JA, hot on the beat and apparently quick-thinking on his feet, puts up a great interview with Iraq Marine Veteran Antonio Agnone.
Iowa gets the first salvo of the new "Legacy of Service" tour, that highlights former active duty military personnel talking about the ongoing risks to national readiness posed by the backward prohibitions on gays and lesbians. (part two, part three of the Iowa Independent's coverage).
Apart from being an important civil rights issue, this highlights another failing of the Republicans on National Security matters. Given how 'strong on defense' is not yet dead as a rally cry for the GOP, I'm not sure why progressive punsters and candidates are not actively seeking to drive the nails into that coffin. I hate to think it is because Dems are just not comfortable striking out with their own views on national defense.
Clinton 'learned defense' and it helped him, one could argue not to be portrayed as soft on defense (as I recall, he even bumped up one of the DoD's budget proposals, during the time when the military spending was set by bipartisan agreement to fall).
It seems to me that now is a good time to forget that 'shadow policy' and for Democratic candidates, in particular, to come into the light of their own!
(note: I'm still checking on Agnone's rank. Reports say he was an officer, but they don't specify.)
update: o.k., Agnone was a super engineer and zippy logistics officer (all of you with OR or IE backgrounds, be still your hearts, he's taken). Now, I'm guessing, but it appears that he did so well he got fixed up with the 2nd Division guys, here, and got attached to the 22nd MEU, guessing as a 1stLt.
Pic says it all! (and, yes, they have a motorcycle club for vets):
His partner, Brandon, an airman, remains a mystery so far (meaning I'm not sure if he is a former Marine, etc.)
Monday, June 18, 2007
"Legacy of Service"
