(Senator) Kennedy letter helps troops get flight home

[sabra]

http://www.wnyt.com/x9707.xml?ag=x995&sb=x183

Kennedy letter helps troops get flight home
Senator says bus ride not appropriate sign of gratitude


Sen. Edward Kennedy stepped in to make sure 150 Massachusetts-based soldiers don't have to take an 18-hour bus ride home.

Members of the 220th Transportation Company have been on active duty for at least one year in Iraq.

Eager to get home to their families, the soldiers were shocked when they were told they wouldn't be flown home, but would have to take an 18- to 20-hour bus ride from Indiana to Massachusetts because the airfare was too expensive.

The troops have been Indiana undergoing demobilization.

That's when Kennedy got involved, sending a letter to the Secretary of the Army asking that the Army fly the soldiers back to New England.

[Ian David]

1. Now they'll spend 18 hours going through airport security, though. n/t

[MADem]

2. And WHO supports the troops? TED supports the troops!!!

Where the FUCK was Mitt the Shitt Romney? Out fundraising and asskissing?

I just love that Ted...whatta guy.

[NanceGreggs]

3. "... because the airfare was too expensive."

Over a BILLION dollars per week being spent on the war THESE soldiers are fighting, and this is how they "Support the Troops".

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. Don't forget they support by cutting medical care and veteran benefits.

They don't just support the troops through busing them instead of flying. They have a wide range of ways they support our troops: insuffieient medical care, cutting combat pay, cutting veterans benefits, having them buy their own personal armor and supplies, forcing re-enlistments and constant deployment without break, not attending the funerals of soldiers, making families pay for the burials, and so on. The Republicans are constantly doing all sorts of stuff to "support" the troops.

:eyes:

[NanceGreggs]

9. And let's not forget ...

... giving troops contaminated water to shower and brush their teeth in, insufficient food, etc. -- all thanks to that no-bid contract handed to Halliburton.

What I'll NEVER understand is how WE all know these facts, and yet I never hear a Democrat (especially those currently running) saying a word about this.

If I were running in the mid-terms, I'd be dragging this information out every chance I got: "Did you know that my Republican opponent voted NO on the funding for body armour for our troops in combat, and voted YES on decreasing their pay, benefits and pensions?"

[caligirl]

13. cutting funding for the traumatic brain injury research and care they need

[rosesaylavee]

5. Good for Kennedy.

What other troops are not being taken care when they come home from their long stints in Iraq? This is ridiculous. I wonder if these soldiers were being treated that way as they came from a Blue State?

[wakeme2008]

6. I would bet all states get the same treatment,,, the military is CHEAP

under Rummy...Some Texas Army posts are having problems paying their electric bills.

[rosesaylavee]

8. No way!

So this is the new army? Thanks Rumsfeld.

[ThomCat]

7. He's a Democrat! We support the troups!

:patriot:

Republicans only pretend to support the troups.

[damntexdem]

10. A transportation brigade --

of course they can't be transported.

[w4rma]

11. They aren't going to be home long, so they shouldn't spend that time

on a bus. I'm sure the GOP leadership is sending the vast majority of them back to Iraq.

[Vidar]

12. Way to go, Ted!