Free Republic

For the last two years, the Islamic State, better known as ISIS or ISIL, has conquered and murdered and tortured its way across the Middle East, in a reign of terror, not seen by the world since World War II. ISIS is not a terrorist group, but rather a paramilitary organization, which is desperately attempting to become a nation state and one powered by fear, intimidation and death. The US has failed miserably in its attempt to defeat ISIS. In all honesty, it’s hard to defeat ISIS when you really aren’t fighting them at all. The US led air campaign...

On September 15, 2015, Congressman Steve Russell requested the Ranger School records of the first two female graduates, Captain Kristen Griest and First Lieutenant Shaye Haver. Since September 15th, the Army has done everything possible to stall and obstruct Congressman Russell’s investigation, while creating a bodyguard of lies surrounding the story. This includes: The Secretary of the Army stalled Russell for nine days and then asked for an extension to obtain documents readily available. The Army waited another two weeks to tell Russell the documents had been shredded. The Army refuses to tell anyone what the school’s policy is for...

Now, that you’re gone Joe, I just wanted to say thanks for everything you’ve done for the country. You were around a long time, all the way back to 1775. You waged a lot of battles, fought plenty of bad guys and helped bring down evil empires. You crossed the Delaware with Washington, trudged endlessly through the steaming jungles of the South Pacific, climbed Pointe du Hoc to save the world and battled sandstorms and Jihadis from the 73 Easting to Tal Afar. As General MacArthur said so eloquently, “From one end of the world to another, you drained deep...

In 1971, Colonel David Hackworth was interviewed on ABC’s, “Issues and Answers.” During the interview, Hackworth, a career Army officer, stated in no uncertain terms that the Vietnam War was a disaster and unwinnable. Furthermore, he chastised his fellow Army officers for poor leadership and ineptness. Hackworth was a decorated combat veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, who had earned enough medals for a whole battalion. He was instantly ostracized by the defense establishment and forced to retire. Hackworth, who later went on to a distinguished career as a journalist was a polarizing figure who was hated by the...

The US Army continues to deny that any special treatment was given to the first two female graduates of Ranger School, Captain Kristen Griest and First Lieutenant Shaye Haver, and Friday’s female graduate, Major Lisa Jaster, a 37 year old mother of two. Congressman Steve Russell of Oklahoma requested the school records for Griest and Haver on September 15th and was stalled by the Army for three weeks until they informed Russell that some of the records had been destroyed. Meanwhile, the Army refuses to comment on the Ranger School policy for the storage and destruction of student records. They...

During the last two weeks, US Defense Watch has been reporting on Representative Steve Russell’s request on September 15th for the Ranger School records of the first two female graduates, Captain Kristen Griest and First Lieutenant Shaye Haver. It is not known whether or not Congressman Russell has asked for the records for Major Lisa Jaster, who graduated today from Ranger School. Russell’s request to Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, was at first delayed on September 24th, when McHugh asked for an extension, noting “privacy concerns” and time to compile the records together. Nearly two weeks passed without Russell...