Military

Former national guardsman (and, we presume, former Jindal supporter) Paul Schowalter lambastes Jindal and co. for the decision to retain Maj. Gen. Landreneau.

From John Maginnis courtesy of Bayou Buzz

From the Associated Press: After a public and private hearing, Senate Committee fails to approve reappointment of Jindal backed National Guard chief.

From the Shreveport TImes

From the Associated Press: Embattled Guard Chief wants airing in the sunlight.

From the Times-Picayune: Jindal administration releases report on Adjutant General Bennett Landreneau alledging “ethical concerns” and allegations of nepotism. Despite this, Jindal plans to go forward with a closed confimation hearing slated for Wednesday.

From the Shreveport Times: After lying about receiving the report on Louisiana National Guard operations and then attempting to discredit the General behind the report, the Jindal administration is demonstrating that open and transparent government may be a favored talking point but it is hardly favored policy.

Yet another example of arrogance from the Administration, as Gov. Jindal and his chief of staff, Timmy Teepell, engage in a name-calling debate with a board of retired generals appointed to review the state’s National Guard. Since it was the governor himself who appointed these generals to the panel, one wonders exactly what is going on over there on the fourth floor.

The generals, apparently upset that Jindal had ignored their input on certain military issues after selecting them to review those same issues, protested the reappointment of Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau as the state’s adjutant general.

Never one to shy away from going to any lengths to protect his boss, Teepell responded by attacking the reputation and integrity of the panel’s chairman, former Louisiana Adjutant Gen. Ansel “Buddy” Stroud. Read more

From the Shreveport Times: Coming in among the 18 states making the first cut in landing the the US Air Force Command, Bossier City, which invested $107 million in a civilian cyber tech center, gets the jump over other states as the Pentagon advises against making investments to lure the high tech center.  

Roberta Carrow-Jackson reports that President Bush has “pocket vetoed” pay raises for U.S. service members.

The slightly bigger military raises are intended to reduce the gap between military and civilian pay that stands at about 3.9 percent today. Under the bill, the pay gap would be reduced to 1.4 percent after the Jan. 1, 2012, pay increase. Bush budget officials said the administration “strongly opposes” both the 3.5 percent raise for 2008 and the follow-on increases, calling extra pay increases “unnecessary.” Read more