Barry Smith - In the Loop


Insider's view of the state capital

Archive for the 'Military' Category

Happy anniversary, Gitmo!

February 23rd, 2010, 1:57 pm by

Thanks to the folks at The Voter Update for providing this “today in history” note: On Feb. 23, 1903, Cuba leased Guantanamo Bay to the United States “in perpetuity.”

The Voter Update is published by the N.C. Center for Voter Education. 

Who knew 107 years ago how strategic that base in Cuba would come. If that hadn’t happened, we would never have had the controversy concerning the holding of prisoners in the war on terror there.

In addition, we would have never had Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson starring in “A Few Good Men.” We’d have never heard Nicholson emphatically state, “You can’t handle the truth!”

Posted in: Military | Post a Comment »

Thanks veterans for defending our freedom, and bringing us together

November 11th, 2009, 1:35 pm by

I’ve been scrolling through my Facebook page today, noticing the number of posts thanking our veterans for their service and sacrifice. The posts have come from friends from the left and the right, throughout the political spectrum.

 

Some have video highlights. Some just say “thanks.” What I’ve also noticed is a lessening of the bickering that’s often included in a large number of comments.

 

It appears that our veterans have done more than just put their lives on the line to preserve our freedom. It appears that they have also brought us together. They deserve a big thank you.

 

I think it serves as a reminder that though there are significant political differences among us, there are many more things that unite us.

Posted in: Military | Post a Comment »

Sen. Burr touts passage of military spouses bill

November 2nd, 2009, 5:03 pm by

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr’s office says that the House has passed his bill aimed at making it easier for military spouses to maintain or change their residency when military orders require their family to relocate.

 

“Our military families are often called on to make frequent relocations, and it is only fair that we give the same residency benefits to spouses as we do to service members,” said Burr, a North Carolina Republican, in a statement released by his office.

 

The office news release says that military men and women can already claim a state of residency or maintain their residency no matter where the military sends them. The bill, which is headed to President Obama’s desk, now gives spouses who move out of state because of military orders the option to claim one state of domicile, regardless of where they move.

 

It should remove the need to update driver’s licenses, filing tax returns for multiple states and changing vehicle and voter registrations with each move, Burr’s office says.

Posted in: Federal government • Military • Richard Burr | Post a Comment »