Maine Republican Susan Collins joined 44 other senators Friday in a letter opposing President Donald Trump’s policy proposal to bar transgender Americans from serving in the military. “Forcing these brave Americans out of our military would be cruel and discriminatory” while hurting the armed forces’ readiness, the letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis said. […]
military
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Chellie Pingree calls Trump's trans policy "bigoted and wrong"
President Donald Trump’s declaration Wednesday that transgender Americans won’t be allowed in the military drew immediate criticism from a Maine Democrat. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, whose 1st District includes Portland, said in a prepared statement on Twitter that the president’s decision is “bigoted and wrong.” “Our all-volunteer military should not turn away Americans willing to risk […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Donald Trump to bar transgender individuals from military
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is barring transgender people from serving in the military “in any capacity,” citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption.” Trump’s announcement Wednesday morning on Twitter did not say what would happen to transgender people already in the military. The president tweeted that after consulting with “Generals and military experts,” the […]
Posted inNation / World
U.S. jet shoots down another Iranian drone over Syria
A U.S. F-15 fighter aircraft shot down an Iranian-made drone over southern Syria on Tuesday, a U.S. defense official said, marking the second time in just as many days that the U.S. military has taken a pro-Syrian government aircraft out of the sky. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the incident […]
Posted inFranklin
Medically retired Livermore Falls veteran continues to challenge herself
Helaina Lake sits at home with her support dog, Xena. Lake was injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan five years ago, which left her with extensive scarring on her legs, and the amputation of one of her fingers. LIVERMORE FALLS — Helaina Lake hoped to return to active military duty when she recovered from […]
Posted inMaine
Gov. Paul LePage’s call for military help wasn’t what he meant to say
In the midst of a diatribe against growing anger in the country, Gov. Paul LePage told a radio interviewer that “we’re developing an internal domestic problem” and then appeared to say that he may have to deploy the military in response. But in his mangled phrasing to the host for Auburn radio station Z105.5’s Breakfast […]
Posted inNation / World
Two U.S. soldiers die battling Islamic State militants in Afghanistan
Two U.S. service members died during operations against the Islamic State in eastern Afghanistan, the Pentagon said on Thursday. A Pentagon spokesman, Capt. Jeff Davis, said the deaths occurred overnight in Afghanistan’s Nangahar province, where a small but virulent Islamic State cell poses a threat for Afghan and U.S. coalition forces. It was the third […]
Posted inMaine
Chellie Pingree says Trump needs congressional OK for Syria strikes
Maine politicians are beginning to respond to President Donald Trump’s cruise missile strike against a Syrian air base in the wake a nerve gas attack by the Syrian government that violated international law and killed scores of innocents. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree said Friday the American military action “is a proportional response to the despicable […]
Posted inUncategorized
St. Matthew's Church offers free seminar for those in military
LISBON — The Rev. Dr. Frederick H. Giese will give a free seminar, “The Soldier in Scripture,” from 9:30 a.m. until noon on Saturday, March 25, at St. Matthew’s Church, 496 Lisbon St., Route 196. Giese supports the vibrant ministry of St. Matthew’s as pastoral assistant, where he preaches monthly, leads the Thursday night bible study, Men […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
New Balance is a big winner in new defense bill
Maine-made New Balance shoes are likely to see additional sales to the military thanks to the inclusion of an American-made requirement in a $619 billion defense bill approved by the U.S. Senate on Thursday. “The long-awaited and hard-fought passage of this measure is a landmark victory for American shoe manufacturers, like New Balance, who will […]