Lindsay Graham and the Air Force Reserve

[erpowers]

Today on "Face the Nation" it was reported that Senator Lindsay Graham is a member of the Air Force Reserve and that he had just finished a summer tour of duty in Iraq. I have some question about this. It is actually possible for someone (a regular person) to do a summer tour of duty? In addition, what was he able to do in that period of time? Was there any chance that he accomplished anything? Was this just a PR stunt?

[Totally Committed]

1. He is a lawyer in the reserves, not a pilot or anything....

So I think he probably just handled a few cases for them, and saw no combat, whatsoever.

TC

[unhappycamper]

2. I just found this:

http://wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com/2007/08/lindsey-graham-after-reserve-duty-in.html


After his second brief stint in Iraq as part of the Air Force Reserves, the first being in April, Lindsey Graham has come back and yesterday called for continuation of the "surge" of U.S. troops in Iraq.

Graham is the only member of the Senate to have served in Iraq, reserves or otherwise.

After serving two weeks of reserve duty in Iraq, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) yesterday called for continuation of the "surge" of U.S. troops in Iraq and warned that any decision to mandate a withdrawal this year would undercut critical gains made in recent months.

Graham's comments come at a time when some of his colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee, including Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) and Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), are calling for troop withdrawals. Graham, a colonel in the Air Force Reserve and a longtime supporter of military deployment in Iraq, is the only member of the Senate to serve in Iraq.

"With all due respect to Senator Warner, the model he is suggesting -- to put pressure by mandating troop withdrawal -- is exactly the opposite of what we should do," Graham said in an interview after returning from Iraq this past weekend. "I believe the pressure that will lead to reconciliation will not be from what an American politician thinks but what the Iraqi people think. And I'm confident that the Iraqi people have turned a corner."

Graham, who wore fatigues and was armed with a Beretta pistol throughout his stay, also served a brief reserve duty in Iraq in April. During previous trips to Iraq -- both on reserve duty and on official congressional visits -- he said he had concluded that the United States was making "many mistakes" in its war strategy and was on the verge of losing control of Iraq, particularly when Gen. George W. Casey Jr. was the military commander.

[Vickers]

7. Amazing how a JAG like Graham is so familiar with military strategy.

:eyes:

[tabasco]

3. I read that he did his 2-weeks of reserve drill in Iraq (USAF lawyer).

I does seem curious that a reserve unit would have a reservist do his AT in Iraq. Probably just a PR stunt. I don't think it's normal for a reservist to do AT in Iraq.

[Maq]

6. I think there is some PR involved BUT

Individual Ready Reservists (IRR) especially those in category H status can be expected to perform there two weeks duty anywhere they may be needed.

The lower ranks are likely to go to a close Air Base but the higher in rank, both enlisted and Officer, can be expected to cover for a like supervisory position in some remote base. Example: say a MSgt "usually on Active Duty" in Iceland decides to use his annual Leave in the middle of winter. It is in the interests of the Regular Air Force to cover that period with a like rank person such as an IRR or category "H" enlistee. They draw from the pool of Reservists for this duty. This is preferable to putting an Active Duty MSgt from another base on Temporary Duty assignment to Iceland.


Long time ago, I used to be a USAF Recruiter.

[rodeodance]

4. change of subject. but I just found out that it is an open secret in DC that he is gay. I

really had no idea that this was going around.

Just curious

[Oceansaway]

8. open secret ya say ?

its been no secret here....he needs to come out of his own closet....jmo

them hypocrits in DC need to be de-throned and soon....

[rodeodance]

11. I obviously missed it.

[nealmhughes]

13. Oh, I thought all those "Miz Lindsay" and "Aunt Fancy" tags were just a joke. . .

In the 1840s and 50s, Rufus King, a senator and later V.P. and James Buchanan were both "confirmed bachelors" who lived together for about 20 years in the same hotel in D.C. Johnson hated them both and called them "Aunt Fancy" and "Miss Nancy." One little item not widely known: King took his oath of office at the Havana Consulate since he was in Cuba for health reasons and then died, leaving President Buchanan all alone.

Not quite so blatant as Sen. Mark Hanna crying "Don't leave me Jim!" after Garfield's slow death advanced.

[acmavm]

5. TWO WEEKS? Golly, I'm soooooooo impressed.

[L0oniX]

9. Warhawk is what he is and I am tired of seeing him on the morning talk shows.

[MiniMe]

10. They probably said "Stick with the surge or we will send you to a...

Baghdad marketplace with only the baretta and no backup.

[valerief]

12. How come he doesn't have to 18 months like every other guardsman? nt