interdictor ([info]interdictor) wrote,
@ 2007-10-06 11:16:00
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Neocons HATE Soldiers, More Evidence
National Guard Troops Denied Benefits After Longest Deployment Of Iraq War

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.


This administration is disgusting.

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[info]ignis
2007-10-06 06:21 pm UTC (link)
SIlly politicians and their ways to save money.

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[info]jdigital
2007-10-06 07:24 pm UTC (link)
Oh man, that's cheap. It's like they want half of the army to up and quit or something.

How long now until we get "rumours on the internets" of a draft again?

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[info]sparksinsmoke
2007-10-06 07:59 pm UTC (link)
That is shameful! Or it would be if they could feel shame.

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[info]karenkay
2007-10-06 08:26 pm UTC (link)
Amen.

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[info]montieth
2007-10-06 09:15 pm UTC (link)
Because we know the president makes these sorts of decisions on a daily basis. He sets the narrow hours at the DFAC too ya know.

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[info]juxta_poser
2007-10-06 09:27 pm UTC (link)
From my personal experience in the military, it is the Republicans and not the Democrats that give COLA adjustments and raises to our armed forces. Do the research and find out how long it had been since the military had a pay increase before Reagan.
Also, after the Bush Sr. regime, Clinton did an across the board Pell Grant split. I was in college and we all had our grants cut by 50%. I had a full ride and it became a 1/2 ride. This happened to everyone at my University at the same time. Then, everyone received pre-approved Stafford Loan papers. They had always been for upperclassmen only, but now a first year freshman had easy money.
I do not defend this current administration. On the contrary, I deplore it. With that being said, Vote for Ron Paul.

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[info]squidb0i
2007-10-06 09:42 pm UTC (link)
lol.. yeah, vote Ron Paul, the Libertarian, so ALL student assistance gets cut.

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[info]ikilled007
2007-10-06 10:24 pm UTC (link)
I specifically used the word "administration" and I am pretty sure some fucking E-4 PAC clerk didn't unilaterally decide on 729 days for the orders.

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[info]montieth
2007-10-07 09:38 am UTC (link)
Most likely it was someone at the O-6 or higher level at the Pentagon or at Force Com who made the decision on the time constraint who is utterly unrelated to the administration and who is a career staffer in the Army. Such are the legacy of Secdef Westmorland.

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[info]ikilled007
2007-10-08 01:19 am UTC (link)
No fucking way that decision was made at that level. No fucking way.

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treason by leaders...
[info]thepunkpanther
2007-10-06 10:12 pm UTC (link)
as a retired soldier with combat time... I am amazed that the u.s. govt. hasnt had to deal with allout revolts by there own troops. [its a very bad idea to screw over your own army...]

sigh....

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Re: treason by leaders...
[info]juxta_poser
2007-10-06 10:40 pm UTC (link)
Viva Justinian!!!

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Re: treason by leaders...
[info]commonreader
2007-10-06 11:00 pm UTC (link)
At least there's something to look forward to.

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Re: treason by leaders...
[info]thepunkpanther
2007-10-06 11:28 pm UTC (link)
know what? they made it onto SuicideGirls !! woohoo!! now that takes special talent and accomplishment.

http://suicidegirls.com/news/politics/22434/

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[info]k_kinnison
2007-10-07 04:12 am UTC (link)
there is one born every minute, and most of them become republicans.

It just goes to show that people care more about what sound bite, or talking point is used then actual action

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[info]montieth
2007-10-07 09:48 am UTC (link)
Something that occurred to me driving back from dropping a friend off at Fort Benning this evening, GI Bill benefits (perhaps the basic beneifts?) aren't tied to deployment duration. Other benefits are, but GI bill benefits are connected with active/guard/reserve enlistment.

What benefit are they talking about? Of course, the benefits he's talking about could be state sponsored/funded (or aren't unlike other states which have some VERY cherry benefits for their guard troops).

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[info]babalon_it
2007-10-07 08:17 pm UTC (link)
That is so incredibly fucked up I don't even know where to start.

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[info]roninspoon
2007-10-08 05:08 pm UTC (link)
I had some real mixed reactions when I saw that article last week. Well, not mixed so much as, different shades of disappointment. At first I was outraged, and then shortly after than well in to a melancholy, "well, that's fucking typical."

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[info]ninjacooter
2007-10-08 10:54 pm UTC (link)
I found out this weekend that my stepfather who fought in Korea has had his VA benefits cut off.

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[info]calion
2007-10-20 01:42 am UTC (link)
This is nothing new. When I deployed to Desert Storm, my orders read 179 days, one day short of qualifying for Veteran status (at that time; I think it's changed to a year now), and getting Veteran's benefits, like VA medical care. Luckily, those orders also read "unless sooner released or later extended" and we got extended by three months, so I DO qualify for Veterans' benefits. It's a cost-saving measure. I'm not saying that this doesn't suck, but it's not this administration's doing, in particular; it's been Pentagon policy since time out of mind.

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long time
[info]impdad
2007-11-27 03:39 am UTC (link)
I have not been here in a very long time. I joined when Katrina hit to keep up with what was happening in New Orleans. Seeing the way things have gone is tragic.
Please let me know what I can do to help. I can help financially but hesitate to give money to outfits like the Red Cross - I worked there for 7 years and am familiar with how they manage money. Can I help anyone close to where the original flooding hit?

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