This just isn't right

I have been so up in arms about the suspension of Habeas Corpus (1215-2006) and Posse Comitatus (1878-2006) that I totally missed the inequity of the COLA adjustments that military personnel will receive come 01 January 2007.

Senior Flag and General Rank Officers (three and four star Generals and Admirals) will receive an 8% increase in pay.

The troops in the field who are fighting and dying and whose families stateside are entitled to social services like food stamps will receive a 2.2% increase in their base pay.

Color me cynical, but I think an E-3 who is ducking bullets and having his or her tour dates extended, and whose base pay is at most $1692 per month is more deserving of a hefty COLA raise than an O-9 who makes at least $11,698.50 per month. In six weeks, a Lt. General already makes all the money a ground-pounder will see in a year.

This infuriates me. I realize officers have command responsibilities and without leadership the ground pounders would be a pretty ineffective force. Officers work hard to get their command and they work hard to keep it. They work hard to earn and keep the trust and loyalty of the troops they lead.

But the pay raises should be equal. The military is supposed to be a meritocracy, and the troops on the ground, especially in a time of war, merit equal consideration and compensation.

Military Times Publishing Group to call for Rumsfeld's ouster

On Monday, all four publications of the Military Times group will call for the ouster of Donald Rumsfeld. Details are sketchy at this point, but this is significant and could sway conservative voters.

As for me, I am feeling very positive about the military that has been part of my life since the moment I was born, on a Navy base.

I have been concerned about the state of health of the Honor Code for some time, as anyone who has read this blog knows. Now I'm breathing easier. The officers of our military will not allow a Tiannanmen Square to happen here.