Support our troops!

The Republican way!

WASHINGTON, June 8 — Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho is blocking the promotions of more than 850 Air Force officers, including young pilots who fought in Iraq and the general nominated to bail out the scandal-plagued United States Air Force Academy, in a rare clash between the Pentagon and a senior Republican lawmaker.

Mr. Craig's price to free the frozen promotions now awaiting final Senate approval? Four C-130 cargo planes for the Idaho Air National Guard.

Pentagon officials express outrage that for more than a month Mr. Craig has single-handedly delayed the careers of hundreds of officers and stymied important Air Force business for a handful of parochial planes. They are vowing not to give in to his pressure. Calling the move blackmail, one senior military official said, "If we say yes to this, Katie bar the door." The official, like others contacted for this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing retribution from the senator.

Let me repeat that, Senator Craig (R-ID), as part of a personal vendetta, has delayed the careers of hundreds of military personnel. This being a man who, I assume, stayed in party lines and said we must support our troops, right?

You know, I know if I thought on this I could come up with some witty and bitingly sarcastic comment on this, but you know what, I'll just finish this by saying what an asshole this guy is and post this.