As I celebrate the day watching and listening to fireworks, I feel as though the most patriotic among us keep their feelings to themselves and the ones who could care less talk the talk. To illustrate that idea is a timely and important editorial in the Army Times:
Army Times - Community - Military FamiliesIn recent months, 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 from the nickel-and-dime treatment the troops are getting lately.
For example, the White House griped that various pay-and-benefits incentives added to the 2004 defense budget by Congress are wasteful and unnecessary — including a modest proposal to double the $6,000 gratuity paid to families of troops who die on active duty. This comes at a time when Americans continue to die in Iraq at a rate of about one a day...
Comments (1)
Lovely, Bush was the one who wanted to push, what, $70 billion so he could have this war in Iraq and now he doesn't want to pay the families of the men he sent into battle. I don't think you can put a price on someone's life, and saying that $12,000 gratuity to the fallen troops' families is too much makes the White House look pretty damn cheap and insensitive.
Posted by lisa | July 6, 2003 1:20 PM
Posted on July 6, 2003 13:20