I sent a care package to my husband in Iraq today

[AwakeAtLast]

But it wasn't your run-of-the-mill care package. No drink mix, deodorant, baked goods, etc. I did
sneak some candy in. :)

No, what I sent today was cable staples, masonry nails, toggle switches, electrical boxes, and drill bits.

Why? Because he has a job to do before he leaves, but cannot get what he needs to do the job. Seems that
nothing reaches his base very often, especially the things they need the most. It seems that a lot of stuff
just "disappears". I have heard him say these things over and over for most of the time he has been there
(since June 2006), but this is the first time that I have actually had to send him the supplies he needs to
get the job done. I am not upset that I had to buy $30 worth of stuff, box it up, and pay flat rate to ship
it. I am upset because THE F*%&ING MILITARY CAN'T GET THEIR SHIT WHERE THEY NEED IT SO THAT OUR
SOLDIERS CAN DO THEIR JOB!!!! :grr: :grr: :grr:

Frankly, if our soldiers weren't so good, we would be in a much worse situation than we are.

[Justpat]

1. May God Keep Him Safe is right.

I'll be thinking of him. And keeping him in my prayers.

[AwakeAtLast]

7. Thank you!

He is due to return sometime before July (we hope).

:hi:

[Triana]

2. Good grief....

...I hope your hubby stays safe, at least. Best wishes...

[AwakeAtLast]

8. Thanks so much!

I appreciate it!

:hi:

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Godspeed on your husband's safe return, WMU!!!!

:patriot:

This administration might be the first in our nation's history to view its military as mere cannon fodder...:grr::grr::grr:

[AwakeAtLast]

11. Thank you!

We hope he is home before July.

As for our administration, I think they are only warming up :(

[Cooley Hurd]

12. P.S.

K&R!:kick::hi:

[Spinzonner]

4. If there's no money for Halliburton in it

It doesn't get done.

And even then it would have to include cost overruns and fraud.

[AwakeAtLast]

5. Well you have a point there

I guess my hubby is getting his stuff "at cost" ;)

[NYC]

6. I wonder if someone is stealing and selling the supplies

before they reach the soldiers.

[AwakeAtLast]

17. I think so.

Most countries have black market and I am sure Iraq is no different. Iraqis need to feed their families, too, and
unfortunately our administration isn't helping very much in that regard.

[NYC]

22. I was wondering if it even got as far as the Iraqis.

We have so many profit motivated private contractors there.

Like Halliburton, who gave our soldiers e-coli contaminated water to use for bathing, shaving, and brushing their teeth. I guess decontaminating the water would have cut into profits.

[katinmn]

9. Send the bill to your senators and rep!

They keep funding this war but stop caring once they make a patriotic speech and vote on the budget.

[AwakeAtLast]

13. Good idea, and guess who one of them is - Mike Pence!

Hee hee! Maybe I should contact the media, too!

[katinmn]

16. I think you should!

Let me know if you need my assistance. :evilgrin:

[w8liftinglady]

19. lol...ask him what's on his chin,while you're at it

http://www.canofun.com/cof/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=18271&posts=6&start=1

[AwakeAtLast]

21. LOLOL!

:rofl:

I will never be able to look him in the eye again! :spray:

[katinmn]

45. ROTFLMAO! What's on your chin? Oh, it's Karl Rove's .....

:rofl:

"Let me address the FIRST part of your question..." heee heee

[SPKrazy]

10. Hope He Gets That

Stuff disappears in the mail too to Iraq

[AwakeAtLast]

14. Yes, I know

I try to be very vague on the claims form, but not too vague that is gets alerted, so we will see.

[Marlie]

18. Take care of yourself too.

The stress you have must be awful. Hope you and your husband can get back to your
real life asap. Best thoughts for both of you.

[AwakeAtLast]

20. Thanks!

Much appreciated! :hi:

[MADem]

15. That is reprehensible

And, you, BTW, are a wonderful and supportive spouse.

Makes you wonder how many convoys are getting through, or if they are cutting back on them because of increased violence on the roads...if your supply lines only have so much room on the trucks, beans and bullets beat repair equipment in the priority game. And then, as another contributor noted, there could be some graft going on.

Save your receipts. When your loved one gets home, talk over with him the possibility of speaking with a member of Congress on the House or Senate Armed Services Committees about this. It's shameful.

[AwakeAtLast]

24. He has mentioned that convoys get cancelled

but I'm thinking air support should step in. But what do I know? ;)

Thanks for your kind words!! :hi:

[MADem]

30. The amount of air support is constrained by the number of

platforms in country. Also, it is sandstorm time out that way, and even if it is clear where you are at, there could be weather between you and the location where the air asset is launching from. Finally, while Unka Sam can toss money like rolls of Charmin at Halliburton, et.al., the military fuel budget and repair part budget is a constrained line item--so they don't want to spend too much on aviation fuel, because those trips add up. And of course, when they started out on this misadventure, they didn't count on wear and tear--that desert environment rips up those assets.

They should have talked to the old contractors who used to work in Iran for Sikorsky, Bell, Boeing, etc. during the Shahinshah era; they know how that environment rips the equipment up--but that would have injected a little REALITY into the budget process!

They can waste money, endure graft and corruption, but heaven forfend if they have to spend 5-10x the normal cost of transshipment to get stuff to folks who have a genuine need for it.

You hang in there--it can't be easy for you.

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. Gee, I wonder if Halliburton is double dipping with the profits?

[AwakeAtLast]

26. Well, considering they haven't made any money this year

:sarcasm:

:evilgrin:

:hi:

[SammyWinstonJack]

48. !

:rofl: What are the profits for Halliburton, again?

[Breeze54]

25. You're a good woman and...

I hope he'll be safe and home asap!!!!
I'm not sending anymore packages to my son...
He'll be here before they get there!!! :woohoo: Finally!
Hang in there!!!!!!!
:hug:

[AwakeAtLast]

28. I am almost to that point

so I will do the happy dance with you!!! :woohoo: :woohoo:

I am so happy for you!!! May you have a great homecoming!

:hug: backatcha!

[wellstone dem]

27. My 23 year old niece is going over in July

Any tips on how to be supportive to her would be appreciated.

[AwakeAtLast]

29. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family

My first suggestion is to get as much information from the Family Readiness Group that you can.

Care packages are always good. I send magazines, toiletries, candy, snack bars, popcorn - well anything that won't melt.
I also make sure to write something on paper when I send it. Even though we have e-mail, IM and phone, he still likes to
read what I write over and over again! Being there for the rest of the family she leaves behind will also be a great help.
PM me if you need more advice.

She is going right at the worst of the heat of summer. When my husband landed there last June, it was 140 on the blacktop!

:hug:

[Breeze54]

31. I do!

I also packaged everything in those large zip-top plastic storage bags
to keep blowing sand out! CD's, DVD's!! Lots of these!
Sun Screen, Q-Tips, BOOKS!!!!!! Magazine's,
packaged pre-sweetened er..."koolaid" (but NOT the 'red' kind!) :rofl:
Hand written letters, PHONE CARDS!!!!!!!!!!
If you have extra money?
A laptop, an IPOD (they all use them instead of Repig doctored Radio)
Send cards and letters and lots of pictures from home too!
On holidays, I sent decorations too!
:thumbsup:

[wellstone dem]

64. Thank you both so much

I just found this out and I feel so bad for her. She signed up for the ROTC when she was in high school while Clinton was still in office. It was her way to pay for college. She's the one of my neices and nephews that I can go to a martini bar with.:) Last time she was home she told me she was so frustrated with the people who came up to her in airports and criticized those who opposed war.

[meisje]

32. $30 won't buy much of that stuff

[LeftyMom]

38. She said she sent it flat rate, the flat rate boxes are very small.

From USPS.com: "Available in two sizes:
Box One: 11-7/8 x 3-3/8 x 13-5/8 inches (ideal for garments, board games, books and other relatively thin items).
Box Two: 11 x 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches (perfect for shoes, model cars and taller items).

Rate is $8.10, regardless of weight or destination for items mailed in the Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes provided by the Postal Service."

You can cram a fair amount of stuff in there if you try (I can squeeze an amazing amount of food in one) but they aren't real big at all.

[AwakeAtLast]

40. Yup - it weighed 14 lbs., LOL!

The guy at the Post Office couldn't believe it!

I've become quite the packing expert when it comes to flat rate :)

:hi:

[SeattleGirl]

33. First, I want to say, may your husband and those he serves

with stay safe, and come home as soon as possible.

As to the matter at hand, there are many things about this Administration that anger me, but the way the troops are treated -- and mistreated -- is right at the top. Not equiping them properly (and then saying that the commercially-bought stuff doesn't meet standards!!!!!), not providing them the things they need, such as what is in the "care package" you sent your husband, and basically deserting them in their time of need is reprehensible, and there is no excuse for that. None at all.

The arrogance, incompetence, and neglect of the Bush Administration is causing untold harm to our military, to the hurricane survivors, to Jane and Joe Citizen, and to our country as a whole, not to mention to the world at large, particularly in the Middle East. Your story is yet another example of the harm these people are causing.

I wish you peace, WMU, but mostly I wish for things to turn around, and that people more capable of doing do take over before it gets even worse.

:hug:

[AwakeAtLast]

41. Thank you!

:hug: backatcha!

[ismnotwasm]

34. Thank your husband for me

My daughter served a year in Afghanistan, and then decided to leave the service (after nearly 9 years) because of things like this. Best wishes to you and your husband!

[AwakeAtLast]

42. I will and thank you!

He can't decide if he wants to re-up or not. He is National Guard, but he talks about trying for Warrant Officer.
Time will tell.

Thank your daughter for me, too! :hi:

[merh]

35. He and his fellow soldiers are in my prayers.

They have my undying respect and gratitude. :grouphug:

:patriot:

God bless you and yours. :hug:

[AwakeAtLast]

43. Thank you!

It is support like this that make DU sooo special!

:hug: backatcha!

[blondeatlast]

36. Re: your closing line; amen to that.

This is the shit that happens when those making the decision to go to "war" ignore the advice of those who've been there.

Our current military leadership were grunts in Viet Nam and I believe they know a mistake/quagmire/civil war when they see it, but the NeoCons can't be bothered to learn from them.

May God keep them all safe. He'd better, because their governmnet seems unwilling to do so.

[AwakeAtLast]

44. Thank you!

And contrary to mainstream belief, these guys (and gals) know who is making these decisions. I wonder
how long they will put up with it.

:hi:

[xultar]

37. if our soldiers weren't so good, we would be in a much worse situation

DAMN STRAIGHT. The PENTAGON SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!

[AwakeAtLast]

46. That's a good way to put it, LOL!

:hi:

[Ksec]

39. Tell him I said hi

Its a shame these guys have to buy their own shit, especially during wartime.

I heard they stopped allowing them to use armor they bought on their own, unless it measured up to their standards. To me that means unless it comes from a corporate entity that donated to the right peoples political coffers.

[AwakeAtLast]

47. I will, thanks

Yes, anything they are wearing that is not military issue makes them inelligible for their death benefits if they should be KIA. My husband says that the body armor is really heavy, and walking around with it on in 120 degree temps doesn't make our fighting forces very efficient. A lot of the soldiers end up not wearing it so that they can move around better. Can we say clusterf#*#? ;)

:hi:

[DeepModem Mom]

49. K&R -- I was forwarded an e-mail from a soldier in Iraq today...

by a member of his family. I was honored.

[AwakeAtLast]

51. Thanks for the K & R!

:hi:

[Minnesota Libra]

50. May your husband be safe and return to you and your family soon nt

[AwakeAtLast]

52. Thanks so much!

:hi:

[rman]

53. I'm guessing your husband's job has to do with rebuilding Iraq..

?

[AwakeAtLast]

54. Well, sort of

This will all be used in his living quarters - not for himself mind you, but for all soldiers who will live there after he leaves.

:hi:

[TacticalPeek]

55. Thank you both for your service.

My son fought in al Anbar last year, so I recognize your story.

Too bad President AWOL is a draft-dodging, incompetent, chickenhawk piece of shit.

:patriot:

[AwakeAtLast]

57. Yes, it is too bad

Please be sure to thank your son for me, too! I am glad that he is back home. Hopefully he will not have to
go again.

Thanks! :hi:

[in_cog_ni_to]

56. My best wishes for your husbands safe return.

:hug: The Government has definitely let our soldiers down. :grr:

[AwakeAtLast]

58. Thanks so much!

:hug: backatcha!

[K8-EEE]

59. Something I've Noticed Too: More Requests For Essentials.

I've been sending care packages via anysoldier.com since the war started. At the beginning (using the booksforsoldiers site) books, magazines, music and DVDs and snack foods were the only things requested.

Now it's socks, tampons, sunscreen, bug spray....stuff I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY DON'T HAVE. All the billions we are spending -- and we have to send them this stuff, not to mention your post, WORK SUPPLIES?

SUPPORT THE TROOPS -- LOSE THE BUSHCO CABAL WHO ARE RUINING THEIR LIVES AND MAKING A KILLING FOR THEIR CRONIES OFF OF IT!

[happydreams]

60. Is your husband in the Army?

[AwakeAtLast]

62. National Guard

Attached to another Guard unit.

[midnight]

61. Keep your receipts.

Maybe this expense could be deducted from your taxes. It is for your husbands job right? I hope that when you wake from this nightmare that you and your husband will be at peace.

[AwakeAtLast]

63. Thanks, and welcome to DU!

:hi:

[newspeak]

65. this really bothers me--is black marketing going on?

I sent three packages to Iraq to two different soldiers and they never received it. The post office told me that if it makes it to the APO then it is no longer their responsibility, it is the military responsibility. At Christmas, I sent two soldiers See's Candy, See's mailed it to them, they never received it. My daughter in South Korea, however, got her candy. I just mailed a package to another soldier in Iraq, who is a friend of my daughters. He wanted DVDs, shampoo and other toiletries. I also sent him two books, plus about eight DVDs. I'm waiting to see if he received the package!!!!!