Military

Faith in uniform: Should the military be more open to nonbelievers?

Two atheistic groups and a lawsuit call on the government to end its sanction of religion in the military. Critics decry the action as an attack on a venerable tradition. But in reality, the blending of the martial and spiritual in the armed forces is largely the residue of the fight against communism in the late 1940s and 1950s. What will the Obama administration do?

Military experts to Obama: Don’t get rolled by top brass

During his July trip to Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama met with a man who represents both an opportunity and an obstacle to his presidency: Army Gen. David H. Petraeus. Petraeus, a hero to many Americans for his management of the war in Iraq, argued in a private briefing that military commanders should be given wide latitude in handing the future course of the war — though Obama was running for president on a platform calling for a withdrawal of combat troops in 16 months.

CC prof: Meltdown puts ‘decisive constraints’ on Obama foreign policy

A Colorado College political science professor paints a grim picture of the economic crisis facing the Obama administration and the constraints it will put on any attempt to redirect foreign policy. In an interview published Wednesday on the Harper’s Magazine Web site, international politics expert David Hendrickson — who recently wrote “Cause for Depression,” a pictorial guide to the financial crisis — spoke to Ken Silverstein and offered some dire predictions and grim warnings.

Denver honors its military veterans

Thousands of supporters turned out for this year’s Veterans Day celebration in Denver. Some lined the streets to honor men and women in uniform while others congregated at the Veterans’ Memorial to mourn lives lost.

The one constant at both gatherings — a deep and abiding respect for their service.

For more, view the audio slideshow inside.

Military command casts broad net with homeland security operations

A recent article by The Colorado Independent reported that the U.S. Northern Command, a military entity created in 2002 for homeland defense missions and based in Colorado Springs, plans to activate and train an estimated 4,700 service members for specialized domestic operations inside the United States.

Elite combat brigade for homeland security missions raises ire of ACLU

In the next three years the military plans to activate and train an estimated 4,700 service members for specialized domestic operations, according to Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, commander of U.S. Northern Command, which was created in 2002 for homeland defense missions.

Veterans group sues Colorado Springs contractor for raids on the homeless

A veterans group claims that a Colorado Springs organization has raided homeless camps, trashing VA paperwork, medication, photos, identification and even service medals belonging to homeless veterans.

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Colorado Veterans Alliance filed suit in federal court this week, claiming that Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful violated the homeless veterans’ civil rights. KCSB focuses on litter clean up, but also works with police officers to identify homeless camps and ask the residents to leave before cleaning up. The organization has received $45,000 in city funds.

Schaffer blasted for Iraq oil deal, possible links to pro-war group

The chief strategist and co-founder of a pro-Iraq war organization scheduled to endorse Republican Bob Schaffer in his run for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday was paid to promote investment in the Kurdistan region of Iraq at the same time Schaffer had a hand in securing an oil contract in Kurdistan—despite warnings the deal could prolong the war.

Bye bye cowboy diplomacy

I would go listen to former Colorado Senator Gary Hart give a lecture on just about anything, even sea slugs, but I don’t think my editors would let me write about it. Luckily, today the Obama campaign hosted a “round table” with Hart and Congressman Ed Perlmutter on national security, a more palatable topic for a political column. Hart has become something of a well respected elder statesman and Perlmutter has quickly established himself as one of our delegations go-to guys on the issue, so you can imagine that as a former Military Legislative Assistant I really enjoyed this forum.

Read more of Jeff’s commentaries:
• My crystal ball: Obama ‘08
• October surprose gets less surprising
• McCain hot foots it out of Michigan

War vets group unleashes swing-state attack ads on McCain

A group of Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans responsible for a blistering attack on Republican Marilyn Musgrave a month ago launched a $1.3 million campaign in swing states Wednesday, including a hard-hitting TV ad that questions John McCain’s commitment to veterans.