Our military needs a better ally at home

Boston Herald ^ | Monday, February 28, 2005 | John Kerry (yes that John Kerry)

[Radix]

I recently traveled to Iraq where I was proud to visit some of America's most remarkable young men and women.
I wish I was as proud about what is happening in Washington, where ``supporting the troops'' is often confused with simply supporting the administration's policies. Sometimes supporting the troops means challenging the policies that put them in harm's way or harm the families who pray for their safe return. It also means Congress has a special responsibility to our troops - both in the field and at home.
Our troops must have every tool they need to succeed. Every recent commitment of American military power, including the ``air war'' in Kosovo, has required sizeable ground forces, at the very least to provide post-conflict security. There's just no technological substitute for boots on the ground.
I introduced the Strengthening America's Armed Forces and Military Family Bill of Rights Act to permanently increase the size of the military by 30,000 to 40,000 in the Army and 10,000 in the Marine Corps to meet challenges of the new century.
Let me be clear: This is not a proposal to increase U.S. forces in Iraq. But our experience there is instructive. Our ground forces are stretched. The Army recently began calling back retirees ranging in age from their mid-40s to late 60s. The Guard and Reserve are stressed, too. The chief of the Army Reserve warns that his troops are ``rapidly degenerating into a broken force'' and at this rate couldn't meet future missions.
If we had begun expanding the military in 2003, when Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and many of us began calling for it, our military would not be as overstretched as it is today.
We need a Military Family Bill of Rights, a set of policies enshrined in law to meet the needs of military families.
Investing in military families isn't just compassionate - it's a smart investment in our national security. The Military Family Bill of Rights would:
Expand TRICARE to all Guard and Reserve members, whether mobilized or not. Members failing physicals impacts combat readiness, yet as many as one in five do not have health insurance.
Allow widows to stay in military housing for one year. For those with children, the current policy of 180 days can mean changing schools in the course of a year.
Establish a Military Family Relief Fund. Just as we let Americans donate a few dollars to finance presidential elections on their tax forms, they should be able to thank our troops.
Allow penalty-free withdrawals from Individual Retirement Accounts for deployment-related expenses, like increased child care.
Offer a tax credit to small businesses that make up the difference between Reserve and National Guard members' civilian and military pay.
Expand post-traumatic stress disorder programs and require more outreach. As many as one in six soldiers returning from Iraq show symptoms of PTSD, yet barely half of all VA medical centers have treatment facilities.
Increase the military death benefit. Last year I proposed increasing the benefit so that, combined with the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance, the families of those who die in military service would receive $500,000. No one can put a price on a life, but the current $12,000 is insulting. The president recently embraced a formula to reach $500,000 but limited it to deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. Congress should embrace the broader benefit for all troops, regardless of where they die, and act immediately to make it law.

[anonymoussierra]

"I introduced the Strengthening America's Armed Forces and Military Family Bill of Rights Act to permanently increase the size of the military by 30,000 to 40,000 in the Army and 10,000 in the Marine Corps to meet challenges of the new century. Let me be clear: This is not a proposal to increase U.S. forces in Iraq. But our experience there is instructive. Our ground forces are stretched." "If we had begun expanding the military in 2003, when Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and many of us began calling for it, our military would not be as overstretched as it is today."

This is not truth America! America do have 1,400,000 strong persons 300,000 do not life in America country this is 1,100,000 life in America country this is not"overstreched"

"Sometimes supporting the troops means challenging the policies that put them in harm's way or harm the families who pray for their safe return. It also means Congress has a special responsibility to our troops - both in the field and at home."

I do not know what this person write I do read America country persons help America strong persons Thank you

[Brilliant]

``supporting the troops'' is often confused with simply supporting the administration's policies.

Maybe that's because supporting the Democratic Party's policies is DEFINITELY not the same as supporting our troops.

[Zivasmate]

Let's thank G-d (and Karl Rove) for sparing us from having to suffer this suffocating, vain, vascillating and vindictive man as president.

[Dilbert56]

You cna challenge administration policies while decisions are being made. Once the country, the Congress, and the Administration decide to take us to war, you should support the path chosen. If your football team decides on a running play you don't go running out for a pass because you thought the situation called for that instead.

[MEG33]

Hey Kerry,

SIGN THE 180!!

[dnmore]

I went to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and searched on the terms "Strengthening America Armed Forces and Military" and received the following results:
50 Bills from the 109th Congress ranked by relevance on"Strengthening America Armed Forces and Military ".

0 bills containing your phrase exactly as entered.
0 bills containing all your search words near each other in any order.
4 bills containing all your search words but not near each other.
46 bills containing one or more of your search words.

---

Listing of 4 bills containing all your search words but not near each other.

1 . Omnibus Nonproliferation and Anti-Nuclear Terrorism Act of 2005 (Introduced in House)[H.R.665.IH]
2 . Lifetime of Education Opportunities Act of 2005 (Introduced in Senate)[S.9.IS]
3 . Job Training Improvement Act of 2005 (Introduced in House)[H.R.27.IH]
4 . College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005 (Introduced in House)[H.R.507.IH]

Let's try a different search term "Military Family Bill of Rights Act ".

50 Bills from the 109th Congress ranked by relevance on "Military Family Bill of Rights Act ".

0 bills containing your phrase exactly as entered.
0 bills containing all your search words near each other in any order.
10 bills containing all your search words but not near each other.
40 bills containing one or more of your search words.


Hmmm, this is interesting, when I google similar terms, the only thing I find is something on johnkerry.com about what JFK would do as president (you must be kidding!), and some crap from DailyKOS.

You don't suppose that he was lying when he said "I introduced the "Strengthening America's Armed Forces..."? Because all indications are at this point that this thing is neither legislation nor is it proposed legislation but is in fact an empty promise from an empty suit.