While those in Washington are half steppin’ around the issues like selling arms to the Saudi’s and the people who are crossing the lazy Rio Grandio there is a bigger issue that is being neglected. While they say it, these very politicians are doing nothing that even resembles support for our troops.
Extended tours of duty. Redeploying soldiers after they have already served a full tour. Vetoing pay raises and better medical care for the soldiers. All of these things are being done while the politicians wave and scream SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.
They tell us that if we speak out against the war that we are actually speaking out against the troops. Yet they treat our troops like big piles of poop. Not really supporting them in my opinion.
We have our yellow ribbons on the back of our SUV’s and wave our flags everywhere. But how much support are we giving these men and women who are giving their all so we can have plenty of gas to burn at 15 MPG? Saying so isn’t cutting it.
Australia paid General Motors over $9000 per unit to have protective plating on each of the Humvees they bought for their soldiers. Our Pentagon won’t protect our kids by having this on US vehicles. Mothers are forced to send their kids Kevlar vests because they aren’t in the military budget.

“SUPPORT OUR TROOPS”. they cry.
Last July a group called Veterans For Common Sense filed a lawsuit in Federal court in San Fransisco against the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs. The suit alleges that at least 320,000 and up to 800,000 Iraq vets are being denied benefits for disabilities and medical care. These are kids with injuries and psycological problems from the war that can’t get any support.
People with missing limbs (no protection in the Humvees) are homeless. Kids with physical and mental problems are wandering without help. It takes an average of 831 days to get each case approved. That is 2 years and three months on average.
A recent survey estimates that 70% of Americas homeless men are Viet Nam vets. Add the returning Iraq war vets and the percentage soars.
The suit also names VA Secretary Jim Nicholson and his chiefs of getting $3.8 million in bonuses when the budget for returning vets was over a billion dollars short 2 years running.Sounds like a big corporation who rewards budget makers for shortchanging the workers.
So my challenge to you is twofold. Only one of the criteria I propose to you MUST be done. You have the internets and the Google so look up the addresses and phone numbers of your congressman or woman. Demand they do something for our returning veterans. Make it clear that you want the best for the brave women and men who fought this evil war. Demand more, more, more for them.
Or go out and take that magnetic yellow thing off your car and take down your flag.
One or the other! You can’t have the ribbons if you don’t truly SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.

Stumble it!