ShareThisThe Pentagon has decreed that American forces that have served at the Burkina Faso front in the war on terror have earned the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
We, too, had no idea there was a Burkina Faso front. But, indeed, a handful of U.S. troops have been deployed to the small West African nation, previously known as Upper Volta, to train local soldiers in counterterrorism skills.
That mission is part of Operation Enduring Freedom Trans Sahara, which is an effort to help "traditionally moderate" Muslim governments in the area combat the spread of extremism, according to the U.S. Africa Command.
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On the other hand, the Pentagon also decreed this month that troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are not eligible for the Purple Heart medal.
After studying the matter, officials decided that anxiety disorders do not meet the criteria for receiving the award, which the Pentagon says should go to "those individuals wounded to a degree that requires treatment by a medical officer in action with the enemy or as the result of enemy action where the intended effect of a specific enemy action is to kill or injure the servicemember."
In contrast, the Pentagon said, PTSD -- which scores of troops who saw combat in Iraq and Afghanistan say they are suffering-- is "an anxiety disorder caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event" and not "a wound intentionally caused by the enemy."
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The Transportation Security Administration, hoping to boost the long-drooping spirits of its thousands of airport security screeners, recently issued them brand new uniforms to perk up morale. But for some of the officers, the blue polyester-cotton blend outfits have been anything but.
Several hundred of them have complained the uniforms are causing skin rashes, nose bleeds, nausea, swollen lips and other uncomfortable conditions. Union leaders blame formaldehyde, a chemical byproduct of the permanent-press finish added to the clothes as a stain-blocker.
TSA says the manufacturer tested the shirts and found them well within the acceptable limits of assorted irritating substances, including formaldehyde. The agency also says it gives all its officers the option of requesting an all-cotton uniform.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., has called the reports "very troubling" and asked the TSA to provide him more information.
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Overheard as the crowd filed out of the U.S. Capitol's West Front lawn after President Obama's swearing-in, conducted in the bitter cold Tuesday:
"I always said hell would freeze over before we had a black president. Well, I think today hell HAS frozen over." -- Unidentified African-American man.
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The Library of Congress wants to preserve the "voices" of the inauguration by collecting sermons and speeches delivered during inauguration week at churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship, as well as at secular gatherings.
The library's American Folklife Center is asking for texts, audio recordings and videos, and says more information can be found at http://www.loc.gov/folklife/inaugural/. The deadline for donations is February 27.
(Scripps Howard News Service correspondent Michael Collins contributed to this column. E-mail Lisa Hoffman at hoffmanl(at)shns.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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