Free Republic

Brooklyn Army vet Papotia Reginald Wright’s resume was impressive by any standard. He boasted of a Purple Heart, Bronze Star — and a slew of other medals as an elite Green Beret that got him into swanky galas and even field access to the Giants. But Wright is nothing but an accomplished fraud, it was revealed Thursday. He never served with Special Forces, never served in any combat role — and never rose above the rank of “specialist,” according to military documents obtained through FOIA by Guardians of the Green Beret. Wright even lied about how long he was in...

Barack Obama kept military commanders hanging by declaring he would 'sleep on it' before taking 16 hours to give the go-ahead to raid Bin Laden's compound. Hit squads of specialist Navy Seals - who were not even told who they were preparing to capture - had practised the mission at two reconstructions of the terror chiefs sprawling compound. The mission looked set to be given the all clear last Thursday when analysts confirmed beyond doubt that Bin Laden was in busy town of Abbottabad in northern Pakistan.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – President-elect Barack Obama underscored on Saturday his intent to push initiatives on climate change by naming John Holdren, an energy and climate specialist, as the new White House science adviser. Holdren is a Harvard University physicist who has focused on the causes and consequences of climate change and advocated policies aimed at sustainable development. He has also done extensive research on the dangers of nuclear weapons. Obama pledged to put a priority on encouraging scientific breakthroughs in areas such as alternative energy solutions and finding cures to diseases, as he announced the pick of Holdren and other...

Culinary Specialist Seaman Vannessa Robertson, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-40 Detachment Horn of Africa culinary specialist, sprinkles seasoning on fish before putting it in the oven. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Mary Popejoy U.S. Navy Seaman Vannessa Robertson Culinary Specialist Serves up Food and Smiles By Petty Officer 1st Class Mary Popejoy CJTF-HOA Public Affairs CHARICHCHO, Ethiopia, Oct. 16, 2007 — Far away from the dining facility of Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, the Soldiers and Sailors of Forward Operating Location Charichcho look to Culinary Specialist Seaman Vannessa Robertson to serve up tasty treats that keep their bellies full...

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Dec. 6, 2005) -- While serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom here, one sailor temporarily put aside her duties as a religious program specialist to perform another job in Fallujah. Petty Officer 2nd Class Sarah Radel, 25, was among many female service members assigned to search Iraqi women and children entering the city. However, Radel, who is operating with II Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, II MEF (Forward), is the only RP to fulfill the duty for II MHG to date. According to Radel, the month-long duty was frightening, but an experience she’ll never forget. “I was kind...

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (Nov. 4, 2005) -- It might be said that Seaman Travis Lassiter, a religious program specialist serving with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, was born for the position he currently holds. After all, his parents had just moved to Surrey, British Columbia, in Canada, to run a church as pastors, before they welcomed little Travis into the world. After a few family moves throughout his childhood, including ones to Oregon, Texas, and North Carolina, Lassiter said he noticed himself “feeling the call of the...

SYLVANIA -- Army Specialist Matthew Drake still feels the pain every day from a suicide car bomb that cut short his service in Iraq. But now with some donations and help from a lot of people, he'll get out of the hospital, and back home with his parents. Four other soldiers in the unit died the day Drake was wounded. He was part of the Psychological Operations unit, communicating with civilians in Iraq, delivering messages regarding surrender and safety. Matthew remembers the unit's motto well. "Win the mind, win the day," said Drake. After months of treatment and rehabilitation, the...

US soldier pleads not guilty to Iraq prison abuse charges 44 minutes ago FORT HOOD, United States (AFP) - A woman soldier accused of writing on the naked bodies of Iraqi inmates at the now notorious Abu Ghraib jail, pleaded not guilty to seven abuse charges at a court martial. Specialist Sabrina Harman is accused of writing the word "rapeist" (sic) on the leg of an Iraqi prisoner who was then photographed in sexually humiliating poses with other naked detainees. Harman sat silently during a pretrial hearing as her defense attorneys argued to introduce evidence showing she did not put...

HERO’S BURIAL: Gen. John MacDonald, official representative of the US army, hands over the American flag to Helen Therriem, mother of Fil-American US army specialist Solomon Bangayan (inset) who was killed in action in Iraq earlier this month. Bangayan was given the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal as he was buried in his hometown of Sudipen in La Union yesterday.

Meet Joe Dirt Stuart K. Hayashi In 2001, comedian David Spade came out with a movie titled "The Adventures of Joe Dirt." It now appears that the film was about Joe Conason, the author of "Big Lies: The Right-Wing Propaganda Machine and How It Distorts the Truth" and an editorialist for the liberal-biased Salon.com. In the person of Brad Pitt, you've already Met Joe Black. Now Meet the Real Joe Dirt. His book purports to expose how right-wingers harness the corporate media to brainwash society. Instead of demonstrating such, however, Joe is too busy flinging his Dirt around. In two...

The New York Stock Exchange confirmed it is investigating the trading practices of some of its floor specialists, the same week one of them was reportedly suspended by his firm for allegedly abusing his position as a market-maker. "While exchange policy precludes us from commenting on regulatory matters, the NYSE does confirm that, as part of its ongoing commitment to surveilling the marketplace, it is conducting a review of trading practices at several specialist firms," the NYSE said in a statement. The investigation reportedly centers on an illicit practice known as "front-running," in which market makers take advantage of their...

from the May 29, 2002 edition - http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0529/p01s03-wome.html A few tips on how the experts spot a terroristIsraeli security specialists say US system looks for the weapons while Israeli system looks for the terrorist.By Ben Lynfield | Special to The Christian Science Monitor JERUSALEM - For years, a T-shirt has been on sale in downtown Jerusalem that reads: "Don't worry America, Israel is behind you." It is a slogan whose time has come – at least for the Israeli government, which is translating American post-Sept. 11 security concerns into closer ties with the US, and for Israeli businessmen, who...