Honor Veterans

[Happy]

One way to honor all veterans regardless of ethnic or social background would be to do something to support our active and returning soldiers. Don't let politics get in the way of helping these brave U.S. citizens!

[Chris P]

Ide start by petitioning for full good quality medical and educational benefits for life along with an automatic pension of some sort. These guys put their lives on the line for the demands of our country and desrerve the counrty to do at any expense preserve and enhance the quality of life for our Vets to the fullest.

[BillCarson436]

Hello...

....Good quality health care and educational benifits.

Are you people aware of what these kids are entitled to
already ???


Do some research.

NO PAST WAR VETS EVER RECIEVED SUCH EMBELLISHMENT OF
REWARDS FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE...EVER.

And they fought real wars against real armies... not women and children

[Chris P]

I undestand Vets do get educational benefits already but want to highlight GOOD QUALITY as they seem to be restrricted to Vet hospitals for medical care. They should be able to choose any doctor and be fully paid 100% for benefits for any ailement. There pension has stipulations and should get a monthly payment for life no matter what. They should be also assured of free non-poverty housing so we dont have homeless vets ever again like what happened after Vietnam.

They should not be forced into an extension of a tour. If we dont have enough personnel, we should end the war not run our troops ragged with stress and exhaustion. They are coming home mentally and physically maimed while our leaders and their sons mostly live a Life of Riley.

The Ultimate Sacrafice deserves the Ultimae Benefits.

[BillCarson436]

Hello...

100% full benefits....

Other than Politicians or people that work for the State, who gets
that perk these days ???

I agree on " quality care " but free.... It's not free when taxpayers
foot the bill.

also...

The term Free.. belongs to people on State Aid and Illegal Immigrants.

I've worked over 30 years for the same Company and we have an 80/20
plan. I knew when I got hired that was the deal. These kids ( and the
adults in the Guard ) know what their benefits are when they sign up.



So... some common ground after all...lol

[tjohnl]

hey you forgot to mention that these 'kids' get to get shot at too

[BillCarson436]

Hello...

Yes... they get shot at...and by choice.

It's their JOB !!!

Why would anybody join the Military and not consider that in the
decision making process before they sign on the dotted line ?

I don't believe I've ever heard of a case where a soldier was
taken by surprise when in a combat situation ( occupation )
when somebody shot at them ???

Now in past wars... forced enlistments ( draft ) that's a different
story. Kids today join either because of the money... or for fun.
Where else can one be trained...armed and given a "video game"
world where it's live people to shoot and immunity from any civilized
rule of law. In any case... that's why the military prefers kids.
Blind faith and patriotism go hand in hand.

( trying not to get too serious...lol )

PS. I believe most of the deaths and wounds come from roadside
bombs. Most people in Iraq are smart enough not to go toe to toe
with our soldiers. Shooting at an american soldier results in massive
retaliation ...which in a word is suicide.

[Chris P]

Just a question

Is the President in his legal right to keep the trrops in Iraq without declaring war. If not, they are being treated unfairly IMO and their contracts breached and may negate some of the above.

I cant get a firm answer on this, my poly science proff. says no!!, the President is doing something illegal. Others say he has the ultimate power and thus is doing something legal.

I'm a little confused and maybe someone can clear this up on this forum.

Thanks

[BillCarson436]

Hello...

If Bush ( with the blessing of the House and Senate ) didn't have the
right to send troops to Iraq, then it could not have been done. Once
Powell made the case for war { WMD's ) it was a given. We were
already deploying troops to the region and they knew where and what
they were about to do. The banners strung up on the decks of the
Aircraft Carriers said REMEMBER 9/11. Think that wasn't motivation
against a country that had NO ties to the attacks that day ?

Bush took an oath to protect the American People and if that means
going to war with who HE believes to be an enemy... then he can.

Clinton sent troops to Bosnia...we even bombed Belgrade, and in spite
of the constant condemnation of the Republican party ( calling for an
"exit strategy" every chance they got) it was legal.

This should not be confused with the lies that dragged us into this war.
Americans are NOT getting killed in Bosnia... or blown up. Ever wonder
why that Civil War had a happy ending and Iraq is NEVER ENDING???

[Chris P]

This is what Im talking about. This is the type of sleez and corruption in the higher ranks of our government. Shame on you.


National Guard Troops Denied Benefits After Longest Deployment Of Iraq War
Rhonda Erskine, Online Content Producer
Last Updated: 10/3/2007 5:32:02 PM
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (NBC) -- When they came home from Iraq, 2,600 members of the Minnesota National Guard had been deployed longer than any other ground combat unit. The tour lasted 22 months and had been extended as part of President Bush's surge.
1st Lt. Jon Anderson said he never expected to come home to this: A government refusing to pay education benefits he says he should have earned under the GI bill.

"It's pretty much a slap in the face," Anderson said. "I think it was a scheme to save money, personally. I think it was a leadership failure by the senior Washington leadership... once again failing the soldiers."

Anderson's orders, and the orders of 1,161 other Minnesota guard members, were written for 729 days.

Had they been written for 730 days, just one day more, the soldiers would receive those benefits to pay for school.

"Which would be allowing the soldiers an extra $500 to $800 a month," Anderson said.

That money would help him pay for his master's degree in public administration. It would help Anderson's fellow platoon leader, John Hobot, pay for a degree in law enforcement.

"I would assume, and I would hope, that when I get back from a deployment of 22 months, my senior leadership in Washington, the leadership that extended us in the first place, would take care of us once we got home," Hobot said.

Both Hobot and Anderson believe the Pentagon deliberately wrote orders for 729 days instead of 730. Now, six of Minnesota's members of the House of Representatives have asked the Secretary of the Army to look into it -- So have Senators Amy Klobuchar and Norm Coleman.

Klobuchar said the GI money "shouldn't be tied up in red tape," and Coleman said it's "simply irresponsible to deny education benefits to those soldiers who just completed the longest tour of duty of any unit in Iraq."

Anderson said the soldiers he oversaw in his platoon expected that money to be here when they come home.

"I had 23 guys under my command," Anderson said. "I promised to take care of them. And I'm not going to end taking care of them when this deployment is over, and it's not over until this is solved."

The Army did not respond questions Tuesday afternoon.

Senators Klobuchar and Coleman released a joint statement saying the Army secretary, Pete Geren, is looking into this personally, and they say Geren asked a review board to expedite its review so the matter could be solved by next semester.

Minnesota National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Kevin Olson said the soldiers are "victims of a significant injustice."
NBC

©2007 WCSH6.com/Gannett Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[Wine Guys]

Honor Our Veterans
For what it’s worth…
Anyone know the percentage our military is made up of …
National Guard vs: Regular Military?
When our kids sign up for the National Guard, they just need the extra money being in the “Guard” provides…
When they sign up for … The Marines… they are ready to Fight…
Either way these kids are now fighting for their lives in a place they don’t want to be in, against an enemy they can’t understand, for what reason… they don’t know….
So how do we repay them? Our Government isn’t doing enough.
So…? How Do we repay them?
Easy!!!... Send them on another tour of duty!
Thanks GWB!!!
But wait… Check out the Not My President or Then What Forums…
Then try to solve all these problems!
I wish my country took better care of those that made us what we are…
The United States of America
Not even sure what that means anymore…

[BillCarson436]

Hello...

Just for fun... in your spare time ... try researching treatment of
American War Vets from the Colonial Days up to the present.

It's of no surprise... the lack of respect or disregard for those who
currently fight our wars. It has been our legacy to treat them this
way and it has been a struggle to help them after EVERY war.

What is happening today is not so much history repeating itself ...
but people ... repeating themselves.


Jeff

[Wine Guys]

A long time ago... Cain whopped Abel upside of his head...
"What is happening today is not so much history repeating itself ...
but people ... repeating themselves."
So...? How do we change that?