A very disturbing thing I heard in my local Town Hall meeting yesterday...

[Bullwinkle925]

that the DOD had included in their budget monies to pay out an estimated 3,000 more life insurance policies for American GI's serving in Iraq. I think they said that this was supposed to include years up to 2009. Anyone else heard something similar to this?

[mzteris]

1. check out this story......

DOD shy $574M for 2006 Iraq death benefit
By Pamela Hess
Pentagon correspondent

Washington, DC, Mar. 3 (UPI) -- The military has not budgeted for the $574 million needed to pay death benefits for troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan next year, according to Pentagon documents.

http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20050303-072805-9373r.htm



Here's the Budget:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2006/veterans.html

[mzteris]

2. better yet - this one......

President Sends $419.3 Billion DoD Budget to Congress
Army, Mar 2005

FY 2006 Defense Budget. On February 7, President George W. Bush sent his budget request of $419.3 billion for the Department of Defense to Congress for fiscal year (FY) 2006. The budget represents a five percent increase over last year's budget. It includes the following:

. . . "The life insurance limit would also rise from $150,000 to $400,000, with the government picking up the premiums on the extra coverage.


http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3723/is_200503/ai_n11852059

[Bullwinkle925]

4. Thanks for the articles. Certainly doesn't seem like we're getting out

anytime soon, does it? I would hate to be a family member of one of the 'projected 3,000'!!

[Deja Q]

3. Corporations do that all the time; put policies on their workers...

especially in high risk jobs. They can make a killing.

(pardon the bad pun)

[Bullwinkle925]

5. As I sat there yesterday - I kept thinking of the 'approximately 3,000'

deaths that Washington is budgeting for and wondering what these people are doing now - enjoying their families, thinking of entering the military, graduating from High School next year. It just goes on and on. I remember well my classmates being drafted for Viet Nam and how tragic it all was.