Website buys armor for troops

[Pikku]

Uh, this is interesting in an cool but disturbing way. Somethingawful.com is organizing a fund drive to buy armor for the unit of one of SA's members. Evidently, the unit is a "low priority" for the Army, so can't count on being issued the expensive armor. Somethingawful has raised $15,000 so far, from people all over the political spectrum.

It's cool, because of the combined activisism of people who don't agree politically. It's disturbing to think that some units are not afforded full protection by the army because of cost considerations.

The article is here:
http://somethingawful.com/

And the related discussion thread is here:
http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=830039
(The thread may require registration- I'm not sure)

[FlemingsGhost]

1. How many History textbooks can be purchased with $15,000?

Knowledge is our best "armor."

[Pikku]

4. Well, yes. As a teacher I agree with your priorities

I wish everyone did. George Putsch does not.

Dammit, I erased my post.

Anyhow, what I wanted to say was that I separate in my mind the education and military industries themselves and the people doing the work of these industries. In both cases, the front-line people are underpaid. PFCs are on food stamps, and teachers are moonlighting to make ends meet. In fact, some teachers are moonlighting as National Guard and Reserve members.

I'm opposed to agressive military activity on principle (Quaker). But I realize that people are driven to military service by a number of factors that have nothing to do with desire to uphold Putsch's foreign policy. The commmunity where I teach has suffered the loss of a former student. http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,971009,00.html
Military recruitment is relentless in my school district- it starts in elementary school. I oppose the military service. I avoid taking my students when I can.

Where does the money go? In both cases, it goes to the industrial interests that have George Putsch's ear. It does not go to the people actually doing the work. This administration is by, of, and for the corporations. So in the soldiers, I see my peers. I gave money, that will go where it should go.

I'm angry, but not at front-line soldiers. The people who brought this war are the same evil people keeping my school underfunded.

[Bush is a chimp]

2. The cost of war in Iraq

Initial deployment of troops: $9 billion to $13 billion
Conducting the war: $6 billion to $9 billion per month
Returning forces to US: $5 billion to $7 billion
Temporary occupation of Iraq: $1 billion to $4 billion per month


Imagine how many textbooks that could buy!

[jokerman93]

3. Just Wondering

Didn't congress pass an 87 billion dollar bill to (among other things) support the troops?

Oh, I forgot they also passed along a rider that made accountability legally optional.

This is what the neocons want! Starve the beast and the good citizen-customers of Amerikaland will carry the day using their own resources. What we seem to have here is a website dedicated to a new form of voluntary self-taxation to support Government policies we have no say in deciding.

OK.

It's criminal what these troops are being forced to endure for the sake of unbridled GREED.

[trogdor]

8. Finally! Somebody agrees with me!

I say screw that. Hate to say it, I really do, but we should be demanding some bang for our buck, not holding bake sales to raise even more money to throw in that rat hole.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Now here is something else people should know

the 25th Light is based at Schoofield Barracks and this is no Guard unit, but a regular Army unit.

It is telling that we cannot even get the Regular guys the armor they need.

[NNN0LHI]

6. Hopefully this legislation will help these soldiers?

http://www.house.gov/larson/pr_031124.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 24, 2003

LARSON INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO REIMBURSE MILITARY FAMILIES AND TROOPS FOR BODY ARMOR PURCHASES
Lack of Adequate Gear in Iraq Spurred Some to Buy It On Their Own

HARTFORD- On October 13, Pene Palifka of East Hartford attended a public forum on Iraq in East Hartford Town Hall with U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01). She told the Congressman that her son, Bill Palifka of the 248th Engineer Co. currently serving in Iraq had not been given the most effective body armor that American troops were supposed to have. Worried for her son's safety, she said she used her own money to buy the body armor for him.

Before Congress adjourned on November 22, Congressman Larson introduced H.R. 3615, a bill to establish a program to reimburse members of the Armed Forces for the cost of protective body armor they purchased for themselves, or was purchased for them on their behalf. The bill would cover those troops deployed in connection with operations in Afghanistan and Iraq if the service member was not issued the adequate protective body armor before their deployment.

"The men and women of our military are putting their lives on the line everyday overseas and deserve the best, most up-to-date protective gear," said Larson. "It is outrageous for our troops to go without adequate body armor and unconscionable that hardworking people like Pene Palifka need to spend $1,100 of their own money to buy protective equipment for their family members."

Despite the fact that Congress had appropriated funding in the April supplemental spending bill for ceramic "Interceptor" body armor that gives greater protection to servicemen and women, as of late October, an estimated 44,000 troops still did not have the adequate armor. The Department of Defense has indicated that all troops will have the new body armor by the end of December. The bill would provide reimbursements for protective equipment purchased between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2003. The legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to establish such a reimbursement program within 60 days of the passage of the legislation.

Larson is also looking into the possibility of addressing this issue administratively within the Department of Defense.

[Nlighten1]

7. Off topic but this is funny.

That is a very cool website. Check this out.







ROTFLMAO