Two letters from moms who have to send food and water to Iraq.

These are totally heartbreaking. Two in the same day at our paper.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040530/NEWS/405290396/1037/EDIT
SNIP from the first one:
"My son-in-law has been in the Army since 1997. I'm very proud of him and support him in his decision to stay in the Army.

In the seven years he has been in the Army, he has been in Macedonia, Kosovo and Iraq two times. But we have spent a small fortune sending him things such as fresh drinking water, toilet paper and food that is not bug-infested. We sent him money to buy water in Iraq.

When he was in Bagdad during the first part of the Iraq War he had to share with several other soldiers a bottle of nose spray for allergies. God, share nose spray, why not share your underwear? He asked his mother to send clean ones because he had not had a bath in more than a month and no clean clothing...."

SNIP from the 2nd one:

"In reference to the Voice of the People, "Military Fails to Provide to Basics for Soldiers at War," May 20, I, too, am an angry mom who has a son in Afghanistan. He writes to me also to send him things that he needs in the way of toiletries and canned food, etc.

I think when the people are fighting for our country and risking their lives in a country that doesn't want us there in the first place to help them, America needs to support them and support them all the way.

My son has to buy his uniforms and boots after the first is issued to him. Why is that? He is still in the Army. They should be issued to him and everyone else.

When he is out in the field, or in another country, he has to pay for his food. It comes out of his check. Why is that? It should be provided for him and everyone else fighting this war....."

It's almost more than I can bare to learn of how poorly our soldiers are treated by their own government; especially such a wealthy one as ours.

I watched the WWII dedication this weekend. I was very moved by it. Those guys REALLY suffered during their time of war. Our country was poorer then.

When my daughter found herself in uniform and in Persian Gulf I--in Saudi Arabia, I sent her things from home all the time. I didn't have to send her armor, however, nor did she have to "pay" for her eats in the field. The did have to eat what they called 'Meals rejected by everyone'...MRE's when they were away from base.

What further appalled and galled me was when I learned that so many soldiers and their families state side couldn't afford rent AND food! Soooooo many were on FOOD STAMPS!! Unbelievable!

We all know by now that this government seems to think they can send people to war on the cheap and it's ok. I hope to God that the next administration does a hell of a lot better towards these soldiers. Many of them get into the military on false pretenses only to find it ain't all it's cracked up to be. Others of course are like those found at that damn prison in Baghdad (along with their soulless 'bosses' all the way up the chain)

It's all too aweful. Peace.......

That is so low of our government, and I don't think they even care. The bottom line is profit.

cheney expects his cut every month.

:kick:

...profit and the bottom line over the needs of our troops...
the fucking nerve of the criminals of $hrubco questioning ANYONE'S patriotism. They don't support the troops, they support the balance sheet.

The pentagon needs a complete housecleaning. Every trace of the neocon vermin needs to be swept clean and disinfected so that the neocon scourge NEVER appears again.

I wonder if Richard Perle needs a care package too?

:kick: