Stars and Stripes letters: Our soldiers are pissed.

[lebkuchen]

URL available on Sunday at estripes.com.

October 3

I'm a big history buff. So it struck me, while sweating to death out here in Kuwait, why not do what the German army did in World War II? To motivate their troops to invade Russia, they promised each soldier a parcel of land. What I'm suggesting is that the oil companies now pumping oil out of Iraq (and making money) might perhaps share that wealth with the forces serving in the Middle East. East soldier would get either a certain amount of money or free gasoline for life. I figure it's our blood, sweat and tears that are helping to secure President Bush's oil, so why not share the wealth?

Camp Spearhead, Kuwait



I'm assigned to a military police company in Baghdad, Iraq. I've been in country since May 28. My job has been training Iraqi police officers in a police station in Baghdad. I've been in the Army National Guard for 15 years. I've served in deployments in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Panama, Honduras and now Iraq, and I've never seen guardsmen and reservists get treated like we have on this deployment. All guardsmen and reservists should suck it up and drive on, as all active-duty soldiers have been telling us, as well as a few guardsmen and reservists who obviously don't have lives back home. They've got us this time, but they won't get me again.

As for those who say, "If you don't like it, get out," from what I've been hearing around Iraq, that's going to happen. Our voices will also be heard in November of 2004. All the governors and senators of our home states will also hear our voices in the future for not trying to get us out of here.

Baghdad, Iraq

[jus_the_facts]

1. I could support them getting a bonus payment.....but.....

....the lifetime of free gas...doesn't sit well with me...as that would only encourage more consumption....they should be motivated to STOP USING OIL altogether....because of what they've gone through for this invasion for OIL....IMHO would make me even more determined to fight for alternative engergy and fuel sources! :)

My heart goes out to all over there...and their families back here at home as well!:loveya:

[lebkuchen]

2. Pay cut on the way for family separation and hazardous duty

President Bush signed into law Wednesday the Defense Appropriations Act, a bill that will give the Pentagon $368 billion for next year.

While the Defense Authorization Bill, still in Congress, is needed for a complete defense spending picture, the DOD has asked Congress to roll back the Family Separation Allowance and Imminent Danger Pay increases enacted in April (and retroactive to Jan. 1) for deployed forces and, instead, to raise Hardship Duty Pay only for military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If Congress agrees, FSA for tens of thousands of personnel would fall in January, from $250 a month down to $100, and IDP would drop from $225 a month down to $150. So, depending on individual circumstance, the pay cut could range from $75 to $225 a month.

http://estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=17873

[Wetzelbill]

3. The troops have been so exploited and used

I know many of them have conservative views, so they didn't see or know the facts about what they were getting into. They had their loyalty taken for granted and I feel for everyone of them. Their treatment and benefit reductions are shameful. Truly.

[MasonJar]

4. Free gas

Free gas! What a joke. They have to pay for their own food when they are wounded and in the hospital. This is so Bechtel and Haliburton can become richer. Their pay has to be cut too to pay for Ken Lay's tax cut.