Friday, July 10, 2009
Military to Ban Smoking?
And so it goes ...
The story goes on to note that combat troops smoke more than noncombat troops. I don't think they get the correlations right, though. Combat MOS's have higher proportions of southern and rural white guys... who are also vastly more likely to use snuff and chewing tobacco, as well as smoke. I'm not sure how strictly the reporter is able to draw the distinction, nor am I sure if the suggested ban also targets chewing tobacco.
Now, why might a combat soldier chew tobacco? One reason is because it's REALLY hard to fall asleep with a wad of tobacco in your mouth. So guys on sentry duty use it in lieu of uppers. Or in lieu of just falling asleep. I don't think anyone who hasn't been there can really understand how HARD it is to maintain absolute silence, in the prone position, behind your weapon, at 3am after a full day of marching and fighting. Soldiers and marines grab every edge they can.
Further, I wouldn't disregard the role of cigarrettes on the battlefield - especially the countergeurrilla battlefield. From a humint or interrogater's point of view, or simply from the perspective of a local leader trying to build a relationship with an Iraqi or Afghan, the simple act of offering a nicotine-starved Iraqi a quality American cigarette, and lighting one up one's self, is a time-honored way of establishing a rapport with a local or detainee - and is frequently the first and necessary step in breaking the ice and gaining the trust and cooperation of a local or detainee.
Honestly, we wouldn't get NEAR the HUMINT we do without it. Verily I say unto you... if tobacco were to vanish from U.S. soldiers' kits tomorrow, there would be an almost immediate and bloody, but nearly untraceable consequence on the ground. It would significantly degrade our relationship with locals and our ability to gain intelligence from detainees and HUMINT sources. Tread VERY SLOWLY here.
Finally, tobacco sales also count towards the morale, welfare and recreation budget of the post. If we eliminate tobacco sales from post, that's that much less money available to support MWR for our military service members and their families. Will it be made up somewhere?
Honestly, I have a real problem with any rear echelon pogue declaring, by edict, that one of my guys -- Grown men, all of them, even the kids -- coming back in wired and jumpy from a tough patrol or convoy can't take a few minutes to light one up and unwind. An infantryman in a combat zone? He might well be dead by nightfall. You took him away from his wife and/or girlfriend. He can't drink alcohol. I think we should allow him the luxury of a smoke if he needs it.
I think we should discourage smoking, sure. But an outright ban? Must be liberals invading the Pentagon.
At any rate, this is one of those things that if it's to be done, Obama should lead by example. He can't quit smoking. Yeah, he's got a stressful job. He's not the only one.
Splash, out
Jason
UPDATE: I suspect Jolly Rancher is behind this.
WASHINGTON — Pentagon health experts are urging Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ban the use of tobacco by troops and end its sale on military property, a change that could dramatically alter a culture intertwined with smoking.
Jack Smith, head of the Pentagon's office of clinical and program policy, says he will recommend that Gates adopt proposals by a federal study that cites rising tobacco use and higher costs for the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs as reasons for the ban.
The study by the Institute of Medicine, requested by the VA and Pentagon, calls for a phased-in ban over a period of years, perhaps up to 20. "We'll certainly be taking that recommendation forward," Smith says.
A tobacco ban would confront a military culture, the report says, in which "the image of the battle-weary soldier in fatigues and helmet, fighting for his country, has frequently included his lit cigarette."
Also, the report said, troops worn out by repeated deployments often rely on cigarettes as a "stress reliever." The study found that tobacco use in the military increased after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.
The story goes on to note that combat troops smoke more than noncombat troops. I don't think they get the correlations right, though. Combat MOS's have higher proportions of southern and rural white guys... who are also vastly more likely to use snuff and chewing tobacco, as well as smoke. I'm not sure how strictly the reporter is able to draw the distinction, nor am I sure if the suggested ban also targets chewing tobacco.
Now, why might a combat soldier chew tobacco? One reason is because it's REALLY hard to fall asleep with a wad of tobacco in your mouth. So guys on sentry duty use it in lieu of uppers. Or in lieu of just falling asleep. I don't think anyone who hasn't been there can really understand how HARD it is to maintain absolute silence, in the prone position, behind your weapon, at 3am after a full day of marching and fighting. Soldiers and marines grab every edge they can.
Further, I wouldn't disregard the role of cigarrettes on the battlefield - especially the countergeurrilla battlefield. From a humint or interrogater's point of view, or simply from the perspective of a local leader trying to build a relationship with an Iraqi or Afghan, the simple act of offering a nicotine-starved Iraqi a quality American cigarette, and lighting one up one's self, is a time-honored way of establishing a rapport with a local or detainee - and is frequently the first and necessary step in breaking the ice and gaining the trust and cooperation of a local or detainee.
Honestly, we wouldn't get NEAR the HUMINT we do without it. Verily I say unto you... if tobacco were to vanish from U.S. soldiers' kits tomorrow, there would be an almost immediate and bloody, but nearly untraceable consequence on the ground. It would significantly degrade our relationship with locals and our ability to gain intelligence from detainees and HUMINT sources. Tread VERY SLOWLY here.
Finally, tobacco sales also count towards the morale, welfare and recreation budget of the post. If we eliminate tobacco sales from post, that's that much less money available to support MWR for our military service members and their families. Will it be made up somewhere?
Honestly, I have a real problem with any rear echelon pogue declaring, by edict, that one of my guys -- Grown men, all of them, even the kids -- coming back in wired and jumpy from a tough patrol or convoy can't take a few minutes to light one up and unwind. An infantryman in a combat zone? He might well be dead by nightfall. You took him away from his wife and/or girlfriend. He can't drink alcohol. I think we should allow him the luxury of a smoke if he needs it.
I think we should discourage smoking, sure. But an outright ban? Must be liberals invading the Pentagon.
At any rate, this is one of those things that if it's to be done, Obama should lead by example. He can't quit smoking. Yeah, he's got a stressful job. He's not the only one.
Splash, out
Jason
UPDATE: I suspect Jolly Rancher is behind this.
Labels: Army, Marines, soldier's issues, stupid
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Obama to Wounded Vets: "Drop Dead"
Not much time to comment today on this one. I didn't believe it when I first heard the rumblings about it. Put this one under the "beyond stupid" column.
At least there's money for smelling pig farts, ACORN, and deadbeat houseflippers, though.
At least that's something.
What happens when Achilles shrugs?
Splash, out
Jason
ADDED: Alright! Aside from frontier defense, independence, freedom of the high seas, expansion to the Pacific ocean, emancipation, civil defense, defeating British imperialism, bringing Democracy to millions around the world including here at home, defeating the Kaiser, defeating Nazism, fascism, Japanese expansionism, a free and prosperous Korean peninsula, protecting the liberty of our trading partners in Europe from Russian domination, defeating Communism, protecting the free flow of oil at market prices, bringing down Saddam Hussein and chasing Osama Bindejo into some God-forsaken cave in Pakistangladesh, WHAT HAVE THE WOUNDED VETERANS EVER DONE FOR US????
The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization says he is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.
"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it."
The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said, "This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ' to care for him who shall have borne the battle' given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America's veterans!"
At least there's money for smelling pig farts, ACORN, and deadbeat houseflippers, though.
At least that's something.
What happens when Achilles shrugs?
Splash, out
Jason
ADDED: Alright! Aside from frontier defense, independence, freedom of the high seas, expansion to the Pacific ocean, emancipation, civil defense, defeating British imperialism, bringing Democracy to millions around the world including here at home, defeating the Kaiser, defeating Nazism, fascism, Japanese expansionism, a free and prosperous Korean peninsula, protecting the liberty of our trading partners in Europe from Russian domination, defeating Communism, protecting the free flow of oil at market prices, bringing down Saddam Hussein and chasing Osama Bindejo into some God-forsaken cave in Pakistangladesh, WHAT HAVE THE WOUNDED VETERANS EVER DONE FOR US????
Labels: insurance, medical, Obama, soldier's issues, veterans
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tom Donnelly of the Weekly Standard to Obama:
"It's duty, honor, country, stupid!"
For the president, the civilian who stands at the beginning of the chain of command--who, by his constitutional authority as commander-in-chief really resides on the far side of the gap--making the leap is an obligation, not an option. He, above all, should speak to his troops in the language of duty, honor, and country which is their native tongue but seems to be such a foreign dialect to a detached, cool, post-modern politician. President Obama must not simply bind up the soldier's wounds or care for his widow, but lead him.
Labels: Army, Leadership, Obama, soldier's issues
Sunday, June 15, 2008
AWOL
So another mewling little runt decided he's too good to serve out his military obligation, which will of course result in another better man (or woman) than he is going in his place.
I would like to draw attention to the lies the left have filled this bitch's head with, though. He's regurgitating everything that you'd hear from the undereducated mocha sniffers at cafes all over the Pacific Northwest and warmed over 60s retreads who understand nothing. It's just lie after lie:
The war, having been authorized by Congress, is illegal and unconstitutional.
The IRR is a backdoor draft...
He's giving voice to the warriors of this country by deserting his comrades.
All that recycled shit that libtards tell each other in their own mutual admiration society but that falls apart upon a moment's consideration.
So when this easily led little turd winds up rotting in prison and loses all kinds of veterans benefits as a result of believing this anti-intellectual crap, the libtards who poisoned his brain should know they bear a lot of responsibility for ruining his life. That goes for his halfwit rocket-scientist father, too.
By their fruits ye shall know them.
Splash, out
I would like to draw attention to the lies the left have filled this bitch's head with, though. He's regurgitating everything that you'd hear from the undereducated mocha sniffers at cafes all over the Pacific Northwest and warmed over 60s retreads who understand nothing. It's just lie after lie:
The war, having been authorized by Congress, is illegal and unconstitutional.
The IRR is a backdoor draft...
He's giving voice to the warriors of this country by deserting his comrades.
All that recycled shit that libtards tell each other in their own mutual admiration society but that falls apart upon a moment's consideration.
So when this easily led little turd winds up rotting in prison and loses all kinds of veterans benefits as a result of believing this anti-intellectual crap, the libtards who poisoned his brain should know they bear a lot of responsibility for ruining his life. That goes for his halfwit rocket-scientist father, too.
By their fruits ye shall know them.
Splash, out
Labels: soldier's issues, The Left
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Are you a vet in some mortgage trouble?
If so, your friendly neighborhood VA counselor would like to talk to you.
With thousands of service members and veterans having lost homes or facing foreclosure as the mortgage crisis continues, lawmakers are pushing legislation to raise VA loan ceilings, lower VA funding fees and expand the VA's ability to help veterans to refinance loans they can't afford.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, meanwhil
Unfortunately, VA won't refinance anything greater than their now archaic refi limit of $144,000, with a 10% equity requirement. Also, acording to the article, Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) has a bill that would raise the VA loan cap to $730,000 as does Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA). That would bring it into line with other federal loan prgrams. VA itself opposes the measure. (It does seem pretty high to me, and I live in an expensive market.)
Splash, out
Jason
With thousands of service members and veterans having lost homes or facing foreclosure as the mortgage crisis continues, lawmakers are pushing legislation to raise VA loan ceilings, lower VA funding fees and expand the VA's ability to help veterans to refinance loans they can't afford.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, meanwhil
e, is encouraging military members, veterans and surviving widows with at-risk loans to seek advice from VA loan counselors even if their loans are not VA-guaranteed.
VA loan experts lack authority to restructure or renegotiate loans not backed by VA. But they can advise veterans on their options and on how they might negotiate with mortgage holders to avoid default.
VA's effort to reach mortgage holders in distress now includes a toll free number (1-877-827-3702) that automatically directs callers the nearest of nine VA regional loan centers. VA loan counselors have helped 74,000 homeowners since 2000, including half of all VA loans in serious default last year, thus saving the government nearly $1.5 billion, officials contend.
The VA Loan Guaranty program avoided the subprime loan debacle. While delinquency rates have climbed over the past five years for subprime, FHA and prime mortgages, delinquencies have fallen for VA-backed loans.
Unfortunately, VA won't refinance anything greater than their now archaic refi limit of $144,000, with a 10% equity requirement. Also, acording to the article, Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) has a bill that would raise the VA loan cap to $730,000 as does Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA). That would bring it into line with other federal loan prgrams. VA itself opposes the measure. (It does seem pretty high to me, and I live in an expensive market.)
Splash, out
Jason
Labels: politcs, Real Estate, soldier's issues, veterans
