Nothing but lip service ("Army Times" newspaper rips Bush & Republicans)

ArmyTimes.com ^ | June 30, 2003 | House editorial

[fightinJAG]

In recent months, President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress have missed no opportunity to heap richly deserved praise on the military. But talk is cheap

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Army Times publishing company (Marine Corps Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, Army Times, Federal Times, Defense News) is owned by Gannett. Same outfit that puts out USA Today and 89 other dailies.

[Liberty Valance]

Bump!

Liberty

[Pukin Dog]

No, you are clueless. Try giving some facts for your dispute. I know what I said to be fact, and if you dont, that is your problem. The Army's feelings for the administration are well known. It's not my fault if you are out of the loop.

[BlackbirdSST]

Like Gore or Nader would be better.

No, not better, just the SAME! Blackbird.

[Terp]

http://dod.mil/militarypay/pay/bp/paytables/Jan2003.html

[Jumper]

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas... 'nuff said. This is an interview with the political enemy of both the military and the Republicans!

[skinkinthegrass]

Gee, capping the salary increases of the lower ranks at a lower percentage than the higher ranks ought to do wonders for re-enlistments and retention of junior grade officers...I do not know if all of the numbers are accurate, but I would accept them unless I was confronted with evidence to the contrary...Perhaps they might want to consider capping or reducing the salaries of the members of Congress.

Good FIRST step & abolish ALL mindless congressional juckets, Get the troops out of the U.N. European Missions...let the Europeans handle their own backyard...tranfer the monies to the U.S. troops as pay...sunset/or vote every UN mission every 2 years...forbid any frm. congresscritter/admins. officer from taking ANY position (real prison time, heavy fines, loss of ALL retirement perks)...etc., put ALL D.o.D. spending on a 2-year budget as a start...

[skinkinthegrass]

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas... 'nuff said. This is an interview with the political enemy of both the military and the Republicans!

Really...Rep. Edwards, ('RAT-TX) and with the comments by Rep. Obey, ('RAT-MI)..."Army Times" paper owned by Gannett...liberal slant piece... again 'nuff said.

[verity]

A "million years" ago, the paper was important to most as a source of information regarding promotions and assignments. In fact, I learned of one assignment through the Army Times.

I no longer receive telephone solicitations for subscription renewal because I have been very descriptive as to what they could do with their rag.

[mark502inf]

Smedley wrote: Army Times publishing company (Marine Corps Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, Army Times, Federal Times, Defense News) is owned by Gannett. Same outfit that puts out USA Today and 89 other dailies.

Smedley has it right, the Army Times has nothing to do with the Army--it is an independent civilian owned and run newspaper. Now, for all you (come to the position of attention, Pukin Dog & PhiKapMom) who tried to make this an Army issue, the same editorial ran in the Marine Corps Times, the Navy Times and the Air Force Times. Pukin Dog & PhiKapMom, as you were.

[mystery-ak]

Where do you think Army Times got the numbers re cuts in Hostile Fire and Family Sep pay cuts....?

[M0sby]

Years <2 2 3 4 6 8 (sorry for the formatting..or lack of)
E-4 1502.70 1579.80 1665.30 $1749.30 1824.00 1824.00

Housing in JACKSON, MS (with dependants) $542.00

$542.00+$1749.00 = $2291.00 Per Month

$2291 x 12= $27,492 per year
(Add family separation if deployed of $3,000 per year (non taxable) and Imminent danger pay (if in a danger/combat zone)of about the same I think (non taxable)) and you have a Married 23 year(about) old making about:
$33,000 (gross)per year. (+I didn't put in the extra this person would recieve because of no federal taxes becasue I don't know what they would have paid)

I did this really quickly... I think it is right...

[skinkinthegrass]

..the Army Times has nothing to do with the Army--it is an independent civilian owned and run newspaper.

...and I though, the printing was outsourced...for cost-cutting reasons...and it's an independent civilian owned and run newspaper...So its' nothing more than a liberal mouthpiece...figures...no truth. :(

[Pukin Dog]

Oh shut up. Where do you think these articles are sourced? I'm still waiting for someone to dispute the FACT that Army Leadership hates the current administration. If you think that the media has gone off half-cocked without significant external sourcing for these articles, that is your problem. I stand by what I said.

[Jhoffa_]

"Help is on the way..."

[NMFXSTC]

I can tell you what the other side of the coin is...and that is the screw job the military retirre has been handed if he is disabled by service connection.

The general population is not aware of the fact neither the Department of Defense, nor the Department of Veterans Affairs even existed in 1891, as we know it today. The US Congress and the US Congress alone is responsible for the disabled military retirees having their retirement pay taken away from them. The US Congress being the governmental body that passed the law taking away the retirement pay, results in their being the only governmental entity that can pass a law returning the retirement pay.

Our military retirees who suffer service connected injuries or illnesses have their retired pay reduced by any amount of Veterans' Administration compensation they may be awarded. If the service connected condition warrants compensation of 600 dollars per month, the military member's pay is reduced by that amount! Bear in mind that no other segment of society has his or her retired pay reduced for being disabled…it is only the retired military that are so blatantly and disrespectfully discriminated against! These are the folks who gave up their most productive years in service to this nation and this is how they are treated in retirement! All others working with the US Military who are Civil Service Employees in all branches of the Government, including The Department of Defense, The Armed Forces, Senators, Representatives, and Presidential Staff draw both their full retirement pay and full VA compensation for service connected injuries and/or illnesses.

In many cases, a retiree's entire retired pay is eliminated because he or she has a service-connected disability! Is that the way we honor and care for our veterans? It seems so and is indeed the case!

Keep in mind the US Congress also passed into law it is unlawful to discriminate. However, this is clearly a case of discrimination in the purest sense and definition of the word. (Ref: US Code, Title 10, Chapter 74, Sections 1461 through 1467. Also, discrimination of any veteran (treating one or group any different from any other veteran) is addressed throughout Title 38 and is prohibited under penalty of violation of the law.)

Congress has delayed action to eliminate this disparity and disgrace for eighteen years. Every bill proposed in the congress has been shuffled off to committee where it dies and no action is taken!

Election years usually mean promises and proposals. In this case, we need none…we need action!

YOU can assist your disabled retired veterans by making congress and the president know that this discrimination and illegal denial of retirement must end now!

Call the toll free number to Washington and ask to speak directly to your United States Senators and Congressional Representatives and tell them you want “concurrent receipt” for our retired veterans passed now!

[FryingPan101]

"isn't the tone of this editorial rather strident and contentious?

We are subscribers and had the exact reaction. We were outraged. Things have sure changed over the years.

[NittanyLion]

These people do difficult duties often in spite of the pay, not because of it. But to get nickel and dimed like this is insulting to them.

How else can we make sure senior citizens get a massive government subsidy? The money has to come from somewhere, and right now it appears a prescription drug plan is Priority #1.

[Publius6961]

Well, now. If things are that bad, it is a small matter to just leave the military and go for better.
The all volunteer army is overall excellent and competent, but it does attract a significant number of whiners who just knew that actually being exposed to fighting (horrors!) was not an option.

The draft today would also be ineffective.
Since the concept of treason has been wiped from the books.

Then there's the matter of the ongoing policy since the Korean war: sacrifice somebody else's kid's life for political leverage, not to defeat the enemy.

Under those cicumstances I would refuse to fight.
I would also advise my sons not to fight.