Author Of Hyped Iraq Memo Also Wrote Unhinged Attack On Health-Care Reform

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Author Of Hyped Iraq Memo Also Wrote Unhinged Attack On Health-Care Reform
By Zachary Roth - July 30, 2009, 1:07PM

A senior American military adviser in Baghdad, whose memo arguing that the U.S. should leave Iraq is currently the top story on the New York Times website, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/world/middleeast/31adviser.html?hp is also the author of an unhinged online screed against health-care reform.

The health-care post, by Colonel Timothy Reese, sketches far-fetched scenarios about forced abortions and accuses President Obama of being "deceitful" in telling Americans they can keep their doctor under his plan. Its harsh tone raises questions about an active duty officer inserting himself into the political arena. And it suggests that that his widely-publicized military advice -- which was posted on the same blog as the health-care post -- should perhaps be treated more skeptically than is currently being done.

....................

The Times notes that Reese posted an earlier version of his memo -- since removed but preserved here -- http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2009/07/tim-the-enchanter-its-time-to-declare-victory-in-iraq-and-go-home.php?page=1 on a blog called "The Enchanter's Corner," under the byline Tim the Enchanter. The blog is affiliated with the right-wing Townhall site, though the Times leaves that out. A bio http://enchanter.blogtownhall.com/default.aspx describes Tim the Enchanter as "a member of the US Army on active duty for almost 30 years ... currently serving in Iraq as an advisor to the Iraq security forces" and someone who is "passionate about political issues."

A reader tip pointed TPMmuckraker to the health-care post, which was posted on The Enchanter's Corner the very same day, July 20, as the military memo. (It's since been removed as well, but you can see it here.) http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2009/07/tim-the-enchanter-the-camels-nose-of-health-care.php?page=1 It appeared under the same byline of Tim the Enchanter, making clear that the two posts are by the same author.

Read more: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/author_of_hyped_iraq_memo_also_wrote_unhinged_atta.php#more

[dave29]

1. Tim the Enchanter?

ok then

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Python reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_the_Enchanter

[formercia]

2. We don't need crazies like this in the Military

Write em' up.

[scipan]

3. but he doesn't mind if the government listens in on your phone or

declares you an enemy combatant and carries you off to a military detention center.

I do not understand how these people think.

[Arctic Dave]

5. So says the guy with government healthcare for thirty years.

Is this even a real story?