Sometimes a few statistics, as stated on Balkin today, are worth (more than) a thousand words. This excellent compilation of statistics on terrorism and our pursuit of terror suspects from Federal, Rand Corp, and other official sources puts the lie to the whole 'war on terror' and begs the question: just whom does all this expense and fearmongering serve?

http://www.latimes.com/media/acrobat/2007-11/33860990.pdf

And just to rub salt in the wound about how cynical this administration is about achieving it's 'goals' and its callous, one might say contemptuous, disregard of the men and women who are sacrificing their lives and bodies in this pointless 'war', the DoD is asking soldiers who are wounded in Iraq/Afghanistan and thus are unable to serve out ther duration of their enlistments to pay back their signing bonuses:

http://kdka.com/local/military.signing.bonuses.2.571660.html

Truly, we have met the enemy, and he is us.

Regards,
Nydia

Brigadier General Michael Tucker, deputy commanding general of Walter Reed has now stated that army policy "is that soldiers who are wounded in combat or have line of duty investigation injuries... we will not go after a recoupment of any bonuses they receive." Recouping bonuses, he said, "doesn't pass the common sense test."

This doesn't mean that bonus balances owed would be paid, however. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA) has introduced a bill that would require the Pentagon to pay bonuses in full within 30 days of discharge for combat-related wounds.

And just to rub salt in the wound about how cynical this administration is about achieving it's 'goals' and its callous, one might say contemptuous, disregard of the men and women who are sacrificing their lives and bodies in this pointless 'war', the DoD is asking soldiers who are wounded in Iraq/Afghanistan and thus are unable to serve out ther duration of their enlistments to pay back their signing bonuses:

http://kdka.com/local/military.signing.bonuses.2.571660.html
This is just all kinds of fucked up. I really dont even know the words to convey my disgust with this. Unbelievable.

Too busy hyperventilating to check for updates I guess.

http://kdka.com/kdkainvestigators/Iraq.veteran.bonuses.2.592432.html

Too busy hyperventilating to check for updates I guess.

http://kdka.com/kdkainvestigators/Iraq.veteran.bonuses.2.592432.html

Yes? What is there in your link that refutes anything in Nydia's links?

The gist was that the military folks, who are offering bonusses to entice young men and women to go fight the Bush-Cheney war, are wanting to renege on their offer of the bonus if the soldier is wounded in that war to the point that they cannot complete their term of service.

Seems to me they should have a clause that if the person is wounded to an extreme that they cannot complete their term of service that they should receive DOUBLE the bonus.

And I am not even hyperventilating as I write this, Akipt. :D

When the WTC bombings are taught historically, and posterity brings America's actions to judgement in the so called "war on terrorism", I do believe Guantanamo Baywill be the blot that will prevent students from viewing it all as anything beyond a human rights scandal.

I really don't mean this to be some Jeddish, anti-American piece of propoganda - but as a student of history, and having studied in depth many historical events, this is the sort of thing posterity will judge America by. Mostly because of the irony of such democratic, freedom loving ideals America supposedly boasts.

Asking for recoupment is beyond reprehensible. wont buy for a moment that this isnt something initiated at the highest levels either. knowing well the purse string would be growing tighter for thier "War" I can well see the Overfurher concocting this as a way to stretch the Haliburton...errr i mean military budget.
saw a bumber sticker the other day had me rolling and sums it up quite well

"Never thought I'd miss Nixon"

What part of "It was a mistake he got that letter" do you people not understand?

It's the government. Get used to it, since most of you want it to control more and more of your lives.

Seems to me they should have a clause that if the person is wounded to an extreme that they cannot complete their term of service that they should receive DOUBLE the bonus. Hell triple the bonus and the GI Bill money for college as well. Best money the govt could spend.

When the WTC bombings are taught historically, and posterity brings America's actions to judgement in the so called "war on terrorism", I do believe Guantanamo Baywill be the blot that will prevent students from viewing it all as anything beyond a human rights scandal.

I really don't mean this to be some Jeddish, anti-American piece of propoganda - but as a student of history, and having studied in depth many historical events, this is the sort of thing posterity will judge America by. Mostly because of the irony of such democratic, freedom loving ideals America supposedly boasts.I don't think so, at least I'd hope not. I think that, especially following Vietnam and recent revisions to history books, we've become better as a society about talking freely about history. Our books, while still watered down, do relate slavery, military errors, and the mass murder of Native Americans.

The bigger fear for me would be if Gitmo never becomes the past, the war of terror does end in a realistic period, and this just becomes "the way things are."

What part of "It was a mistake he got that letter" do you people not understand?What part of "the government that has a documented history of screwing over vets since the war in Iraq began is claiming that it made a mistake after a whole bunch of negative press" raising skepticism is confusing?

Just because the government says something is so, doesnt mean that it is, especially with this government.

What part of "the government that has a documented history of screwing over vets since the war in Iraq began is claiming that it made a mistake after a whole bunch of negative press" raising skepticism is confusing?


Sorry, That doesn't hold water with me.

The government has been doing this kind "Mistake making" since the Vietnam War.

Its inherent in all beaucracies, the left hand rarely knows what the right hand is doing.

"since the Vietnam War" ? Vets have been screwed since the first battle of two nomad tribes.

Their sacrifices could never been be paid in full. But we've come far since Napolean's colored ribbons.

But we've come far since Napolean's colored ribbons.

You still get those...

I believe what has folks riled is that this kind of underhanded crap goes on all the time with this government, and when it is brought to the public's attention, the government folks try to skate away with "aw, shucks, my bad.....won't happen again". And of course, it always happens again, in either the same form, slightly modified, or whatever new brainchild some policy wonk comes up with to save Uncle Sam money and screw those who fight for him.

I believe what has folks riled is that this kind of underhanded crap goes on all the time with this government... What administration has been immune to this type of thing? "It happens more with Bush" Unconvincing.

Intentional policy? No way. Screw up... more likely.

I think what we've been seeing more and more over the past few decades isn't actually a fundamental change in politics. Instead, I think we've been seeing the result of a change in the pervasiveness of information and near removal of the barrier to entry in the media.

You can't take a dump these days without someone putting it on YouTube before you've even finished. I wouldn't be surprised if the corruptibility of politicians hasn't changed one bit since it all began, but we're made more acutely aware of every transgression.

I really wonder how some of our esteemed historical figures would fare in today's media.

You can't take a dump these days without someone putting it on YouTube before you've even finished. I wouldn't be surprised if the corruptibility of politicians hasn't changed one bit since it all began, but we're made more acutely aware of every transgression. Same thing with 24 hour news channels and the missing woman of the week. Crime has dropped over the last 30 years, but you'd never know it watching CNN.

Reminds me of the Crimean War.

For the first time, a reporter was attached to the British Army. Despite the fact that British and French armies defeated the Russian's in every engagement, and captured the main port in the Black Sea, everyone seized on the poor conditions of the soldiers, the want of care, sanitation and the "appauling" death rate.

It ignited popular imagination, scandal, and interest.

But no one in the army could understand it - for centuries this was how war was fought. Sadly this is what the Crimean War is remembered for - the terrible way in which it was fought. Nevermind the fact that Britain and France managed to impose a crushing defeat on perhaps the mightest empire since Napoleon.

The power of media is born.

Having spent the better part of the last 6 years bouncing between Federal Active Duty, and tradition Guard Duty status; let me tell you something. It is the exception when they *don't* screw up your pay when your status changes. This last tour was the first time I managed to get through something without having to launch a pay inquiry because the government was somehow screwing me out of cash.

Them accidently asking for the money back is completely believable. Likely what would have happened is it would have been caught somewhere along the way. Sadly it would likely be after the Army took the money back, then they would give it back, but it would of course cause undue hardship on the soldier. No excuse, just an explanation. This isn't some scheme by Bush & Co. to skimp on the DoD budget. It's simply the army's rather shitastic accounting system. (Which is getting better, but obviously still has problems)

My housemate is former Army, and her husband just joined.
She was relating to me some of the pay problems they have been going through, and it reminded me of a rule of thumb I used when dealing with Army Finance:
Whatever will have the most negative impact on the soldier, will happen.

If you were expecting a pay raise, it wouldn't happen till after the next 2 pay cycles.
However, if you were gonna have a drop in pay, it would go through on the next pay period about to happen.
Very rarely was I wrong when applying this, LOL.