction Administration sends parents a letter, which reads in part: "We believe that enlistment in the Israel Defense Forces represents a joint family experience and that you also, as close family members, are excited and curious in advance of the enlistment. We very much appreciate the guidance, support, and encouragement of the candidate through the various stages of enlistment, and we will help you in this as much as we are able." I felt relieved when I first received this letter in advance of Nathan's induction process four years ago. While I was not given the opportunity to serve in the Israel Defense Forces, I have a part to play in supporting the service of my children.

How is it different to live in a country with mandatory military service? As the parent of three soldiers, I am very much touched by the fact that the whole country loves my children. Because service is mandatory, when Israelis look upon my uniformed children, they see not only young people serving their country, but they also see themselves, as well as their own mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters who once served, who are serving or who will serve. It is because of this, too, that the military's achievements are naturally experienced as our achievements and its failures our failures (and oh how difficult it is to admit failure).

The years of regular-army service are so enshrined in Israeli culture that when one speaks of a "soldier" one is referring precisely to this period, though tens of thousands of Israeli men are active in Israel's military reserves and must report for duty between 20-35 days a year up until they are discharged around the age of 40.

Even your typical hardened Israeli will soften for a soldier. My son Nathan failed his driving test three times. Nathan passed on his fourth try while wearing his IDF uniform. Rebecca took our car in for its government-required annual testing. She was in uniform. Though she could not find the necessary insurance papers and though a headlight needed to be replaced, she managed to convince the tough mechanics at the testing center that we did have insurance (true) and that they needed to replace the headlight on the spot because she was too busy to return (less than true). The guys got a big kick out of seeing little 5-foot-2 Rebecca in her uniform. Repeatedly saluting her and saying "yes, officer ma'am," they stamped all the necessary forms and sent her on her way.

For a parent, there is a huge difference between noncombat military service and combat military service. When your son goes into a combat unit (there are almost no girls in these), you can say goodbye to sleep for a few years. Thankfully, I am not yet the father of a combat soldier (though it's almost certain that one or both of my youngest two, both boys and both now in high school, will be in combat). Nathan was excused from combat for medical reasons. He is serving in the air force in the south of the country, working in a weapons' testing lab and also in the financial office of his huge base. Rebecca works at a high school for problem children during the day and plays professional basketball at night (she was awarded "outstanding athlete" status by the army and can thus maintain her basketball career). Ruthie will be teaching Hebrew to ex-immigrant soldiers; she is now in the middle of a 10-week course that will train her for this job.

I think that a big difference between me and my peers in the States, whose children are in college rather than in military service, comes down to pride. I can feel that the whole country is proud of my children, and in turn I am completely and utterly proud of them. Were I in the States, and were my children, respectively, a freshman, a sophomore and a junior in college, I would certainly be proud of them, but I don't believe that pride would be the key emotion in my relationship to them. I would be concerned about paying for their tuition and about their future.

After the often tense high school rebellious adolescent years, it's wonderful to have pride be one's overwhelming feeling for one's child. I am proud that when called upon by their country to serve, my children have responded in the affirmative.

OYE Comment:

Wow. A friend who just returned to Iraq from R&R in the U.S. mentioned that lots of real Americans expressed thanks and appreciation in one way or another, which means quite a lot. Perhaps if greater participation in military service by more of American society leads to more Americans personally knowing someone wearing the uniform [now or recently], our sense of civic unity and social purpose will be enhanced.

So, what about Ethan Hastert? Does he want the Noblesse without the Oblige?

The Veterans Campaign will Change America!

Operation Yellow Elephant strongly endorses the Veterans Campaign, a non-partisan project of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Stated simply, they want to help veterans to run effective campaigns for public office:

At Veterans Campaign we believe that our country’s veterans are a valuable yet untapped resource of potential elected leadership. Veterans possess many qualities our country needs in its public officials. They have outstanding leadership experience, are capable of succeeding in the face of adversity, and intimately understand the human consequences of Washington’s foreign policy decisions. Most importantly, they have demonstrated their willingness to put America and its citizens before their own well-being. Today more than ever, our country needs more veterans in public office.

OYE Comment:

This initiative is a very welcome activity to help change America for the better. We thank all veterans, and those who assist them, for getting involved in the political process. This includes both parties and a wide variety of perspectives all along the political spectrum. Even if you don't win, you are helping to make America a better place.

Hat tip to Thomas E. Ricks.

Real American Anthony Woods Runs in California

In contrast to former House Speaker Hastert's son running for office in Illinois, voters in California's 10th Congressional District [east of San Francisco Bay] have a great opportunity. Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D] recently resigned to join the State Department, and Iraq vet Anthony Woods is running for her seat in a September 1 Special Election. His motto: The Courage of Conviction.

Tony Woods graduated from West Point and served two tours in Iraq. He later came out of the closet as gay and was honorably discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. He's certainly demonstrated his service and sacrifice to our country, more than the Yellow Elephants.

We congratulate Californians of the 10th Congressional District on the excellent choice they have.

Sort of Off Topic

But we can't resist noting when College/Young Republicans start pulling hair and scratching faces. Here's our new friend Mytheos Holt commenting on Meghan McCain:

In a recent column excoriating Michelle Malkin for having the temerity to suggest that she should actually do some research and develop some principles, Meghan McCain writes, “The old conservatives of the past need to start accepting that this is a new era and I am a part of a new generation.” This “new generation” (which, presumably, Ms. McCain is speaking for) is apparently one whose values are being “moderate” and “inclusive” and which has an “emotional connection” to the Republican Party. This last part is somewhat gratifying, as if Ms. McCain claimed an intellectual connection to anything, it would risk reducing her readers to fits of hysterics not seen since Monty Python’s fictional “killer joke,” but this small bit of relief is vastly overshadowed by a few very simple truths, which are easily proven:

1. Ms. McCain does not speak for the new generation of Republicans or conservatives.

2. Ms. McCain has failed to live up to her own ideals of “inclusiveness” on numerous occasions.

3. Ms. McCain’s ideas are not, contrary to her spin, new. In fact, they are older by far than the ideas espoused by those she derides as “old conservatives of the past.”

Go Sun Devils

Something for Veterans to consider when deciding where to spend their GI Bill.

Arizona State University has been selected by G.I. Jobs magazine as a “Military Friendly School for 2010.” The list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America's veterans as students.

ASU is the only public university in Arizona to make the list, compiled from a poll of more than 7,000 schools across the country.

Where was Ethan?

Here's Ethan Hastert, the former President Bush staffer now running for Congress, shaking hands and kissing babies in the rain.

OYE has been looking through Ethan's campaign page and Facebook profile to find out his stance on the ongoing wars and what he did to help out his similarly aged peers in uniform. Predictably we came up with nothing. And we mean nothing. The only mention of The Military was tied to immigration.

So where was Ethan? A former congressman's son too good to serve?

This is where the fun begins. The Yellow Elephants we've highlighted over the years are now starting to run for office. It's time to question their true commitment to Our Country.

The Nonsense that is Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Former President Bill Clinton on DADT.

I hated what happened. I regret it but I didn't, have, I didn't think at the time, any choice if I wanted any progress to be made at all. Look, I think it's ridiculous. Can you believe they spent, whatever they spent, $150,000 to get rid of a valued Arabic speaker recently? You know, the thing that changed me forever on Don't Ask, Don't Tell was when I learned that 130 gay service people were allowed to serve and risk their lives in the first Gulf War and all their commanders knew they were gay, but they let them go out there and risk their lives because they needed them. Then as soon as the first Gulf War was over, they kicked them out. That's all I needed to know. That's all anybody needs to know that this policy should be changed.

Hypocrisy from the Left? Michael O'Hanlon and the Congo

Brookings Institution think tank-ist Michael O'Hanlon has a column in the Washington Post today, "U.S. Boots on Congo Ground," proposing that the U.S. create a new unit for peacekeeping operations, to include in the eastern Congo [DROC].

This may not be a bad idea, and it shows that he's done a lot of his homework. [The column, and his bio, confirm that O'Hanlon served in the Peace Corps in the then-Zaire in the 1980s, which gives him some credibility.] But one thing is missing:

Where's Michael O'Hanlon encouraging real Americans who agree with him to volunteer to serve, or support those who serve, in such a unit? Or, does O'Hanlon support a U.S. military presence in the Congo only if "other people" actually serve there?

Difference between O'Hanlon and the Yellow Elephants: Nothing, or close to it.

Health Care & Language Specialists Needed

Even though recruiting #'s have been strong all year there are a few specialties still needed and the Army is looking to non-citizens for help.

What the military now needs, he said, are non-citizens with valid work or student visas who are skilled in healthcare — surgeons, dentists and nurses — as well as those who speak one of several strategic languages. In exchange, the Army offers what some might consider a fair trade — eligibility for expedited citizenship. The program, entitled the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, or MAVNI, began in February in New York City, more than a year after U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates signed a memorandum authorizing the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force to implement the program. The recruitment of non-citizens in the U.S. military stretches as far back as the Revolutionary War. The Lodge-Philbin Act of 1950 allowed 2,500 — and later, up to 12,500 non-citizens to enlist in the armed forces and, prior to that, the Military Bases Agreement opened the gates for Filipino nationals to serve in the U.S. Navy.

OYE Comment: Wonder if repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would help alleviate the shortage within these skill sets?

30+ Year Olds Heading to Boot Camp

From CBS

A growing number of older Americans - "old" being defined as 30 and over - are enlisting in the Army, eager to take advantage of the stable income and valuable benefits offered by military life and in an otherwise sluggish economy, according to a Los Angeles Times report Tuesday.

Credible Leadership

Meet Tim Nank, a former staffer for the Bush Administration who's now running for VA House of Delegates. Unlike another staffer that OYE highlighted, Tim served Our Country in uniform as a member of the Naval Reserves and he didn't depend on his Daddy's last name to assist him in a potential future in politics.

We thank Mr. Nank for stepping forward

Former Bush Staffer Running on Dad's Name

Meet Ethan Hastert, the self described "next generation of leadership", who's running for Congress in the state of Illinois. Not that we'd ever insinuate a bit of nepotism, but he happens to be the son of former Republican Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert. Just a coincidence, really.

The silver spoon lawyer absorbed a lot while a staffer under former VP Dick Cheney and it helped him find his calling: "confirmed that there are really qualified, dedicated, intelligent, and on balance, anything that lets you take a way something positive is going to be better than the absence of the experience."

Wonder what the well-connected staffer was doing during the Iraq war? Every way we searched we could not find evidence of Ethan having served in uniform. Oh well, we guess combat isn't for really important young guys.

Attention Chi-Town Residents

This begins in a little over an hour from now. Seems like a great place for Military Recruiters to drop by or anyone curious in watching Yellow Elephants and Chickenhawks in their natural habitat.

The Cook County Republican Party, in conjunction with the Chicago Republican Party, the Chicago Young Republicans, the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, the Chicago Republican Women's Network, the 21 Club, the Illinois Republican Party and the Republican Jewish Coalition (whew!), is hosting a wild and crazy beach party tonight at Castaways on North Avenue Beach.

New GI Bill

Note to College Republicans: You're not eligible.

President Obama visited the electoral battleground of Northern Virginia on Monday morning to mark the implementation of last year's GI bill granting higher education benefits to veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan and other post-Sept. 11 conflicts.

At least they're a step up from the CR's. Maybe 3 steps.

Matt Cockerill from the Libertarian group Young Americans for Liberty:

In the grim age of Obama, many liberals have enthusiastically jumped into the establishment fray. These supposedly free-thinking "radicals" are now completely fine with perpetual war, so long as a "trendy," urbane" dem is the one leading us into it.

OYE Comment: There is an element of truth to this. Obviously the stated opinion comes from an anti-Obama source, yet that shouldn't discount the underlying thought.

During the election season much had been said about ending the war in Iraq and getting right the war in Afghanistan. It appears that Iraq may be winding down, but we all know well enough to not call it "over" at this stage.

Yet quite the opposite is happening in Afghanistan. After troop levels being raised, and July being the deadliest month for US troops, there's hardly a murmur from Democrats to: A.) Enlist and join the fight or B.) End the war.

I'm not trying to throw out a strawman argument here, because there very well can be more than the A/B choices I laid out, but the silence from President Obama's supporters on Afghanistan say more than words.