Report of ovation at Guard conference disputed

By Bryant Jordan – Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Aug 29, 2007 12:04:21 EDT

Army and Air National Guardsmen attending the National Guard Association’s conference in Puerto Rico last week did not break into applause or give a standing ovation Aug. 25 when the governor called for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, an official for the 45,000-member organization said this morning.

“Categorically not true,” said John Goheen, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based group. “To put a standing ovation to the governor’s … comments are beyond a reach.”

That nearly 4,000 guard members offered up a standing ovation after Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila called for a withdrawal from Iraq has been widely reported, including by Associated Press.

Goheen said he has been in contact with AP, provided it a recording of the governor’s speech, and expects it will issue a correction. In New York, an AP spokeswoman confirmed the news service is looking into the matter.

Goheen said Acevedo’s speech touched on Iraq, but it also addressed a number of other issues, and it was only when the speech was over that those in attendance gave him the ovation. “To say … that standing and applauding upon his [departure] was in any way an endorsement of the specifics of his views on Iraq is simply beyond a reach,” Goheen said.

Only once during his speech did attendees interrupt with applause, said Goheen, and that was when Acevedo — echoing the view of all U.S. governors — called for repealing a Bush administration addition to the insurrection act that makes it easier for the president to federalize state guardsmen.

Acevedo, who is a Democrat, said the Bush administration has no new strategy or signs of success in Iraq and that increasing the number of Army and Air Guardsmen and reservists in the war places “our soldiers in danger for the umpteenth time since the beginning of the global war on terrorism.”

The National Guard Association, which was in Puerto Rico for its 129th general conference, is a nonpartisan group representing about 45,000 current and former Air and Army National Guard officers.

Source: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/08/airforce_guard_ovation_070828/

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/08/airforce_guard_ovation_070828/

I was in the audience during the governor’s speech. Not only did his call for withdrawal not get a standing ovation, it didn’t get applause of any kind. It was met with silence.

The applause came when he called for repealing the recent amendment to the Insurrection Act that allows the president to federalize Guard troops during domestic emergencies without a governor’s permission.

So this story is either a fabrication or a misunderstanding, but either way it’s not true.

Another outrage is that our Guard is doing sustained active duty fighting alongside regular Army without the same benefits.

The National Guard is designed to protect us at home. If they are deployed for an emergency overseas, it’s not supposed to be for long sustained periods of time. It’s time for our IIC to finally admit that our wars are understaffed. If it’s truly a righteous fight, then no American should mind reinstating the draft. If it’s not, then we must get out.

Cancer in Iraq vets raises possibility of toxic exposure

Source: Arizona Daily Star

After serving in Vietnam nearly 40 years ago — and receiving the Bronze Star for it — the Tucson soldier was called back to active duty in Iraq. While there, he awoke one morning with a sore throat. Eighteen months later, Army Sgt. James Lauderdale was dead, of a bizarrely aggressive cancer rarely seen by the doctors who tried to treat it.

As a result, his stunned and heartbroken family has joined growing ranks of sickened and dying Iraq war vets and their families who believe exposures to toxic poisons in the war zone are behind their illnesses — mostly cancers, striking the young, taking them down with alarming speed.

The number of these cancers remains undisclosed, with military officials citing patient privacy issues, as well as lack of evidence the cases are linked to conditions in the war zone. The U.S. Congress has ordered a probe of suspect toxins and may soon begin widespread testing of our armed forces.

Read more: http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/198240.php

—Suspect: depleted uranium

None of these soldiers know for sure what’s killing them. But they suspect it’s a cascade of multiple toxic exposures, coupled with the intense stress of daily life in a war zone weakening their immune systems. “There’s so much pollution from so many sources, your body can’t fight what’s coming at it,” Valentin said. “And you don’t eat well or sleep well, ever. That weakens you, too. There’s no chance to gather your strength. These are kids 19, 20 and 21 getting all kinds of cancers. The Walter Reed cancer ward is packed full with them.”

The prime suspect in all this, in the minds of many victims — and some scientists — is what’s known as depleted uranium — the radioactive chemical prized by the military for its ability to penetrate armored vehicles. When munitions explode, the substance hits the air as fine dust, easily inhaled.

Last month, the Iraqi environment minister blamed the tons of the chemical dropped during the war’s “shock and awe” campaign for a surge of cancer cases across the country. however, the Pentagon and U.S. State Department strongly deny this, citing four studies, including one by the World Health Organization, that found levels in war zones not harmful to civilians or soldiers. A U.N. Environmental Program study concurs, but only if spent munitions are cleared away.

Returning solders have said that isn’t happening. “When tanks exploded, I would handle those tanks, and there was DU everywhere,” said Valentin. “This is a big issue.” –”This a a very wrenching case,” said Dr. Harinder Garewal. “This is unusually aggressive behavior for an oral cancer. I would agree it happens in only 1 percent of cases.” When oral cancer occurs in nonsmokers and non-drinkers, it tends to be more aggressive, he
said. “My feeling is the immune system for some reason can’t handle the cancer,” he said.

Jim Lauderdale died on July 14, 2006, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.dixie and their two grown children still feel the raw grief of loss, but not anger, she said. “But I am convinced something very wrong is happening over there. Is anyone paying
attention to this? Is the cancer ward still full?” she asked. “I would hate to see another whole generation affected like this, but I’m very afraid it will be.”

Comment by Swifty the Boat — August 26, 2007 @ 10:20 pm

Swifty take a pint or two of Amanita phalloides and post me in the morning. We’ll all feel better.

You’re saying this article is false? He didnt get a standing ovation from the troops?

Ps… I think I figured out a good way to cause mr. P some serious serious unhappiness in his online life.. I need some help though, can some regular who posts here and is in off-site communication with other TP’ers please give me a link to a blog or website or something where I can private message them and tell them of my plans?

Comment by umbra — August 26, 2007 @ 10:09 pm

What kinds? It has been super dry here but I quess I have been too busy anyway

Comment by umbra — August 26, 2007 @ 9:33 pm

In the US, they are raised on compost. In France, you should not ask. In Germany, they are harvested from the forest (wald) (Where a knowledge of species is important.).

Comment by umbra — August 26, 2007 @ 9:03 pm

Stephen Hawking was born in ‘42. I could learn tons from him