pop quiz

Compare and contrast this statement from the 2004 State of the Union speech:

Many of our troops are listening tonight. And I want you and your families to know: America is proud of you. And my administration, and this Congress, will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror. (Applause.)

with this ("Hurt Troops Often Denied Pay, Benefits," by James Herndon, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 18, 2005) and this ("U.S. Soldiers Lack Best Protective Gear," by Jonathan Turley, USAToday, December 17, 2003--quoting testimony by then-commander of forces in Iraq General Abizaid indicating that he did not know "why we started this war with protective vests [i.e., body armor/"bulletproof vests"] that were in short supply.")

Every time I see a vehicle with a yellow "support our troops" ribbon and a W sticker I wonder how they've missed the fact that these are contradictory sentiments. Supporting W translates to ensuring that our troops are sent into battles we aren't prepared for and don't need to fight, that they are sent in without the armor and careful planning needed to protect them and ensure the success of their missions, and that if they are hurt or killed they will be hidden from public view and denied the health care and other services they and their families have been promised.

During the recent presidential campaign, W and his minions repeatedly stated--and apparently many people came to believe--that the lack of body armor and other equipment needed to protect troops in Iraq was somehow the fault of Sen. Kerry, who voted against the $87 billion appropriations bill for the war in Iraq. Hello? We invaded Iraq in mid-March 2003; the appropriations bill was sent to Congress in September 2003. Um, I'm pretty sure that nothing I do today is going to cause retroactive harm (or benefit) to someone 6 months ago. And the bill DID pass ("easily") in October 2003, so Sen. Kerry's vote had no effect . . . except to give the W camp something to twist and lie about.

My grandpa used to tell us: when someone shows you who they are, believe them. Why in this most critical situation don't W's actions speak louder than his words?

Comments

[caroline]

You've got this all too right. And it's getting worse and worse. there just has to be something we can do. Impeach?