Probably because, like all the other progressive Obama supporters, it makes their skin crawl.

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BAGHDAD – How are you spending your 4th of July holiday? While most Americans probably slept, 1,215 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines raised their right hands and committed to a combined 5,500 years of additional service during the largest reenlistment ceremony in the history of the American military. Beneath a large American flag which dwarfed even the enormous chandelier that Saddam Hussein had built for the Al Faw Palace, members of all services, representing all 50 states took the oath administered by Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of Multi-National Forces Iraq.

Petraeus, reiterating earlier remarks made by Command Sergeant Major Hill, said that the unprecedented ceremony sends a “message to friend and foe alike.” He told those assembled that it is “impossible to calculate the value of what you are giving to our country . . . For no bonus, no matter the size, can adequately compensate you for the contribution each of you makes as a custodian of our nation’s defenses.”

Last year Gen. Petraeus, along with Senator John McCain, presided over a similar Independence Day ceremony. Then only 588 servicemen reenlisted. This year’s event, more than twice as large, saw the equivalent of two battalions extend their service in America’s military. Nearly the entire rotunda was filled with reenlisting servicemen, their voices drowning out all other noise. For two days the military members, flown in for the occasion from all across Iraq, have toured the elaborate palace where Saddam’s sons were said to have entertained friends lavishly and tortured enemies mercilessly in the basement dungeon. Following the ceremony, they were treated to Chicago deep dish pizza donated by Lou Malnati’s Restaurant and flown fresh by DHL for the occasion.

Among those in attendance were service members from the more than two dozen Allies serving with MNF-I. Along with their American counterparts, each appeared in awe of the sacrifice of these incredible men and women. Each of the reenlistees knows full well the costs of war, and yet, they chose to stand with their units, their mission, and each other. It was as humbling an experience as I have ever witnessed. On this 4th of July, while you celebrate around grills and coolers all across America, keep in mind the 1,215 who allow us that privilege.

Glad you posted today.

In case you missed the announcement, today is your christening day.

Your nic is now

Pungent Sock

not because he wanted to but because he and his family couldn't afford not to.

Is the New York Times "patriotic" enough for ya, Jughead?

Good men and women dying for Bush's lies.

if paired with some kind of overall re-enlistment data for the last 12 months to indicate that it is something other than a ginned-up feel-good photo op.

So in other words, its only "news" to a lefty if there is some possible way it can be spun to look like our resolve in Iraq is weakening.

And you wonder why billboards like those in Florida start popping up.....

So your question is unintelligable.

Sgt_ROCK:

So in other words, its only "news" to a lefty if there is some possible way it can be spun to look like our resolve in Iraq is weakening.

And you wonder why billboards like those in Florida start popping up.....

That billboard may have just recently "popped up", but the domain name listed on it was registered August 14, 2007. Sounds like a plan coming together to me. I don't think you guy's can squeeze much more juice out of 9-11. If that was the case, then Rudy would be the nominee.

govenment finally provides our service men and women a living wage along with adequate fringe benifits such as medical and dental care.

I remember, during the Dem President Carter years, kin (the husband of niece in the Air Force and stationed at Pease Airforce outside of Dover NH) had to work a second job when off duty as they collected food stamps.

Thanks for showing us the brighter side of things in 2008. And to think that Pelosi and Reid want to cut off funding for these brave men and women. Shame on Pelosi and Reid, eh.

Who are you, really?

A designated "hitter", seems to me.

PS you are not doing so good as you swing too often and miss,

Step on over here, folks.

You don't want to miss this rare opportunity - a sighting of DribbleQuill and Pungent Sock in the same thread.

No, it's "news" if one can find evidence that it's not just a propaganda stunt to shore up fading morale. If you can produce numbers that say that overall re-enlistment is steady or improving over the past year, then I'll drop my baseline assumption that this is just another piece of conservative bullshit to give the illusion that everything is just hunky-dory.

I have no problem with a few propaganda stunts to shore up patriotic attitudes, but the "fair and balanced" truth regarding enlistment is not good.

We are losing too many mid-level career people in our armed forces. We are enlisting too many people of dubious merit and character in order to fill the voids. I could provide links to back up my assertions, but anyone can easily find them on Google News.

The Selective Service is busy registering any males over the age of 18. If enlistment remains stagnant, they are ready to activate. I know that the majority of military professionals don't want to see this happen.

yastfort wrote the following post at 07/18/2008 3:55 PM: not because he wanted to but because he and his family couldn't afford not to.

That's a fucking lie and you are a fucking liar.

Jack