Gosh, a military vet with an article on a blog that isn’t devoted to all things conservative. Covers off to you and to Simon. I orginally pasted a link to this spot, with the caveat “intresting and fairly balanced”, glad to see the BBN is holding up the side.
As to your post, I can’t disagree with the patriotism, but I would suggest that we give the program in Af more time. I hate to call Iraq a distraction, but the Poppies of Afghanistan are funding the bombs of Baghdad and the established fundamentalists taking refuge in eastern Pakistan are directing the flow of funds. If we give it up now, the campaign has been sent back to the bad old days of the late 90’s. Just my two cents, and thanks for lending your career while risking your life to the fight which you believe in.

Although I would never vote for Charles Rangel, I hate to hear one vet call another a coward. Please read this from Wikipedia:

“Rangel then enlisted in the United States Army, and served from 1948 to 1952.[9] During the Korean War, he was a member of the all-black 503rd Field Artillery Battalion in the 2nd Infantry Division.[10] In late November 1950, this unit was caught up in heavy fighting in North Korea as part of the U.N. forces retreat from the Yalu River. In the Battle of Kunu-Ri, Rangel was part of a vehicle column that was trapped and attacked by the Chinese Army.[10] In the subzero cold, Rangel was injured by shrapnel from a Chinese shell.[11] Some U.S. soldiers were being taken prisoner, but others looked to Rangel, who though only a private first class had a reputation for leadership in the unit. Rangel led some 40 men from his unit, during three days of freezing weather, out of the Chinese encirclement; nearly half of the battalion was killed in the overall battle.[12] Rangel was awarded a Purple Heart for his wounds and the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions in the face of death.[13] He was also awarded the Presidential Unit Citation,[14] the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and three battle stars.[13] ”

I believe fighting and bleeding for your country gives you the right to say whatever you want without being called a coward.

(now on the other hand…he may be a tax cheat…)

Gunny Lawrence, I wouldn’t exactly take the word of wikipedia as being carved in stone and carried down from the mountain. The good rep could have written that piece himself. Lets see the citiation from the army.
Coming from a the USMC, I’ll look it up myself and if he did fight the fight, I’ll have to give some credence to his words.

As I’m reading this attack on Rep. Charles Rangel, did the author of this know that he served his Country honorably in the military? This article is offensive at best!

Mr. Williams: I must vehemently disagree with your “writings” on Rep. Rangel. The principles that we all serve to uphold, fight, and die for include the right to “equal justice under the law”, the right to “face your accusers”, and the right to be judged by a “jury of your peers”. Also, there is a principle in our justice system that one is “innocent until proven guilty”. While there is an on-going investigation into various allegations of misconduct relative to Mr. Rangel, none of us should “take the law into our own hands” and declare guilt without “due process”. Now, insofar as your quote of Mr. Rangel’s statement. I must point out to you that the word “many” does NOT mean “all”. If you would care to inquire as to what percentage of young men and women join the military as a viable career choice versus pursuit of a college education, you may be surprised to learn that Mr. Rangel’s statement is, for the most part, true fact. Additionally, I might pose this question to you; why do you think that the armed services offer such lucrative “College Fund” programs as incentives to ENLIST?? You guessed right!! Many enlistees would prefer to matriculate and earn a college degree; except that a college education currently is not economically affordable to those families at the lower economic scale. (Exactly the fact to what Mr. Rangel references). Excuse me, but I do not detect any racism, see any hateful speech, or conclude acts of cowardice. While you may have chosen to forego college and enlist in the USMC, not due to any economic circumstance, believe me, the overwhelming majority enlist to take advantage of the “College Funds” offered by the respective Armed Services Recruiters. Remember, The United States Constitution provides the process that determines the basis of applicable laws and punishment. We as individuals CANNOT, and actually should not, act as judge, jury, and executioner. The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but as evidence, just review cases of legislators who are or have been punished over the years. So, please let us allow the judicial process to run it’s course before we resort to any name-calling, disrespect, and/or inflammatory speech.

To runway22

“the overwhelming majority enlist to take advantage of the “College Funds” offered by the respective Armed Services Recruiters”

This statement by you is obviously not based upon anything factual. Have you ever been an armed forces recruiter? I have and I can tell you FIRST Hand that the majority of kids recruited, at least into the Marine Corps, did not join for the “college funds”.

The majority joined for things such as challenge, pride, esprit de corps, and leadership. An overwhelming majority joined for intangibles, not tangible items, which I’m sure is hard for you and the other Charles Rangel supporters to fathom.