glacierdog

I don't think that in today's world, it suffices to simply wait for someone to come knocking on our door before we take action. We will never stop the turmoil in the middle east. It is simply rooted to deep in the cultures. But I'll be damned if we should just sit back and allow a country that openly despises us to secrectly develop the means to wreak havoc. Iraq has been defying the terms of the UN's resolution for over a decade. Again, how many times did they have to "amend" their "complete and honest disclosure?" And again to the lunch deally. Target them? As far as I can tell, the only people who will be targeted by this are the ones who are abusing the system. All I see coming from the Bush administration is an increase in accountability. You want to use government sponsored handouts? That's fine. Prove you are eligible. That's what these things are here for. And tax cuts for the rich? I can't even pretend to understand tax law, so I've got nothing to say about that.

Look, I know as well as anybody that the military is anything but efficient. It's a gigantic, money swilling machine. But fact is, we need it. I personally try to do my part to minimize waste. And I can tell you, we get audited CONSTANTLY. We've got a fella who may be facing time in the brig for losing a $5000 part. People are held accountable for unreasonable losses. So hears where you say, "what's unreasonable and who decides that?" I don't know how to reduce defense spending. And, quite frankly, I'm pretty sure you don't either. And aside from that, I don't see what the one has to do with the other. Because we're wasting money on something as paltry as NATIONAL DEFENSE, we should continue to do so in another situation that someone has come up with a perfectly reasonable solution for?

God bless America, right DFA?

HAHAHAHHHHAAA

I don't see how this is a problem at all. For the people who genuinely need the program, it will just be a matter of a little extra paperwork. And for the people abusing it, well, lotsa luck. It's a simple and obvious way to weed out some of the leeches.

Hell ya. The past ten years have revealed lie after lie. How many "complete and total disclosure document" amendments did Iraq give to the UN? I don't know the exact number, but it was more than 2. Ridiculous that it was allowed to go on this long. Wish me luck, people.

Well, gents, I'm gonna be gone for a while. I might get the chance to visit the site a time or two when I get where I'm going. Till then...

Next time, just start gnawing your arm off. They should get the hint and leave.

amen.

You got me there. Of course, James Bond has always been played by an American....

You got me, snoboy. The last one stirred up such a hornets nest, I couldn't help but try for a second. About the letter, I am well aware that he is a whiney son of a bitch. I don't agree at all that we aren't compensated. I recieved a good deal of training that would have cost me years of loan payments in the civilian world. If we die defending the country, our families recieve a quarter million dollars. The 4.1%, repeat 4.1%, raise we recieved seems perfectly reasonable to me. I'm just fishing for different perspectives on the matter, and I came across this letter. Whether it is bullshit or not matters little.

What's the matter jason? Jealous? Take your sexual frustration elsewhere.

Go airman! Military pay article: On 12 Nov, Ms Cindy Williams (from Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year -- citing that the stated 13% wage was more than they deserve. A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for this! "Ms Williams: I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest leave and earnings statement (LES), I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through Windows' Calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after. I work in the Air Force Network Control Center (AFNCC), where I am part of the team responsible for the administration of a 5,000-host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year, nor does it pay less than this. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions. Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively) as being a further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again, I'm curious as to where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both slashed 15% in the Hill AFB area effective in January 00. Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off AFDC, WIC, and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN, I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience." As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone -- obviously they've been squandering the vast piles of cash the DOD has been giving them. Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a DFP (Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day foxhole), shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor. Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your op-ed piece. But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it. You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies. And you, Ms Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve? Rubbish! A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC"

Optional .50 cal?? I'll take one. It'll make moving down I-5 a heck of a lot more fun.

Good one sisu. I'm sending that to some guys at work.

Who says we're not wanted? I'm sure the people not affiliated with the Taliban are more than happy we showed up. Women are starting to get some BASIC rights over there. Way I see it, we have the ability to help right some of the more terrible injustices in the world, and therefore, we also have the responsibility. Indifference just doesn't cut it.

All the way trask. Really, if you're going to bitch about something in the United States, take a trip overseas. Spend some time in Thailand. Here, there are so many people with different opinions WHO HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOICE THEM, that there is always reform occuring. We are a constantly evolving country, and that is why we are strong. So bitch about the government all you want. The fact is, without Uncle Sam looking out for all you spoiled, whiney little shits, you would be speaking another fucking language.

My mistake RobBob.

Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 16:12:36 EST\ From a Marine in Bosnia. Note the signature A funny thing happened to me yesterday at Camp Bondsteel (Bosnia): A French army officer walked up to me in the PX, and told me he thought we (Americans) were a bunch of cowboys and were going to provoke a war. He said if such a thing happens, we wouldn't be able to count on the support of France. I told him that it didn't surprise me. Since we had come to France's rescue in World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and the Cold War, their ingratitude and jealousy was due to surface at some point in the near future anyway. That is why France is a third-rate military power with a socialist economy and a bunch of faggots for soldiers. I additionally told him that America, being a nation of deeds and action, not words, would do whatever it had to do, and France's support was only for show anyway. Just like in ALL NATO exercises, the US would shoulder 85% of the burden, as evidenced by the fact that the French officer was shopping in the American PX, and not the other way around. He began to get belligerent at that point, and I told him if he would like to, I would meet him outside in front of the Burger King and beat his ass in front of the entire Multi-National Brigade East, thus demonstrating that even the smallest American had more fight in him than the average Frenchman. He called me a barbarian cowboy and walked away in a huff. With friends like these, who needs enemies? Mary Beth Johnson LtCol, USMC

Colin....you spoiled little American. You need to do some traveling and see how most of the rest of the world lives. America is a work in progress. It is not perfect now, nor will it ever be. Maybe the drug and prostitution laws here can be reformed or capital punishment abolished...but not everyone agrees that they should, and ultimately in a democracy it tends to get sorted out. If this were a dictatorship, and you were in charge, we could it have everything JUST YOUR WAY. Right now, you're just 1 in 280 million, afloat in a sea of many visions of how things should be, and if you care enough, and convince enough people that you're right, there is a possibility things might change. So go ahead and post your little laughing gremlins, talk about how lame this country is (which is your right), but keep in mind how lucky you are to be able to bitch and initiate change. - Dwayner All the way, dwayner. I'm glad that people are bitching though. That's what I fight to protect. The right to bitch.

That's pretty funny stuff. Throw in some bad guitar lyrics and it's 1965 again.