Talks of cutting funds for troops disgraceful

When will politicians understand that they are the people responsible for committing men and women to fight the battles they decide need to be fought? Taking care of them and their families are part of the deal considering how much they are sacrificing for our sake. Taking care of them should never, ever be part of any debate but should be a priority.

Anyone suggesting the troops are not worth the price, needs to ask themselves what part of freedom they do not want anymore. Yes, budgets have to be cut but try to start with the no-bid contracts defense contractors have received and holding them to account for every dime of tax payer funds. Considering how much of the defense budget goes to them, that seems like a perfect place to start. When it comes to the troops, lawmakers should be ashamed of the disgraceful thoughts of cutting the budget off their backs.

Military benefits target in cost-cutting talks

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jul 4, 2010 10:11:52 EDT

From the left, right and center of the political spectrum, talk about drastically cutting military personnel costs is on the rise.

The $549 billion defense budget makes for a juicy target, and the $197 billion of that budget that goes to personnel costs is being attacked from all sides — even the Defense Department itself — as excessive in a time of economic malaise and belt-tightening.

The list of programs under attack includes pay raises, retired pay, health care benefits, commissaries and exchanges, and even the size of the force.

“We are very concerned about the outlook for the future,” said Joe Barnes of the Fleet Reserve Association, who is also a co-chairman the Military Coalition, a group of more than 30 military-related organizations. “We have had a lot of successes over the last 10 to 12 years, and we need to maintain them and to make further improvements.”

But, he added, “There is some pain coming.”

On the right, tea party activists and fiscal conservatives want the government to stop spending so much.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/07/army_benefits_070210w/