Memorial Day--just another Bush obscenity

On Memorial Day, 2003, I wrote:

Looting, vandalism, impure water, disease, political upheaval, the stripping away of women's rights--they are all right there, for everyone to see. When you blow a country up, it's a good idea to have a plan for preventing out-and-out anarchistic chaos.

That was three years ago, and not only is the situation in Iraq still chaotic, it is also chaotic in southern Afghanistan.

The Bush administration's treatment of veterans and active soldiers, however, is the most sickening aspect of today's Memorial Day observance:

2002--The White House announced its intention to cut imminent danger pay from $225 to $150 a month, and family separation allowance money from $250 to $100 a month.

2003--The Department of Veterans Affairs cut off access to its health care system to some veterans after the Whit House turned down the department's request for a bigger budget.

2003--Bush administration cut in military housing and medical facility funding for active duty military.

2003--Soldiers were told they may have to buy their own body protection and armored plates.

2004--Congress voted to pay $12,000 as a one-time payment to the families of soldiers killed in action, ignoring Bush's request that the families be paid $6,000.

2005--Bush proposed a budget that doubled the co-payment for most veterans' prescription drugs. The proposal also created an annual fee of $250 for some veterans to access government health care.

2005--Because of budget cuts, it was announced that services would be limited in veterans' hospitals and clinics.


All of these facts are disturbing and expose the deep hypocrisy of the Bush administration. Yet none of these is as horrible as the simple fact that Bush has sent thousands of American soldiers to Iraq to be injured or killed when there was absolutely no reason for him to do so.