Troops in Iraq Face Pay Cut

2

Comments

  • Reply 21 of 42
    buonrottobuonrotto Posts: 6,368member
    I don't really think he's either a complete idiot or a master of conspiracies. It just seems to be one and the other for a lot of people 'round these parts, however it's convenient. My point doesn't have anything to do with who is really responsible. In fact, it has nothing to do with reality per se, save maybe the lack thereof.
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  • Reply 22 of 42
    brbr Posts: 8,395member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Scott

    All this blame on Bush? Is it me or is it the congress that spends the money?



    Remember people READ AND THING. READ AND THINK. Try it someday.




    How about you try reading and thinking. Can Bush do something about this? Hell yes. If he makes a big enough stink about it and starts calling all those that vote against such a bill anti-american you know damn well the bill would pass.
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  • Reply 23 of 42
    brbr Posts: 8,395member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by segovius

    Meanwhile this ain't playing too well with the troops in the field. Maybe Scott should go and tell them it's all ok. They won't give a monkey's whether it's congress or Bush....they just know that the same guy that has the power to change their situation immeasurably for the better is just bleating on and not backing up the platitudes while they're getting shot at and taking a pay cut.



    But don't worry the economy's booming.



    This one looks like it's gonna hit the fan. Soon I hope.




    I hope that the american people are jerked around by both parties to the point where it leads to BOTH OF THEIR DOWNFALLS! MUAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAH!





    Dammit. It will never happen. Damn stupid lazy americans and their damn stupid lazy short memories.
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  • Reply 24 of 42
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    Okay I wont be so coy. I found this informative.



    Not So Foolish

    We heard from numerous servicemen, ex-servicemen and relatives of servicemen who took issue with the articles we cited in our item yesterday on pay and benefits for the troops on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Capt. Jamie Flanders of the Air Force writes:



    Neither the Pentagon nor Congress has any plans of removing the family-separation allowance or the hostile fire/imminent danger pay from all of our deployed troops.



    I am currently deployed to Uzbekistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As a captain (O-3) and a deployed member, I am entitled to the following benefits in addition to my regular pay:$3.50 per diem (to cover miscellaneous expenses, soap, snacks, etc). $3.50 per day for one 30-day month comes to $105. This is the least amount given to every deployed military member and may be increased based on the cost of living in the deployed area.

    Hostile fire/imminent danger pay. Currently set at $150 a month for members deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Pentagon is reviewing whether or not those areas that are no longer considered dangerous deserve this specific pay. This will not affect those members deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.

    Family separation allowance . Currently set at $250 per month. This pay is given to any military member who is away from his family for at least 30 days. Congress increased the amount to $250 from $150 a month after Sept. 2001 and reviews it each fiscal year to determine whether to should drop it back to $150.

    Tax-free status . Given to every military member deployed to a combat/imminent danger zone. And this amount is not prorated. If I deploy on June 30, my pay for the entire month of June is tax free. If I go home on July 1, all of July is tax-free as well. This is given to the military member by not withholding FICA from his monthly paycheck--and that month is not considered part of total taxable income on the W-2. As a captain with 10 years of total military service, my monthly pay increased approximately by $600.


    So for my deployment to Uzbekistan, I receive additional benefits totaling $1,105 a month. In the worst-case scenario, the Pentagon is considering for my area to remove hostile fire pay and reduce family separation back to $150. Based on that, my total benefits would drop to $855.




    Many readers also pointed out that in addition to the $6,000 death benefit for families of servicemen killed in action, the Department of Veterans Affairs also offers low-cost Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance , which pays even if a soldier or veteran dies while not on duty.



    back to the royal pain



    But let's not pretend that the members posting their outrage here really give much of a shit about the people that serve in the military
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  • Reply 25 of 42
    brbr Posts: 8,395member
    First, why the hell should that hostile fire/imminent danger pay be removed when there have been more deaths in Iraq AFTER the dog and pony aircraft carrier show than before? HMM? Perhaps to that particular soldier 100 bucks a month doesn't mean much. However, it does mean a great deal to many others. Did I mention that it is still well-deserved? Hell, they deserve MORE, not less.



    Second...



    Quote:

    But let's not pretend that the members posting their outrage here really give much of a shit about the people that serve in the military



    Well, now that's a baseless asshole comment if I've ever seen one. I may not support this president but I damn well support the grunts in the field doing his dirty work.
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  • Reply 26 of 42
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by BR

    First, why the hell should that hostile fire/imminent danger pay be removed when there have been more deaths in Iraq AFTER the dog and pony aircraft carrier show than before? HMM?



    HMM? HMM is you can't read.



    "This will not affect those members deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan."
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  • Reply 27 of 42
    brbr Posts: 8,395member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Scott

    HMM? HMM is you can't read.



    "This will not affect those members deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan."




    No, I didn't bother to read it. I got my information from the relatives of many of my friends that are in the military and are currently deployed in many places around the world. If the information I received from them is incorrect, I concede that point.



    No need to say "YOU CAN'T READ YOU DUMMY HEAD." Even though that is a direct personal attack, I still won't report you to the mods because, as stated previously, I'm not a pussy.
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  • Reply 28 of 42
    bungebunge Posts: 7,329member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by BuonRotto

    It just seems to be one and the other for a lot of people 'round these parts....



    Only when you're stretching for something to criticize.
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  • Reply 29 of 42
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Scott

    HMM? HMM is you can't read.



    "This will not affect those members deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan."




    Here's some more in that regard from Defense Daily; apologies for not linking to the article:



    Lewis Pledges More Funding For Military Danger Pay



    By Kerry Gildea



    House Defense Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) on Monday said he will include funding in the fiscal year 2004 defense bill that would extend the current levels of imminent danger pay and family separation allowances for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.



    The House in July passed the $369.2 billion FY ?04 defense appropriations bill. When Congress returns in September, House and Senate appropriations conferees will continue to resolve differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill.



    "We?ve been hearing from people at the Defense Department that for some reason or another they can?t afford to keep the promises we made to these young men and women who are putting their lives on the line for freedom," Lewis said in a statement. "As far as I?m concerned, we sure as hell can afford this, and we will."



    Congress in April agreed to increase imminent danger pay from $150 to $225 per month for members of the armed forces serving in such hazardous locations as Afghanistan and Iraq. Responding to extremely long overseas rotations for those serving in these areas, Congress also approved increasing the family separation allowance from $100 to $250 per month.The legislation was signed into law as part of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill funding the DoD operations in Iraq.



    "We agreed to this increase as a promise to our troops that we will help them cope with the problems of separation while they are serving their nation in extremely dangerous situations," Lewis said. "Those conditions have not changed, and I have no doubt that Congress will move to extend the danger pay and separation allowance increases through the next year."



    The FY 2004 defense authorization, which was passed by the House in May, extended the imminent danger pay and family separation allowance increases to the end of the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lewis said he would work to convince the House to support that authorization by ensuring adequate funding for the increases.



    Overall, the House defense appropriations package leaves intact a number of cuts to programs that Lewis said were made to some weapons programs that are promising for the future, but not quite ready for prime time (Defense Daily, June 27).



    The House bill is $3 billion short of the president?s FY ?04 request, so a number of cuts and funding shifts among programs were made across the budget. The Senate bill funds the same $369.2 billion level, but contains some differences in specific weapons accounts (Defense Daily, June 9).
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  • Reply 30 of 42
    buonrottobuonrotto Posts: 6,368member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by bunge

    Only when you're stretching for something to criticize.



    Exactly.
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  • Reply 31 of 42
    Quote:

    Originally posted by segovius

    Bring them home - NOW



    Going into Iraq may not have been a great idea, but pulling out now would be many times worse. If the troops were brought home now the Middle East could be plunged into a shitstorm. Imagine a massive civil war (complete with the rise of fundamentalist Islamic groups and large scale massacres of Kurds) in Iraq. Imagine this war spilling over into Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Imagine what the resulting energy crisis could do to the world economy.



    Not saying that any of this would happen, but the risk exists.
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  • Reply 32 of 42
    giantgiant Posts: 6,041member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by kneelbeforezod

    Going into Iraq may not have been a great idea, but pulling out now would be many times worse. If the troops were brought home now the Middle East could be plunged into a shitstorm. Imagine a massive civil war (complete with the rise of fundamentalist Islamic groups and large scale massacres of Kurds) in Iraq. Imagine this war spilling over into Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Imagine what the resulting energy crisis could do to the world economy.



    Not saying that any of this would happen, but the risk exists.




    Of course, we could cut out the "only america knows best" neo-con empire bullshit and have a coalition force (or *gasp* the UN) do the transition.



    Of course, it's actually pretty amusing that you 'death to the UN'ers seem to be, to the person, the 'Irak has nukes!' folks, so your inability to assess the situation is pretty damn public.
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  • Reply 33 of 42
    Quote:

    Originally posted by giant

    Of course, we could cut out the "only america knows best" neo-con empire bullshit and have a coalition force (or *gasp* the UN) do the transition.



    Of course, it's actually pretty amusing that you 'death to the UN'ers seem to be, to the person, the 'Irak has nukes!' folks, so your inability to assess the situation is pretty damn public.




    The stabilization of Iraq should absolutely be a matter for the UN, but arriving at a consensus on who should do what will be difficult - particularly considering the situation created by the hubris of the Bush administration.
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  • Reply 34 of 42
    aquaticaquatic Posts: 5,602member
    Hey SDW what do you think of this?*



    I think is just unbelievable. IS this on the Fleecing of America on Brokaw? I bet he'd be pissed hearing about this personally.



    Bush. The guy who was AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard for a YEAR doing white gold while REAL Americans were fighting children and women in Vietnam and then Americans back home. Bush needs Basic Training. And then a few years of service. He is a rich spoiled brat. The contracts in Iraq are going to all of his friends. What a coincidence. This is what makes me disgusted to be an American. Bush is really, really, really damaging our reputation abroad. My sister can not go on her French trip now because of him. Too many worries. If Bush is elected again the public needs to be recalled. They just have no clue what is really going on in this country and where the money is going.



    www.awolbush.com



    Wow. Anyone that voted for Bush is just plain stupid. They did not research the man. If you are a conservative, John McCain would be your man. I just keep wondering how Bush beat McCain.



    *not a personal attack. a question. All inferences of personal attack are false. Do not read if you are on mao inhibitors, nursing, pregnant, or think you may be pregnant. consult your doctor before reading. May cause dry skin, itchy eyes, soar throat, drowsiness, cough, or headache. May cause bowel movements and an increased urge to have them. As always, consult your doctor before reading this post.
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  • Reply 35 of 42
    aquaticaquatic Posts: 5,602member
    Yes the UN should have a roll in Iraq especially considering what just happened.
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  • Reply 36 of 42
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    UN is the saviour of the world huh? I mean ... they did such a good job on Iraq before Gulf War II. Right?
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  • Reply 37 of 42
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Scott

    UN is the saviour of the world huh? I mean ... they did such a good job on Iraq before Gulf War II. Right?



    I take it you're referring to the sanctions? The sanctions that hurt the poor ikkle children of Iraq so badly and against which you so campaigned so actively and vehemently before the war?



    Dear Scott. The UN fed half the population of Iraq in the years of sanctions, for which many Iraqis are very grateful indeed. I'm sorry they didn't give the United States an excuse to go to war as quickly as you would have liked, but that still doesn't make the UN an independent state with a socialist government and a bill of rights for its citizens. You'd probably have a military base there now if there if this were the case, though.



    OK? DON'T MAKE ME TYPE IN CAPITALS, SCOTT.



    Oh - or are you referring to the UNSCOM inspectors looking for weapons of mass destruction? You know, the weapons that were going to be found in a matter of minutes once Saddam was gone and the coalition had unimpeded access to every nook and cranny of the country?



    Well the US inspectors are doing a truly great job there now, and no mistake! Why, they're falling over yellowcake uranium, smallpox culture and nerve agent by the barrel-load!



    NO, THEY'RE NOT.



    They've found a trailer for the manufacture of hydrogen and an empty warhead from the early '80s.



    MAYBE THE US INSPECTORS ARE INCOMPETENT TOO?



    What do you think?



    And yes, I do hate the US very passionately. I want to see Israel pushed into the sea, George W. Bush is a homosexual monkey who smells his own farts with glee, Donald Rumsfeld is a zionist stooge and Al Gore would be Pope RIGHT NOW if it weren't for those Republican chads.



    Just saving you the trouble.



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  • Reply 38 of 42
    aquaticaquatic Posts: 5,602member
    Someday people will realize we are all going to be one country. We are very small in comparison to the Universe. The UN is a good idea perhaps too ahead of its time, sadly. And look at how the US disrespects it Scott. how do you expect them to do anything when we don't support them? It is sad how the UN building was bombed. Sanctions in Iraq were meant to have Iraqis get off their asses and get rid of Sadam themselves. The US should not be the world policeman. And they should speak softly and carry a big stick but be wary of weilding it and make sure to clean up aftewards. Bush will be remember in history for messing up Iraq. Bush "Dubya" the Second will be remembered for messing it up more and also Afghanistan, Liberia (one place we should have gone, and a lot sooner) and more places. South America, now that's a mess. They should be the ones with a beef against us. We have druggies here that the CIA supplies with cocaine and instead of using domestic programs to treat them and crack down the CIA and expose them for what they are doing (Iran Contra anyone?) we defoliate the Amazon rainforests with Agent Orange and have guerillas kill each other and civilians in South America, while the kids in those countries cook cardboard and eat it. The world is messed up.
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  • Reply 39 of 42
    scottscott Posts: 7,431member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Hassan i Sabbah

    ...





    Dear Scott. The UN fed half the population of Iraq in the years of sanctions, for which many Iraqis are very grateful indeed. ...




    Oh you mean oil for food. I thought that was oil for Saddam. Yea great job UN. Keep it up ... PLEASE STOP!
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  • Reply 40 of 42
    aquaticaquatic Posts: 5,602member
    So they can't get off their lazy asses and overthrow Saddam? Not that I'm saying we aren't lazy. Bush should have been recalled and I think his opponents especially in Congress are pussies. Except for a few outspoken reps and Senators from small states who don't have anything to lose. Doesn't it piss you off how we have to always intervene everywhere though? I thought that was opposite to the Republican ideology anyway yet they're always the ones who start wars (world wars do not count since we didn't start them.) If we really wanted to help out, we could help Africa and South America. Now they're the ones who need money. The Middle East is swimming in money. The people just need to overthrow the right-wing governments. Now back OT...



    SDW what do you think of this underhanded pay cut?
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