http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldn...e/j01common.htm

 

Here it is. w00t.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldn...e/j01common.htm

 

Here it is.  w00t.

 

Hey man ... GREAT column. That is one of my biggest beefs with the current administration.

A well written, accurate column.

Congrats, LCR!

Great article! I completely agree, things definitely need to change. It is horrible how these individuals, who risk their lives for others, are being treated.

 

Congrats to you!!

Congrats Apu!!!

That's hot. Good job and congrats!

Some mod you are, toot your own horn and don't even print it...

 

Congrats... But now I have to read the article and hate your antiAmerican, antisemite ass some more.

And for anybody who wants to do something -- http://booksforsoldiers.com/carepackage.html

 

They have a message board and contact info for soldiers in Iraq asking for basic stuff like shampoo etc.

And for anybody who wants to do something -- http://booksforsoldiers.com/carepackage.html

 

They have a message board and contact info for soldiers in Iraq asking for basic stuff like shampoo etc.

 

 

Wow.. what an amazing idea. Thanks for posting this.

U of I student made good.

 

Congrats bud!

here's an example of a good college student.

 

and me, here's an example of a terrible one.

 

isn't it funny how they both attend the same uni?

congrats man

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldn...e/j01common.htm

 

Here it is.  w00t.

Don't break your arm slapping yourself on the back.

i'm going to major in newspaper journalism at missouri, this is awesome to see you do well

I love passionate writing, and this qualifies. Good on yah!

I'm still waiting for Nuke's take on what I wrote. Thanks for the kind words, everybody. It is some fun community free lance work and getting paid for what I normally ramble on about here is priceless.

very nice.

 

congrats!

Congrats, Apu!

 

Very well written article. Here's hoping you have many more published...

I'm still waiting for Nuke's take on what I wrote.  Thanks for the kind words, everybody.  It is some fun community free lance work and getting paid for what I normally ramble on about here is priceless. 

 

 

Unfortunately while it was a well written column there are several innaccuracies.

 

-Danger/Hazardous fire pay actually was INCREASED as was family separation pay. Additionally during the Bush years basic military pay has risen faster than at any time since the draft was abolished back in 1973.

 

Donald Rumsfeld initiated a total review of the way military pay was parceled out. With reference to imminent danger/hostile fire pay as it stands now you have soldiers in places like CENTCOM HQ in Qatar, which is no less safe than any stateside base, recieving the same amount as soldiers patrolling in the Sunni Triangle. This is unfair and indeed is wasteful. What Rumsfeld is seeking to do is to make the level of special pay commensurate with the level of danger present. His critics, latched on to that though as wanting to cut special pays and they had his proposals defeated. As a result of this bulls*** criticism soldiers who are being shot at and dodging roadside bombs every day still recieve the same hazardous pay as those who sit in a HQ building in a completely safe area.

 

-With refernce to medical care for war wounds. The care our wounded recieve is without parallel in our history. The facilities we have in the field are state of the art and the hospitals at Landsthul and Walter Reed are 2 of the finest hospitals in the world. Within a few hours after being wounded in an engagement soldiers are stabilized at a unit in the field then airlifted to Landsthul where they recieve treatment for their injuries. The speed at which these guys are being taken care of was totally unheard of in wars past and lives are being saved as a result.

 

-I acknowlege that there have been problems getting equipment to the troops in the field but since the War on Terror began the military has decreased the amount of time that new equipment takes to get from the drawing board to the battlefield by some 75% under its rapid fielding initiative. Despite some logistical problems we're still, by far and away, the best equipped military in history and we have far fewer casualties than we would have had as a result.

 

As a result of the last 2 points I made many many lives have been saved in this war that would have been lost in wars past.

Unfortunately while it was a well written column there are several innaccuracies. 

 

-Danger/Hazardous fire pay actually was INCREASED as was family separation pay.  Additionally during the Bush years basic military pay has risen faster than at any time since the draft was abolished back in 1973. 

 

Donald Rumsfeld initiated a total review of the way military pay was parceled out.  With reference to imminent danger/hostile fire pay as it stands now you have soldiers in places like CENTCOM HQ in Qatar, which is no less safe than any stateside base, recieving the same amount as soldiers patrolling in the Sunni Triangle.  This is unfair and indeed is wasteful.  What Rumsfeld is seeking to do is to make the level of special pay commensurate with the level of danger present.  His critics, latched on to that though as wanting to cut special pays and they had his proposals defeated. As a result of this bulls*** criticism soldiers who are being shot at and dodging roadside bombs every day still recieve the same hazardous pay as those who sit in a HQ building in a completely safe area. 

 

-With refernce to medical care for war wounds.  The care our wounded recieve is without parallel in our history.  The facilities we have in the field are state of the art and the hospitals at Landsthul and Walter Reed are 2 of the finest hospitals in the world.  Within a few hours after being wounded in an engagement soldiers are stabilized at a unit in the field then airlifted to Landsthul where they recieve treatment for their injuries.  The speed at which these guys are being taken care of was totally unheard of in wars past and lives are being saved as a result. 

 

-I acknowlege that there have been problems getting equipment to the troops in the field but since the War on Terror began the military has decreased the amount of time that new equipment takes to get from the drawing board to the battlefield by some 75% under its rapid fielding initiative.  Despite some logistical problems we're still, by far and away, the best equipped military in history and we have far fewer casualties than we would have had as a result.

 

As a result of the last 2 points I made many many lives have been saved in this war that would have been lost in wars past.

 

Yes, they didn't actually reduce the imminent danger pay due to an assload of public outcry -- but the Pentagon actually brought up the idea of decreasing these pay amounts as a way to save money.

 

And the discussion of medical care -- just because it is very good doesn't mean that these problems could not be better addressed.

Yes, they didn't actually reduce the imminent danger pay due to an assload of public outcry -- but the Pentagon actually brought up the idea of decreasing these pay amounts as a way to save money.

 

And the discussion of medical care -- just because it is very good doesn't mean that these problems could not be better addressed.

 

 

Again. You're taking the pay issue out of context. Under current rules there are soldiers recieving danger pay who are in no danger whatsoever. Making danger pay commensurate with the level of actual danger is a laudable goal because it would allow those taking all the risks to be rewarded more than those who don't.

 

I dont disagree that there are problems with military medical care but the care these guys get is second to none and when you look at how many soldiers are surviving wounds that would have killed them in wars past and how many are recovering from wounds that would have been permanent in wars past the criticism sounds increasingly petty.

I dont disagree that there are problems with military medical care but the care these guys get is second to none and when you look at how many soldiers are surviving wounds that would have killed them in wars past and how many are recovering from wounds that would have been permanent in wars past the criticism sounds increasingly petty.

 

Nuke, do I hear a Republican saying that the government can run a successful, dare I quote "best in the world" medical program?

 

We wouldn't want that for ordinary Americans