Libs to the rescue again - John over at Americablog raised 5 grand for this guy in an hour. Conservatives only love our troops as props to make money and gain power.
Posted by at February 8, 2006 04:27 AMY nly lv thm fr thr tlty s prps t pddl yr psn. Dfntly h ws shftd by clrcl vrsght nd shld hv trd hrdr t gt t rslvd, bt nstd cvd nd thn wnt cryng t mmm nd th prss. T typcl.
[Editor: ignore=off]Definitely he was shafted by a clerical oversight and should have tried harder to get it resolved, but instead caved and then went crying to momma and the press. Too typical.
Oh, that 'ditto, just dripping with compassion. "Too typical"? Wow, guess you showed what you really think of the troops. Now clean off that yellow ribbon magnet.
And in other news of blatant neglect, did you read that the mayor of New Orleans is thinking of asking for foreign aid since Bu$hCo is failing to come thru on promises? Gee, who'da thunk it.
Posted by Sharon at February 8, 2006 05:33 AMOnly you can prevent troll damage, by not responding.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 8, 2006 05:41 AMBTW, Ed Schultz on AAR was all over this yesterday for his whole segment.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 8, 2006 05:42 AMLeadership through antedotal evidence. Typical liberalism.
Obviously this is a stupid occurrence, but since it is not uncommon for governmental officials to act stupidly, then I'm not surprised.
Examples of such stupidities does not mean what you want them to mean. I know you like to play the drum beat as much as you can to stir up the "natives" but these ignorant examples are not typical although perhaps common.
For those of you who served, I imagine you could give dozens of stories of regulations that seemingly made no sense.
So quit using antedotal evidence as proof of your superior intellectual patriotic "truthiness".
Republicons don't support the troops. They abuse the troops. Their little yellow (a fitting color indeed) magnets should read "Abuse Our Troops."
If only Benditover and Crappydiescum could be roadside whacked instead of these courageous young Americans, the world would be a far more pleasant place.
Screw the poor and send em to war...its the GOParasite way.
Posted by God Of War at February 8, 2006 05:55 AMSharon, remember when other countries volunteered to help NOLA and Bushco refused, because there was no way for Halliburton to get a cut of the money?
Or how about when the returning soldiers were put in Quonset huts without screens on the windows in Ga, in August?
Or how a more superior brand of body armor, paid for by the soldier was banned, and soldiers were threatened that their families would lose their insurance if the soldier didn't wear Bush's crony's brand of inferior body armor? Of course these guys don't like the soldiers, they want them dead, so they can't tell the world what it's really like in Iraq.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 8, 2006 05:57 AMpessimist and everyone, If you ever need more constant up to date material for Veterans issues, this site is invaluable!
Thank you so much for keeping the issue of our Veterans in the forefront of our readers!
Everytime I volunteer at the VA hospital, I'm wiped out emotionally.
Older Veterans not getting what they deserve, newer Veterans not knowing where to start!
Maybe carpe and David who haven't served will be motivated to get their chickenhawk asses over to Iraq right away! carpe, when will your children be serving for King George's noble cause?
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[Editor: ignore=off]If anyone would know about retarded intellect, it would be the ubercoward Bendito, who most assuredly speaks from experience.
Posted by God Of War at February 8, 2006 06:42 AMWith the wasted amounts of money going to other areas of the military I cannot think of ONE soldier not being deserving of body armor. Of course I'm trying to talk to someone who doesn't even know that the term government issue means GI!!
Truly pendejo or as I've always addressed you "Bendejo"! What a dick!
Posted by bbtb at February 8, 2006 07:09 AMI got this e-mail from my sister from DoD at CENTCOM the other day. She is as wingnut as can be but when it comes to spending and waste she draws a line:
I will say that it isn’t the administration destroying the Army; it’s the Army destroying the Army. And it is true there is plenty of fiscal waste, but as it pertains to the military, most of the waste comes from within the military. From my personal perspective, probably 50% of the money provided to commands is either used for purposes other than that for which it is intended or frittered away. There was an article in the newspaper the other day that SOCOM’s budget is being increased by billions. They recently spent millions – yes, millions – on renovating their building. At the same time as they were spending millions of dollars to make the building look good, to include full glass doors with the SOCOM logo etched on it as well as the logo engraved on the marble floor at the entryway, they were screaming for more money to complete their mission. And don’t even get me started on the dinners with dignitaries at government expense… how about a dinner for 17 at $1,400, which included 14 bottles of wine! Now that’s government waste, but the administration doesn’t know about it because the approval and legal review is done at the command level… and how many lawyers will tell their boss what he doesn’t want to hear? But, as I have been told repeatedly by one of the base contracting officers, the government (meaning the institution rather than any particular administration) has never been about saving money – it’s about following rules and regulations.
Unfortunately, it’s always been like this, and it probably always will be. And it isn’t just the military, either. Congress is all about spending money that doesn’t need to be spent… both parties.
My argument with her is how can it not be the Administration's fault!
She has even reported the mal feasence and been told not to rock the boat. One time she called for a self audit of her dept. All kosher, so her conscience is clear!
bbtb, I remember when our squadron was having a hail and farewell in California; they sent two F18s to Maine to pick up lobster for the event. The money never trickles down to the soldier, believe me.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 8, 2006 08:32 AM"Antedotal evidence"?
Best moronic use of a word today, demonstrating the true intellect we are dealing with here.
The "antidote" to evidence is the Bush administration.
Posted by Repack Rider at February 8, 2006 08:44 AMcoyote, Yeah it's unbelievable on what is spent and wasted. But when a grunt or GI knicks a Humvee or even a Tank the damage is coming out of that poor soldiers paycheck.
I've seen charges brought up against privates who had to lose about 4 paychecks to simple little scratches. When it's MP's or a higher authority who do the damage they are always covering each other asses.
I've seen rollovers of Humvees and no charges. Then a guy backing in a garage hits a small cabinet and he has to pay.
What a waste of some good attitudes as well. It can be the difference between a lifer and single tour of duty!
What a waste of some good attitudes as well. It can be the difference between a lifer and single tour of duty!
Exactly right, bbtb.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 8, 2006 09:01 AM"Despite the “bureaucratic snafu,” as Rebrook calls it, he holds no grudges. “I love the Army,” Rebrook said. “I love my soldiers. I loved being in it.”" Sounds like Rebrook understand that it's just a REMF snafu and it will be cleared up. I'm betting that the snafu probably was cleared up before this story broke. Of course we but we wont hear that in the MSM or on this site. FYI the unit supply regs/rules are a bit down in the weeds than I think Rumsfield is personally responsible.
Posted by at February 8, 2006 09:38 AMIf anyone really wants to "support the troops" do it through an NGO.
My wife and I recently made a donation, in the name of my Nephew who is in the Navy, as a wedding gift to Fisher House.
They are doing great work, with an overhead of only 6.6% (admin/fund raising).
Obviously this is a stupid occurrence,
One stupid occurrence is not the problem. It's the sum of the stupid occurrences that is. As long as you compartmentalize the occurrences in this fashion you are fine. Head back in the sand.
Inquiring minds want to know: Are you encouraging your kids to go to Iraq? Or are you hoping they'll campaign for Newtie again?
the rounds were only travelling about 300 yards
Hey! Those were no bid rounds! You're really on a fine edge when bitching about this stuff. And I think you're almost anti-American for complaining about something that could impinge on corporate profits.
You must remember the Neo-Con motto:
America second, me first.
Posted by phidipides at February 8, 2006 09:59 AMAnon, It's always cleared up after the fact. After the insult has been added to injury. Injury for your country no less. Let's make a soldier go through more emotional crap he doesn't need. No empathy indeed.
The article also quoted Rebrook as knowing many more soldiers who the same thing has happened to.
It's not until the MSM picks up an article that justice is done. What is the logic in that? Is that really where the fraud, waste and abuse is going...when a soldier and his gear is blown up!
Supply the link to the debt being erased or shut the fuck up!
Posted by bbtb at February 8, 2006 10:04 AMNow the Army is adivising you on how to marry; coming from experts I'm sure?
Posted by bbtb at February 8, 2006 10:13 AMbbtb, a few years back, the Navy was trying to recruit only nonmarried people because they didn't want to pay for housing, health care and babies. It didn't work. Now they recruit criminals. I wouldn't let my kids anywhere near the recruiting office. Not with these psychopaths in charge.
Posted by iamcoyote at February 8, 2006 11:00 AM"Anon, It's always cleared up after the fact. After the insult has been added to injury. Injury for your country no less. Let's make a soldier go through more emotional crap he doesn't need. No empathy indeed. The article also quoted Rebrook as knowing many more soldiers who the same thing has happened to. It's not until the MSM picks up an article that justice is done."
Bbtb, well not always. Remember the armour problem that Rummy swore he would address? Nothing has changed.
Posted by Judith at February 8, 2006 01:11 PMJudith, Your right, it might get more exposure but sometimes the issue is never resolved.
It's like my sister said then; " Unfortunately, it’s always been like this, and it probably always will be. And it isn’t just the military, either."
"The article also quoted Rebrook as knowing many more soldiers who the same thing has happened to." Funny no mention of "many others" in the two articles I could find on the subject. Can you help me out? I can understand that there might be a few soldiers who are given bills for personal equipment that is asigned to them and they neglected or couldn't turn it in at the time of seperation. FYI when you are given equipment you have to sign for it and take responsibilty. The military must account for lost, stolen, or damaged equipment and this situation is definately not the norm or we would have heard about those "many more soldiers" before this time. I think that Rebrooks situation is unique and not systemic. I feel foolish pointing this out because I know that most of you are military experts and already know how the "system" works and in this case doesn't work.
Posted by at February 8, 2006 02:29 PMI find your remarks not knowing of military matters. It must be a common practice or happens more often than you know.
During the build up for the 1st Iraq excursion, I had to sign out a few thousand dollars worth of equipment. We (The Big Red One) loaded it at the railhead, and it was sent to Kuwait or Saudi Arabia.
In between, I was discharged for a bad back and other misc. ailments. I asked about the equipment and was told not to worry about it. However, 3 years later, while recovering from back surgery, I get a bill in the mail for $3,500 dollars from the U.S. Army.
Needless to say I argued my point and after 6 months it was cleared up.
Gee, maybe it's just bad luck! For anybody to have to go through it, it's a horrible nightmare!
Funny no mention of "many others" in the two articles I could find on the subject.
Prove us really wrong. Join up, go there, and then report back. Seems a simple solution to me.
Posted by phidipides at February 8, 2006 07:28 PM"...the military has no way of knowing whether this soldier absconded with government issue that could well be needed to protect another life."
Jayzus, the sonofabitch had his fucking arm blown off, for God's sake.
Posted by spaghetti happens at February 8, 2006 11:30 PMUpdate: Just saw this young man on Fox News and guess what? The matter was cleared up as of yesterday. Also he arm was not "blown off" and he has full use of it. bbtb you of all people should know (given your experience) that these things are cleared up after some time, it's just the nature of the beast. Also the guy used to intern at Fox News, likes OReilly, and understands why the system failed. Also phidipides, been there, done that, and got the tshirts to prove it.
Posted by at February 9, 2006 04:40 AMGlad it got cleared up so quick, see the power us liberals have.
I also heard a report his arm was not blown off but that he still did not have full range of motion yet. Good for him, maybe the story was written to add the drama.
It still doesn't deny the existence of added stress to injury upon discharge.
Also phidipides, been there, done that, and got the tshirts to prove it.
Then you know it's like a big rock concert. T-shirts and all. Everyone has an armored HumVee, and the people throw roses at your feet.
The Chinese bill the family of an executed prisoner for the bullets the firing squad uses. I think there is a precedent. What's wrong with our charging our soldiers for lost equipment? It seems rather enteprising and since we are an ownership society we need to take owenership of our things and responsibility for our actions. It's so unbelievable. But quick question --- how much can we charge the Administration for losing the War?
Posted by Michael Rose at February 10, 2006 11:09 AM