Libertarian Party expresses support for Bill

From Eric Dondero:

Alaska State Rep. Bob Lynn is calling for "equal treatement for Military Warriors." From his personal blog:

I introduced HB210 today, a bill that would enable all active duty warriors in our U.S. Armed Forces to be treated as adults, regardless of age. House Bill 210 proposes permitting active duty service members under age 21 to consume alcoholic beverages and use tobacco products in Alaska.

More from the NY Daily News "Alaska State Rep. Bob Lynn proposes bill to lower drinking age for U.S. troops in his state":

Republican Rep. Bob Lynn, of Anchorage, has introduced a bill that would allow military members under 21 to drink and smoke legally, reigniting an old controversy about equal treatment for those in the armed forces.

"It's outrageous that a member of our military can be subjected to the horrors of war, but can't legally have a beer or smoke a cigarette," Lynn wrote on his blog, noting he does not advocate drinking or smoking as a "general practice."

"Any soldier who braves military combat and risks their life for our country should be treated like an adult - in every sense of the word," the Vietnam Vet added.

Lynn of south Anchorage, is a retired USAF Major, and has received numerous service honors, including: Seventeen awards and decorations, including Bronze Star and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He serves as the Chair of the Military and Veterans Committee in the House.

Reached for a comment, Scott Kohlhaas, Libertarian Party of Alaska State Chair, expressed strong support for the measure, "we support it, absolutely."

Stop Islamization of... Alaska

From Eric Dondero:

Ayn Rand Individualist Pamela Geller, a friend of this website, will be testifying this week in Juneau, in favor of the legislation to ban Sharia Law. She was invited to speak before the House Judiciary Committee by two State Reps.

Representatives Carl Gatto of Palmer, and Bob Lynn of south Anchorage, are the two co-sponsors in the House of a bill to ban Sharia Law in Alaska.

From Atlas Shrugs:

HB 88 aims at preventing "a court or other enforcement authority" from enforcing foreign law in Alaska. The bill will preempt violations of an individual's constitutional rights resulting from the application of foreign law.

But at least some Muslim special interest groups are not happy about the decision to invite Geller to speak.

From the AP (via CTPost):

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling for a speaker invited to testify to Alaska House Judiciary Committee to be pulled from Wednesday's lineup.

Council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper says Pamela Geller, head of advocacy group Stop Islamization of America, should not be allowed to testify on House Bill 88 because of what he calls her anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Stop Islamization of America SIOAonline.com

From Eric Dondero:

Apparently, liberal Morning Host Matt Lauer favors the rose pedals approach to dealing with Al Qaeda.

From NewBusters:

Discussing the matter of arming the rebels in Libya, the "Today" host allowed that there may well be al Qaeda operatives among the anti-Qadhafi forces, but asked, "would it not be a sign to them [the rebels] or showing them that the United States has compassion and we're willing to use our military might to help all people?"

From Eric Dondero:

Government forces in Yemen have virtually abandoned the southern province of Abyan.

From USA Today "Al Qaeda Declares Southern Yemeni Province An "Islamic Emirate"" March 31

In the southern province of Abyan, the stronghold of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Islamist militants have seized several towns after the Yemen army and its U.S.-trained counterterrorism unit was called back to help defend areas closer to the capital. On jihadist websites, the region is being referred to now as the "Islamic Emirate of Abyan."

As Business Insider reports, the first action taken by the new ruling forces, has been to institute strict Sharia Law, including bans on women going outside.

AQAP, which has established full control over the southern province, made an online statement Wednesday declaring Abyan an Islamic Emirate governed by Shariah.

The statement said women in the province should not go out except under necessary circumstances, "and she who urgently needs to go out, should be with one of her male relatives, and should have ID with her."