Free Republic

Honored with Public Service Award, bloggers erupt in outrage The U.S. Navy awarded U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., its Distinguished Public Service Award, triggering an Internet campaign to have Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter withdraw it. Murtha, who publicly accused U.S. Marines of cold-blooded murder in a firefight in Haditha, Iraq, and was caught on camera in the Abscam scandal appearing to negotiate a bribe, was honored by the Navy for his "selfless devotion to the Nation's Sailors and Marines." The award credits him with making sure the military services "were provided the resources necessary to effectively conduct the...

WASHINGTON — B.J. Penn, assistant secretary of the Navy for installations and environment, will serve as acting Navy secretary until a successor to Donald Winter is named. Winter, who stepped down Friday, had agreed to stay on in the Obama administration until March 13, or until a replacement was found. Penn began his career as a Naval aviator, according to the Navy Web site. He amassed more than 6,500 flight hours in 16 types of aircraft. He was EA-6B Pilot of the Year in 1972, according to the site. Thus far, the White House has not hinted who the nominee...

The captain of the USS Cole, who saved his ship from sinking after an al-Qa'eda suicide attack by speedboat, has lashed out at senior Pentagon staff blocking his promotion because of allegations that he could have done more to protect the ship. Commander Kirk Lippold, who now serves behind a desk at the Pentagon, accused the head of the navy, Admiral Mike Mullen, and the navy secretary of "over-riding the judgment" of officers who had recommended his promotion. He complained he was the only officer being held to account for the attack in Aden harbour six years ago. The Cole...