Happy birthday Richard "Arvin" Overton

Arvin lives in Austin Texas. Having served the US Army in the Pacific during WWII, he is both the oldest living US Combat Veteran and oldest living male in the United States.  (via i.redd.it)

"It's called the rose garden effect"

"Army officer recommends US soldier Bowe Bergdahl be spared prison"

Defence lawyer Eugene Fidell said Lt. Col. Mark Visger has decided Bergdahl's case should go to a military system similar to civilian courts that handle misdemeanor charges. It limits the maximum punishment to reduction of rank, a bad conduct discharge and a short jail term, though that isn't being sought, Mr Fidell said.

Paul Boyce, a spokesman for the US Army's Force Command, released a statement Saturday that didn't confirm Visger's decision.

"As legal action is ongoing, we continue to maintain careful respect for the military-judicial process, the rights of the accused, and ensuring the case's fairness and impartiality," Boyce said.

Meanwhile Obama's new buddies in Iran say a verdict has been reached on a Washington Post reporter they accuse of spying.

An Iranian judiciary spokesman said Sunday that a verdict has been reached in the espionage case of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, though he offered no details and it was uncertain what the verdict is and whether there is a sentence.

“The ruling on this case has been issued,” Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said in a regularly scheduled televised news conference. “There is still the possibility of this ruling being appealed, and it is not final.”

Rezaian, The Post’s Tehran correspondent, has become a symbol of the lack of press freedom in Iran since he was arrested July 22, 2014. His closed-door trial on espionage and related charges ended two months ago, and the delay in a verdict has never been explained.

The Post has vehemently disputed the allegation that Rezaian was a spy.

A nos freres d'armes Americains

A French soldier shared daily life with two American Army units. He tells his story to a French newspaper. Here is the translation. It is impressive, to say the least of it. 

This is seen on Ace of Spades, overnight open thread 12/20/14