Cheney: Congress' anti-war efforts undermine troops

[bigtree]

14m ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Dick Cheney challenged lawmakers Monday to prove their support for U.S. troops and the war on terrorism by approving the Bush administration's requests for financing military action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"When members of Congress pursue an anti-war strategy that's been called 'slow bleeding,' they are not supporting the troops, they are undermining them," Cheney said in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Cheney spoke at the start of a week in which the House plans to begin work on legislation providing nearly $100 billion for the rest of this year's costs of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Bush's full request for funds.

"Anyone can say they support the troops and we should take them at their word, but the proof will come when it's time to provide the money," Cheney said.

"We expect the House and Senate to meet the needs of our military and the generals leading the troops in battle on time and in full measure," Cheney said, accusing some legislators of giving lip service to proclamations of support for U.S. soldiers . . .

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-03-12-cheney-iraq_N.htm


Republicans Vote To Continue Their Slow Bleed Of Our Troops In Iraq
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree/1146

[Old and In the Way]

1. Support the troops by letting this administration destroy our army in Iraq.

It amazes me that a man who skipped his country's calling 5 times has any authority to make this statement. Pure unearned chutzpah on his part.

[rock]

2. Of course, if he really didn't want to undermine troops

He could bring 'em home! The only true way to support the troops in an illicit war.

[gratuitous]

3. Halliburton's corruption undermines the troops, Mr. Cheney

You're not trying to distract us, are you?

[TwilightGardener]

4. Aw, shut the fuck up, Dick. We're so goddamn sick of you.

[Garbo 2004]

5. Meanwhile, medically unfit soldiers are being sent back to Iraq.

How this administration "supports" the troops:

The Army is ordering injured troops to go to Iraq
At Fort Benning, soldiers who were classified as medically unfit to fight are now being sent to war. Is this an isolated incident or a trend?

By Mark Benjamin

Mar. 11, 2007 | "This is not right," said Master Sgt. Ronald Jenkins, who has been ordered to Iraq even though he has a spine problem that doctors say would be damaged further by heavy Army protective gear. "This whole thing is about taking care of soldiers," he said angrily. "If you are fit to fight you are fit to fight. If you are not fit to fight, then you are not fit to fight."

As the military scrambles to pour more soldiers into Iraq, a unit of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Ga., is deploying troops with serious injuries and other medical problems, including GIs who doctors have said are medically unfit for battle. Some are too injured to wear their body armor, according to medical records.

On Feb. 15, Master Sgt. Jenkins and 74 other soldiers with medical conditions from the 3rd Division's 3rd Brigade were summoned to a meeting with the division surgeon and brigade surgeon. These are the men responsible for handling each soldier's "physical profile," an Army document that lists for commanders an injured soldier's physical limitations because of medical problems -- from being unable to fire a weapon to the inability to move and dive in three-to-five-second increments to avoid enemy fire. Jenkins and other soldiers claim that the division and brigade surgeons summarily downgraded soldiers' profiles, without even a medical exam, in order to deploy them to Iraq. It is a claim division officials deny.

The 3,900-strong 3rd Brigade is now leaving for Iraq for a third time in a steady stream. In fact, some of the troops with medical conditions interviewed by Salon last week are already gone. Others are slated to fly out within a week, but are fighting against their chain of command, holding out hope that because of their ills they will ultimately not be forced to go. Jenkins, who is still in Georgia, thinks doctors are helping to send hurt soldiers like him to Iraq to make units going there appear to be at full strength. "This is about the numbers," he said flatly.

http://www.salon.com/news/2007/03/11/fort_benning/

[wicket]

6. Hey Mr. 5 Deferrments, Go Fuck Yourself!!!!

:grr:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. "...provide the money." Cheney "War is a racket." Smedley Butler.

Still true.

[bigtree]

8. kick

[Rex]

9. By now, everyone and their dog knows the difference

between 'executive intent' and 'support for our troops'! Wow, they must be toe sucking desperate if Dickless is pulling out this old canard. Stick a fork in em!

[blogslut]

11. Oh, he threw in 9-11 for good measure

I saw it this morning on teh C-Span. It was quick, emotionless and over in like, five minutes. He sang all the standard tunes and exited the stage.

[Rex]

12. Oh, whew, for a moment there I thought he forgot all about

Katrina. :sarcasm:

[Nickster]

10. Geez, he's still using the made up "Slow Bleed" meme?

[bigtree]

13. it's the same approach he has to everything

just bear down and bull through

[treestar]

14. That moran is a broken record

Evil bastard.