An act of ‘betrayal’ (Bush thanks vets)

[central scrutinizer]

Maybe not exactly breaking news, but the article was published today, November 11, Veteran's Day, so I felt it could go in LBN

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2386496.php

excerpt:


Commissaries and the Defense Department’s stateside schools are in the
crosshairs of Pentagon budget cutters, and military advocates, families and even
base commanders are up in arms.

Defense officials notified the services in mid-October that they intend to close 19
commissaries and may close 19 more, mostly in remote areas.

At the same time, the Pentagon is finishing a study to determine whether to close
or transfer control of the 58 schools it operates on 14 military installations in the
continental United States.

The two initiatives are the latest in a string of actions by the Bush administration
to cut or hold down growth in pay and benefits, including basic pay, combat
pay, health-care benefits and the death gratuity paid to survivors of troops who
die on active duty.
end excerpt

much, much more in article - worth reading on Veteran's Day

[sam sarrha]

1. If this keeps up Who will join the Army? I think the National Guard is on

the way out. The Army doesn't really want the Draft.. they only accept about 30% of the people who want to join.:shrug:

[MidwestTransplant]

2. I think some DUers should sign up for posting accounts on

Army Times and GINGERLY jab the admin. over this and everything.

[jonoboy]

3. why spend money on schools and things

when you can get a nice shiny missile for a few million.
Besides they look really spectacular when they blow up.

[Voltaire99]

4. Note Col. Kidd's furious outburst!

When enraged military officers say they're going to "march on Washington," it may be time to put a protective cordon around the capital.

Eliminating schools on bases is the very essence of the cynicism in our government: it regards these soldiers as canon fodder. Why educate them, in other words, when they're so transparently seen as being expendable?

[Lars39]

5. Another angle: Some of these bases attract military retirees.

There's a lot of military retirees in Paris, TN because of its proximity to Fort Campbell. I know of folks that drive about 2 hours one way so that they can get their prescriptions filled and shop at the commissary and PX(or is it BX?). These retirees will be very pissed if/when these bases are closed to them. Lots of Dem. votes to be picked up there.