The man who refused to die

Completely off topic, but a very horrifyingly interesting story. (via AMERICAblog)

They came to think of themselves as the forgotten army - the men who endured years of suffering in Japanese Prisoner of War Camps during World War II.

Yet many of the survivors, when they came back, never spoke of what they had seen and suffered. Now, one survivor of the camps has broken his 65-year silence.

This is a story of almost unimaginable suffering. The POWs were transported deep into Thailand on rice trucks that were more like steel coffins.

The men survived on a few handfuls of rice a day. Many succumbed to disease - cholera, beriberi, tropical ulcers. Their weight fell to five or six stone. Beatings were routine.

For years he went barefoot and naked except for a simple loin cloth. After another death march through the jungle, Alastair Urquhart was taken back to Singapore and, with 400 other men, loaded into the hold of a cargo ship.

There was standing room only. It was airless, fetid, the heat baking. Many died here too.

I am breaking my silence now, he writes in his book, to bear witness. I am a lucky man, but I am also an angry man, and my business with Japan is unfinished.

Germany has atoned. Young Germans know of their nation's dreadful crimes. But young Japanese are taught nothing of their nation's guilt.

"Myths and falsehoods on Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Media Matters has posted a well researched article destroying the arguments against repealing DADT.

"Why are you a College Republican?"

We've pondered this question and finally found the answers.



Here's more rationale:



One of the luxuries of contributing to OYE is knowing that no one that we cover can take us on Jeopardy.

General Odierno comes out

..in support of gays serving in The Military, that is.

WASHINGTON -- The top commanding general in Iraq says he thinks everyone - gay and straight - should be allowed to serve in the military "as long as we are still able to fight our wars."

The comment by Gen. Raymond Odierno is among the first to come from a senior military leader currently leading troops in battle since the Pentagon announced earlier this month that it will study the issue.

Senator Lieberman assists in attempting to end DADT

He voted for everything that sent troops into combat, so it's about time he did something to keep servicemen from being thrown out of The Military. (via Balloon Juice)

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) announced this morning that he will introduce legislation repealing “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Democrats have sought to repeal the law since President Obama took office, but have been stymied by a busy legislative calendar.

Lieberman says the time is now right to pass a repeal.

“I will be proud to be a sponsor of the important effort to enable patriotic gay Americans to defend our national security and our founding values of freedom and opportunity,” Lieberman said. “To exclude one group of Americans from serving in the armed forces is contrary to our fundamental principles as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and weakens our defenses by denying our military the service of a large group of Americans who can help our cause.”

Update December 2010: The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson praises Senator Lieberman for his strong efforts to get rid of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." We agree.

Jason Mattera returns

...with a book deal. And even more racism.

How can conservatives win the youth vote that overwhelmingly went for Barack Obama in 2008? At the Conservative Political Action Conference, apparently, some are betting on using racial stereotypes.

In a panel appealing to conservatives under 30, Jason Mattera, author of a forthcoming book called “Obama Zombies: How the Liberal Machine Brainwashed My Generation,” likened the gathering to “our Woodstock.”

While College Republicans lay around drunk....

...someones mom is being sent to Iraq.

Right now my moms is at an airport in Maryland waiting on a plane to send her to Germany, then to Kuwait, then to Iraq. She turns fifty years old on Thursday. At first, I thought she was an anomaly. I believed that there were no other 40+ year old women headed to Iraq.

I was wrong. With my mother there are at least two other women in their forties.

Let me also add that even though most of the College Democrats seemed to have opposed the Iraq War they still have a responsibility here as well. After all they did help elect the President who currently holds the keys for the conflict.

What's on College Republicans' iPods

I stuck it out listening to 54 seconds of this. If last longer than me consider yourself hearing impaired.



Vanilla Ice is now officially off the hook as the worst rapper since Vanilla Ice.

Little wonder why Meet The Press ratings blow

Yesterday Meet The Press invited two pathetic guests to discuss terrorism ....actually, three pathetic guests if you include David Brooks, but for OYE's purposes we'll just focus on Rep. Aaron Schock and former Rep. Harold Ford.


Keep in mind that Aaron and Harold are currently of age to serve in uniform.

Here's the segment:



How are either of these jokers qualified to discuss national security? Particularly Harold Ford* who voted for the War in Iraq as a Congressman, but even after his failed attempt to become a Senator never considered enlisting to assist the servicemen he sent into combat.

Schock is hardly better. None of the committees he sits on are anything remotely resembling national security. And frankly, he looks rattled when discussing security issues. Like he'd cross the street if someone wearing traditional Muslim clothing came his way.

Truly awful television. Meet The Press has become as terrible as the Happy Days spinoff show, "Joanie Loves Chachi".


(*he's another 'Daddy's Girl' having won the TN-09 seat once held by his father)

Former VP Dick Cheney on ending DADT

Keep in mind he had 8 years to do something about ending DADT but didn't lift a finger.

KARL: OK, "don't ask/don't tell" -- you're a former defense secretary -- should this policy be repealed?

CHENEY: Twenty years ago, the military were strong advocates of "don't ask/don't tell," when I was secretary of defense. I think things have changed significantly since then. I see that Don Mullen -- or Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has indicated his belief that we ought to support a change in the policy. So I think -- my guess is the policy will be changed.

KARL: And do you think that's a good thing? I mean, is it time to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military?

CHENEY: I think the society has moved on. I think it's partly a generational question. I say, I'm reluctant to second-guess the military in this regard, because they're the ones that have got to make the judgment about how these policies affect the military capability of our -- of our units, and that first requirement that you have to look at all the time is whether or not they're still capable of achieving their mission, and does the policy change, i.e., putting gays in the force, affect their ability to perform their mission?

When the chiefs come forward and say, "We think we can do it," then it strikes me that it's -- it's time to reconsider the policy. And I think Admiral Mullen said that.

Daddy's Girl, Part II: Ben Quayle in AZ3

Former Vice President Dan Quayle announced February 12 that his son, Ben Quayle, 33, an attorney in Scottsdale, Arizona, will be running for the Republican nomination for the Third Congressional District, one of several in the Phoenix area.

In the eight+ years since 09/11/2001, we had never even heard that Vice President Quayle had a son who, we assume, is healthy and heterosexual and, therefore, eligible to serve in our military in the Global War on Terror under the leadership of then-President George W. Bush. There is no mention of military service in news accounts, and his campaign website has yet to be established. We will be asking him whether he has considered volunteering for military service, and the results of his deliberations.

However, we can draw some tentative conclusions right now: Ben Quayle has never even considered wearing the uniform, or serving the people of his community and state, and our nation, in any way, shape or form. How do we know this? Because his father announced that he was running for Congress! That's like asking Daddy to help pay for your honeymoon.

There are some things a man must do on his own, by himself, if he is to call himself a man. Announcing his intention to seek a position of national leadership is one of them. Daddy's Girl, Part II, indeed!

Not even waiting for his body to get cold

Brandon Greife, the classy Political Director at the CRNC, didn't even let Congressman Murtha's body get buried before he sent this out:

Murtha’s Passing Creates Opportunity for Republicans

I guess this shouldn't be surprising coming from a guy that took a decade to graduate from school. Hey Brandon, did Rasheed Wallace still play for UNC when you began undergrad?

Fact Free Writing

Uhhhh boy. Only a true homophobic azzhole would title their article 'Is cross-dressing in fatigues next?'

Without citing sources Mychal Massie claims there would be a mass exodus from The Military if gays were allowed to serve in uniform (of course there's no mention in his bio of him having served).

Why is it so important to Obama to have homosexuals openly identified as such in the armed forces? Sexual orientation is a basic foundation of compatibility in battle. This is not a small issue. It will literally destroy the integrity of combat units, whether they be in the field, onboard ships, in airplane cockpits or in submarines.

A reader who is in a position to know told me that the "last survey among military folks [revealed] that 25 percent won't re-up if this happens. This means that to allow [the] 2 percent of those out there who choose this lifestyle into the military, we'd lose 25 percent of the experienced military folks who have morals."

So, why is it now such an imperative that homosexuals in the military be openly identified and recognized as such? Will it boost morale amongst the troops? Will it make those opposed to such behavior, based on their religious or personal convictions find homosexuality more acceptable? How will deconstructing established and understandably necessary military protocol – for the purpose of a social-engineering agenda being forced by extremists – provide for a stable military environment?

What happens if a soldier doesn't knowingly want a homosexual doctor/medic doing his personal examination? How long before the military is expected to make special provisions based on sexual preference? How long before lawsuits begin?

Read Media Matters' study based beatdown of this fool here.

Lt. Choi rejoins his unit

Not sure what this means or if it means anything in regards to DADT.

Gay military rights advocate Lt. Dan Choi has been called back into drill duty, he told The Advocate in a phone interview Tuesday. Photographer Jeff Sheng, who recently turned his lens on active gay and lesbian service members for a book about "don't ask, don't tell," originally reported the news on Bilerico.com.

National Review's Rich Lowry: Another non-expert on DADT

We are still amazed by media organizations who interview recognized national security experts on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" without ever asking about their qualifications, if any, to opine on U.S. military personnel policies on open service by non-heterosexuals.

The latest is National Review's Rich Lowry, whom we featured back in 2007. [Search this blog on Lowry.] Granted, pundit Ana Marie Cox, Wonkette Emerita, is probably in a similar category, in which case the program [which for technical reasons we have not yet been able to see ourselves] probably counts as entertainment. If you're staying home due to Snowpocalypse!, well, Enjoy!

We recently confirmed that the U.S. Army Reserve welcomes expressions of interest from healthy heterosexuals 41 or under, and Rich Lowry still qualifies. Why not ask him yourself to Be A Man! Enlist!?

OYE Comment:

Isn't it time for National Review to update its Lowry pic? Hel-lo!

Stolen Valor is Libel

The Washington Post just wrote about a First Amendment challenge to the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a Federal crime to lie about having earned medals or honors during military service.

While the statute apparently includes criminal penalties including fines and prison time, we understand that the vast majority of these cases have been punished with community service, to include in veterans facilities. Shaming these clowns in public seems to be appropriate, though we'll leave the details to legislative judgment.

We do take exception to one of the First Amendment arguments, namely, that no genuine medal recipient is injured by someone who, not for compensation or financial gain, falsely claims military honors. Here's why:

Some assclown who falsely claims a military honor not only claims to be like the genuine heroes;

He also claims that the genuine heroes are like him.

And that's libel.

Homefires: The NY Times meets U.S. servicemembers

The New York Times blog, Homefires, features thoughts and perspectives from recently returned warriors, all extremely well written, usually by junior officers and provoking a wide variety of [moderated] comments that are worth reading.

While we would prefer that all New York Times readers, especially those of the elite classes, personally knew enlisted servicemembers or junior officers, this is the next best thing. OYE's principal theme, that if more influential Americans personally knew someone wearing the uniform, our national civilian political leadership would be more careful in sending them into harm's way, and would ensure that they had everything they needed once there, comes through.

We appreciate the New York Times reaching out in this manner.

Here's the link: Homefires.

Bonus:

Take a look at Comment 30 on this week's Homefires. Since it'll soon be deleted, we're repeating it in full. Enjoy!

30. Sic Semper Tyrannis
Atlanta, GA
February 7, 2010
3:22 p.m.

To Our Dear Military Friends:

As an international investment banker enjoying my latest 8 figure bonus, I just wanted to congratulate our volunteer army for being the most cost-effective means of portfolio enhancement since the Reagan tax cuts. My friends at the polo club and I are amazed at how many Americans will risk their lives for so little return, but ce'st la guerre. Just throwing out the words freedom, threat and democracy in the national media and you people line up to kill foreigners thousands of miles away. You give life and sometimes liberty so we can pursue our happiness of globalizing markets, gobbling up resources and captivating cheap labor The sense of honor and patriotism our media consultants have manufactured for you is SO much cheaper than paying you what you're worth and giving you adequate resources when you return. We are certainly not going to look that gift horse in the mouth, and appreciate your are there to eliminate financial obstacles, diversify our portfolios and guarantee a lucrative return on our arms investments. However, any attempts to organize or unionize will result in the military being outsourced to Mexico.

BTW; my peers and I are having some problems with government of Myanmar. You may want to unpack those jungle fatigues and stock up on quinine after we hand down our decision to the state department.

OYE Comment:

We trust that our readers will recognize the above as satire [i.e., not serious]; The New York Times clearly did not. This is an example of the ongoing need for our civilian society to know more about our military and the Americans who serve us in it.

Snowpocalypse: How to Support Our Troops!

If you're in the Mid-Atlantic region on the East Coast, here's one really great thing you can do to Support Our Troops:

Forget the care packages. Just shovel snow for military and other families whose key member [usually but not always the man of the house] is deployed. Just show up and help them out, after letting them know that you want to do it. They, and their servicemember overseas, will appreciate it.

We'll give you a pass on Be A Man! Enlist! if you'll Man Up and help out your community. Thanks.

Support Your Local Veterans!

Operation Yellow Elephant wants to see more - if not all - Americans, whether or not eligible to serve, at least personally knowing a servicemember or recent veteran. Before our national civilian political leadership sends our troops into harm's way, well, the American people should have some idea of what is involved.

That's why we salute California's North Coast Stand Down, a private, voluntary community initiative to supplement and support the local Vet Center by helping veterans in the local community. If you're on California's North Coast, please check them out. Here's a link to an admittedly incomplete list of Nationwide Stand Down events.

More broadly, the Yellow Elephants seem to have heeded OYE's recent motto: Sign Up or Shut Up!, as we haven't heard from very many, on the Democratic or Republican sides of the proverbial political aisle.

So, if you really want to Support Our Troops even without serving yourself, please contact your local veterans service organization or vet center to see how you can help out recent veterans in your community.

This is an integral part of our nation's security and is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Major hat tip to Rob Ash. Thank you for your continuing service to your community and country.

William Kristol: Yellow Elephant Flambe?

Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol strongly opposes repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, with a perspective similar to that of the Brookings Institution's Michael O'Hanlon. In both cases, it is not at all clear why either is qualified as an expert on U.S. military personnel policy on open service by non-heterosexuals.

In this case, as with the whole reason for OYE's existence, we can sum up our position in a single question:

Does William Kristol or Michael O'Hanlon personally know any enlisted servicemembers, particularly E-5 or below, or junior officers?

We have politely requested a response for publication on this blog.

Military Recruiting Opportunity: CPAC 2010

While Washington DC braces for a major snowstorm, planning for the Conservative Political Action Conference, 18-20FEB2010, Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Metro Woodley Park/Zoo, continues. Money quote:

“CPAC has consistently over the years championed those ideas that have made America great: limited government, free enterprise, low taxes and a strong national defense.”
- [then-]Vice President Dick Cheney [emphasis added]

OYE Comment:

Seriously.

First it's five-deferments Cheney above, and now six-deferments Senator Saxby Chambliss [R-GA], who probably doesn't personally know any enlisted servicemembers, freaking out defending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," well, this takes the cake.

If CPAC had any credibility, they would press into service any male of appropriate age, if necessary via a fat farm.

Wonder how often he has burned a cross in someone's lawn?

Recently we spoke of the possibility of James O'Keefe restoring credibility by enlisting. But after reading a little more about this pimp we think it's best The Military do without a proud racist.

By O’Keefe’s own account, his racial troubles became acute when he entered the multicultural atmosphere of Rutgers University’s dormitory system. In an online diary that has since been scrubbed from the Web (but not before being captured on Daily Kos), he wrote that he was forced to live on an all-black dormitory floor after refusing to live with the gay roommate he was initially assigned. O’Keefe claimed his next roommate was “an Indian midget ... who smelled like shit.” The roommate left, however, and was replaced by “a greek kid.” The new roommate complained to a residential administrator that O’Keefe had called his neighbors “niggers,” prompting the school to expel him from the dorm. He rejected the accusation as a “complete lie,” writing, “I was lead out of the room crying and screaming at him and my situation, no friends, no one one [sic] to talk to, forced to go in front of a black man, Dean Tolbert, to defend myself and help explain that I did not call anyone any names.”

Colin Powell on ending DADT

Big news.

Gen. Colin L. Powell, who as the nation’s top military officer in the 1990s opposed allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military, switched gears today and threw his support behind efforts to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law he helped shepherd in.

“In the almost 17 years since the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed,” General Powell said in a statement issued by his office. He added: “I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen.”

Down goes Hastert

It's a great day for everyone that has made a life for themselves without having to rely on their parents.

State Sen. Randy Hultgren became the Republicans' choice Tuesday night to face Rep. Bill Foster in the 14th Congressional District this fall.

Hultgren won the GOP primary race over attorney Ethan Hastert, son of former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. The younger Hastert called to congratulate Hultgren around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, before giving a concession speech at the Hotel Baker in St. Charles.

So long, Ethan. The people have said by a 10 point margin that you won't be needed. Now go back to chasing ambulances and we hope your father blows every penny of your expected inheritance.

With regrets of ever knowing about you,

Operation Yellow Elephant

Admiral Mullen wants to end DADT

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, offered his thoughts on the nonsense that is 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.

It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at this issue I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens.

See entire testimony here:


We cannot thank Admiral Mullen enough for moving the discussion towards correcting the discriminatory practices of DADT.

Conversely, it seemed a rather pathetic act by Senator John McCain as he flip-flopped on his previous position on the subject. Very sad when modern times pass a great American by.

Glenn Greenwald destroys DADT supporters

On CNN this morning Michael O'Hanlon equated members of The Military to a pack of group-thinking, gay-bashing bigots who would sooner accept an incurable case of rabies before they'd want gays in uniform.

And then Glennzilla went to his keyboard and humiliated 'the man in most need of a comb'.

Finally, what does Michael O'Hanlon know about the military, and why is he -- of all people -- being held out as some sort of expert on these matters? He's never been anywhere near the military. He specializes in establishing himself as a "testosterone-laden tough guy" by cheerleading for wars and urging that we send other people off to fight them -- all from the safety and comfort of his Brookings office. Several months ago, over 100 retired Generals and Admirals -- people who, unlike O'Hanlon, actually understand the military first-hand -- called for a repeal of DADT so that gay people can serve openly. Why would anyone believe that someone like Mike O'Hanlon, who
relentlessly waves his pom-poms for war while ensuring he never fights them, has anything worthwhile to say on the topic of the military's ability to successfully integrate openly gay service members?

Mr. Greenwald also went on to call-out freshman Congressman and former place kicker, Jason Chaffetz, for this assholish tweet:

Obama wants to get rid of "Don't ask, don't tell." Not time to do this in the middle of two wars.

Glenn asks why isn't the youngish looking Chaffetz isn't serving, but the reality is he's too old to enlist. Conveniently he missed the cut-off by a year.

Glenn Greenwald joins Operation Yellow Elephant

To supplement Glenn Greenwald destroys DADT supporters (above), Greenwald continues:

But one thing is clear: in American culture, there has long been a group of men (typified by Kristol and O'Hanlon) who equate toughness and masculinity with fighting wars, yet who also know that they lack the courage of their own convictions, and thus confine themselves to cheerleading for wars from afar and sending others off to fight but never fighting those wars themselves (Digby wrote the seminal post on that sorry faction back in 2005). It seems that individuals plagued by that affliction are eager to avoid having it rubbed in their faces that there are large numbers of homosexual warriors who possess the courage (the "testosterone-laden tough-guyness") which the O'Hanlons and Kristols, deep down, know they lack. Banning gay people from serving openly in the military as warriors is an excellent way of being able to deny that reality to themselves.

OYE Comment:

We warmly welcome Glenn Greenwald to Operation Yellow Elephant.

Hat tip to Andrew Sullivan.

Tomorrow is a big day for Daddy's Girl

Ethan Hastert, the worthless trash pile who'd be selling shoes if it wasn't for his father, will be hoping to win the Republican primary in the IL-14 tomorrow. For selfish reasons we should probably hope he wins so that OYE may document his future acts of douchbaggery, but we're finding that hard to do because of his past acts of douchbaggery.

And here's another puke-worthy Ethan article titled 'Ethan Hastert rakes in cash from dad's friends'.