Truth, lies and Afghanistan

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Photo - Huffington Post

On his second yearlong deployment to , traveled 9,000 miles, patrolled with American troops in eight provinces and returned in October of last year with a fervent conviction that the war was going disastrously and that senior military leaders had not leveled with the American public. ~Stephen Crowley – In Afghan War, Officer Becomes a Whistle-Blower 

How military leaders have let us down

By LT. COL. DANIEL L. DAVIS – (Armed Forces Journel) – February, 2012 – I spent last year in Afghanistan, visiting and talking with U.S. troops and their Afghan partners. My duties with the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force took me into every significant area where our soldiers engage the enemy. Over the course of 12 months, I covered more than 9,000 miles and talked, traveled and patrolled with troops in Kandahar, Kunar, Ghazni, Khost, Paktika, Kunduz, Balkh, Nangarhar and other provinces.

What I saw bore no resemblance to rosy official statements by U.S. military leaders about conditions on the ground.

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Some top military brass making more in pension than pay

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From 2004 through 2008, 80 percent of retiring three- and four-star officers went to work as consultants or defense executives, according to the Globe analysis. That compares with less than 50 percent who followed that path a decade earlier, from 1994 to 1998. ~Bryan Bender – From Pentagon to the private sector

The authorization act expanded the existing $693,951 cap “to cover all contractor employees (instead of only a company’s five most highly paid executives, as provided in current law),” a Senate Armed Services Committee summary stated. The law made an exception for scientists and engineers “if necessary to ensure continued DoD access to needed skills and capabilities.” ~Charles S. Clark – White House reopens debate over contractor pay

Tom Vanden Brook – (USA TODAY) – February 2, 2012 – A change in federal law to keep experienced officers in uniform allows top generals and admirals to make more in retirement than they did on active duty, and congressional records show.

The new pension rules were part of the 2007 Defense Authorization Act to address concerns that the military would lose too many experienced generals and admirals during wartime.

In January, when most service members will receive a 2.2 percent basic pay raise, their smallest in 12 years, America’s 36 four-star generals and admirals, and its 125 lieutenant generals and vice admirals, will see basic pay climb by 8.7 percent, or $1100 a month. ~Tom Philpott – Star-Rank Retired Pay Jumps

Previously , the maximum annual pension was based on an officer’s pay at 26 years of service. Now, a four-star officer retiring in 2011 with 38 years’ experience would get a yearly pension of about $219,600, a jump of $84,000, or 63% beyond what was once allowed. A three-star officer with 35 years’ experience would get about $169,200 a year, up about $39,000, or 30%.

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Probe Finds Dover Supervisors Targeted Whistleblowers

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(November 11, 2011 – interview with whistleblowers , & )

Jim Garamone – (American Forces Press Service) – WASHINGTON  -  January 31, 2012 – The Office of Special Counsel has determined that supervisors at the at , Del., retaliated against four employees who tried to expose wrongdoing at the facility.

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KBR asks federal judge to dismiss case brought by Oregon soldiers

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Mike Francis – (The Oregonian) – January 27, 2012 – Lawyers for defense contractor Inc. asked a federal judge in Portland Friday to dismiss the suit brought by a group of soldiers who said the KBR knowingly exposed them to a carcinogenic compound while they served in Iraq in 2003.

U.S. District heard the arguments for two hours Friday morning, then said he would rule on KBR’s request in the coming weeks.

Friday’s arguments, while delivered in calm and measured tones, included some stinging accusations. KBR’s lawyer said the soldiers’ primary medical expert is “a junk scientist who cannot be trusted.” And the soldiers’ lawyer said KBR committed “fraud” in its conduct at the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant and in its actions afterward.

While KBR is technically asking the judge to dismiss the entire case brought by 34 Oregon National Guard soldiers, KBR lawyer Geoffrey Harrison of the Houston law firm of Susman Godfrey acknowledged that he expects some subset of the group will survive the legal challenge and proceed toward trial.

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Northwest Arkansas Family Mourns Marine Killed in Afghanistan (Updated)

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(KARK 4 News)

The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed 20-year-old , of Wilder, died Sunday in Helmand province. He was killed during combat operations along with 22-year-old Cpl. Jon-Luke Bateman, of Tulsa, Okla. ~ Idaho Family Mourns Death Of 20-Year-Old Marine

(KARK 4 News) – January 20, 2012 – A Northwest Arkansas family is mourning the loss of a young soldier in .

Cpl. Jon-Luke Bateman, 22, of Pahrump, Nevada, served with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment.

He was killed on Sunday, along with another Marine, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province. Citing family members, the Pahrump Valley Times reports that Cpl. Bateman was working alongside a fellow Marine fixing a generator when both were electrocuted. A Department of Defense news release says the incident is under investigation.

On Facebook, Bateman listed his father as Tony Allen, who lives in Huntsville (Madison County).

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10 NATO troops killed in Afghanistan in 24 hours (Updated)

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DoD Identifies Marine Casualties
, 27, of Ferndale, Wash. (More)
, 29, of Crystal Lake, Ill. (More)
, 40, of Centerville, Iowa. (More)
, 23, of North Beach, Md. (More)
, 25, of Colonia, N.J. (More)
, 22, of Willis, Texas. (More)

These Marines died January 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, . They were assigned toMarine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

The commander of confirmed on the unit’s Facebook page that all six Marines killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan were from the Kaneohe-based unit.

“With deep sorrow I have to confirm the news stories that you probably have already heard. Last night we lost six members of the squadron during a combat operations,” posted from in Afghanistan. “Official notification has been made to all the next of kin. I will be able to release the names of the crewmembers in 24 hours. I ask that if you already know, through personal contacts, the names of those crewmembers, please respect the 24 hours of privacy afforded to those families.” ~ Honolulu Star Advertiser
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DoD unveils new initiatives to combat sexual assault in the military

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While praising some of the new steps to combat sexual violence that Defense  announced Wednesday, critics say the isn’t going nearly far enough. ~ DoD sex assault prevention efforts fall short, critics say – Stars and Stripes

By msnbc.com staff and news services – WASHINGTON – January 18, 2012 – U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday that the Pentagon is preparing new initiatives to try to curb sexual assaults in the military — a problem he believes could be six times greater than reported.

Panetta said 3,191 sex assault cases were reported in the military last year, but because so few victims come forward, he believes the real number is closer to 19,000 assaults. In 2010, 3,158 cases were reported.

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