[Aren't you a smarty pants. Not-Sitemonitor]

That is truly fu*ked.

Our government never stop shocking the conscience.

Both parties need to be run out of town on a rail.

Dr. Matt @ 3:

Where is the [fake] outrage from the "pro-military" [sic] reich-wingers?

Never happen, even the trolls will avoid this thread.

Unforgivable. What did I buy all those yellow ribbon magnets for my SUV anyhow?

Dr. Matt @ 3:

Where is the [fake] outrage from the "pro-military" [sic] reich-wingers?

Same place the fake national MSM is.

Dr. Matt @ 9:

Pope Todd @ 6:

Dr. Matt @ 3:

Where is the [fake] outrage from the "pro-military" [sic] reich-wingers?

Never happen, even the trolls will avoid this thread.

Never. They will somehow figure a way to blame Clinton, the ACLU, abortion, or "terrorist-luvn' libruls".

Actually, they'll claim all colleges are liberal, and why should they have to pay for someone else to be prosletyzed.

Also soldiers who get an education might be future Democratic candidates.

FedUp2Here @ 10:

Dr. Matt @ 3:

Where is the [fake] outrage from the "pro-military" [sic] reich-wingers?

Same place the fake national MSM is.

They're with rush, attacking 12 year olds.

Liam @ 13:

AP - Guards in a security convoy opened fire on a car at an intersection in central Baghdad on Tuesday, killing two Iraqi Christian women then speeding away, police said.

The USA Mercenary Protocols.

You may execute Women and Men, on the spot, if you deem them to be guilty of Driving While Iraqi, on the roadways of their homeland.

Still waiting for the people of Iraq to thank us with Flowers and Sweets!.

Malaki's complaints were about blackwater killing shiites and Sunnis. He didn't say they couldn't kill Christians.l

Support the troops! But not with proper armor, training, supplies, benefits, health care and education... just slap a magnetic ribbon with a pointless slogan on the back of your SUV! [Made in China of course]

22 months? Jesus...

Any less time spent over there would have been an insult to their service.

And this isn't the first time they've tried this type of BS. Remember this one:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/08/14/MN94780.DTL

It would be one thing if they were pinching pennies to buy more armored vehicles or body armor, but you know this money is just going straight to another fraudulent contract with Halliburton.

Ron @ 14:

FedUp2Here @ 10:

Dr. Matt @ 3:

Where is the [fake] outrage from the "pro-military" [sic] reich-wingers?

Same place the fake national MSM is.

They're with rush, attacking 12 year olds.

Attacking or buggering.

But maybe the little prepubescent bastard has a wide-stance.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but Norm Coleman is a MN Senator. Not for long. Keep pressure on these politicians including Amy Klobuchar and all other legislators to make all these matters on the war correct.

FISA
Troop Educational Benefits
Ending the War,

and much more. When is a 3rd Party going to step up that can actually make some moves that the American people demand. I don't see anyone. Let's get Kucinich a larger platform to speak on, he's the only candidate that truly has a vision. Who can force Russ Feingold to run.

what's more pathetic;

the fact that this is a national guard unit and doesn't belong in iraq in the first place?
the fact that our government is short-changing them?
the fact that we continue to do absolutely NOTHING about it?

This story broke last week. Let's see if any of the major outlets give it the attention that it deserves.

If a soldier went home one day before his tour was up, I'm betting he would be in big trouble.

this is how they support the troops?!

Typical.

This amounts to phoney support for the troops.

ysbaddaden @ 21:

I think it was McArthur (possibly Patton) who attacked WWI vets who were protesting for their military pension in Washington DC.

It was McCarthur. When the veterans marched on Washington and set up tent camps to get their bonuses before the 25 year wait was up (because of the Depression) he rode in with infantry and cavalry and dispersed, beat, and arrested his fellow veterans, against orders. Great soldier.

What makes this even worse is the amount of our tax dollars that is going to pay Bush's private militia! What the hell are we going to do? The militia gets the best equipment while our soldiers get crap.

They are screwing our soldiers: if you manage to make it home alive you still won't get a college education. If you are married to someone who is not yet a citizen, they will be deported. If you need medical care we will supply the minimal amount we can get away with. If you say or do something we don't like you may be found dead with a bullet through your head and we will blame it on insurgents.

Anybody want to guess how many illegal "criminals" we have running around this country who are employed by one of Bush's militias? It is common knowledge that they take anyone, from any country who is willing to fight and kill without worrying if it is a man, woman or child. Nor do they care if the target hasn't a weapon. And these guys are paid enough that they can live like kings while our men and women in uniform get crap.

Military members....have you finally had enough? It is time to refuse to fight. It is time to prepare so when Bush declares martial law and has his militia patrolling the streets you can defend this country. You will be needed here to protect our citizens from this corrupt administration.

Guys volunteer and join the military. In return for their service they are promised perks. One of those perks is help paying for their education. These guys, whether it's one or one hundred of them, carried out their part of the deal. Now the military plays with the rules so that they can deny one of the perks. That's wrong no matter what business you're in.

Doggiebobo @ 19:

The article in True Randomness should and does cause most of us great concern, however,
it would also be of great interest to me as to just how many of the 1,162 Minnesota
Nat. Guard members allegedly being deprived of "full educational benefits" were actually
intent upon and had made plans to attend college/university. Yes, the "one day short"
of needed requirements certainly sounds unjust and needs to be rectified, but what if
(hypothecially) only 1 or 2 or 3 percent were making plans to further their eductions...
would this "story" then receive much or any attention??? Just asking.

What if (hypothecially) that isn't the point?

Remember Cheney's 1 percent doctrine? Well, if that's good enough for Dick, it ought to be good enough for the poor bastards who enforce the policy.

this sure reads like donald rumsfeld still has his office in the pentagon. to phuKKK over those soldiers in that way is beyond unconscionable. I am certain that booscheneyCo approved it.

Swashbuckler @ 43:

Del Mintz @ 30:

This story broke last week. Let's see if any of the major outlets give it the attention that it deserves.

CNN had interviews with both sides on their morning show today.

I posted the video on YouTube last week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjRXn67RQ8Q

BaScOmBe @ 49:

JM @ 8:

Unforgivable. What did I buy all those yellow ribbon magnets for my SUV anyhow?

because they were cheap?

Made in China?

MargeAggedon @ 18:

Support the troops! But not with proper armor, training, supplies, benefits, health care and education... just slap a magnetic ribbon with a pointless slogan on the back of your SUV! [Made in China of course]

99cents each, plus tax!

Fanon @ 51:

Doggiebobo @ 19:

The article in True Randomness should and does cause most of us great concern, however,
it would also be of great interest to me as to just how many of the 1,162 Minnesota
Nat. Guard members allegedly being deprived of "full educational benefits" were actually
intent upon and had made plans to attend college/university. Yes, the "one day short"
of needed requirements certainly sounds unjust and needs to be rectified, but what if
(hypothecially) only 1 or 2 or 3 percent were making plans to further their eductions...
would this "story" then receive much or any attention??? Just asking.

Well, what if only 1 or 2 per cent were planning on furthering their education? Should they be denied that b/c it wasn't a large per centage of their platoon that was planning on going to college? What if before they went to war they weren't going to go but say, got inspired by medics that treated their buddies and decided 'hey, when I get home I want to be a nurse'. Why shouldn't they be able to? Because some paper pusher shorted their orders (on purpose) to make them ineligilble? That is just bull!

\
Agreed. See my number 41 above....

"Where is the [fake] outrage from the “pro-military” [sic] reich-wingers?"

The same place they were a few years ago when members of the Ohio National Guard went to military prison after having to "borrow" spare parts so they could have equipment that works.

Members of Congress spoke out in support of them at the time but in the end two of them served six month sentences. One was denied one day early release so they could spend Christmas with their family.

Anyone else remember all this?

Agreed. See my number 41 above....

Saw it, sorry to yell. I agree it would be interesting to know how many want to go. It would also be interesting to know if this is happening to other Guard outfits.

My above was to Doggiebobo.

pissed off patricia @ 42:

Guys volunteer and join the military. In return for their service they are promised perks. One of those perks is help paying for their education. These guys, whether it's one or one hundred of them, carried out their part of the deal. Now the military plays with the rules so that they can deny one of the perks. That's wrong no matter what business you're in.

in booshrummychainey world, everyone is some type of sucker. or target. or cannonfodder. or expense. or victim. or victim-to-be.

Fascist States of America @ 56:

"Where is the [fake] outrage from the “pro-military” [sic] reich-wingers?"

The same place they were a few years ago when members of the Ohio National Guard went to military prison after having to "borrow" spare parts so they could have equipment that works.

Members of Congress spoke out in support of them at the time but in the end two of them served six month sentences. One was denied one day early release so they could spend Christmas with their family.

Anyone else remember all this?

that was a purely repug congress/senate then. let's hope it's different now. let's see what murtha, webb and others say and do.

AbbeyHoffmansGhost @ 38:

ysbaddaden @ 21:

I think it was McArthur (possibly Patton) who attacked WWI vets who were protesting for their military pension in Washington DC.

It was McCarthur. When the veterans marched on Washington and set up tent camps to get their bonuses before the 25 year wait was up (because of the Depression) he rode in with infantry and cavalry and dispersed, beat, and arrested his fellow veterans, against orders. Great soldier.

Killed some babies too, if I recall.

The troops are constantly getting kicked in the teeth by this Reslug party.

When I was still in graduate school I got a letter from the Veteran's Administration telling me that my benefits would end on a certain date not because I had used them up, but because they had timed out. After Vietnam Congress decided that they didn't want the G.I. Bill to be an open ended commitment, so they decided that if the benefits weren't used within a certain amount of time, you were cut off, even if you were still in school.

It didn't force me to drop out of school, but I'm sure that it effected a lot of other people who delayed their education for one reason or another. Never depend on any government benefits because they can change the rules on you whenever they want.

JM @ 8:

Unforgivable. What did I buy all those yellow ribbon magnets for my SUV anyhow?

Still hard to believe this guy has had such a major impact on American Foreign Policy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2tZREt17Cc

michael @ 62:

Our troops come home to a declining economy, gas prices at record high, inflation escalating they might just ask for another tour back.

after four tours in Iraq, my cousin#1 is retiring from the military

after three tours in afghanistan and one in Iraq, my cousin#2 is going to be thinking about retiring from the military.

after three tours in Iraq and three purple hearts , my friend's son is not going back to Iraq.

The msm and asshole pundits will tell you that americans are not paying the price for the war. I'm tired of that crap. look at the national debt, the national economy, New Orleans, the price of gas/oil/home heating/utilities, the price of food, etc. I know that we are paying quite tangibly for all that they have done and continue to do.

First, I want to second the comments of #37 Johnny2Bad (& #55 BaScOmBe).

As far as the topic goes, this is just another brick in the wall of indifference, and a slap in the face to the men and women who have the guts to put their lives on hold, put their lives at risk, and serve their country.

This is just another disgusting chapter in a book of failures (author[s]: Bush, Cheney, and the majority of Republicans). And sadly some so-called Democrats.

It makes me SICK.

Snafu

Gesundheit

Gregorio @ 76:

Wake up Johnny2Bad

As a former Marine Corps officer I would like to see I saw this one coming a long way off, and it amuses me no end. Denied educational benefits? They are now being educated by this SNAFU. People who willingly subject themselves to the whims of criminals and do their bidding by spreading democracy with the barrel of a gun, are usually beyond learning to begin with, are incapable of looking before they leap, or are reluctant to do so, preferring instead to cloak themselves in the tattered garb of the patriot rather than informing themselves about the whole affair. The war could not be prosecuted without the unquestioning obedience of these dipshits. If it was 3 or 4 years ago, maybe I could see how these guys were getting short-changed, but this long into the affair, no way. They're getting the very thing they should have expected. Use force to support a criminal administration, and you lose consideration for how shabbily you're treated by this same administration.

I disagree with you as to "willfully" serving in Iraq. In this particular instant, these guys/gals
were in their respective State Nat. Guard units and were "called up" to serve; not as if they
enlisted in the active military for 3 or 4 or more years. Being required to serve, leaving
their families and jobs is a much, much different situation than voluntarily enlisting.

..... I bet the mercs don't have to worry about buying food stamps when they get back...... This cesspool just doesn't really have any bottom to it does it.... Fucking bastards!!! Thy name is the Bush administration........ There really isn't any war on the cheap either, even when you pinch it out of good citizen soldiers pockets... Rummy's idea was/is/will remain just another in a long line of lies coming from these sorry excuses for Americans... Leaders of the nation?? Hardly... Republican leaders are more like real weapons of mass destruction actually... Destroying the nations economy, the ecology, military morale, the nations reputation and it goes on an on... And now? Even the average military service members post service future and the promise of educational assistance which, truth be told, WAS the big carrot in all this for people out of school and work to entice them to join in the first place...... Good luck making those enlist goals next quarter Gunny................PFFT, I would never sign up for this shit under these conditions.... Not now.... If what they are doing to that guard unit from Minnesota isn't a form of distruction, the distruction of those peoples future and future plans, you tell me what the hell it amounts to....Then tell it to those guards men and women who just got this shaft rammed up their asses...JD

Gregorio @ 76:

Wake up Johnny2Bad

As a former Marine Corps officer I would like to see I saw this one coming a long way off, and it amuses me no end. Denied educational benefits? They are now being educated by this SNAFU. People who willingly subject themselves to the whims of criminals and do their bidding by spreading democracy with the barrel of a gun, are usually beyond learning to begin with, are incapable of looking before they leap, or are reluctant to do so, preferring instead to cloak themselves in the tattered garb of the patriot rather than informing themselves about the whole affair. The war could not be prosecuted without the unquestioning obedience of these dipshits. If it was 3 or 4 years ago, maybe I could see how these guys were getting short-changed, but this long into the affair, no way. They're getting the very thing they should have expected. Use force to support a criminal administration, and you lose consideration for how shabbily you're treated by this same administration.

I don't believe you were ever in the Corps. No Marine would ever call his brothers "dipshits" or "jackasses". You are a liar and a fraud. I call you on your transparent troll B.S.

If he were alive, my GySgt. father would kick your coward's ass.

Take it back over to FreeRepublic.

Doggiebobo @ 72:

Carmikl @ 71:

When I was still in graduate school I got a letter from the Veteran's Administration telling me that my benefits would end on a certain date not because I had used them up, but because they had timed out. After Vietnam Congress decided that they didn't want the G.I. Bill to be an open ended commitment, so they decided that if the benefits weren't used within a certain amount of time, you were cut off, even if you were still in school.

It didn't force me to drop out of school, but I'm sure that it effected a lot of other people who delayed their education for one reason or another. Never depend on any government benefits because they can change the rules on you whenever they want.

Personally, when I went to school on the G.I. Bill(having served in the Korean conflict), I
was made aware in ADVANCE as to precisely how much my monthly benfits were to be
and exactly within what time-fame I had to complete my education, therefore, I knew
that I must complete my schooling within a know period of time. Guess things changed
subsequently.

And maybe I missed something in the small print, but after Vietnam the G.I. Bill was revised several times, actually including pay raises making it actually enough money to be beneficial. I'll try to find my actual benefits award to see if there's anything I missed, but I know it surprised me at the time. I'm a bit of a packrat, so I know I didn't throw that out.

While pathetic and horrible, this is no surprise and nothing new. As a member of the Navy, I received food stamps back in '75. Also qualified for what was then a very restrictive Earned Income Credit. Nothing changes - they promise the "moon" to get you to enlist, drop trou and turn around when you get out.

But - if it weren't for VA Health, I wouldn't have ANY coverage whatsoever and I thank my lucky stars every month when the disability check gets posted to my account. I would definitely be homeless without it.

Doggiebobo @ 70:

DaveE @ 68:

pissed off patricia @ 42:

Guys volunteer and join the military. In return for their service they are promised perks. One of those perks is help paying for their education. These guys, whether it's one or one hundred of them, carried out their part of the deal. Now the military plays with the rules so that they can deny one of the perks. That's wrong no matter what business you're in.

This practice (or something very similar) has been around in the military for a long time. Members have been assigned to a unit overseas for 179 days (180 days will get you credit for an overseas assignment), flown back to their home base for a week, then reassigned to the same unit and flown back for another 179 days. That can go on for quite a while. One could spend literally years overseas without being given official credit for having been there.

It smacks of "good lawyering" rather than fairness. (With apologies to any attorneys among you).

I am not questioning the factuality or accuracy of above, but I sure would like to see some
proof/evidence that this is and has been an established practice. Certainly was NOT the
case when I served.

Was fairly common in operational aircraft units with no permanent, common overseas presence. (e.g B-52D and EC-121) and may have had a practical aspect to it. As a rule, these units were fairly specialized and may not have had enough permanent manning to populate both locations. I was assigned to a unit that has some permanent ppl and a number that rotated out every 179 days (to avoid that overseas assignment credit.) To be honest, most of them liked the travel and didn't object but all were aware of the limitation.

It was a two-edged sword. It could be a good thing or a bad thing. Some units were deployed without notice (even to their families) during VietNam then kept there for 179 days.

"They predict this glitch will be fixed..."

"Glitch" my ass. Take that, GI Bill!

What mystifies me is that enabling this brigade to become eligible could have been used as a recruiting tool. The military could have had these guys making the rounds to encourage enlistees to come forward, because they would be living, breathing examples of how the US military would come through on its end of the bargain. Our current crowd of leaders seem to know the price of everything and the value of nothing, as this sad episode reveals yet again.

This isn't the worst of it.. What about this?

22,000 US Soldiers Denied Healthcare
by R o o k
Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 12:45:45 PM PDT
The Pentagon has informed thousands of American soldiers in Iraq that their Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was a pre-existing condition from before they ever joined the military. In other words, NO TREATMENT, NO INSURANCE, NO NOTHING!

And if that isn’t holy-fucking-shit awful enough for you, American soldiers suffering brain injuries while in Iraq are being told that also was a pre-existing condition.

More than 22,000 soldiers serving in Iraq have been kicked out of the US military entirely – booted from a war zone straight to the streets – for seeking treatment for the psychological effects of combat and brain injuries. Now, they’re jobless, without medical coverage, and in immediate need of medical treatment that Bush’s Pentagon/VA absolutely refuses to provide.

That is really really shameful. Along with Walter Reed, Pat Tillman, etc.

It says 730 days... not 729 or 729.5!

Damn freeloaders!
Those National Guard people,
just trying to scam the system and
get something for nothing.

NavyVet @ 98:

Gregorio @ 76:

Wake up Johnny2Bad

As a former Marine Corps officer blahblahblah

You, sir, are no former Marine, officer or no.

Nope.

Isn't it funny when you get these assh*les posing as vets? Now that's a "phoney soldier" (I mean, Marine)

Shameful. Can't the Bush administration and the folks in the Pentagon get at least one thing right?

Johnny2Bad @ 96:

Doggiebobo @ 90:

hit_escape @ 88:

It seems obvious to me that this is pay-back for failing to re-enlist for another tour. In other words, "if you don't re-enlist, we cut you loose one day early, sucker! How da ya like us now?"

Johnny2Bad @ 96:

Doggiebobo @ 90:

Uh, not really. It depends. They got a bum deal but you don't have it 100% right.

They all know they can be called up:
"The Army National Guard of the United States is a component of the United States Army. Maintained by the National Guard Bureau, units are under command of the state's governor. When the unit is federalized, the unit falls under the command of the President of the United States. Like the United States Army Reserve, many members usually serve "One weekend a month, two weeks a year", although many members also serve full-time in order to maintain units, and many units have become more active in military operations in recent years. During World War I, the National Guard provided 40% of the US Army's combat forces. Guard membership doubled in 1940, and provided 19 divisions during World War II. Later, 138,000 guardsmen were deployed for Korea, and many other smaller deployments. After September 11, the Army National Guard has been used extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq." -More

Be reminded, these were Nat. Guard guys/gals from Minnesota...NOT military personnel
who voluntarilly signed up and enlisted for tours of duty in the active military service.

Uh, not really. It depends. They got a bum deal but you don't have it 100% right.

They all know they can be called up:
"The Army National Guard of the United States is a component of the United States Army. Maintained by the National Guard Bureau, units are under command of the state's governor. When the unit is federalized, the unit falls under the command of the President of the United States. Like the United States Army Reserve, many members usually serve "One weekend a month, two weeks a year", although many members also serve full-time in order to maintain units, and many units have become more active in military operations in recent years. During World War I, the National Guard provided 40% of the US Army's combat forces. Guard membership doubled in 1940, and provided 19 divisions during World War II. Later, 138,000 guardsmen were deployed for Korea, and many other smaller deployments. After September 11, the Army National Guard has been used extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq." -More

But after Korea, and during Vietnam, the Guard was known as a pretty good place to avoid actual combat. George W. Bush knew that. It is indeed ironic that George W. Bush, who used the Guard to avoid combat, has now thrown so many guardsmen into combat.

Remember when Kerry was lambasted when he flummoxed a joke regarding boosh's education, and it was somehow taken as an insult to the intelligence of the armed forces?

Well isn't this shorting the vets of educational benefits the reich-wing's way of keeping them that way?