Posted on 04/07/2011 9:41:32 AM PDT by Nachum
ABC News reports this morning that Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with troops in Baghdad this morning, in part to discuss their concerns over a government shutdown. After joking that the best policy is to make sure the folks with the guns get paid first, Gates then told the men and women on the front lines that they needn’t worry. After studying the issue, Gates says they will get paid if the budget runs out tomorrow … for a week:
Speaking to a group of 200 soldiers in Baghdad, Defense Secretary Gates drew Army cheers of “Hooah” from the crowd when he eased their concerns about the government shutdown and said “first of all, let me say you will be paid.”
Gates’s comment came during a question and answer session when one of the soldiers about how the government shutdown might affect them. He then joked, “as a historian it always occurred to me the smart thing for government was always to pay the guys with guns first.”
Turning serious he explained to them how if there is a government shutdown, days the troops in the field would get half a paycheck for this pay period, but get back pay in the future.
(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...
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For a week?! That’ll help morale. ~sarc
They are ALL nothing but shills and political animals for the clueless, fascist, Dear Leader who is using our brave Warriors as pawns in this matter, not to mention, ALL are personally responsible for implementing and enforcing the IDIOTIC and DEADLY "Rules of Engagement!"
It is time to bring em' all home, NOW!!!
Washington D.C. is the new Rome.
Watch for our unpaid military to come home and “cross the Tiber”
From my experience, yes they will be paid.....eventually.
This creates a severe cash flow problem for military families, as they are paid on a monthly basis!
What a moron. If the dems let the bill come up to make sure military pay is not delayed there would not be an issue. But then they can’t say “Republicans hate the military.”
The military will get paid when an appropriations bill is signed by the President.
In the article it explained they really won’t get paid...the “for a week” part only means that before the shutdown there was a week on the books for the next payday.
The problem with the shutdown, IMO, is the press. If this is twisted and turned and laid at the feet of the GOP (which you know they will try to do)...bad news all around because people just believe what they hear and they’ll think it’s the GOP denying the troops their pay.
Shut it Down!
It’s much, much worse.
Are you a drunk and can’t get a job because you opted to drink yourself into a stupor instead? No problem .... YOUR check will continue unabated.
On Welfare, because you are simply too good to have to work? Don’t worry; your SSI check will be on time, and for the full amount. No need to cancel any of your plans.
Are you in for the Military? Civil Servant supporting our troops on a military base? Are you a Service Man putting your life on the line for your country? ..... Well, this could impact YOU
Actually, service members are paid on the 1st and 15th of each month. Otherwise, good point. Many military and their families (like many other Americans) live paycheck to paycheck.
Please correct me if I am wrong (heaven knows I have been wrong once or twice before) but isn’t the option to pay or not pay the military in a government shut down the CHOICE of the President only?
how about congress and staff skipping paychecks for a couple of years because they are so dedicated to this country and seeing it survive
Indeed. Famous advice from one (dying)Roman Emperor to his son: "First, pay the soldiers."
It is time to bring em’ all home, NOW!!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We are ‘accomplishing’ nothing in any of the places we are currently engaged. The only thing we have done since Bush 41, is to stop the Muslims from killing each other. 9/11 is over and I cannot point to a single thing to say, “There! We paid them back!”
But for US jumping in the middle of every Muslim skirmish in the world, they would be well on their way to killing each other off by now. And what’s wrong with that?
Muslims don’t have, “Rules of Engagement”. Their only rule is to kill, any way, any body, and any time they can.
If we have a GOAL in all this, then what is it?
If we have a GOAL, then let’s do it and get the hell out of there.
If we do not have a defined GOAL, then why are we there?
If we are not ‘playing to WIN’, then why play at all.
Pray for our troops. They need it now and always.
They told us the same thing in the last shutdown in the mid 90’s. The Battalion commander had all the batteries come for formation before PT and informed us we will continue to get paid.
Samuel Adams: “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”
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