Does Bush really support the military?

[seaj11]

Could somebody tell me if Bush really supports the military? I know somebody who's only voting for Bush because he feels that Bush will build up the military and so he'll get paid well when he gets into it (in 4 years). Thanks.

[cubsfan forever]

1. No, he's a Chickenhawk! n/t

Professor 2

[Beaverhausen]

2. Sure he does! Who else can he send over as cannon fodder

to protect that sweet Iraqi oil?

[killbotfactory]

3. Short Answer: No

Long Answer: He supports the military industrial complex. The soldiers he doesn't care so much for.

no more bush

[G_j]

4. Bush's WAR Against The Military !

Bush's War Against The Military

by Ian Williams, In These Times

For a wartime president, Bush has abused his soldiers at home and abroad.

http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/1401 /
http://www.tompaine.com/opinion/#002436

George W. Bush so often invokes his nominal title of “commander in chief” at veterans’ rallies, on military bases and during presidential debates that he now appears like some latter-day caudillo. But his claims to be a commander of any kind in any serious way are a figment of his imagination.

Discounting that he sent American troops into Iraq on false pretenses, a real commander would fight for the welfare of his troops. But Bush has demonstrated a consistent unwillingness to do so, and as a result many high-ranking officers have endorsed Kerry, including retired Navy Adm. William Crowe and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. John Shalikashvili.

Bush has failed the military on almost every level. While Halliburton and Boeing went to the bank this year with about $10 billion each, undermanned U.S. forces went into Iraq without armored vests and driving unarmored vehicles. The fatal results were hidden from public view as the dead were secreted home and the Department of Defense (DOD) obscured and juggled the numbers of maimed and wounded.

Once back in the United States, veterans found no federal welcome mat laid out for them. By April this year, one in six veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan had filed benefits claims with the Veterans Administration for service-related disabilities. These figures do not include those troops still serving and are twice the number the DOD Web site says suffered “Non-Mortal Wounds” in those conflicts. Today, one-third of those claims, almost 10,000, have yet to be processed. Further, Bush’s 2005 budget will cut 540 staff members of the Veterans Benefit Administration, which is the office that handles the claims. The outreach department that lets vets know of available services also was instructed in a 2002 memo by a deputy undersecretary in the Veterans Health Administration to run in silent mode to flush out people who had not made claims out of ignorance.

..more..

[seaj11]

8. thanks so much

That's an excellent article, and the discussion on it is intelligent. I hope this will sway my friend.

[G_j]

10. some people can't believe

Bush would betray the troops ..wrong.

You're welcome, I hope it does some good.
& a belated welcome to DU!

[Downtown Hound]

5. Of course he does! He served them turkey!

[meow2u3]

6. Bush supports the military, all right

In body bags!

[Vickers]

7. Pay raises don't mean shit when you're on patrol in a non-armored Humvee

I put up with this mindset when Ronnie was in office.

[Stephanjnj]

9. He supports them so much.....

....he can't bear to see them go when the hitches are up. Officially it's called a "stop loss" order, and it's use by a President indicates one of two things (or both):
1. Retention rates under Bush suck.
2. The military's ranks are spread too thin because of Bush's war in Iraq.

Th outcome is the same -- individual servicemen/women have their enlistments extended on a less-than-voluntary basis. It might be more catchy to label it as the Bush Enlistment-Plus Program!