Kerry: Bush Shortchanges Troops on Gear

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&e=5&u=/ap/20040306/ap_on_el_pr/kerry

<snip>If I am president, I will be prepared to use military force to protect our security, our people and our vital interests," the Massachusetts senator said in the Democrats' weekly radio address.

"But I will never send our troops into harm's way without enough firepower and support."

The five-minute speech gave Kerry an opportunity to speak to a nationwide audience five days after wrapping up his party's nomination with a string of primary and caucus victories.

The choice of topics underscored his intention to challenge President Bush (news - web sites)'s conduct of the war on terror, and he accused the president of shortchanging the troops on items needed for their own protection.

I was on the phone for days screaming about the inadequate doors and the lack of vests...
Bu$h empire says FUCK YOU to the troops and their families..they dont fucking care..and when they come back, no health care no benefits and no fucking overtime
http://bringthemhomenow.com

the imperial troops will be treated "better" under the new Caesar.
Invasions WILL continue, but our glorious imperial troops will have
better armor.

:eyes:

and I want them back NOW we should have never been in there in the first place..but if they are there they should have proper equipment..and theres thousands maimed and wounded because they didnt have the equipment...period....this whole clusterfuck is happening now because of Bu$h and his asshole corporate friends...and the troops on the ground are pieces of shit to them as much as the Iraqi people are pieces of shit to them..they dont care about either..
Until the troops are brought home, they should be protected...
http://www.bringthemhomenow.com

Unless Kerry wants to build more arms factories, this is the wrong tactic...... Protect soldiers by better diplomacy and more equitable distribution of wealth, not heftier armor! Look at the end of the feudal era, knights were expensive to support and maintain. There's always a hungry peasent ready to invent a work around! "Improvised explosive devices" (cell phone and RPG round) have shredded US equipment. We can send bigger, stronger equipment, and load a soldier down with body armor, but the partisans will find a way! Kerry is making a mistake with statements like these.......

What he should say is that from now on, the military will be sent to battle naked. That would get a lot of votes from people like me who have brothers and sisters and friends in the military. Of course, in your nudist utopia, there is no need for a military, so why not just abolish it. That's the only thing that would make Kalian happy. Abolish the military and form a nudist utopia immediately. You have stated there is no difference betweeen Democrats and Republicans. Good luck with your nudist utopia candidate. Move along now to their website.

but run by a dem candidate... Brilliant. Just brilliant. :eyes:

What I am saying is: let's not get into these types of mess in
the first place!
On edit: stuff your sarcasm!

And there's plenty of ammunition. Against Bush, I mean.

"Kerry voted against funding the 87 billion to our troops" or something equally lame.

They are accusing Kerry of flip floping because he voted against the 87 Billion and now says he would pay for the equipment. They twist everything. He voted against it because Bush wouldn't say what exactly it was for. I love that Kerry keeps putting them on the defensive before they have a chance to think. It is like watching someone beat up the class bully.

body armor...........$1,000 (most troop's family buy it for ~800)
Good Shoes.............$120 I hear LL Beans are what a lot buy
Good Water holder......$80
A Good Bed.............$100 not a $10 built in China cheapee
Good Lub for M16s.....$100 Lot of problems with jammed weapons
_______
Total for Short List.$1,400 Per troop


Number of troops outfited over 2 years say 200,000 cost to

Tax Payer $280,000,000 Not a lot of money for safty of our troops.

First, my daughter heard General Clark talk about it in a private session with supporters at a campaign event in Boston. Then, my nephew went to Iraq, and had to buy his own protective gear (he was posted for only a short stay, and, thank God, is out of there alive). There were a few stories about the unarmored Humvees, but the press has ignored this outrage. I hope Kerry can and will bring the truth to the American people: that the George Bush who makes speeches surrounded by cheering troops, and makes a big show of serving them a Thanksgiving turkey, endangers those very troops by sending them into harm's way unprotected, and provided with inadequate and shoddy equipment, while Halliburton earns millions. Shame on that AWOL chickenhawk, whom his supporters like to call the "CIC"!

Of course all of the upgrades in technology took place during Clinton's administration. W hasn't done squat except give them berets and less of a raise than they would have gotten.

Way to go Big John. Let 'em know and make them do something about it NOW!!!!!!

Time said the average GI has spent about $2,000 of his/her own money.

ABC reported two weeks ago on a Guard unit from Kansas that is armoring their Humvees themselves. The community raised the money to buy the steel and a local machine shop fashioned it for them for free.

ON EDIt-They weren't told they couldn't take it with them so they didn't ask. They will rig it up when they get there.

I tried explaining this and other issues like stoploss and the reduction of combat pay, etc. to a repuke neighbor. She looked at me like I was from another planet and could not believe her boosh* would ever allow it. Good lord these people better wake up!

People who are against war never voted for Bush and never will. This election is about getting the people who voted for Bush last time to vote for Kerry this time.

Swing voters are influenced by slogans like "soft on crime" and "weak on defense." This FACT that the Bush administration sent young people into harm's way with no protection hits the Repugs right in their own backyard.

This issue will definitely resonate negatively with a lot of people who voted for Bush last time.

It fits perfectly with the one single most effective campaign slogan:

Bush lied about Iraq.