Dec. 30, 2004 - 21:22 PST

THE WONDERING JEW

Whim Of Steel

Some of what I read in the news just doesn't track. I wonder at times it there is a succession of misprints or if the reporter was misinformed to a great degree. There is an article in Eugene, Oregon's The Register-Guard of today by the Associated Press, in part:

Oregon Guardsman must report, judge rules

PORTLAND -- "An Oregon Army National Guardsman must report for duty after failing in his challenge of a military program that extends his enlistment."

"In a federal lawsuit, Sgt. Emiliano Santiago argued he was improperly called to active duty after his formal eight-year contract with the Oregon Guard had ended. The case centered on the Department of Defense's "stop loss" policy, which has generated much debate in the past year as thousands of soldiers were barred from leaving Iraq and Afghanistan even though their enlistment terms had been fulfilled."

"Santiago, 27, lives in Pasco, Wash., but is a soldier with D company of the Oregon Guard's 113th Aviation Battalion, based in Pendleton. He signed for an eight year tour beginning June 28, 1996. In April, less than three months before he was scheduled to be discharged, the Army alerted Santiago's unit that it might be mobilized. As a result, Santiago's termination date was extended more than 27 years -- to December 2031."

"Matthew Lepore, a Justice Department attorney arguing the government's case, told Panner (U.S. District Judge) that he should follow previous court rulings, which give deference to the military in making such policy decisions."

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My opinions and comments (for what they are worth.)Seems to me that our Mr. Lapore the Justice lawyer is sure depending on a feral judge to toady to the max. Far be it from me to think I am an expert on things military, but extending his termination date more than 27 years seems such a Draconian measure. Near a third of a lifetime -- if he lives through the farce in Iraq. A farce that is greadually consuming our troops Hummer-load by Hummer-load. An undeclared war. An action of preemption, based on the idea of Saddam's hidden Weapons Of Mass Destruction and other false premises. Seems that now our brass minus the br's are realizing that more of our troops are needed in Iraq to prolong the Agony of Ridiculosity and that many of our military have already served their terms of enlistment and expect fair treatment by our government.

But you know the way it is today, the military is by guess or by God operating on Rumsfelds unerring Whim Of Steel . . . . . . .

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