How BushCo. Supports Our War Vets

Here are some articles highlighting what is actually going on with regard to the treatment of our veterans.

BushCo. heaps praise on our troops when it makes them look good. Then, they turn around and cut them off at the knees. It's unspeakable.

Dishonorable Discharge
Bush administration slashes veteran’s benefits

By Dave Lindorff | 11.26.03

Woody Powell, executive director of Veterans for Peace and a veteran of the Korean War, says these White House efforts should be viewed as attacks against American soldiers. “I don’t think they see it as attacking them,” he says. “They see it as saving money. But it’s the wrong thing to be cutting, just like cutting education is a bad thing.”

Increasingly, veterans, troops and their families are getting angry. Army Times, a newspaper widely read in military circles, ran a June 30 editorial saying: “President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress have missed no opportunity to heap richly deserved praise on the military. But talk is cheap and getting cheaper by the day, judging by the nickel-and-dime treatment the troops are getting lately.” Ronald Conley, commander of the conservative American Legion, also recently blasted the White House for VA budget cuts and surcharges, saying: “This is a raw deal for veterans no matter how you cut it. The administration is sending a message that these vets are not a priority at all.”
www.veteransforpeace.org...

Advocates for veterans decry fee hike

By Marsha Austin
Denver Post Staff Writer

More than half of Colorado's 430,000 veterans would pay double for prescription drugs plus a $250 fee to access their medical care under President Bush's proposed 2006 budget.
www.denverpost.com...

02/08/2005
McNulty opposes cuts to vets' health care
By: Robert Cristo , The Record

At a time when the nation's leaders are asking troops to risk their lives overseas, many are wondering why President Bush is looking to cut health care payments for veterans.

After warning during his State of the Union address last week that he would make drastic spending cuts to nearly 150 federal programs, more specifics were revealed Monday in his $2.57 trillion budget for 2006 that increases military spending but asks some veterans to double their co-pay for prescription drugs.
The proposal, which is expected to draw heavy fire in Congress, would also require some veterans to pay a $250 annual fee for their federally delivered health care.
After attending a morning ceremony honoring three wounded local Army National Guardsmen at the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs in Latham, Rep. Michael McNulty, D-Green Island, called the proposal an "outrageous" slight to veterans who fought for their country.
"I just came from a Purple Heart ceremony for three injured soldiers. ... The last thing I want to see happen is cuts in services for these or any other soldiers," said McNulty. "I vehemently disagree with the way he's (Bush) going with the budget, and I hope even old-line conservatives will also disagree."
www.troyrecord.com...

More links..

What Bush and the GOP REALLY think of our veterans!
www.politicalamazon.com...

[edit on 19-09-2003 by EastCoastKid]

I apologize COOLHAND, I made a mistake the budget cuts are for 2006 not 2005 that budget is already done with.

This the over view of the cuts for the elderly and disable.

The details obtained Saturday are the latest in a budget that will also seek savings from programs ranging from Amtrak and farmers' subsidies to Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor and disabled.

www.cnn.com...

Cuts for the DVA.

Thanks ECK you got it before me.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is scheduled to get a $519 million spending increase in 2005, to $29.7 billion, and a $910 million cut in 2006 that would bring its budget below the 2004 level.

www.washingtonpost.com...



[edit on 8-2-2005 by marg6043]

People must clearly see that Bush and his gang dont give a rats ass about the 'working class'
Even Hitler had alot more hart for his people then this Joke for a president!!

That is why socialism is a bad word in the US, indoctrinized that socialism is communism and therefore can treat the lowerclass(and middle class)like # with a license.

The total lack of respect for humanlife of this administration is so fkin obvious it makes me sick to my stomich.


Wake up americans and the international government!!!!!

Hmmm. Interesting.


I think we're in a transition here - pretty soon, the army really won't need soldiers - and the ruling corporations won't need very many ordinary people. We're all bein' phased out folks...

...Here are some links from my news article - they fit here too.


2005 - Two robotics projects in the USA and Korea announced stunning breakthroughs this week. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contracted Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to build a computer that can read documents and learn from them, for $1.2 million. Korea's Advanced Institute of Science and Technology created software to install 14 artificial chromosomes ton a robot within three months. The software code is modelled on human DNA.

The New Military: Robots with Human DNA



2005 - New micro-robots called microbots grow their own muscles from living animals. The microbots are grown on silicon chips, using the same principles and similar technologies as those used to make integrated circuits. "I can make hundreds of thousands as easily as I can make one," says nanotechnologist Carlo Montemagno. Blending biological and mechanical parts with phenomenal precision, microbots are a fully integrated system, blurring the lines between men and machines.

Microbots: Towards the New Military


2000 - "One of the projects DARPA is currently supporting is work by a team at Michigan State University's College of Engineering, who are developing reconfigurable micro-robots for use in military, intelligence and law enforcement ...."

DARPA Works to Replace Soldiers, Police with Robots


2005 - "Scientists at the University of California Los Angeles have successfully bonded flesh to silicon to create what they claim is world's first muscled robot. ..."They have a maximum moving speed of 40 micrometres per second and can work for more than four hours, although not continuously." "

It needs your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle


Also see:

The Talon Robot: Ready for Iraq

Fly-eating robot powers itself



So just put everything together with AI, self-powered microbots, human DNA and all the other latest innovations...



How International Corporations Take Money Out of Troops Mouths


Outsourcing the Pentagon

Privatizing War - How affairs of state are outsourced to corporations beyond public control

Mercenary Firms and War Profiteers 1
Mercenary Firms and War Profiteers 2

Executive Outcomes: A new kind of army for privatized global warfare

Dogs Of War Inc. - A $300 Billion Dollar Business




For those who wonder where all the money is going:

What's Happening to America?

Where is the Money?



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Idiot Bush cares about nothing but HIMSELF and his cronies agendas. Just read this on Yahoo!
story.news.yahoo.com.../csm/20050208/ts_csm/avets

What a SHAME!
SHAME on you Idiot Bush, and SHAME on anyone who voted for this loser.

DAARPA's up to some crazy shyte. They always are. Been trying to figure out ways to make the super soldier for a long, long time. It's much more difficult than they want to admit. Sure would be nice, tho, if they'd come up with something b4 we go bombing and invading Iran or Syria. If y'all think Iraq's bad... Iran would be worse.

I just read this article. It's more on the situation many returning Iraq veterans are facing. Impossible beurocracies to deal with, PTSD and no where to go. It's a shame Rumsfeld needs so much money to kill and destroy. You'd think - as much as BushCo. touts our soldiers as heroes - they'd make dam sure they were taken care of when they return from war.

Gimme Shelter
By Rose Aguilar, AlterNet
Posted on February 8, 2005, Printed on February 9, 2005
www.alternet.org...
Herold Noel served his time in the military, including the first five months of the Iraq war in 2003 as a fuel handler for the military. He returned from Iraq in August of that year to Brooklyn, N.Y., hoping for a welcome and a helping hand from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), something he had been told to expect. That was not to be.

"The government says one thing, but does another," says Noel. "I came back to New York thinking there would be support; that I would have a job, but I was sadly mistaken." After eight months of cold sleepless nights in his car, the 25-year-old veteran finally has a place he can call home. If it weren't for an anonymous donor who paid for a year's rent, Noel would still be on the streets of Brooklyn, unable to see his wife and four kids.
www.alternet.org...

I think the bush administration knows that cutting benefits for the disable and the vets is tabu, because now this morning in the news they are trying to sugar coated with, "to the wealthy vets"

Now did bush is helping the wealthy anyway with his administration?

I really think that the media thinks that Americans and specially the vets, old and disable are that dump?

When you cut a program it will affect every single person that has need for it.

Wealthy people does not used vet hospital or Medicaid or vet benefits, they pay for it.

My father is not "wealthy" he is a vet and he never has used any other vets benefits in his life.

He said the only thing he wants from them is the burial detail and the flag.

Originally posted by marg6043
because now this morning in the news they are trying to sugar coated with, "to the wealthy vets"

Wealthy vets.. Like there are tons of wealthy vets.

I really think that the media thinks that Americans and specially the vets, old and disable are that dump?

Dumb? Do they think the vets are dumb? Of course. They think we're all a bunch of dumb sheep. We're all expendible. One reason I got out of the Army was b/c I decided I wasn't gonna be some expendible number in the machine, programmed to kill and/or die for war profiteers.

Wealthy people does not used vet hospital or Medicaid or vet benefits, they pay for it.

That's true. I'm not wealthy, but I've never had to use the VA system. I have a good healthcare plan w/my job. My friend, a Vietnam vet, is not nearly as secure. And he's got health problems. He doesn't have any healthcare so he has to go to the VA. He's happy w/the treatment he's getting and just thankful that he's got it. He is afraid, tho, with so many coming home from Iraq messed up, that they're gonna eventually push the older vets right on out. It wouldn't surprise me, either.

Here's an article about an Iraq War vet who went ballistic. His wife said he did not recieve treatment he requested upon his return. It's sad. I hope everything works out for him.

Iraq War Vet Arrested After Standoff With Police
Kimberly Curth
Wednesday, February 9, 2005

A man who once served in Iraq is in trouble after a three-hour standoff with police.

Police say it started Tuesday afternoon when they got a domestic disturbance call from a quiet neighborhood in Saraland. But when they got there they discovered much more.

Saraland's Public Safety Director says after three hours of negotiating, Charles LaPorte finally surrendered. When they got to the home police say they found LaPorte armed with guns and a full clip of ammunition.
www.wkrg.com... N=%21news%21local

This Iraq war is taking a toll on a lot of people, not just those who are directly involved. A friend of mine from work, who is a Vietnam combat vet, is on leave right now. He had to go into counseling with the VA because this whole situation over there is messing with his head. And this is a guy who is very distinguished, tough and well thought of by a lot of people. Not some flake.

He actually approached me back before he left and confided to me that he was back in counseling. I was glad he thot enuff of me to tell me.

A mutual friend just told me that he'll be back soon and is in better shape. I'm glad for his sake we've got a good VA hospital/center here. A lot of folks don't.

[edit on 19-09-2003 by EastCoastKid]

Sad part is people, that this occurs not only to vet's, but to regular everyday people who are caught up in the health care system and the rising cost of health care. Unless we allow our government to step in and fully regulate it, it will be out of reach for anyone in 10 years.

I do not see how bush and co are hurting vets though, sorry? I live in Floridanear the Bay Pines VA, where my fahter is buried, and it is a very nice facility. You would think it was a college campusNow, the red tape that goes along with attempting to get care sucks, but I had an uncle who died in their care after a long illness, and I ahve nothing but good things to say. In every situation, there wil lbe cases to tear at your heart, but it is unfair to blame all of this on our government. The cost of drugs is ridiculaous, and Big Business doesn't give a # about the middle class, or the little guy. THey are more worried about selling Viagra or casuing scares with flu shots (remember that one?:lol

Time, patience and research will help you if you ever need to use your VA benefits. Volunteer too, if you can. WHile my unlce was there as a kid, I used to go to the top floor, with the old crazy vets and play cribgage and gin, and hear great stories from WW1 and 2.

I ran across this little gem yesterday. If this doesn't show how little this administration thinks of our vets - POW's, no less - nothing does! This case is outrageous; especially considering Rumsfeld said we should pay Iraqi torture victims reparations. Go figure.

White House Turns Tables on Former American POWs
Gulf War pilots tortured by Iraqis fight the Bush administration in trying to collect compensation.

By David G. Savage, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — The latest chapter in the legal history of torture is being written by American pilots who were beaten and abused by Iraqis during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. And it has taken a strange twist.

The Bush administration is fighting the former prisoners of war in court, trying to prevent them from collecting nearly $1 billion from Iraq that a federal judge awarded them as compensation for their torture at the hands of Saddam Hussein's regime.

The rationale: Today's Iraqis are good guys, and they need the money.

The case abounds with ironies. It pits the U.S. government squarely against its own war heroes and the Geneva Convention.

Many of the pilots were tortured in the same Iraqi prison, Abu Ghraib, where American soldiers abused Iraqis 15 months ago. Those Iraqi victims, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has said, deserve compensation from the United States.

But the American victims of Iraqi torturers are not entitled to similar payments from Iraq, the U.S. government says.
www.latimes.com...

Well ECK this does not make sense if they can not hold Iraqi government accountable then who they should hold accountable their own American government?

Originally posted by marg6043
Well ECK this does not make sense if they can not hold Iraqi government accountable then who they should hold accountable their own American government?

In this administration, no one is EVER held accountable. I've never seen anything like it - anywhere - in my life. It's outrageous.

This is an interesting article. Check out the way blame is passed around. As usual, no one in this administration has the cojones to take responsibility for their actions.

washingtonpost.com
Critical Republicans Look to Cut Bush's $82 Billion War Request

By Mike Allen and Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, February 17, 2005; Page A04

House Republican leaders said yesterday that they may cut some of the nonmilitary parts of President Bush's $82 billion budget request for Iraq and anti-terrorism efforts because they are not emergencies.

The sharp comments they made in challenging the budget request marked an abrupt departure from the deference the Republicans have shown Bush on earlier war funding. Party members said they are determined to reassert their authority over the budget at a time when the White House is accusing lawmakers of being big spenders.
www.washingtonpost.com...

Here's a priceless comment from Dr. Strangelove:

Rumsfeld was peppered with questions about the propriety of the request from Republicans and Democrats during two appearances on Capitol Hill. At first Rumsfeld said he and the Pentagon were not directly responsible for the spending submission -- that it was a matter left to the White House, the Office of Management and Budget, and Congress.

"This issue of what goes in a supplemental is something that really is beyond my pay grade," Rumsfeld told the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Since when has anything been above his pay-grade?

Now for the kick in our vets' teeth:

At the Appropriations Committee hearing, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) berated Rumsfeld for not including any funding for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the supplemental request, calling it a troubling omission in the president's budget and in the additional request for war funds. She said she is going to introduce a $2 billion amendment to offer help to veterans.

"There is no mention in here of our responsibility to pay for the continued emotional and physical costs of war," Murray said. "It's as if once these brave men and women leave the service, they're no longer considered an essential priority for the administration."

Keep wavin' those flags, folks.

So our administration is asking for money for Iraq and everybody else and again our vets don't get anything to help with their struggles at home, but a thank you letter and hope you get well, amazing that somebody else had the good sense to think about them.

It's always somebody willing to remember our disable and needy heroes from Bushes war.

Yep. Same shiZit, different day. People need to wake up and see what this administration is doing to our vets. And the GOP needs to speak up MORE. The only reason they're getting ansy now is b/c the administration is blaming THEM for being fiscally irresponsible. I'd say can you believe that?! But then, look at who we're dealing with.

YEEEEHAH.

ECK once again ignores my call for he/she to petition for a new discussion thread for all who hate BUSH. Instead, he/she continues to publish hate posts under under the 'war on terrorsism' thread thus poluting this forum with propaganda when it should be entertaining thoughtful discussion.

ECK.....standup like a man/women and admit that all you do is hate one man.

I dare you to try and create a left-wing-america-hating-self-loathing thread under which you and your cohorts can be haters of USA and clear the rest of us to discuss rationally the real terrorists.

Ah shucks.....maybe you not only hate yourself......you hate the fact that you have a small penis and you blame....wait.....George W. Bush for that too.

Originally posted by darth ruin
Ah shucks.....maybe you not only hate yourself......you hate the fact that you have a small penis and you blame....wait.....George W. Bush for that too.

If this is all you have, please take your comments elsewhere. You add absolutely nothing to this conversation.

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Aww. They're fighting for budget appropriations to fight more wars.

They need frsh meat. Why would they take care of useless ex-soldiers?



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