Free Republic

Fiery Reaction to Marine’s Stolen Saddam Rifle Is it among the spoils of war? Or worthy of a felony conviction that carries a 10-year prison sentence? The recent conviction of a Twentynine Palms Marine from Hemet has sparked a debate from readers and a fierce defense from the Marine himself. To rewind, Staff Sgt. Joel Cleve Miller was convicted last week of illegal possession of a machine gun. Federal prosecutors said he smuggled a chrome-plated AK-47 that once belonged to Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein’s Royal Guard back to his home in Hemet after a 2005 tour in Iraq. Miller now...

FORT BENNING, GA (AP) -- A former Wisconsin resident who joined the National Guard while attending college in Texas and unsuccessfully sought conscientious objector status has received a bad conduct discharge, an anti-war group reports. Spc. Katherine Jashinski, 23, originally from Wautoma, Wis., also was sentenced to 120 days of confinement at Fort Benning in the decision handed down Tuesday. The Iraq Veterans Against the War said Jashinski, of Austin, Texas, pleaded guilty to refusing to obey a legal order but was acquitted of the more serious charge of missing movement by design.A post spokeswoman, Tracy Bailey, confirmed that Jashinski...