Pentagon Changes Mind, Won't Deploy Congressman

AP ^ | 4\1\03

[InHisImage]

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Buyer won't be trading his business suit for Army fatigues after all.

The Indiana Republican is a member of the Army Reserve and said he had been called to active duty. But the Pentagon is having second thoughts.

Buyer received a letter Monday from the military brass saying his services wouldn't be needed. The Pentagon said Buyer's high-profile status could endanger him and his fellow soldiers.

Buyer is a lieutenant colonel and served in the first Gulf War as a military legal adviser. He would have been the first member of Congress since World War II to take a leave of absence to serve in the war.

[SENTINEL]

Nothing like leadership by example to motivate the troops. </sarcasm

[smith288]

This should help when Liberals say only poor people fight in wars... < /sarcasm>

[bedolido]

I say if he's a lib and a dem... DEPLOY!

[mabelkitty]

This stinks. He should go.

[rellimpank]

--one of the better moves FDR made early in WW 2 was to forbid Congressmen from serving in the military--too much opportunity for grandstanding. I believe he commented something about "plenty to do in Washington"--

[Constitution Day]

The Indiana Republican is a member of the Army Reserve and said he had been called to active duty.

[JimVT]

He would have been the first member of Congress since World War II to take a leave of absence to serve in the war.

And that would, no doubt, be that great Americun Silver Star holder LBJ.

LBJ

[Hatteras]

I would think that like Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose (from D.C. area sniper fame) they should be able to find something for him in the D.C. area. Chief Moose has been called to active duty heading up security at Andrews AFB.

[jae471]

And that makes me feel so safe, knowing that Charles "Lone White Gunman in a White Van" Moose is on the job.

[DianaN]

The article by Inhisimage in not designed to get members of Congress to go to war or not go to war. This article is put out, along with various others on different matters all of which are designed, once again in the guise of religious authority to bring up related and non-related issues, to demoraize, divide and malign those who think freedom and justice are ever worth having violence over (i.e.war)or having anyone die over.
Diana

[SENTINEL]

That story made me sick to my stomach. I must admit, however, that I am not surprised.

My uncle was a Corpsman in Vietnam, and took 2 bullets (one in the head) and a dozen grenade fragments while dragging a wounded radioman (with his radio) into cover after an ambush. This was on his second tour and after his second purple heart. The radioman lived, and the radio was used to call in air support which probably saved the rest of the Marines.

He received a Bronze Star with combat "V", and always said he didn't deserve it.

I believe in a just God, and think that my now deceased uncle would say that he was unworthy of having an ex US president as his personal servant for eternity, and I again would disagree.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

I disagree. his star status would defy the chain of command and operations. Think about it, a congressman getting orders from a 22 year old.This was a wise move to not let him go. It would distract from the cause.

[Hatteras]

Probably as safe as having a congressman running around with an M-16 I suppose...

[Conservative Iowan]

As the article states he is a Lieutenant Colonel, I doubt he would have taken orders from any 22 yr olds. The Pentagon is probably taking the right approach, but it would have been great for the congressman to take a stand and go.

[cynicom]

Lyndon Johnson was a member of House of Represenatives. He "earned" a silver star for gallantry in the Pacific.

[struwwelpeter]

But if he ever crosses paths with that 22 year-old full bird colonel, he better pop a proper military salute!

Seriously, the Pentagonians just tossed away a PR goldmine. Must've been nixed by a Clinton holdover.

[struwwelpeter]

Johnson's "combat gallantry" may not be well-known here, let's repeat it for the newbies.

[cynicom]

stru...

Awarding the Silver Star to Johnson, forever tarnished the meaning of the medal. Saddest part of all, was the man was not ashamed to show it to people long after the war.

Some here may be too young to remember Johnson and the Silver Star affair. Johnson was a shallow, vain, egomaniac, that became president of this country.

[arielb]

see? The Pentagon changed its plans! Surely this mean the war plan has failed!