'People': Sarah Palin Sees Her Son Off to Iraq

People Magazine ^ | Sept. 11, 2008 | Lorenzo Benet

[ponygirl]

Sarah Palin formally sent her 19-year-old son Track off to Iraq with a speech before his unit in Fairbanks, Alaska.

"As you depart us, your parents, your friends and family, if you allow for a few tears and (allow us) to hold you closer before you're gone," she told the troops of the Army's 1st Stryker Brigade, Delta company, on Thursday.

The Republican vice presidential candidate didn't mention her son by name in her remarks during the deployment ceremony that coincided with the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Members of Track's unit are expected to begin arriving in Iraq over the next several weeks

In an interview with PEOPLE in June, Sarah Palin said she was proud of her son, but that, "Track didn't ask our permission to sign up."

"He's young, strong and smart and this is a good positive step for him," she added. "He gave up hockey to do this and I'm very supportive. I believe in the cause, and hope and pray we have a worthy cause."

Army Col. Burt Thompson, who heads Track's unit at Fort Wainright, Alaska, told the Anchorage Daily News that Track receives no preferential treatment. After training in the Mojave Desert this summer, his unit is believed to be headed to Diyala, the fourth most violent of Iraq's provinces. He will operate an armored eight-wheeled, 19-ton vehicle called a Stryker and serve as a bodyguard for brigade leaders.

Track's father, Todd Palin, whose dad is an Army vet, told PEOPLE his only regret was that Track – who has an Alaska tattoo on his shoulder and a Christian fish on calf – didn't investigate other branches of the service more thoroughly before enlisting.

But he supports his son's decision. "He's looking forward to it," Todd said. "He's an independent young man."

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joseph Biden's son Beau, 39, is also headed for Iraq, as a military lawyer.

[ponygirl]

Okay, either I'm being too sensitive, or it seems that the MSM is revealing a bit too much info on Track Palin. What does having such-and-such a tattoo have to do with choosing the Army? Nothing. They should have just written what they were thinking:

Note to Al Qaida: "Not that we would wish him any harm or anything, but the son of a head of state (who we really hate) is about to be in x location and he's sporting x & y tattoos. We're just sayin'..."

[EagleUSA]

If I were President, I would not have newsconferences anymore. I would send out announcements, well filtered of any information, important to the security of anyone or anything in this nation. The MSM is part and parcel to the Fifth Column operating blatantly in this country.

They would get nothing as it should be.

[lone star annie]

So Biden’s son is going as a lawyer? LOL I appreciate his service, but come on that is like Al Gore’s 4 month stay in Nam as a reporter.

I hope they reassign Track because it is disgusting that they said where he is going to be and identifying marks. Lets hope the enemy does not find him. He will need our prayers.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Okay, either I’m being too sensitive, or it seems that the MSM is revealing a bit too much info on Track Palin.

It is exactly as you say. The MSM would love for Track to be captured, killed or harmed. What an amazing story that would make!

Bad news always sells papers.

They are treasonous bastards and they make a persuasive case for Censorship during a time of war. Freedom of the Press should never be absolute.

WHERE ARE THE CENSORS ANYWAY??? Censorship was alive and well in WW-II.

[PetroniusMaximus]

“his unit is believed to be headed to Diyala, the fourth most violent of Iraq’s provinces. He will operate an armored eight-wheeled, 19-ton vehicle called a Stryker and serve as a bodyguard for brigade leaders.”

Unbelievable.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I agree with you. Giving all of that identifying information is B.S.

[Dick Vomer]

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joseph Biden's son Beau, 39, is also headed for Iraq, as a military lawyer.P>gee, who'd of thunk it?

[Dead Dog]

Beau, 39, is also headed for Iraq, as a military lawyer

In search of another Haditha

[KansasGirl]

I agree. This is infuriating!

[agere_contra]

Bloody hell, you're right.

Note: the article makes it seem that his CO and his dad are the ones blurting out this information.

Ok, Track's going to be in a 19 ton APC, so it's going to be a little hard to check out his tattoos, but still this article reads like a briefing for an assassin.

[radar101]

Samantha Fildes, who's stepfather SPC Jonathan Berry is deploying to Iraq, holds a sign in support before a deployment ceremony at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks on Thursday September 11, 2008. The 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team 25th Infantry Division Arctic Wolves will be deploying to Iraq.

Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, is escorted by Col. Daly during a deployment ceremony for the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. Palin's son Track Palin is a member of the brigade being deployed to Iraq.

[xone]

So Biden’s son is going as a lawyer?

While I'm not a fan of lawyers on military ops, if he is going to Iraq, the mortars or IEDs won't care.

[wtc911]

So Biden’s son is going as a lawyer? LOL I appreciate his service, but come on that is like Al Gore’s 4 month stay in Nam as a reporter.

_____________________________________________

Get a grip. Any US soldier in Iraq for any job is not a "LOL" matter.

[agere_contra]

Hey, don’t knock him. Everyone knows lawyers are a vital force-multiplier on the modern battlefield.

[JRandomFreeper]

He'll be (statistically) safer there than if he was in parts of Chicago or Detroit, or any lib enclave. At least he has a weapon and can shoot back.

/johnny

[bagman]

Maybe I’m just being picky, but I suspect that Diyala province is probably the most dangerous province these days.

I also wonder if some of the deployment information might be, shall we say, misleading.

[lone star annie]

I know but it figures he is a lawyer. Hopefully Biden’s son will be safe there and hopefully the enemy does not find Track. Why doesn’t the media just give the enemy a map? Geesh

[norton]

"Democratic vice presidential candidate Joseph Biden's son Beau, 39, is also headed for Iraq, as a military lawyer."

Fine, fine...
But what we need to know are:
Does he have any identifying marks (say, like a tattoo)?
Where will be be working?
And, is he likely to be in the vicinity of any other good targ...persons of interes...field grade off...people?

[DoughtyOne]

The media is the media is the media. They can’t help themselves. They love our enemies and hate our nation and those who fight for it.

Any other nation would line these sons of bitches up against a wall and put an end to this treachery.

[Miss Didi]

WAR MOM PALIN TAKES HARD LINE