By Michael L. Counter, Jr. - Dallas South News Intern I, Michael L. Counter, Jr. do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, so help me God. I took the oath of enlistment in the winter of 2006. I stood with my right hand held high, sincere, and with as much conviction as one could muster for having endured seven weeks of Basic Military Training.  Men with whom I had trained stood beside me. We shot M-16s together. We shined boots & clipped strings from uniforms together. We did push-ups until our arms ached together. We cried together.  We pledged to end injustice together. Our lives were forever linked as soldiers of the United States Armed Forces. We pledged to maintain the integrity of our mission, our society, and one another. Integrity first. We truly were the “Band of Brothers” that is often talked about. I learned to trust the ...

I was shocked to hear that Dallas Morning News City Hall reporter Dave Levinthal will be leaving the paper.  When so many good journalists are being forced out of the paper business, its just as bad to see one leave on his on volition. "Today is my final day in the office, reporting for the paper," says Levinthal on the City Hall blog.  "I'll soon head east, to Washington, D.C., where I begin a new career playing an old role: independent government watchdog," he says. I saw Dave working at the City Council inauguration on yesterday.  I didn't say anything to him because I figured I'd see him at a subsequent presser or event.  Not the case this time. Levinthal was one of my three favorite writers left at the Morning News.  His excellent writing and thorough coverage will be missed.  I wish Dave the best in his future endeavors.

The Huffington Post, Washington Post, and CNN, all report of a U.S. soldier in Baghdad shooting 4 fellow servicemen before turning the gun on himself.  Initial reports have 5 dead American soldiers in the incident.  The shooting occurred at Camp Liberty.

Don Imus Was Gone… And Then POOF, He Was THERE AGAIN BY KEVIN ROSS When acerbic radio personality Don Imus created the “nappy-headed ho’” firestorm after his 2007 comments about Rutgers women’s basketball team sparked universal outrage, mainstream media was suddenly looking for insight from self-appointed and elected black leaders. The Reverend Jesse Jackson, who himself has a syndicated program, mentioned that political talk shows don't have minorities as their main hosts, (para) "It's all white… all night." Those partial comments came on the heels of MSNBC snatching Imus from his morning cable show and then teeing up possible replacements. KABC’s Elder was given the opportunity to "tryout" for a week. Afterwards, no other African American was afforded the courtesy of auditioning to be a talking head. Not one. Ultimately congressman turned media personality Joe Scarborough got the gig (along with Bill O’Reilly’s old slot on KABC) and black screenwriter John Riley became part of the morning team briefly before quickly fading off the scene. As for Imus, he was back on the air after a year with an undisclosed financial settlement from CBS. KABC is the current radio home for the cantankerous sexagenarian, who has seen ...

My family and I will be wathching the swearing in of the 44th President of the United States at the Southside on Lamar this Tuesday. This free event is hosted by Jan Gore, owner and operator Texas Caribbean Foods. Anyone who wants to share in this wonderful experience can call Ms. Gore at 214.485.7040. Seating is limited, so you have to RSVP in order to ensure that you have a seat. Tell her that Dallas South sent you and I'm sure she'll treat you right. Doors open at 10 AM. Southside on Lamar Blue Room 1409 S. Lamar Dallas TX 75215 214.485.7040 Hennessy is also sponsoring an Inauguration Watch Celebration at the Studio Movie Grill in Addison. The cost of this event is $15 for general seating and $30 for VIP seating. THE 2009 INAUGURAL WATCH CELEBRATION January 20, 2009 11am-2pm @ Studio Movie Grill Addison 5405 Belt line Rd. Dallas, TX 75248 For more info call 214-915-9936 or 214-676-6690 Proceeds will go towards Paul Quinn College

According to TheHill.com, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is calling for a United Nations investigation into Israel’s attacks on Gaza for what he sees as a disproportionate response to Hamas rocket attacks.  Here are highlights from the article posted by By Ian Swanson. The criticism stands in stark contrast to the statements of other Democrats, who have offered near-unanimous support for Israel amid the latest violence in the Middle East. Kucinich likened the Israeli attacks on Gaza to its war with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in 2006. In both cases, he said, civilian populations were attacked and “countless innocents” were killed or injured.  “All this was, and is, disproportionate, indiscriminate mass violence in violation of international law,” Kucinich said in a statement. “Israel is not exempt from international law and must be held accountable.”  Kucinich said in his statement that he had sent a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon requesting an independent inquiry. He said the attacks on civilians represented collective punishment, which he said was a violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

On Monday, I had a chance to spend my lunch hour with the good folks from the BBC's World Have Your Say Radio Program.  I've been on the show with host Ros Atkins three times previously, and it was nice to have the opportunity to meet him in person. Listen to Monday's Show here. Ros and the gang are on a tour across America getting a feel for what things are like during this election year.  On Sunday the Talking America Bus was in Sweetwater (Texas) checking out a solar power wind farm. I was pleasantly surprised to get the call Sunday Morning letting me know that they were bringing their tour bus into Dallas.  I was asked to spend lunch on the porch of Pappadeaux Restaurant on Oak Lawn discussing the U.S.'s role in Pakistan. One of the guests was Shanali Bhagat, Vice-President of the Pakistan Society of North Texas.  He added a lots of interesting insight on the fine line the U.S. walks between lending a hand and stepping on toes. As always, the show was fast paced with lots of experts and callers.  I had a chance to jump in 3 or 4 times including a brief dust up with one of ...

In June 2001, President George W. Bush told the world that he had looked then Russian Vladimir Putin in the eye and “was able to get a sense of his soul.” So then shouldn't Mr. Bush have sensed Prime Minister Putin's incursion into Georgia this past week? This conflict between Georgia and Russia is much more involved that on the surface. It would take a Russia/Soviet Union expert to give a real sense of things, but here are a few key points. Part of the conflict between Russia and Georgia centers on a small region called South Ossetia. South Ossetia is a break-away region of Georgia, which separated from Georgia in a 1991-92 war. The South Ossetia region has a population of around 70,000 (yes 7-0 thousand), 2/3 of which are ethnic Ossetians and 1/3 who are ethnic Georgians. The major religion there is Christianity. Ossetians have maintained good relations with Russians, both during the first Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. North Ossetia is already part of Russia. Russia’s anger at Georgia intensified in 2003 after Georgia’s so-called Rose Revolution, when protests against a rigged election toppled the government and set the current Georgian government on a westward ...

The blogosphere is beginning to swell with support from those who want to see changes is how the Army and the Department of Defense (DoD) handle cases of sexual assault. Dallas South first wrote about the LaVena Johnson case in mid-July, and since then an flurry of activity has taken place. Color of Change has developed a campaign around Pfc. Johnson's death. In a letter to their members, Color of Change writes: LaVena Johnson was a 19 year old private in the Army, serving in Iraq, when she was raped, murdered, and her body was burned--by someone from her own military base. Despite overwhelming physical evidence, the Army called her death a suicide and has closed the case. After two years of being denied answers and hearing explanations that made no sense, the Johnsons received a CD-ROM from someone on the inside. It contained pictures of the crime scene where LaVena died and an autopsy showing that she had suffered bruises, abrasions, a dislocated shoulder, broken teeth, and some type of sexual assault. LaVena's death is part of a disturbing pattern of cases where female soldiers have been raped and killed, and where the military has hidden the truth and labeled the ...