Senate honors S.C. Guardsmen

The Senate honored returning members of the 218th Brigade Combat Team Thursday, hailing the National Guard unit's yearlong service in Afghanistan.

In a rare move, the Senate suspended its rules, allowing unit commander Brig. Gen. Robert Livingston Jr. to speak to the Senate from the Senate floor.

"We have made a tremendous difference over there and we were there at the right time," Livingston said.

The 218th unit trained Afghan police and military personnel, losing six S.C. comrades in battle.

The House also received the Guard unit.

Sanford reacts to Afghanistan trip

After his weekend trip to Afghanistan, Gov. Mark Sanford is  today asking the state to keep the men in women serving in military there in their thoughts and prayers.

Sanford toured Afghanistan with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Reps. Henry Brown and Bob Inglis.  During the trip, the governor and the congressional leaders toured military bases, met with high-level Afghan and U.S. officials, and visited with members of the S.C National Guard 218th Enhanced Separate Brigade.

South Carolina has more than 1,800 National Guardsmen serving in Afghanistan.

"In visiting with our men and women overseas, the first thing that becomes apparent is the profound sense of dedication our troops have toward completing their mission and securing a greater degree of freedom for people in that part of the world," Sanford said in a news release. "Seeing the sacrifices they're making first-hand really instills a great sense of admiration for what they're doing, and to that end, I'd ask that everyone in our state keep the cards, e-mails, and other reminders of home coming to the hundreds of South Carolinians serving active duty. As well, I'd ask that everyone join Jenny, the boys and me in keeping them in our thoughts and prayers."

Gov. Sanford, S.C. congressmen visit Afghanistan

 

Gov. Mark Sanford, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and

U.S.

Reps.  Henry Brown and Bob Inglis will travel to

Afghanistan

this weekend to meet with South Carolina National Guard troops as well as top Afghan and

U.S.

officials.

The visit was confirmed by Graham's office in a news release.

 

Bush to visit S.C.

President George W. Bush will be in Charleston on Tuesday, a day after eight Democrats who want his job debate at The Citadel.

Bush will visit the Charleston Air Force Base and speak to military personnel, the White House said Thursday.

No other details were immediately available.

White House press secretary Tony Snow told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday the president will visit the state and said it is “likely” the issue of the war in Iraq will come up in his speech next week.

Snow said U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham,R-S.C., invited the president to visit.

$25 million to Shaw AFB passes U.S. House

The House has approved providing Sumter's Shaw Air Force Base $25 million to help it accommodate 1,400 members of the Army  that will be housed at the base, according to a release from U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C.

As a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure plan, Shaw AFB must prepare for the arrival of some 1,350 Army personnel, 50 civilian contractors, and their families from Headquarters Third U.S. Army at

Fort McPherson

,

Ga

., the release said.

The majority of relocating personnel will arrive at Shaw AFB in October 2010/

Shaw AFB, the release said, does not now have sufficient infrastructure or base operating support facilities to accommodate the influx of personnel at its

fitness

center

, library, c

hild

care c

enter

, temporary lodging facility and visiting Quarters. 

Congressman Spratt said in the release, “This funding will go a long way toward supplying the capacity for welcoming arriving personnel and contributing to effective joint operations while increasing morale and productivity.”

The bill will now to the Senate. If it passes the Senate, President Bush must sign it for it to become law.

Inglis opposes Dem's Iraq deadline plan

U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis said Monday he opposes a Democratic leadership plan to set deadlines for withdrawal from Iraq.

Inglis, a Republican from Fountain Inn, is the only one of the state’s four GOP House members to support a nonbinding resolution last month opposing President Bush's plan to add 21,000 troops to Iraq.

"It's logical to have benchmarks," Inglis said. "But those benchmarks should carry a gradation of consequences rather than and an all-or-nothing withdrawal upon failure to meet a benchmark. Pulling back to the perimeter is an obvious step between surging and withdrawal. There are other gradations that our military leaders could propose to the President."

Wilson to discuss Iraq on C-SPAN Thursday

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, will discuss President Bush's Iraq plan during a Thursday morning appearance on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal."

The program airs at 9:30 a.m. It can be viewed live on television or online at c-span.org. The program will be archived on the Web site.