The circumstances surrounding Pat Tillman’s death keep getting worse. First, the Army spent five weeks trying to cover up the fact that the former NFL player was killed by friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan. Now, a medical report indicates that his death may not have been accidental. Medical examiners said that bullet holes in Tillman’s forehead were so close together that it appeared that he was shot from only 10 yards away. “The medical evidence did not match up with the, with the scenario as described,” said a doctor who examined Tillman.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is scheduled to hold another hearing Wednesday on Tillman’s death — and has invited former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and retired Gen. Richard Myers to testify. It needs to keep pushing for the whole truth.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
In a country that desperately needed a win, this was welcome: Iraqis celebrated a rare moment of national unity this week with the country’s first-ever victory in the Asia Cup soccer tournament. The national team, which includes members of all three warring sects — Shiite, Sunni and Kurd — overcame daunting odds to defeat Saudi Arabia in the championship game.
Will a soccer title turn things around? No. But the win at least shows that Iraqis retain a capacity for nationalist pride and unity. What’s missing are leaders capable of tapping into it.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
The governor and Legislature took much pride in the recent elimination of the tax on new machinery and equipment. And lawmakers took pains to soften the resulting revenue blow to local governments, but it’s showing up as a factor in the ongoing budget-setting process: As a result, Sedgwick County estimates it will see $1.1 million less revenue in the 2008. The city of Wichita says its annual hit will reach $7.7 million by 2013.
In other words, state-level tax cuts again are having serious local consequences. It will further strengthen the case that the state should reinstate the city and county revenue-sharing that was halted during the Graves-era fiscal crisis, especially as new gambling revenue flows into state coffers.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The presidential race’s spending reports make it hard to think of the contenders as just folks — as if their personal wealth already didn’t. Among the second-quarter nuggets, as noted by the New York Times:
Mitt Romney spent $31,000 to rent Boston’s Fenway Park for a barbecue, and $300 for make-up appointments (including one he missed) at a California salon.
Barack Obama spent $40,000 at the Chicago restaurant Carnivale. He has 23 offices in Iowa and six in New Hampshire. And on the same day he told a union gathering in New Jersey that he would not shop at Wal-Mart, some of his New Hampshire staffers spent $93.92 on office supplies at a Wal-Mart.
Hillary Clinton spent $44,424 on photography.
Rudy Giuliani paid $74,603 for supplies and catering at country clubs, including $53,685 at Trump International in Florida.
Chris Dodd spent $650 on carbon offsets.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The following satirical headlines come from borowitzreport.com:
BUSH PROPOSES SENDING TRANSFORMERS TO IRAQ; Awards $85 Billion Defense Contract to Hasbro
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SEEK SCOOTER’S DEAL; ‘El Libbre’ Becomes Folk Hero, Beacon of Hope
CHENEY, BRIEFLY ASSUMING BUSH’S DUTIES, SAYS HE ENJOYED THE DOWNTIME; President’s Colon Procedure Offered Welcome Break From Grueling Vice Presidential Schedule
CHENEY DECLARES HIMSELF NATIONAL MONUMENT; Latest Attempt to Dodge Subpoena
Posted by Phillip Brownlee