Here’s what makes me nuts: anyone who publicly questions the so called War on Terror or dares to characterize our involvement in Iraq as a debacle of astronomical proportions is accused by the Right of not supporting our troops. I can’t think of any gesture that is more supportive of the troops than a careful examination of the ever-worsening situation over there and a desire to make sure that the sacrifices of life, limb, and sanity these men and women are making are not in vain. But that has little to do with the yellow-ribboned “Support Our Troops” movement which has become a PR juggernaut worthy of Joseph Goebbels. Who in their right mind is going to disagree with that sentiment even if we all know that the term is not really about the troops at all but is a barely disguised euphemism for “Support the Bush Administration’s Policies That Are Putting Our Troops in Harm’s Way.” The truth is that it is not the people who oppose the war who are failing to support our troops. No, it is the very administration that many of the yellow-ribboned “support our troops” conservatives so revere that is consistently giving a big “fuck you” to our servicemen and women. We’ve seen so many examples of this over the past several years, whether it’s inadequate protective gear, shoddy mental health services, or frequently delayed furloughs, but the story that was in the news this week really takes the cake.
It is a longstanding practice of our volunteer army to offer signing bonuses to new recruits as an incentive to join up. Based on certain skills that the volunteers bring to the table, these bonuses can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Now word comes that many veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan have been asked to repay parts of their signing bonuses after severe war injuries prevented them from completing their tours of duty. Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, among others, are calling for legislation that will guarantee that such bonuses won’t be reduced, as if common sense and common decency aren’t enough to prevent such an appalling practice. How dare you get your legs blown off over there, young man, now give us our money back!
The embarrassed military is saying that this is all a big mistake and that they won’t make these people pay up, but veterans are popping up all over the country to say this has happened to them. Earlier this month a soldier who was partially blinded by a roadside bomb in Iraq told the press that the Army asked him to repay $2,800 of his $7,500 enlistment bonus because he had only completed a year of his three-year service. The 21-year-old New Yorker received the bill in late October and a week later got a notice that he would be charged interest if he didn't make a payment within 30 days. A 20-year-old medically discharged soldier in Washington State got a threatening letter a week after she returned home. The letter warned her that if she didn’t repay $2,505.70 of her enlistment bonus, the Army would send a bill collector after her. The Department of Defense said that the amount she owed was considered the “unearned portion” of her bonus.
Are Democrats like Schumer and Clinton making political hay out of this issue? You bet they are—why shouldn’t they? Meanwhile, there's a whole new slew of "Support Our Troops" Christmas ornaments you can order online, many of them featuring snowmen and teddy bears in army fatigues. You gotta buy them, it's the only patriotic thing to do! (Did I mention most of these ornaments were made in China?) Here’s the only slogan that I’d like to see on my Christmas snowman:
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS: BRING THEM THE FUCK HOME!
If I could set this on a loop I would. Well put sir. As Benjamin Franklin said in 1776, "Those who would give up some of their liberty in order to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Posted by: Fornya | November 27, 2007 at 05:57 PM
Three cheers for you, Danny. I was not aware of this story and it absolutely blows my mind. I'm taking it to my Peace and Justice meeting Friday morning where everyone around the table will be as shocked and angry as you are. Where are the columns and the editorials about this? Have I missed them or is this just one more case of the media failing to report all the horrors of this war? I'm so proud of your passionate voice!
Posted by: Mama Betsy | November 27, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Well said, Danny. If I was a bumper-sticker kind of person, I'd have one made up. I am a button-wearer, however.....
Posted by: By Jane | November 28, 2007 at 10:31 AM
Amen. I hadn't heard about the repayment of the signing bonuses thing. I'm so embarassed for our country. How sick is that?
Posted by: churlita | November 28, 2007 at 10:44 AM
Thank you, Danny. I've taken the liberty of forwarding your blog entry to just about everyone I could think of. It makes me want to cry. But then, so many things these days does that.
Posted by: Barbara | November 28, 2007 at 11:00 AM
I soooo agree! Last week Keith Olbermann, among others, had a wounded soldier on his MSNBC Show that was going through a similar thing---the Army asking for their money back...!! Just as they went on the air, word had come down that this was a Big Mistake...'Sorry if it caused you any stress...'
Well, this soldier was happy to hear that, BUT, he said, they have to continue fighting so that THIS stops happening to so very many other soldiers....It is ALL incredibly horrendous!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | November 29, 2007 at 09:00 AM
Bravo for this. I, too, didn't know of the bonus repay story. The 'support our troops' slogan has made me ill for years. Any thinking person would see through the propaganda and recognize it as a simple tactic to keep this administration's policies alive and active. So glad you state it so clearly and succinctly.
Posted by: deezee | December 03, 2007 at 09:45 AM
have those ornaments made.
sign me up for a few.
tout seul
mother of a deployed soldier
Posted by: tout seul | December 04, 2007 at 07:32 PM
I don't know how these people sleep at night. I am so pissed off about those bonus dollars being charged to soldiers, and what can we, the people do? Wear a button?
I really think we ought to get rid of Cheney and then Bush, war mongering idiots who are getting rich while others suffer. I just wish our leaders in Congress would truly represent us, the people and not the multinational corporations who are all profitting from the war. The press is a big joke...liberal, my ass..they are owned too. It shows everyday.
Posted by: Judy | December 05, 2007 at 07:16 AM