This is rather indelicate, perhaps that is one reason I’ve not seen many stories on this matter? Yes, yes, even more indelicate than my lurid title.
Sorry, there is not any subtle way to say it; and I am so ticked off I don’t much want to be subtle. So let’s just get to the bloody bones of it, shall we?

If you are the surviving loved one of a military member who has died in the wars, did you get your insurance policy? Did you cash in to assure your financial future in the face of a heart-rending loss? The insurance company sent you a packet, I suppose?

Because if they did and you have what looks like a checkbook to access the money your dead trooper wanted you to have, think again! Your money is NOT in a FICA protected account. It is being held by the insurance company and the insurance company is CLEANING UP on interest that THEY keep, while paying your account a paltry percentage rate.

I don’t want to rip off the very well written article the link takes you to, so I am not going to elaborate much. Go read ALL of the link, tell every other military insurance recipient you know to read the same. The insurers are financial GHOULS profiting off the death of your loved ones and NOT keeping your money safe.

Tell them you want ALL your money in ONE lump sum and you “are allowed one year to put death benefits into a Roth IRA, allowing them to earn investment gains for the rest of their lives tax-free. “ But the insurance companies are NOt telling people that at all. They are using the money your dead trooper wanted you to have to make their “assets” line look and get fatter. And if an insurance company goes broke, since your account is NOT in an FICA insured bank—YOU lose the money.

And sadly so, for the Newlove family. His body has been found. My sincerest sympathy to his family in Renton. That uniformed trio will be back at the door with worse news, flags and funeral ahead, alas.

Every family with an active duty member must dread the idea of opening the door to a uniformed trio. And the family of Petty Officer 3 Newlove is no exception. My heart goes out to his parents, it has to freeze them to the marrow to have seen them there. They were not being notified of their son’s death, but of his capture by Taliban forces. Now, they wait in what can only be the most intense parental dread, for his rescue or release.

I admit, since my own son went to Afghanistan, many times in my going about the morning in my robe and with hair uncombed, I suddenly think of how unready I would be in more than mere appearances for such a visitation. And because I am one of those ninnies who needs to rehearse things in my head when I know it will be difficult (not to mention wholly untenable), I have tried to imagine how to keep control of myself if I ever have to look up through my door windows and see that uniformed trio reaching for the doorbell.

My mind won’t go there. The closest it comes is seeing myself turning away from the door and running for the back door instead—as if I could outrun the news such representatives could be carrying. I imagine fleeing to the very heart of the Labyrinth, as if there, in that zone of peculiar peace, I might be able to absorb the blow better.

Pray for us, magic for us, join our hearts—captives of war as surely as Jarod Newlove—we parents, waiting again for the delivery of our child.

So, the next chapter of the Wikileaks saga begins: a young Army private has been arrested. Private First Class Bradley Manning is in very deep shit for someone so young and junior in rank. I find it fascinating that it is such a junior man and he acquired access to all the documents that make our war effort in Afghanistan look like a badly cobbled together goat fuck. But I admit to a tiny perverse bit of pride that he was an intelligence analyst just as I once was in the Army. Apparently, he thought the American people had a “need to know” the true history of the war.

I have to wonder whether the military and the government is more pissed that he leaked the data, none of which was above “Secret” in classification; or that he got into their super special secret network (easy to do with his clearance):

“…..Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, which essentially provides military members who have appropriate security clearances access to classified e-mails and the military’s classified internet system. But the official emphasized passwords and other control measures such as physical access are needed to log onto specific systems that provide information classified at the highest levels.”

And yes, there is already all the requisite screaming that his act was treason and he should be shot, yadda-yadda-yadda. If that is how it works in a Glen Beckistanian US, then why wasn’t someone from the White House dragged to the lawn and dispatched after outting a CIA agent?

None of the data leaked was newer than eight months ago, and as others have said, military data that old is practically archaic. Also, for the White House to be acting all shocked and awe-fully disappointed is bullshit: the newspapers have been consulting PRIOR to publication all along the way! Names of sensitive individuals have not been published.

Yes, this young private violated military law. I am sure he will be punished. I suspect he simply had a belly-ful of lies and bullshit and double-speak. I feel rather sorry for him on several counts; but I do think he showed courage. He will bear the brunt of the system that was invested in covering screw-ups, lies, and dubious reasoning that has been costing American lives and plenty of tax dollars, as well.

I will doubtless be contributing to his defense fund. And if you are thinking of commenting to yammer on about how he should be shot? Save your typing fingers, I’ve heard it. It has become perfectly obvious that nobody with more rank and experience, military or civilian, has the balls to tell the truth about this war and do anything to REALLY end it. It took a foolish young idealist to begin the process.

Imagine me doing the face-palm movement, ok? Yes, I am one of those fence sitting sorts who can’t completely eschew religion, but neither can I quite get my teeth properly set to CHEW most religious proclaimations. This week brings some spectacularly Nutcake of Doom moments thereby:

You women? Stay OFF the sofa, you vixens! Because some male cleric has caught onto your evil ways: relaxing on sofas makes your legs fall seductively apart!

Stepping outside your life station? Prepare to die, in India, for dating or marrying outside your caste. It is the 21st century, and people want to murder you for falling in love with someone whose skin is a degree lighter or darker? Sounds like good old racist clap trap to me….and dressing it up in religion just makes any purported deities look bad. (And see, it is not merely Islamic men murdering women for unchaste behavior—other religions can go off the rails of humane good sense, too.)

And while it is not this week’s news, I simply must add my voice to those decrying the latest bit of misogynist behavior from the Catholic Church. It seems that trying to ordain a woman as a priest is as serious a sin as raping a child. Wow. Really? Gee, hang on to that ole’ boys network there, Benedict. Welcome to the 11th century…..again.

And let’s examine the current immigration conflagration in a pseudo-scholarly way, shall we? David Barton says that God draws national borders, not people; so opening borders is kicking sand in His divine face. I just have to say, whether or not Barton is the Biblical scholar he calls himself or not, did he ever read a history book?

I could go on, I suppose, but hey, I AM allergic to nuts. If I keep reading the religious crazy nuts stuff, I may have an anaphylactic reaction.

Light a candle, say a prayer….whatever you do, even if it is only to curse angrily, give a thought to prisoners taken by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Last week, the Taliban announced it had taken two Americans who apparently wandered off their compound in Afghanistan. The two Navy men were missing since Friday, but yesterday, for the family of Navy non-commissioned officer Justin McNeley, the suspense ended: his body was found.

The Taliban says they killed him in a firefight and captured his comrade, also a Navy man. The Navy identifies the second man as PO3 Jarod Newlove, of Renton, Washington. He is now listed as DUSTWUN (duty station & whereabouts unknown), as the military searches for him.

Petty Officer Newlove joins Army Spc. Bowe Bergdahl on the very short list of Americans held prisoner. Spc. Bergdahl disappeared last summer. Now, two families have even more than the usual amount of horror and worry to endure.

Again the full moon throws shadows across funeral wreaths around the world. More and more young men laid to rest in their dress uniforms, and flags put into the hands of sorrowful women, parents, and friends. When will it be enough?

US Marine Cpl. Joe L. Wrightsman, 23, of Jonesboro, La., died July 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Staff Sgt. Brian F. Piercy, 27, of Clovis, Calif., died July 19 in , Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an insurgent planted IED exploded.

US Marine Cpl. Paul J. Miller, 22, of Traverse City, Mich., died July 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Cpl. Julio Vargas, 23, of Sylmar, Calif., died July 20 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army 1st Lt. Michael L. Runyan, 24, of Newark, Ohio, died July 21 in Iraq, of injuries sustained when his convoy vehicle encountered an IED.

Two US Marine pilots died in Afghanistan on July 22 when their helicopter crashed as they supported combat operations:

Maj James M. Weis, 37, of Toms River, New Jersey
LTC Mario D. Carazo, 41, of Springfield, Ohio

US Army PFC James J. Oquin, 20, of El Paso, Texas, died July 23 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident when he was swept away by the current when a levee broke near his military vehicle.

On July 24, four soldiers from our local Ft. Lewis died in Afghanistan as a result of IED attack:

Spc. Andrew Hand, 25,of Enterprise, Alabama
Sgt Daniel Lim, 23, of Cypress, California,
Spc. Joseph A. Bauer, 27, of Cincinnati, Ohio
SSG Conrad A. Mora, 24, of San Diego, California

US Marine Lance Cpl. Frederik E. Vazquez, 20, of Melrose Park, Ill., died July 24 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

And with especial sorrow, I must note that the body of Navy non-commissioned officer PO2 Justin McNeley , of Wheatridge Colorado has been found in Afghanistan. McNeley and another sailor left their compound last week and went missing. The Taliban announced that they had killed one and captured the other. PO3 Jarod Newlove, of Renton, Washington is apparently still a prisoner of the Taliban.

Flags courtesy of ITA’s
Flags of All Countries used with permission.



Lt. Jonas P. PlØger, 26, of Denmark (home town undisclosed), died on July 21 in Afghanistan in an IED explosion.

Cpl Matthew J. Stenton, 23, of Wakefield, England died in Afghanistan on July 21 of wounds from hostile small arms fire, while working to evacuate a wounded comrade.

LCpl Stephen D. Monkhouse, 28, of Greenoch, Scotland died while serving in the British Army in Afghanistan on 21 July of wounds from hostile small arms fire, while working with Cpl Stenton to evacuate a wounded comrade.

Sapper Brian Collier, 24, of Ontario, Canada, died in Afghanistan on July 20 as a result of an IED explosion.

At last, a bit of light on the horizon! The VA docs will not prescribe it, but you won’t be penalized for using it here in Washington State.

“Patients treated at Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics will be able to use medical marijuana in Washington and 13 states where it’s legal, according to new federal guidelines.

The directive from the Veterans Affairs Department in the coming week is intended to clarify current policy that says veterans can be denied pain medication if they use illegal drugs. Veterans groups have complained for years that this could bar veterans from VA benefits if they were caught using medical marijuana.”

As some of you who know me from other places and in off line life know, I am at that crossroads place in my life. Everything pretty much discontents me presently. I am dissatisfied with my country, my marriage, my religion or lack thereof and, perhaps most of all, with myself. I’ve burned my candles at both ends and now sit in a personal darkness.

I find my writing here and elsewhere extremely uninteresting. My song has so few notes, and nobody seems to listen anyway. Since 2000, on various message boards and on mini-versions of this blog, I have raged against the decline and I think it is too late. The fall is coming and cannot be averted.

My work on the Labyrinth is more settled than ever, my calm in the hurricane that is my life; but it is making me sadder than ever as I again come close to walking daily with multiple names each time. This blog began (like a one-time message board) to discuss things connected to that work that grew out of a Hellenic paganism ideal of caring about the dead of war.

But this blog is not necessary to that work. Thus, enjoy, if possible, the paltry offerings here from now till sometime next spring when the rent is due because then I am retiring from online life. I do not feel I have anything valid to continue offering.

I have been told I awaken “sleepers.” But I am now beyond weary myself. If I have indeed roused anyone from slumbers of delusion, it is now YOUR turn. This post is so nobody can cry out, next March, “But why did you wait to tell us?” So, hey, not waiting. I am done and simply holding on to play it out. Or, I am now gestating my life beyond the computer screen–nine months out. In any event, I am winding down this part of my life to get back to basics.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you find something of value in the last nine months ahead.

A tattered banner hangs on the fence of a business:

“Make a glass parking lot of the Mid-East: Nuke ‘em All!”

It appeared, of course, soon after 9-11. Wow, I remember thinking back then—such an action movie star response. Let’s just send Arnold in his “chopper”, shall we? And all these years later, I still see such signs and the occasional bumper sticker.

At first, I somewhat dismissed it as emotional venting. I mean, even I, in weak moments, have been known to snarl emotive nonsense from time to time. But in the tenth year, I am still hearing this kind of thing. In grocery store lines, among the jerks picketing the post office with ugly posters of Obama….the attitude seems entrenched.

Yes, some 3000 Americans perished because some religiously fundamental and seriously pissed off and sick-of-being-powerless men took airliners and used them as weapons. No, I am not justifying that choice of action. But seriously, should we have been so surprised? And OUR reaction? Two wars? Emptying the national treasury to try bombing a couple places into the stone age? Specially since Afghanistan is still in the Middle Ages…it seems a bit redundant.

More and more, as this war continues, what strikes me is the attitude of entitlement to revenge on a massive scale. It reminds me of the Old Testament story of Job and Jehovah. Job is totally undone for things he did not do, and when he questions God about it—God pulls rank and snarls back asking Job where he was when God created the world.

To me, it seems that is how America acts in the world. We go to other nations and tell them how to live, how to vote, how to pray and when they ask us where we get off? Well, we bomb them some more and set up puppet governments that we think will be our buddies and do our bidding. It never really works long term: we simply create problems for down the road.

When we are challenged as a nation, by other nations who want to make their own policy; we act like we have special province to be in command. “Where were you,” we say in subtler words, “When we blew Hiroshima to nuclear dust?” And to our Allies? We say “Where would you have been, without our tanks and guns and bombs?”

The Philippines are a hot pot on the back burner—because of the injustices foisted upon the people by OUR guy: Marcos, the looter of his country.

All through Central America, men in jungles plot and strike—at people the American government call allies. Because it is odd how people expect to have self determination in sovereign nations.

Iran is in the grip of mullahs—because the CIA killed a democratically elected man so we could put the Shah Pahlavi on his throne to support us in the area.

Iraq had Saddam Hussein cemented in power because WE supported him after the Shah fell and he was at war with Iran; we just HAD to do the “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” thing. And it bit us in the ass. Again.

We set up petty, venal men in power for our own purposes. And when it goes badly, we send young American men and women to bleed and bleed and bleed. And to kill and kill and kill. To try to fix things we should not have been meddling with at all.

As a nation, America has often acted like a bully. Bullies make desperate and crazed people; that is the problem. Victims of bullies go nuts or get desperate and shoot up the school. Or crash airliners into buildings. Or lay a dozen improvised explosive devices a day. People with nothing to lose don’t care what they take from others.

Bullies, in school yards or as nations, are not invulnerable. How many sons and daughters do you really want your nation to expend on maintaining a grip on places that have very little to really offer except desperate retribution?