In Electronic Arts' new Medal of Honor game, players can take on the role of the Taliban or U.S. soldiers. But the prospect of having players shoot Americans doesn't go over too well with a lot of people, including the folks running base stores.
As the U.S. prepares to complete the latest round of base closures, tens of thousands of military personnel and civilian employees will be on the move in the next 12 months. For military families, moving can involve some difficult choices.
Boeing's plan to relocate two major defense programs from California to Oklahoma could signal the start of a major shift in the locations of defense contractors, and how they work. For the areas attracting the companies, it's about jobs. For the contractors, it's about remaining competitive.
Unlike the military base closures that occurred in the 1990s, the 20 bases that the government is scheduled to close next year come at a time of great economic uncertainty. Not only will the closures take a toll on already-suffering local economies but it could also send real estate markets in those areas spiraling further downward.
The U.S. will close 20 major bases by September 2011. What happens then depends on the base's location. But the ripple effect is always felt throughout the surrounding area. Often, families lose neighbors, businesses lose customers and workers lose jobs.
Military families have long struggled with financial issues, and the recession has clearly done nothing to help. But several private groups as well as the Defense Department are trying to provide advice and assistance for the families of those who serve their country.
Millions of lesbian and gay Americans have served in the nation's armed forces. Many of them have died doing so, and their service should be honored this Memorial Day holiday with an additional gesture: Repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
The end of "don't ask, don't tell" is long overdue. Going to war -- or even sitting in an office creating policy for warriors -- while in possession of a damning secret is a liability so huge, it's a stupid policy indeed that sets soldiers up for such a dilemma.
