[w4rma]

…
The House also narrowly defeated an amendment by Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.) that would have shifted $3.6 billion from the Iraq reconstruction fund to the U.S. military to pay for the medical and dental screening of military reservists, for family assistance centers, for pre-paid phone cards for the troops in Iraq, for the transportation of troops on rest-and-relaxation leave, for the construction of more water treatment and power plants for the deployed troops, and for the repair and replacement of damaged equipment. The amendment died, 216 to 209.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38331-2003Oct16.html

[Pilgrim]

Hard to say why. It could be the prevailing feeling in the House is these issues should be brought up in separate legislation. Or, after two weeks of haggling they were tired of considering amendments and decided to get it over with.

Be careful lest the phrase, "...supporting the troops" starts to sound like, "...it's for the children."

Pilgrim

[w4rma]

Military families protest big jump in price of soldiers' calls from Iraq

Some American soldiers in Iraq have made heavy use of phones there to keep in touch with families back home. Now some military families say those calls have virtually stopped because of a hefty increase in phone charges.

"The guys are very upset over there," Edith Beach of Kirksville said Thursday.

Her husband is an Army reservist stationed in Baghdad. Sgt. 1st Class David Beach survived an ambush in which one of his comrades was wounded. He and his wife last spoke Monday night.

"My husband said morale stinks," Edith Beach said. She said he and his comrades now were paying up to $2 a minute to call home.

The phone problem appears to be partly a result of access to government phones that allow soldiers to call home less expensively. Also at issue are the rates AT&T is charging at calling centers.
…
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://tinyurl.com/ra6p)

[Thumper]

Hahahah...you really trying to sell us old soldiers on the idea that the Dems are our friends?

Try that with the troops. They know the score.

Good luck.

[jsalcedo]

Sad.:(

[bountyhunter]

You want a truthful answer?

My wife has been a reservist for 25 years. Around 1980 (Reagan administration) reservists were put on the --it list. In his view, they were paid too much (more than regular troops) and were not as "combat ready". He also didn't like the fact their higher salaries ate into his "defense toys" budget. So, since then reservists have been taking it like a rented mule. In Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Naval Medical reserves were the first units activated in kali and the last ones released. This time, it was Guard who got hit first because they specialize in the moving and hauling duties. The policy now is: flog 'em til they drop, then don't replace them.

[bountyhunter]

Hahahah...you really trying to sell us old soldiers on the idea that the Dems are our friends? Try that with the troops. They know the score.

Good luck.



You think Bush is the friend of veterans? Good luck to you sir.




Supporting Our Veterans
Article copied verbatim from Parade magazine regarding how the Bush administration treats retired veterans:


"Penalizing Disabled Veterans

More than 400 retired generals and admirals recently wrote to Presient Bush - but it was not a fan letter. They wanted to know why he won't support legislation to help disabled military retirees. There are more than 560,000 retired veterans who made the military their career and who get disability pay from the Veterans Administration, but most must forfeit an equal dollar amount from their military retirement pay. Some actually have to forfeit their entire retirement income, forcing them to live in poverty. Meanwhile, anyone who was disabled in the service but left the military for a career in another federal agency does not pay this penalty.

Last year, congress overwhelmingly passed legislation to fix this, but the White House opposed it. The legislation has been re-introduced, and the retired officers are asking president Bush to back it. (A substitute bill authorized special pay only to certain disabled retirees). Disgruntled veterans want to make this a campaign issue, and they say it will hurt military recruitment and enlistment. Stay tuned to see what the White House does."


I wish them luck. They're going to need it.

[w4rma]

Article copied verbatim from Parade magazine regarding how the Bush administration treats retired veterans:

Penalizing Disabled VeteransHere is the 'article preview':
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/parade/411085401.html?did=411085401&FMT=ABS&FMTS=FT&desc=Penalizing+Disabled+Veterans

[Pilgrim]

now were paying up to $2 a minute to call home.

During my service in WestPac circa 1975-1985, I budgeted one phone call home per deployment. From the Philippines a ten minute phone call cost me $50.

The rest of the time my wife and I communicated using tape casettes. Took three weeks to get an answer to your questions.

Times have changed.

[Ed Brunner]

Times have changed.

I spent a lot of years overseas and the Army never paid for a phone call.

Not sure if that's good or bad.