DoD Continues attack against military medical care

Government strategy to deal with budget shortfalls - ignore "pork barrel" and strip funds from earned military medical programs

The handwriting is on the wall at the Pentagon and in the White House...the message is reduce military benefits in any way possible, betray military retirees earned medical care, survivor benefits and disability program.  (camouflage as a threat to National Security what in reality is government theft of benefits) 

Secretary Rumsfeld continues to crack the whip on his “benefit cutting team” Assistant Secretary Dr. Winkenwerder and David Chu, as they are briefing every member of Congress they can get access too...this Association, that committee, lamenting of the “runaway military health care costs”, making sweeping statements warning the “world class“ health benefit is threatened, in short the “sky is falling”.

Winkenwerder and Chu continually harp on the “costs” of military healthcare, how it has “doubled or tripled”, and they cry big alligator tears that military members are not paying enough for TRICARE, costs of TRICARE Prime hasn’t been increased since 1996, pharmacy costs are out of sight, on and on...what is always missing is the “costs in sacrifice placed on our warriors, spouses, and widows” required to protect freedom...what is also missing is any reluctance to continue the pipeline into harms way while complaining about the costs...there should be no higher priority in earthly government budgeting than faithful support of commitments made to warriors, spouses, and widows.

Has there ever been testimony by DOD explaining the sacrifice involved in military service; that our professionals earn every support they can be provided; described the cost of the life blood spilled; the impact on widows left behind? If there has, I missed it.

Interesting isn't it that the very elements of government that entice men and women to serve in the defense of America are the first to cry "costs" and betray military, spouses, and widows when the enticement debt comes due. 

America is quick to find funds in the millions for individual families impacted by 9-11; has appropriated hundreds of billions to care for hurricane victims; spends billions on every conceivable “pork” project throughout America...I cite these examples, not to deny support is due our citizens in time of need, but to compare warriors, those who volunteer, who purposefully give their very lives to defend our nation, the impact on their families and point out these men and women are denied justice and must continually fight for the support they deserve...and are accused of “threatening national security” for holding national leaders accountable for healthcare commitments made to troops, spouses, and widows.

Rest assured, government today is not what it was fifty years ago when warriors had “champions” in Congress who understood...most in Congress were veterans, there are few today, certainly no leaders with a understanding or burning desire to take care of the troops...use and abuse appears the theme...troops are on their own...incumbents should get a strong signal in 2006 at the ballot box.

Warriors can continue to remain silent and be stripped of benefits, see earned and paid for medical care, survivor benefits, disability compensation, widow compensation and maybe even retired compensation capped or reduced...or take a stand...when citizens remain silent government gets a signal...”they don’t care” so we (government) can do as we wish.

DoD apparently has no backbone to fight for the budget deemed necessary but willing to ignore "pork barrel" waste and take funds out of the hide of military retirees to balance shortfalls...perhaps Congress will rise and advise DoD of the ramifications of penalizing military retirees and the signal it sends to younger troops.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret., 111 Overview Drive, Crestview, FL 32539, 850-689-1818, hmriley@cox.net

DoD Continues attack against military medical care