Over the last 5 years we've been inundated with "Support the Troops" propaganda, yellow ribbon magnets, Freedoms Fries, and all other sorts of nonsense designed to test the patriotism of the average American. It almost seemed like if you couldn't reflexively say "I Support the Troops", you were branded a traitor. But how many people could look beyond the jingoism of that phrase to explain what it meant?

A news item yesterday got me thinking about our priorities within the military and the Pentagon, and who REALLY "Supports the Troops". The news reported the story of how a soldier was being denied benefits and asked to return a signing bonus because THEY had discharged him due to his two brothers being killed in action. It seemed so petty when you think of the billions of dollars being flushed down the commode that is the war in Iraq. I decided to dig around a little and see how the U.S. government supports the troops, and how they support the Military-Industrial complex.

So here's a little list that shows how wonderfully we support the troops:

• Soldier asked to return signing bonus after being discharged because of sibling deaths


• soldier asked to return signing bonus after begin injured by bomb blast


• Military wives becoming birthing surrogates to help makes ends meet


• Service members fight for citizenship


• Service members fight deportation after service is up


• War widow fights to stay in US after soldier husband killed in action


• Walter Reed... need I say more?


• Benefits denied to Nat Guard troops


• Veterans not getting care or benefits because of staffing shortages

It's disgusting how we nickle and dime them to death. Meanwhile, we pour billions of dollars into the coffers of KBR, Halliburton, and the hardware manufacturers, despite their poor performance and sometimes criminal actions:

• KBR - bringing you rape, rape, and even more rape.


• KBR - bringing you dirty water, and sometimes even toxic water


• Electrocution of American soldiers


• Far-reaching contractor fraud


• War Profiteering


• Cost-plus contracts for Halliburton


• Astronomical Pentagon weapons spending

Where are the priorities and who sets them? Is this the Pentagon?... the Army?... The President?... The congressional committees? Who is over-seeing this? Up until the Democrats got the majority in Congress, there was NO oversight, and these expensive contracts were handed out to the favored. Perhaps some of this will change now. Hopefully, so will the rules regarding soldier benefits and compensation.

Support The Troops? How about some financial support?