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Biden Forces Military to Allow Transgender Service Members, but These Physical and Mental Conditions Should Still Disqualify Them

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Transgender Troops to Serve Openly

By US News. The Pentagon on Wednesday announced that transgender troops may serve openly in the military and receive medical benefits for gender transitions, following through on President Joe Biden’s pledge from earlier this year.

The new policies will allow transgender people to enlist in the military and serve openly as their self-identified gender, and that they will have access to medical treatments for transition-related care authorized by law. These troops must still meet military standards. (Read more from “Military to Allow Transgender Troops to Serve Openly” HERE)
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“Dreams Coming True” for Aspiring Transgender Service Members

By Stephen Losey. Paulo Batista, a 36-year-old transgender [wo]man in San Diego, California, has wanted to serve in the military ever since [s]he was in ROTC in high school.

But that dream always seemed out of reach. First, h[er] father became ill from the cancer that eventually proved fatal, and Batista had to forgo joining the military to take care of h[er]. Then, in 2017, then-President Donald Trump issued a surprise announcement that sought to bar transgender people from serving in the military.

On Wednesday, though, Batista — and many other transgender people like h[er] who want to join the military — got another chance at wearing the uniform when the Pentagon officially restored its previous policies allowing troops who are transgender or gender-dysphoric to enlist and serve in the armed forces.

In a telephone call with Military.com, Batista said [s]he was “beyond ecstatic” to see h[er] yearslong dream become possible once again. (Read more about this aspiring transgender service member HERE)

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If Enforced, These Regulations Will Prevent Transgenders From Serving

By Daily Wire. On Wednesday, which was “International Transgender Day of Visibility,” the Pentagon announced their latest policies and regulations regarding transgender people in the military. . .

Given the debate over whether transgender individuals — regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria — should be allowed to serve in the United States military — and which forms of health care should be provided as a result — a broad range of other medical conditions remain which prevent someone from serving in the military. . .

“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, if with: (1) A recommended or prescribed Individualized Education Program, 504 Plan, or work accommodations after the 14th birthday; (2) A history of comorbid mental disorders; (3) Prescribed medication in the previous 24 months; or (4) Documentation of adverse academic, occupational, or work performance.”

“History of learning disorders after the 14th birthday, including but not limited to dyslexia, if any of the following apply: (1) With a recommended or prescribed Individualized Education Program, 504 Plan, or work accommodations after the 14th birthday; (2) With a history of comorbid mental disorders; or (3) With documentation of adverse academic, occupational, or work performance.” . . .

“History of atopic dermatitis or eczema after the 12th birthday. History of residual or recurrent lesions in characteristic areas (face, neck, antecubital or popliteal fossae, occasionally wrists and hands),” or “History of recurrent or chronic non-specific dermatitis within the past 2 years to include contact (irritant or allergic) or dyshidrotic dermatitis requiring more than treatment with topical corticosteroid.” (Read more from “After the Military Sets New Regulations for Transgender Service Members, These Physical and Mental Conditions Will Still Disqualify You From Enlisting” HERE)

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Senator Introduces Bill To Keep Critical Race Theory Out of Military

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Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) on Thursday introduced legislation that would keep critical race theory specifically, and broad “anti-American” ideas such as the claim that American “is a fundamentally racist country” out of the military.

Christopher Rufo reported at City Journal that Cotton’s bill is based on the premise that the military should encourage members to “love the United States,” defend the “founding principles of the United States,” and treat everyone as “human beings with equal dignity and protection under the law.” Critical race theory, Cotton’s bill insists, rejects these premises with its notions that America is irredeemably racist and stoking racial division.

“Our military’s strength depends on the unity of our troops and the knowledge that America is a noble nation worth fighting for,” Cotton said of the bill, according to Fox News. “Critical race theory teaches that race is a person’s most important characteristic, and that America is an evil, oppresive place. That idea may be fashionable in left-wing circles and college classrooms, but it has no place in our military. Not only will such racist ideas undermine our troops’ faith in each other, they’ll also erode their trust in our country’s guiding principles. The United States military shouldn’t be promoting such divisive, un-American ideas.”

More from Fox:

The legislation would specifically ban ideas like the U.S. “is a fundamentally racist country” or that “[a]n individual, by virtue of his or her race, is inherently racist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.” The text also provided that the bill shouldn’t be construed to restrict free speech or prevent service members from accessing materials that advocate those types of theories.

(Read more from “Senator Introduces Bill To Keep Critical Race Theory Out of Military” HERE)

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U.S. Defense Company Claims It Can Track Nearly Any Vehicle in Real-Time Globally

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A defense contractor says it has worldwide motor vehicle location data and wants to use it to assist U.S. federal agencies in their spying and military operations, according to documents revealed this week.

The Ulysses Group, which conducts operational and intelligence support, geolocation collection and analysis, threat and vulnerability assessments and more, claims to have access to “over 15 billion vehicle locations” globally each month, with data able to be viewed “historically” or in real-time.

According to a document obtained by Senator Ron Wyden and shared with Gizmodo, the group says it can “remotely geolocate” vehicles in “nearly any country,” with Cuba and North Korea excluded.

“The Ulysses Group provides telematics based location intelligence, in both real time and historical formats. The data can be used to geo-locate, track and target time sensitive mobile targets, tip and cue other sensors, develop patterns of life, identify networks and relationships, and enhance situational awareness among many other applications,” the document states.

“Ulysses’ analysis, and existing access to bulk commercial telematics data, represents a revolutionary opportunity to collect and analyze real time data on mobile targets anywhere in the world without deploying into harm’s way – whether you want to geo-locate one vehicle or 25,000,000.” (Read more from “U.S. Defense Company Claims It Can Track Nearly Any Vehicle in Real-Time Globally” HERE)

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U.S. Troops In Iraq On High Alert After Biden’s Syria Airstrikes

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In the aftermath of what has been denounced as “foolish military adventurism,” American forces in Iraq are now on high alert.

President Joe Biden, who had criticized former President Donald Trump for ordering attacks in Syria, sent U.S. jets to attack a site on the Syria side of the Iraq-Syria border, on Thursday. The strike was in retaliation for attacks by Iran-backed militia forces on bases in Iraq. One U.S. contractor was killed in those attacks. . .

U.S. contractors at Balad Air Base have been put on high alert amid fears that Biden’s limit airstrike that used seven 500-lb. laser-guided bombs will draw further retaliation, Fox News reported, citing as its source “two sources familiar with the move.” (Read more from “U.S. Troops In Iraq On High Alert After Biden’s Syria Airstrikes” HERE)

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Trump’s Pledge to Exit “Endless Wars”: U.S. to Withdraw 2,200 Troops From Iraq

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The top U.S. commander in the Middle East announced in Baghdad Wednesday that 2,200 U.S. troops will withdraw from Iraq by the end of this month.

Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie made the announcement alongside the Iraqi Minister of Defense as a sign that the troop reduction decision was made in consultation with the government of Iraq.

“The United States has decided to reduce our troop presence in Iraq from about 5,200 to 3,000 troops during the month of September,” McKenzie said.

“This reduced footprint allows us to continue advising and assisting our Iraqi partners in rooting out the final remnants of ISIS in Iraq and ensuring its enduring defeat,” he added. . .

The withdrawal announcement Wednesday was a coordinated effort between the Pentagon and President Trump, who has pledged to exit “endless wars.” Trump has hit Democratic opponent Joe Biden for his vote in favor of the Iraq War in 2002 as a member of the U.S. Senate and has campaigned on getting the U.S. military out of the Middle East. (Read more from “Trump’s Pledge to Exit “Endless Wars”: U.S. to Withdraw 2,200 Troops From Iraq” HERE)

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Here’s How Much Turkey It Takes to Feed the Heroes Who Can’t Come Home This Week

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American troops stationed around the world will spend their Thanksgiving Day away from their loved ones. Turns out it takes a lot of chow to give our heroes abroad the holiday dinners they deserve.

According to a report at CNBC, the Pentagon has delivered over 300,000 pounds of traditional Thanksgiving food to personnel stationed in places like the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, as well as those currently at the southern U.S. border.

According to the report, the list of food shipped includes:

9,738 whole turkeys

51,234 pounds of roasted turkey

74,036 pounds of beef

21,758 pounds of ham

67,860 pounds of shrimp

16,284 pounds of sweet potatoes

81,360 pies

19,284 cakes

7,836 gallons of eggnog

That’s a lot of food, and the sheer volume serves to remind us just how many of our fellow Americans are currently giving up quality time and annual traditions with their famies in the course of their service.

This year, as you take inventory of all the things you have to be thankful for, don’t forget those who sacrifice to keep this country safe and secure. (For more from the author of “Here’s How Much Turkey It Takes to Feed the Heroes Who Can’t Come Home This Week” please click HERE)

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Hagel Stumped By Soldiers Question…

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Photo Credit: AP

Photo Credit: AP

Defense secretary Chuck Hagel was stumped by an Army staff sergeant who asked him for an assurance that the security situation in Afghanistan wouldn’t deteriorate after the withdrawal of American forces the way broad areas of Iraq succumbed to the Islamic State.

“In the end each country must take the responsibility for their own futures and for their own fate and for governing themselves,” Hagel replied.

The outgoing Pentagon chief insisted that Iraq and Afghanistan are “more different” than they are alike, although he noted some troubling similarities.

“But yes, some similar threats: terrorism,” he said. “Some of the same factors, some of the same organizations that wanted to do everything they can to destroy the United States as well as Western values and Western civilization. So there are common interests. There are common challenges. But how we work and cooperate with other countries is always — is always a little different. And I think that in this case that’s the case.”

Read more from this story HERE.

Christian School’s ROTC Under Attack

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Photo Credit: Fox News

Photo Credit: Fox News

Do Christian colleges have the right to require that ROTC officers be followers of the Christian faith?

That’s the crux of a controversy surrounding the ROTC program at Wheaton College, one of the nation’s most prominent Christian schools.

The U.S. Army says they have launched a review of ROTC policies nationwide after the Military Religious Freedom Foundation raised concerns about an ROTC assignment listing for an assistant professor of military science at Wheaton.

The MRFF noted that the person hired “must be of Christian faith.”

“While Wheaton is a private Christian college, and can impose a religious test on its own faculty members, it cannot impose that same religious test on the faculty members provided by the U.S. Army for its ROTC program, and the U.S. Army unequivocally cannot require a religious test for any ROTC assignment, regardless of the religious preference of the college at which that ROTC assignment exists,” MRFF founder Mikey Weinstein wrote in a letter sent in November to Secretary of the Army John McHugh.

Read more from this story HERE.

Obama Authorizes 1,500 More Troops for Iraq

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Photo Credit: AP / Evan Vucci

Photo Credit: AP / Evan Vucci

A senior military official says that American military advisory teams will now go to Iraq’s western Anbar province where Islamic State militants have been gaining ground and slaying men, women and children.

The teams are part of President Barack Obama’s new directive to expand the U.S. mission in Iraq by deploying another 1,500 U.S. troops to serve as advisers, trainers and security personnel.

The official said it is likely that the bulk of the additional troops will be in Iraq by the end of the year. This would bring the total U.S. forces in Iraq to about 3,100, and would mark their first return to Anbar since the war ended.

The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.

Read more from this story HERE.

More Than 600 US Military Reported Chemical Exposure in Iraq, Pentagon Acknowledges

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Photo Credit: Michael Reynolds / European Pressphoto Agency

Photo Credit: Michael Reynolds / European Pressphoto Agency

More than 600 American service members since 2003 have reported to military medical staff members that they believe they were exposed to chemical warfare agents in Iraq, but the Pentagon failed to recognize the scope of the reported cases or offer adequate tracking and treatment to those who may have been injured, defense officials say.

The Pentagon’s disclosure abruptly changed the scale and potential costs of the United States’ encounters with abandoned chemical weapons during the occupation of Iraq, episodes the military had for more than a decade kept from view.

This previously untold chapter of the occupation became public after an investigation by The New York Times revealed last month that although troops did not find an active weapons of mass destruction program, they did encounter degraded chemical weapons from the 1980s that had been hidden in caches or used in makeshift bombs.

The Times initially disclosed 17 cases of American service members who were injured by sarin or a sulfur mustard agent. And since the report was published last month, more service members have come forward, pushing the number who were exposed to chemical agents to more than 25. But an internal review of Pentagon records ordered by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has now uncovered that hundreds of troops told the military they believe they were exposed, officials said.

Read more from this story HERE.