I grow weary of chipping away at the erroneous belief that Republicans support the troops, while anyone to the left of Toby Keith does not. If Republicans love the troops so much, why does the Pentagon, under Bush appointee Donald Rumsfeld, constantly shortchange them? The most recent slight-of-hand game played at our troops expense: promising re-enlistment bonuses, and then refusing to pay them.
As per America Blog, the Pentagon has reneged on the $15,000 bonuses for re-enlistment.
According the Seattle Post Intelligencer, Washington state Guard officials have taken on the fight with Pentagon Brass to restore money promised to soldiers while they were fighting in Iraq.
A Department of Defense decision to renege on war-time promises to pay bonuses to more than a dozen re-enlisting Washington National Guardsmen has sparked outrage from prominent elected officials and state National Guard officers working to rectify the situation.
According to a state Guard spokesman, Maj. Phil Osterli, at least 15 Washington National Guardsmen and women signed re-enlistment forms promising them a tax-free $15,000 bonus in return. Many of them were stationed in Iraq at the time, he said.
But Pentagon officials have said in published reports that the bonuses were canceled because they duplicated other programs and were prohibited….
After serving two years active duty with the Navy and the last 11 years with the National Guard, Latson said, “I re-enlisted because the opportunity was there to finally get a bonus.”
Latson, who served in Iraq most recently from March 2004 to March 2005, said he has been counting on the money to help buy a house and to support his 11-year-old daughter. He said he knows at least 10 other National Guardsmen in the same boat….
So, in addition to extending tours of duty in an increasingly treacherous war, under-equipping our troops for dangerous missions, keeping many reservists away from lucrative civilian employment, and slashing VA funding, we can now add torching contracts for promised bonuses. Amazing the love this Republican Administration has for our troops. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.