Whoa! Why A Draft Now?

Why are they talking about a draft?

To me this doesn't sound like a "Glorious Little War!" No if they are thinking about a draft!

US military: Is there a draft in 2026?

Fox 26 Houston

By Alexa Mae Asperin

March 7, 2026

The Brief

• In 2024, the House of Representatives passed a measure to automatically register men aged 18 to 26 for the Selective Service as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
• While a draft has not been invoked in over 50 years, federal law still mandates that nearly all male U.S. citizens and immigrants register upon turning 18 or face felony charges.
• The draft remains inactive; it would require specific authorization from both Congress and the president to be reinstated during a national emergency.

A measure passed by the House of Representatives in 2024 automatically registers men aged 18 to 26 for selective service.

[...]

Middle East war rages on

Dig deeper:

Chatter of a possible draft began to circulate across the U.S. recently due to rising US-Iran tensions.

Why is all this starting to show up in the news now? Responsible Statecraft writes,

This doesn’t mean that a draft is being activated right away, or that those registered will be sent induction orders — although preparing to do so is the sole purpose of making this list. This will, however, be the largest change in Selective Service law since 1980, and will move the U.S. closer to activation of a draft than at any time in the last half century.

The question still remains... why now? Does Trump & Company think that this will be a long drawn out war?

"Your Papers Please" The Continuing Sage...

ICE doesn't care where you were born only if you look like... a foreigner. A U.S. citizen was detained for over 30 hours when returning form a trip abroad!

‘Terrifying’: Family says Evanston-born U.S. citizen detained for hours after returning to O’Hare

WGN 9

by: Andrea Medina, Ashlyn Wright

Posted: Mar 8, 2026

Outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in suburban Broadview on Sunday, Sarah Afzal spoke on behalf of her 28-year-old sister, Sundas Naqvi, who goes by Sunny.

Elected officials, family members and Sunny’s attorney stood alongside her, sharing their accounts of what they say happened after Sunny returned to Chicago.

Afzal says Sunny, a U.S. citizen born in Evanston, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport while returning from Turkey on Thursday.

“Detained with no cause. All she was told was that there was curious travel history,” said Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

Big Brother is watching you!

They have seized electronic devices from U.S. citizens, last December...

Naturalized citizen sues DHS after his electronic devices were searched at Houston airport

Houston Chronicle

By Julián Aguilar,

Dec 11, 2025

A U.S. citizen detained last summer at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport is suing the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that federal agents violated his constitutional protections against illegal search and seizure.

Wilmer Chavarria was detained for hours by Customs and Border Protection agents in July after a visit to his native Nicaragua. Chavarria came to the United States in 2008 as a college student and has been a naturalized U.S. citizen since 2018. He is a school superintendent in Vermont.

The lawsuit argues that Chavarria and other U.S. citizens do not have to surrender their electronic devices to federal agents without a warrant. It challenges yearslong policies that federal agents have relied upon to perform warrantless searches of electronic devices.

Pacific Legal said in a summary of the case that Chavarria was told he wasn’t protected under the Fourth Amendment, and agents ordered him to turn over his electronic devices for inspection.

This lawsuit will not go far... the courts in the past have ruled that crossing a boarder they can search electronic devices. But now that ruling is being stretched.

Then we have legally issued passports with a "X" on them are getting more scrutiny by ICE CBP!

US tells airlines to disregard ‘X’ sex markers on passports and input ‘M’ or ‘F’

Customs and Border Protection implemented rule this week, sending Americans with ‘X’ marker into panic

The Guardian

Hannah Harris Green

Sat 18 Oct 2025

US Customs and Border Protection implemented a rule this week that will require airlines to disregard “X” sex markers on passports and input an “M” or “F” marker instead, sending those people with an “X” marker into panic.

“X” markers became available to US passport holders in 2022, in an effort to allow people with gender identities other than male and female to obtain more accurate travel documents.

Now, the new CBP rule has many people on social media and beyond worried that they will no longer be allowed to fly internationally.

“It’s a little bit too soon to say how this is going to practically work out,” said Andy Izenson, senior legal director at the Chosen Family Law Center.

Passports with “X” markers should still be considered valid travel documents; the US district court of Massachusetts issued an order in June ensuring that they would remain valid after the Trump administration attempted to ban them under executive order 14168, titled Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.

But that sure doesn't mean that you will not be hassled...

While the courts have continued to prevent the Trump administration from outright banning a third gender marker, this week’s rule can still serve to make the lives of trans and non-binary people more difficult, Izenson says.

“I would suggest the intent is to ensure that any individual person who’s acting under color of law or as an agent of the state has as much leeway to act out their personal bigotry as they want, without any concern about consequences,” Izenson said.

Fragoman writes that...

US Visitor Visa Rules for the 2026 FIFA World Cup: What Fans Should Know

By: Brian L. Simmons

February 3, 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives amid rapidly evolving US immigration and security policies driven by a series of executive actions, expanded travel bans and tightening visa rules. While many of these restrictions primarily affect immigrant visas or long‑term entry, some directly impact short‑term visitors, including potential World Cup attendees, particularly those from countries subject to bans or partial suspensions.

There is a lot of nail biting in the FIFA now with another World War! Several governments have issued travel advisories or warnings related to stricter immigration enforcement and protests including; France, Germany, Ireland, Canada, and  the United Kingdom!

Iran’s World Cup place in US put in doubt by Middle East war. FIFA has Iraq next in line

AP News

By  GRAHAM DUNBAR

March 2, 2026

 Iran’s place at the men’s World Cup in three months was put in doubt Monday amid an escalating Middle East conflict sparked by the soccer tournament’s co-host the United States.

Iran is due to play its three group stage games in the U.S. — two in Inglewood, California, then in Seattle — from June 15-26. Cities in Canada and Mexico also will host some of the 104 games.

The U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran in coordinated attacks since Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens more senior officials.

It provoked an Iranian response that aimed missiles at U.S. allies including 2022 World Cup host Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which FIFA has picked to stage the 2034 edition.

“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” said Iran’s top soccer official Mehdi Taj, a vice president of the Asian Football Confederation.

Iran’s place in the tournament is now in doubt following coordinated attacks by the U.S. and Israel. I bet many at FIFA have their heads on their arms crying!. This World Cup is shaping up to be a disaster. You want to bet that many star players will be barred from even entering the U.S.?

That you Donald!

Hey You Want To Buy A Hat?

It is the same one that Trump modeled at the return of the fallen soldiers... you know the one. The one that caused all the stir and he didn't remove. They are on sale cheap! Only $55!

Donald Trump appears to be selling dignified transfer hats and they aren’t cheap

Penn Live

By Brian Linder 

Mar. 09, 2026

Donald Trump showed up to Saturday’s dignified transfer of the first six U.S. soldiers killed in the war with Iran sporting a white USA hat that he didn’t remove.

There were folks who didn’t like that.

Then the President went golfing on Sunday in the same style of white USA hat while the United States announced the death of a seventh serviceman in the war with Iran.

There were some folks who really didn’t like that.

Now here is the part that really got people ticked off...

And among the insults hurled at the President was that the hat was part of a marketing campaign. He was accused, among other things, of just trying to make quick buck. And, while there is no evidence that is the case, that white USA hat does not appear to be military issued.

In fact, anyone can get one because Trump is indeed selling them or at least one that looks a whole heck of a lot like the one he wore for the ceremony. If you want one of the caps, though, it won’t come cheap.

The USA 45-47 hat is currently listed on the Trump Organization’s store for a whopping $55.

Can you imagine that is mechanizing stuff at a ceremony for fallen soldiers. I'm surprise that he didn't have price tag hanging off it! I wonder if he is going to sell it "As seen at the dignified transfer of the first six U.S. soldiers killed in the war! Not for only $55! But wait there's more!"

P.S.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom offered his take from the “Governor Newsom Press Office” account on X after sharing Rapid Response 47’s video of the service.

“Take your hat off, you disgusting little man,” he wrote.

“This fool has ABSOLUTELY no sense of dignity of appreciation for the moment,” former RNC chairman Michael Steele wrote on X while sharing a photo of Trump with his hat on. “It is called the Dignified Transfer for a reason. Take your (expletive) hat off.”

First They Came For The Trans People...

Then they came for marriage equality and job protections!

Tennessee Republicans target same-sex marriage, LGBTQ+ job protections

Axios

Adam Tamburin

March 5, 2026

Tennessee Republicans have worked for years to advance policies targeting the LGBTQ+ community, and 2026 is no exception.

Why it matters: Conservative lawmakers are pushing bills this year that would undermine same-sex marriages, scale back LGBTQ+ employment protections and further restrict Pride celebrations.

• Some of those measures have already cleared significant hurdles in the legislature.

Driving the news: The House started the session by passing a bill that would place added restrictions on businesses that host drag shows.

• "That sent the signal right there," Chris Sanders, the executive director of the pro-LGBTQ+ Tennessee Equality Project, tells Axios.
• "And that's what we faced every week since in the legislature."

Between the lines: While the push to enact more LGBTQ+ restrictions is not new, Sanders says the strategy has shifted to become "quicker, more obvious, more direct and more urgent."

• "The bills are written more directly this year than they have been in past years," he says. "There's no obfuscating."

The big picture: Some of the bills are direct rebukes of pro-LGBTQ+ U.S. Supreme Court rulings, including the Obergefell decision legalizing same-sex marriages and the Bostock ruling protecting gay and transgender workers.

I don't like to say this but there were members of the Lesbian and Gay community who thought marriage and their protections a done deal... well now the snake has come for you!

LGBTQ+ advocates rally at Tennessee Capitol against 'slate of hate' bills

Tennessee Equality Project identifies 10 bills targeting LGBTQ community, including challenges to Supreme Court decisions on workplace discrimination and same-sex marriage.

News Channel 5 Nashville

By: Chris Davis

Feb 10, 2026

Thousands of bills are being considered in 2026 in the Tennessee legislature, but several are deeply concerning to the LGBTQ+ community. Advocates invited people to come to Capitol Hill to fight against them.

The Tennessee Equality Project held its annual "Advancing Equality Day on the Hill" event, a tradition that has continued since 2005. The organizers said they wish the event wasn't necessary.

"When legislation tries to erase people, silence is not an option," said Brenda Gadd, a Metro Council member.

[...]

In 2026, the list includes 10 bills

Two include apparent challenges to Supreme Court decisions, including the "Banning Bostock Act."

Several bills deal with healthcare, including one that would block TennCare from providing gender-affirming care, the ability for people to sue healthcare providers that "coerced" someone into youth gender-affirming care, and a bill that prevents doctors from asking certain questions about gender identity without parental approval.

"The things a healthcare provider asks are not meant to be intrusive or ideological, they are meant to be part of the open honest dialogue of a good diagnosis," Sanders said.

Other bills on their radar include a proposal to prevent a state employee or public school teacher from wearing or displaying anything resembling a pride flag.

Just for our gay brothers and lesbian sisters so you left out... they are removing work place protections for you and allow businesses to not recognize same-sex marriages. What does it mean? It mean for things like health insurance that they don't have cover your spouse!

You Know Darn Well...

... That the courts will strike it down, but there is always a chance that the Supreme Court will, so they go for.

WV Senate passes bills targeting transgender people, drag performances

West Virginia Watch

By: Lori Kersey

March 4, 2026

Hours before the crossover day deadline, West Virginia senators passed two bills that target LGBTQ+ people on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 590 would prohibit drag shows and other “adult cabaret performance” on public property or where they could be viewed by a minor. 

Under Senate Bill 1083, transgender people who change in a locker room aligning with their gender identity would be guilty of indecent exposure and made to register as a sex offender.

Regarding the second bill; I’m waiting for someone from a state that allows changes to birth certificates to be arrested, leading to a battle before the Supreme Court. Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution requires that state courts respect the laws and judgments of courts from other states. My official state birth certificate says I am female. So who wins?

The bill prohibits “adult cabaret performance” on public property. It defines “adult cabaret performance” as those that feature “topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to the prurient interest.”

What I find especially interesting is that the bill even includes go-go dancers—like the ones from Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and I wonder if they will also be challenging the bill?

I Have A Dream!

One short, glorious little war—that was their dream.

Trump’s poll results would soar!

Hegseth would ride off on a white stallion, waving the banner of white nationalism toward Armageddon.

Everyone would clap and cheer, hailing Trump as the greatest president ever, while he basked in the glory.

Pop! Reality sets in.

But everyone else is asking, “What the F***?”

Mark my words:

The Iranians will launch a drone attack on U.S. soil.

Trump pulled a “Putin” and didn’t learn from him, so we’re headed for the same outcome, a long, drawn-out war.

Listen to their rhetoric! They talk about how the war will end in four weeks, eight weeks… that the enemy will cave to all of Trump’s demands, just like Venezuela.

But this time, they’ve struck a hornets’ nest.

No, this war won’t be over in weeks, or in months... but in years.

The Little Twerp

[Editorial]

You know, he reminds me of Beavis and Butt-Head! It’s the way he slicks back his hair; he thinks it makes him look cool, but instead, he looks sinister—even evil. Who? Hegseth!

He wrote a book titled American Crusade (2020), where he explicitly argues that the United States is in a "holy war" for its survival. He has claimed the enemy is not just foreign terrorists, but also domestic "leftists," "globalists," and "Islamists" who threaten Western Judeo-Christian values. The most frightening part is that he fantasizes about being a crusader "much like the 11th century," helping to bring about the "End Times."

Even the naming of military actions under this mindset feels apocalyptic—like the strike on Iran, ominously dubbed "Operation Epic Fury." Hegseth didn’t just stumble into the job; he has exactly what Trump wants to appeal to his Christian Nationalist base. Hegseth’s warped worldview is that of a deeply-held theological and political fanatic who views conflict as a moral and religious necessity. To his supporters, he’s a "defender of the faith"; to his critics, he is someone looking for a "battle" that feels like a holy war.

Hegseth isn't just someone who stumbled into the job; he has a very specific, deeply-held theological and political worldview that views conflict as a moral and religious necessity. That's exactly what Trump wanted, to his supporters, he's a "defender of the faith"; to his critics, he’s exactly what you described—someone looking for a "battle" that feels like a holy war.

However, what is getting people's attention is what he said about the rules of combat... The Guardian reported that in his book he said,

Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, told soldiers under his command in Iraq to ignore legal advice about when they were permitted to kill enemy combatants under their rules of engagement.

The anecdote is contained in a book Hegseth wrote last year in which he also repeatedly railed against the constraints placed on “American warfighters” by the laws of war and the Geneva conventions.

Hegseth is currently under scrutiny for a 2 September attack on a boat purportedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean, where survivors of a first strike on the vessel were reportedly killed in a second strike following a verbal order from Hegseth to “kill everybody”.

Hegseth has denied giving the order and retained the support of Donald Trump. The US president said Hegseth told him “he did not say that, and I believe him, 100%”. But some US senators have raised the possibility that the US war secretary committed a war crime.

[...]

At one point, Hegseth writes: “We send men to fight on our behalf, and then second-guess the manner in which they fight. I saw it every day.”

Hegseth adds: “In some cases, our units were so boxed in by rules and regulations and political correctness, we even second-guess ourselves. That needs to end. Count me out on the Monday-morning quarterbacking – I’m with the American warfighter, all the way.”

Elsewhere, Hegseth appears to argue that American soldiers should proceed without any constraints whatsoever.

And now in beginning of this war what was said has raised eyebrow, Military.com writes,

A combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers at a briefing Monday that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” according to independent journalist Jonathan Larsen as published on Substack.

You have to wonder... who those generals owe their allegiance to? The Constitution or the Bible!

“He urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ,” the NCO wrote in the email. “He said that ‘President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.’"

The NCO added that the commander supposedly “had a big grin on his face when he said all of this, which made his message seem even more crazy.”

This whole invasion mission stinks to high heaven! It almost seems like they want to bring on WWIII for the glory of god!

{/Editorial]

In The Continuing Saga Of...

Have you notice that the war in Iran has mission creep?

Did anyone really expect Iran to roll over and die other that Trump and his cronies? Politico reports that,

Trump vows to hit ‘very hard’ after Iran’s president says he won’t surrender

“Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death,” he says.

By Gregory Svirnovskiy

03/07/2026

President Donald Trump announced plans to launch yet more strikes against Iran on Saturday, escalating his threats as the conflict with Iran enters its second week.

“Today Iran will be hit very hard!” he wrote on Truth Social Saturday morning. “Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time.”

Trump’s threat came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian labeled the president’s earlier call for Tehran’s “unconditional surrender” a “dream that they should take to their grave” in a speech broadcast on state television Saturday.

But wait there's more!

Trump in a phone call to NBC News was reported that, there could be more U.S. military casualties in an offhanded comment. Kind of like an "Oh By The Way"

So now Trump & company are talking about "Boots on the ground!" The NBC article goes on to say...

In Sunday’s phone call, the president said that the U.S. military operation was “ahead of schedule” and that “when we get 48 leaders, that’s a big event.”

Does Trump know that what we say doesn't matter, it is what they do that matter, I do not think that they are going to roll over.

When Congress returns to Washington this week, lawmakers are expected to vote on a war powers resolution that would compel the president to seek approval from Congress to conduct more military operations in Iran.

War, huh, yeah

What is it good for?

Absolutely nothing distracting the voters from Epstein, uhh

War, huh, yeah

What is it good for?

Absolutely nothing  distracting the voters from the economy!

Say it again, y'all

War, huh (good God)

What is it good for?

Absolutely nothing distracting the voters, listen to me, oh

Saturday 9: Linger

Saturday 9: Linger (1993)

On Saturdays I take a break from the heavy stuff and have some fun… 

 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries sings that her lover has her wrapped around his finger. Do you feel that anyone has you wrapped around their finger?

Nope.

2) This was one of the first songs Delores and Noel Hogan wrote together. They performed it often live and perfected it before going into the studio to record it approximately two years later. Because they had polished the performance and arrangement, it's not a surprise that it was the biggest hit off their debut album. Tell us about a time when your preparation paid off.  

I'm a worrier, so I prepare all the time. Will this happen? What about this?

3) The Cranberries believed the moody black-and-white video (linked above) playing on MTV contributed to the song's popularity. MTV and VH1 were highly influential when they showed music videos and interviews 24/7 during the 1980s and 1990s. Do you recall watching music videos on MTV and/or VH1?

Yes, back then, but I didn’t watch it that much, music is for listening. My cousin was an intern for MTV in London back in the '80s.

4) The Cranberries were founded by brothers Noel and Mike Hogan in their hometown in Limerick, Ireland. The River Shannon runs through Limerick. Do you live near a river? 

Well… that is debatable! It is a the headwaters of a river, so here it is nothing more than a brook but the sign says "River".

5) Fergal Lawler soon joined the brothers and became the Cranberries drummer. Today he says he enjoys listening to his early work with the group because, "Songs are like a snapshot in time." Do you often flip through photo albums and look at snapshots?

No, not in books anymore… online.

6) Dolores O'Riordan showed up for her Cranberries audition dressed casually in a black tracksuit with her own Casio electronic keyboard tucked under her arm. The Hogans were impressed not only by her vocals but her no-nonsense, "let's get to work" attitude. Share a memory from one of your job interviews.

Whoa! My last job interview was way back in 1978!

One time back in the mid-seventies I went for an interview and a friend had an interview with them a couple of days earlier and he told me what th
e were looking for, so I studied up on the devices before the interview. It turned I was the only one who aced their questions.

Oh and I got the job.

7) In 1993, when "Linger" was released, The Nanny premiered on CBS. It's remembered today for it's catchy theme song, which tells the story of "the nanny named Fran." Can you recall the lyrics to theme of one of your favorite shows?

Right now I’ve been watching Barney Miller episodes, so…

8) In 1993, gas was $1.11/gallon. Could your vehicle use a fill-up right now?

No, actually I haven’t bought gas since January! I have a hybrid plug-in and I get around 25 miles on a charge. Most of my trip now are just running local errands, so it is all on electric now. When I go to either my brother’s or Cape Cod that is when I burn gas.

9) Random question: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Well I have no idea how many that are hidden in the back of the closet, but if you want to know how many different shoes I wear mainly now, it is just sneakers. Hard sole shoes kill my back now.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!