To my fellow reader whose boxers are in a knot over my disparaging, but true, remarks about five-deferments Dick: I remember well that Bill Clinton inherited a $4 trillion debt from 12 years of Reagan-Bush Sr. rule. I also remember that after paring down some of the irresponsible, excessive spending on the military-industrial-complex he was able to hand the great decider a balanced budget.
Apparently, you are so obsessed with Bill Clinton's sex life you have forgotten everything that came before and after. Since you're hell-bent on discussing morals, care to discuss Sen. Larry Craig, Sen. David Vitter, Rep. Mark Foley or the multi-philandering Newt Gingrich? These fine gentlemen are all big-time pro-military spenders.
Fast forward to the present. We have more than $9 trillion in debt that my granddaughter will be paying on. Defense contractors are enjoying record profits as their CEOs rake in millions. The CEO of Hall/Burton makes $30 million annually while an army private makes $25,000 - for the privilege of being fodder for the Bush-Cheney war machine. That may seem patriotic in your world, but certainly not in mine.
As you may recall, one-third of our service people were sent into battle without proper body armor. They were furnished with Humvees, also lacking adequate armor. Troops had to forage for scrap to provide some semblance of protection. Some troops are on their fourth and fifth tours of duty while others that have been wounded in battle have had their health problems down-graded and returned to battle.
On the homefront, let us not forget the shame of Walter Reed. Veterans are being denied benefits due to a new tactic by the military in which their post-traumatic stress disorder is labeled a pre-existing condition, as veteran suicide soars. Under the GI Bill, guardsmen who serve more than 730 days are eligible to receive $894 per month for up to 10 years, plus educational funding. In Minnesota, 1,162 guardsmen's orders were written for 729 days - one day sort of qualifying for full benefits. Is this supporting the troops? Yes, military spending is up, but soldiers and veterans are not a priority in this administration.
By the end of my previous letter, your blood pressure must have been so high that you lost your ability to comprehend. No where did I say or remotely imply that our veterans "are not worth anything." My intent was quite the opposite.
My source for the approximately 1 million homeless veterans was "Washington Journal," a daily current events program on C-Span. Information in this letter was culled from various articles in Newsweek, The Nation and The Progressive Populist.
Since you're such a stickler for sources, perhaps you can share with us your source for the allegation that Bill Clinton "proudly stated he loathed the military." Heck, you just made that up!
