SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

5/01/04

I’m tired of people calling it treason to disagree with Dubya’s policies. After all, half of the people in this country think he is wrong and his policies un-American. We’re astonished that only half of the country agrees he is duplicitous, incompetent nit-wit. We don’t expect to change the minds of the other half.

However, we should all agree upon one thing. The brave young men and women serving our Country should receive all of the help, support and respect we can give. We should give all the equipment needed when they go into harms way. We should give he wounded or injured the best medical care possible. Their families should be well cared for. Promises should be kept.

Wounded Marines complain they weren’t given enough ammunition to defend themselves. Our guys and gals are getting killed riding around in unarmored humvees. Some GI’s had to get safety gear from home. It is unconscionable that adequate equipment is not available.

Similarly, injured soldiers were placed in substandard housing, while waiting months for medical appointments. We are not dealing fairly with veterans of this war, the first Iraq war, Viet Nam or any other war. It is nearly impossible to get prompt treatment from the Veterans Administration because of funding cuts.

Our people were told they would be welcomed as liberators in Iraq and that they would come home in a few months. Then they were told they would serve a year in Iraq. Now, some are told to stay months longer. Morale of our soldiers and their families is suffering. We have an obligation to treat them better.

Let’s give them what it takes to do the job and get it over with, or say we’ve won and bring them home. Frankly, I think it time the politicians (Republicans and Democrats, alike) admit their mistakes, apologize profusely and persuade the United Nations to take on the task. They should stop playing games with the lives of our young people.