David Hackworth spaeaks out on veterans issues
Several
of us have been after David Hackworth for some time now to speak out
about
the shabby way veterans are treated. In this week's column he has
finally
taken on the VA and eroding veteran's benefits.
It
doesn't matter whether you like what he usually says, or not. He has a
huge
audience and he can do us a lot of good. Please go to his website and
let
him know you appreciate him sticking up for veterans.
Doug
---
Hackworth column follows ---
"In
Search of a Perfect Plank"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By
David H. Hackworth
Dick
Cheney, Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf are gathered in Philadelphia
this
week for the Republican National Convention. As these three musketeers --
who
under the command of George "Poppy" Bush brought our nation its
quickest,
and from this eyewitness's viewpoint, most impressive military win -
-
try to help execute the political equivalent of Desert Storm on behalf of
George
"Dubbya," I hope they'll include in their platform the revitalizing
of
our
military. A plank that will bring to the citizens of this nation a
defense
plan showing:
*
How they intend to pick our armed forces up off the mat and make them world
champs
again after eight years of White House and Pentagon neglect, criminal
political
correctness and non-leadership -- which has done more damage to our
armed
forces than all of our current enemies combined.
*
How they'll bring an end to mindless missions in such places as Iraq,
Bosnia,
Kosovo and Colombia and assure us that from 2001 forward, our forces
will
be used only to defend America and its interests.
*
How they'll reform and streamline our Cold War force structure to meet the
threats
of the 21st century, starting with no longer allowing the "gee-whiz"
gear
that's supposedly revolutionizing our military machine to hog the
budget.
Instead, our tip-of-the-spear airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines
will
once again be given the highest priority -- in wages and material, in
combat-readiness
and training -- according to the tried-and-true maxim that
warriors
win battles, not wonder weapons.
*
How they'll recruit and retain the best and brightest leaders and grunts to
serve
in our active and reserve units and eliminate the Perfumed Prince
generals
and admirals who've forgotten our warriors and no longer set the
example
in their self-serving rush to scurry to the top of the promotion
ladder.
*
How the destructive "kinder-gentler" social experiments that have
been
slammed
down our military's throat over the past eight years will be
eliminated,
and how the traditional military culture -- read warrior ethic --
that's
won our battles from Yorktown to Kuwait City will be returned
immediately.
*
How the recommendations of the Kassebaum Commission to end combined Initial
Entry
Training -- boot camp -- of males and females will be implemented, and
how
women will be pulled from all ground combat units ASAP.
*
How our nuclear arsenal will be cut by at least 50 percent, and what steps
will
be taken to provide these apocalyptic weapons, and facilities such as
Los
Alamos, with at least the same security coverage as Chelsea Clinton
presently
enjoys. * How they plan to care for the millions of vets who've
been
victimized by the Department of Veteran Affairs' long-term neglect,
wrongdoing
and deceit. And how they plan to modernize and revitalize the VA,
one
of the most worm-eaten of U.S. government institutions.
*
How they'll provide our retired professional servicemen and women -- who
since
1941 in war after war put their lives on the line while suffering long
separations
from their loved ones -- with a comprehensive medical and health
plan
at least equal to those of retired lawmakers and fat-cat federal civil
servants.
And not forget that when our patriots enlisted to defend this
country,
they were contractually promised these benefits in exchange for
living
a life of hurts, standing downrange and being shot at by bad guys who
wanted
to paint them red. (Now they're in line behind recent arrivals from
Third
World countries, who actually receive the same level of medical
benefits
-- through Medicare -- as our brave and scarred.)
*
How they'll expand our national cemeteries so that those who've served our
country
in war and peace will be provided the same military burial at the end
of
their journey as our most distinguished generals. And how these heroes
will
no longer be hustled through insulting two-bit tape recordings of taps
with
-- if they're lucky -- a few members of an unfunded veterans group to
honor
them and hand over the flag to their loved ones on behalf of a
supposedly
grateful nation.
Then
in mid-August we can ask the Democrats in Los Angeles to show us theirs.
Only
then will we truly be able to make an informed decision on who should be
our
next commander in chief.
***
Http://www.hackworth.com is the address of David Hackworth's home page.
Sign
in for the free weekly Defending America column at his Web site. Send
mail
to P.O. Box 5210, Greenwich, CT 06831. © 2000 David H. Hackworth
Distributed
by King Features Syndicate Inc.
-------------------------------------------
Douglas
McArthur, Executive Director
The
National Veterans Organization of America, Inc.
Visit
the NVO Website at http://www.nvo.org
http://www.geocities.com/~doc32751
http://www.geocities.com/s_quigley_2000