If today is a holiday for you, be sure to thank a vet. Also consider reading this story about Sargent Binkley, a former West Point Ranger in Santa Clara County California who faces up to 12 (20?) years for stealing Percocet. The kicker: he became addicted to pain killers during military "care" for a busted pelvis and hip, and he has PTSD. (tip)
Moreover, Binkley hurt no one; he has subsequently been in jail and drug rehab; and one pharmacist has written a letter on his behalf. A high school friend created the web site that is trying to raise public visibility of his plight, since the only party with legal discretion is the District Attorney. The judge is bound by California's minimum sentencing guidelines.
From a DOJ report (pdf):
The average felony sentence to incarceration (prison or jail) in State courts was about three years in 2004. The mean sentence for drug offenses was 31 months; violent offenses, 68 months.
About 3-5 years versus a dozen or more! This DA, like the DA in the Genarlow Wilson case, seems more interested in throwing the book than serving justice. The California Report asks, "If a returned soldier with PTSD commits crimes as a result of his illness, how should the criminal justice system respond?"
Meanwhile, in Iraq another US contractor -- acting in a paramilitary role, riding in a convey -- shot and killed an Iraqi citizen (taxi driver). Unprovoked, it's reported. Not Blackwater this time: DynCorp International. “They just killed a man and drove away,” according to Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, an Interior Ministry spokesman.
"Witnesses said the white Hyundai marked taxi stopped about 50 yards away from the convoy and turned on its hazard lights before the shooting began," according to UPI.
Comments
It’s the day we thank our veterans and you turn it into a hit piece on the military? You have no shame and this is the lowest form of “journalism” I’ve seen in a long time. You actually think you insulate yourself by remarking “thank a vet” and then continue with a negative military story about a drug addict? If you hate this country and it’s military so much, have the huevos to admit it and stop hiding behind insincere slogans.
This is very similar to a Vet Days hit piece I saw on CNN this morning. John Roberts welcomed a general from one of the military service branches and the first question was about the high number of homeless vets. Another hit piece, bait and switch, gotcha from the left.
Thanks to all the vets who gave their lives, their valor and service to this country!.
C
Well Chuck,
Actually it is a positive story about the military. Kathy is trying to defend a vet… It is negative about the judiciary though. Unless you are confusing the judicial power with the executive one (the military being a branch of the latter, as I am sure you know)?
Chuck, this is not a hit piece on the military, although it does question the VA indirectly. If it is a “hit piece,” it is one on the power of DAs and California’s minimum sentencing guidelines. And it’s an observation that many people who are fighting in Iraq ain’t military, something that seems a logical reminder on a day that honors the military.
Thanks, Alphast.
Al,
Veterans Day is a day for honoring military people who served our country and not a forum for defending drug addicts. Using Veterans Day as a platform to launch another attack at Iraq contractors also has nothing to do with honoring Veterans. You far left extremists can spin it any way you want but giving the Veterans thanks should have no strings attached and shouldn’t be used to exploit your own political agenda.
Pretending to give thanks to our Veterans is disgusting but I’m sure you would never agree?
C
Using Veterans Day as a veiled attempt to smear the military is not positive. Defending a drug addicted vet has nothing to do with Veterans Day. I see nothing positive in her blog about the military. Using Vet Day as a tool to launch an attack on Iraq contractors is also out of line.
You big lefties take every chance you can to try to make the military look bad. Especially Ms Gill. The Hate America, Hate the Military crowd is thriving thanks to hate mongers like you two.
C
Chuck, your continued insistence, through your typed rhetoric, that you can know my innermost thoughts/feelings is growing more and more annoying.
IF this post had been directed at solely at another person commenting, then I would be deleting it, as I did last week when you attacked a commenter.
In case you can’t tell, this is yet another warning.
I see! It’s OK to disparage the troops, our country, any conservative you feel like pounding? I see now that this is simply your own blog designed to denegrate the U.S. for your own personal agenda? No room for dissent here is there?
I really could give a crap if you’re annoyed. I call em like I see em. You’re a hate monger!! And you’re obviously the dictator of your own blog. You try to disguise your hatred of this country by using Veterans Day as a shield. Won’t work for anyone who’s aware of your leftist tactics.
C
I am sure that anybody reading this exchange can see the ridicule in Chuck assertions. I don’t think that Kathy has ever used any improper language or insulting comments against people from the other side of the political field. Please, quote the relevant text if I am wrong. But I can point, in this very exchange, insulting terms used by Chuck: “You have no shame”, “You’re a hate monger!”, “you’re obviously the dictator of your own blog”, “The Hate America, Hate the Military crowd is thriving thanks to hate mongers like you two”, “You far left extremists”, etc…
So I ask, here, who is the hate monger? And by the way, accusing me (the other one of the two, apparently…) to hate the Military is even more ridiculous and out of point. I served myself in the French Army and my Grand-father did the Provence landing, Monte Cassino and the Tunisia-Chad campaign, amongst other famous battles, as a cavalry officer. I count Dutch officers and soldiers amongst my best friends (one serving in Afghanistan). I have the uttermost respect for military personnel, especially the ones risking their lives. Denouncing the fate of the ones their society has abandoned on Veteran day seems to me quite logical and only fair.
Hi, Alphast — thanks again for participating in this thread and sharing your family’s history.
Gee, the post was about Sargent Binkley, a wounded veteran who was misdiagnosed and mistreated by the VA doctors for a service-related injury. He faces over a decade in prison for two armed robberies to get the narcotics that the VA stopped prescribibg after four years. They created an addict and shut him off without proper care.
Rather than spewing vitriol at each other, why don’t you do something useful like reading up on the subject and taking action? Capt. Binkley could use the help now.