Be kind, this is my first post here.

Chimp's occupation isn't popular with anyone.

Hey Jonah!

Thanks for posting this! As a former VET, it sounds about right too. It's so sad to think that something as simple as "informing yourself" is all the difference in judgment on MOST topics.

Military personnel are usually so busy doing their DUTY they rarely have time to read up. I hope their families will do it for them. And we TRUST our GOVERNMENT is not selling us out to the highest bidder too!! grrrrrrrr.

Unfortunately, it's not just the reading up, Dawn.
Soldiers have been told to shut up or get negative evaluations.
There was a rather chilling change in the command climate starting January 2001. The Rumsfeldian military is not a good place to be, if you happen to think for yourself, or even just tell the truth.
Think about the generals who have been fired because they told Rumsfeld that Iraq would be a disaster.
I doubt if there has been much of a change since Gates took over. Not with what has been coming out about the Fundies trying to brainwash the recruits and the cadets.
Military families need to speak up, because these kids can't. Not without repercussions.

Posted by Butte on December 26, 2007 at 08:39 PM

I totally agree about how things change with each administration. When Carter lost it ALL went to HELL. I had planned to stay another 4 yrs but decided HAIL NO not under PUG control.

Glad I got out when I did. RAYGUN SUCKED!!

I was a drilling Reservist during Reagan's acting role as president. I was on the CETA program going to technical school. That was back when lady mechanics were considered "non-traditional", but my time in the WACs proved to me that I have absolutely no skill as a clerk-typist. Reagan killed CETA and dumped us on the street. Fortunately I had enough training to get my technical certificate, and used it to get a job with a rent-a-car agency and get off welfare, later I had a chance to go Active Duty Reserve (AGR).
Reagan said CETA cost too much money, but I've paid a lot more back in taxes than what that training cost the government, not to mention using that training in my AGR positions.
The Repubs like to spend money on "defense" but the bulk of the money goes to the defense contractors, not the soldiers.

And they said "moral" was low during Clinton. Looks like 3 and 4 tours "Nation Building" in the Middle East is not that popular. Who knew? Cheney was right... in 1992. I think the troops would do more good on the Mexico border.

"...And you don't want to be in a country if they don't want us there," says Bruce Bartley, 65, of Fredonia, N.Y."

perhaps there is this reason? if the bush war in iraq winds down/ends, then the bush-cheney no bid contractor/donors to the bush repub party would cease to be able to donate generously to the repubs. since we taxpayers foot the bill, our finest pay in blood and tears, and the bush repub party reaps rich donations from their no-bid contractors reaping a fortune from taxpayers and soldiers, why would bush-cheney & donors want us out?

Ya'll are sick,
I KNOW my family supported me and my gov't, just as I'd hope you'd support your family member. You can believe the media all you want but most of us join the military for a reason and you can rest free knowing you can continue because of us. P.S. No One twisted my arm into saying that

Ya'll are sick,
I KNOW my family supported me and my gov't, just as I'd hope you'd support your family member. You can believe the media all you want but most of us join the military for a reason and you can rest free knowing you can continue because of us. P.S. No One twisted my arm into saying that

"Ya'll are sick"

actually quite sane.

"our finest pay in blood and tears..."

implies support for our soldiers... a real caring.

what were we doing sending 150,000 to iraq? afganistan is where osama was. osama caused this mess and he wasn't an iraqi. suggest you check the leadup and realize that bush-cheney-donors knew the value of oil and soldiers came a distant second along with the planning and the armor and the weapons and the intelligence.

my message is support our troops with actions, not words... asking our family, aka soldiers, to put themselves in harms way for our security is what america understands.