As some NRO readers might remember, in the Spring of 2006, I was granted an age waiver and joined the United States Army Reserve – as a young-feeling but slightly pudgy 37 year old lawyer. Now, more than a year later (and 15 pounds lighter), the time has come for the next phase of my service. Barring any last-minute developments, I will be leaving for Iraq very soon.
I’m honored to have the chance to deploy with one of America’s most storied combat units during what could be the decisive year in the Iraq conflict, and I hope and pray that I can serve the unit and my fellow soldiers courageously and effectively. This is going to be a tough year – especially for my wife, Nancy, and young children (Camille is 8 and Austin is 6) – so your prayers would be deeply appreciated.
While I hope to be able to keep in touch via e-mail and even post occasionally, there is one thing I definitely wanted to note before I left. While it is true that we live in truly contentious times, and my own work has led me to come into rather dramatic ideological and legal conflict with my fellow citizens on the Left, I have never experienced anything other than the greatest consideration and respect from my ideological opponents when the subject of my military service has come up. Even opposing attorneys have bent over backwards to accommodate my occasionally unpredictable schedule. In fact, some of the most moving expressions of support have come from friends who are, respectively, a brilliant, aggressive, and dedicated Democratic House staff attorney and a hard-Left college professor in New England. You guys know who you are, and you have my eternal gratitude.
I’m not gone quite yet (I’ll stick around another couple weeks), but I’m in the final phases of preparation for deployment and don’t expect to post much more before I leave. With others preparing for their second, third, or fourth tours, I figure it’s my turn now.
Recommended

Biden Signs Executive Order Allowing the U.S. to Fund Global Abortions
The policy was first instated by President Reagan to ensure that taxpayers would not be required to indirectly fund abortions in other countries.

The Absurd Criticism of Rand Paul’s Rachel Levine Questioning
How likely is it that this dangerous ideological agenda is about to get worse?

Exclusive: 48 Senators Promise to Oppose Any Bill that Funds Abortion
Pro-life lawmakers pledge to resist spending bills that don’t include the Hyde amendment.

Cruz: Actually, It Is Constitutional to Impeach and Convict a Former President
Never mind how he voted.

What Happened to Officer Sicknick?
Democratic impeachment managers have a duty to explain how Officer Sicknick died.

Minnesota Nasty
Minneapolis is a nice city no longer.
The Latest

Cuomo Changes Course on Plan to Investigate Sexual-Harassment Claims
Critics charged that the N.Y. governor’s initial plan for a probe would not have been free from political influence.

Senator Bill Cassidy Predicts Trump Will Not Be 2024 Nominee
The Louisiana Republican made the prediction as he called on his party to reach out to Trump-skeptical voters.

‘You Are a Monster’: N.Y. Politicians React after Second Harassment Claim against Cuomo
Former health-policy adviser Charlotte Bennett told the New York Times that the governor allegedly harassed her in the spring of last year.

Memories of a Staten Island Childhood
New York is a city of five boroughs. Having lived in them all, I often am ‘returned’ to each, though none more often than that ‘forgotten’ one.

Welcome to the Bloody ’20s
A record-breaking uptick in violence reflects the underlying spiritual chaos gripping the U.S.

America’s Last Machine Boss Goes Down
For decades, Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan dominated the state’s political system, corrupting it to his own ends.