A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by George Pearson, U.S. Navy, Retired

George W. never served in combat, Dick Cheney never severed in uniform, and Donald Rumsfeld, who retired as a Navy Captain, never saw a day of combat. These are the men sending our sons and daughters into harms way, being guided by the ‘hand of God’ to liberate Iraq? And now, Republicans all over the country are accusing John Kerry of not supporting the troops? Here is George W.’s administrations record on supporting the troops.

• Invaded a souvenir country under false pretenses and put 135,000 men and women at extreme risk (998 dead and nearly 7,000 wounded as of 9/7/04.)
• During the initial invasion of Iraq, many units speeding toward the capital city only had one meal and two quarts of water per day. The administration denied it, but my son, a Navy Corpsman with the U.S. Marine Corps was there. His unit was one of many in that situation.
• Military vehicles were not properly armored causing the dead and injury of many of our soldiers. Body armor was donated by police departments in Florida but still sit in a warehouse in New Jersey. The military won’t ship it to the troops because it because to do so would force the administration that were ill-prepared for this war.
• Wounded soldiers, some with amputations and other life-threatening injures were being charged part of their monthly income to pay for their stay in military hospitals, most notably, the hospital in Germany where most went for initial treatment.
• George W. et al would have taken away hazardous duty pay, combat pay, and family separation allowances for our men and women currently serving in Iraq because Mr. Bush had declared “Mission Accomplished” and his administration didn’t see the need for continued combat pay.
• The Department of Defense has called up National Guard, Reserve Components and even the Ready Reserve (men and woman who have fulfilled their obligation and had left the service) and sent them to Iraq and Afghanistan. When they return to the U.S., they find that they have lost their jobs, missed promotions, or lost their ability to return to their jobs due to amputations and other serious wounds. According to the Secretary of Defense, $354.00 per month is adequate compensation for the loss of a leg, a man livelihood, and his family’s welfare.
• Our men and women risk their lives daily for an average of $1,600.00 to $1,800.00 per month, depending on rank, while the private contractors of Halliburton and subsidiaries are paid 3 to 4 times that for less risk, better living conditions and a way home whenever they decide things are just too hot to handle in Iraq.
• George W. and his staff have decreased the number of VA hospitals and clinics, decreased the funding for VA medical centers and refused to sign a bill that would make VA funding mandatory on an annual basis. So, while this administration is increasing the number of people needing VA services, his administration is decreasing funding and availability of services to the very veterans being created.

This is only a small sampling of examples of how our President ‘supports the troops’ and his has the mendacity to accuse John Kerry, and the Democrat Party of not supporting those he has sent to war.

Mr. Bush, you should be ashamed.

George Pearson, U.S. Navy, Retired
Covington, WA

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION