Spending Bill Leaves Veterans and Troops on the Raw End of the Stick

Spending Bill Leaves Veterans and Troops on the Raw End of the Stick
by John Waltz

It seems as though the Iraq military spending bill (H.R. 1591/S.965) was a steaming train headed straight for an inevitable crash. Looking at the bill initially many complained or championed the Iraq war withdraw time table and paid no attention to the added extras better known as pork. For instance, there was $74 million to pay for the storage, handling and other unspecified costs of the 2007 peanut crop and $500 million for quick suppression of wildfires. While these might be worthy items, they are nothing more than bait to get votes.  

This bill was intended to fund our military and get much-needed funds to our veterans. Our country is only getting one side of the story, war is meant to be ugly, which should motivate those in power to use political, and diplomat skills to end it but the military should be allowed to do its duty until they resolve it any other way…

The politicians in DC are too busy pointing fingers and waging their own personal wars while neglecting our brothers and sister in harms way. One question that should be asked of our politicians is what exactly is their job? In our education, we learn our Congress is to make laws and last time we checked no one appointed them to the role of field general. We should have learned from our past mistakes such as in Vietnam. Wars are to be fought and led by our generals’ period.

Congresswoman Pelosi says it was her duty to sign the bill because it was her responsibility to the constitution and the American people not to mention vital to national security. The logic in all this seems to be flawed and to expand on this further Senator Reid said, “A veto means denying our troops the resources the strategy they need.” This is a deviant ploy with the attempt of making the President look bad if he vetoes the bill but in reality, the withdrawal timetable should have never been included.

Meanwhile, the Republicans have been completely silent on this issue, which makes them just as guilty. They claim that they are for the troops and veterans but they are not standing up and using every opportunity to expose the wrongs.

After September 11, 2001 our country was united much like, it was during World War 2 now only to see it divided deeper then ever in our history. CNN’s Michael Ware makes a valid point saying, “All of this squabbling gives our enemies a hands up and is advertising our domestic weaknesses.” This plays right into our terrorists hands.

Our active duty brothers, sisters, and veterans are the ones who are all stuck in the middle of this much like a child with divorced parents. Whether you are for or against the war, we all as Americans should truly support our troops. It is time to stop the politicking and finger pointing to ensure our veterans and troops get the funding they need and deserve.