NH Unionleader: Families of the 94th on the warpath

[NewHampshireDem]

HOLLIS — Military families threatened to wage a war of their own last night, as sadness turned to sharp anger at the Bush administration for keeping their loved ones in Iraq.

It was another monthly meeting for relatives of reservists in the Londonderry-based 94th Military Police Company of the U.S. Army Reserve, but this one was unlike any other before it.

Two days after learning their loved ones would not be leaving the Middle East as expected Sunday, the families said they’re ready to launch a political fight.

“God forbid, if one soldier dies, there will be no end to anything any one of our members can do,” said Gerri Whittredge, who lent the group her Hollis home for the meeting. “I will be in Washington, D.C., at Mr. Bush’s door, shoving his words down his throat.”

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http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=36042

These reservists in this unit have been on active duty for 17 months now.

[DarkPhenyx]

1. While I sympathize with the families...

...their loved ones are serving in the military at the will of the President and Congress. What do they expect? Extentions are going to happen in time of war when your forces are spread as thin as ours are. I sympathize, but I cannot entirely side with them.

I have to wonder how many of them were supportive of the invasion. How many thought the protestors were anti-American. How many voted for Bush. I'm not saying that their holding any of these positions means they deserve to have their family extened in country. Prehaps, though, they will begin seeing things differently now.

[0007]

2. Is it draft time yet?

[DarkPhenyx]

6. Not yet.

Still need to wait on the election.

[0007]

9. What will junior lie to us about tonight?

It can't be how well Iraq is under control, because they have lost it and know that it has become a losing proposition?

[DarkPhenyx]

10. Good question.

Probably jobs and economy again. When you can't lie believably in the face of reality obfuscate and distract.

[Nlighten1]

15. When the draft comes...people will be in the streets.

This will be Bush's Vietnam.

[NNN0LHI]

21. And it will come sooner than later I am afraid n/t

[NewHampshireDem]

3. An important thing to remember ...

Bush won in NH by a narrower margin than the number of votes cast for Nader--and it is historically one of the most republican states in the nation. This could help to turn the tide here in this state, along with the fact that our republican governor is a real horse's @$$.

[SoCalDem]

4. and...New Hampshire was the one red state in the whole northeast

I bet they have buyer's remorse all the time now.:(

[OneBlueSky]

7. what do they expect? . . . well, honesty for one . . .

yeah, they serve at the will of the President and Congress, but just like all the rest of us, they were lied to about the reason for this mission . . . and yes, extensions happen in time of war . . . but last I checked, this isn't a declared war . . . more of an executive action, for lack of a better term . . . so these folks have every reason to be pissed off . . . the bare minimum you have a right to expect when being put in harm's way is honesty, and they didn't get it . . .

[DarkPhenyx]

8. "I am a war President."

"War on terrorism", "War in Iraq".

OK, let's not play semantics here ok?

If you are pissed of that you had to sever in combat, might die, and are getting extended in theatre then you obviously didn't read the fine print.

[BeFree]

16. Ya know, dp...

....there are some people who believe in standing up for the US, and even putting their lives on the line for it.

We thank our veterans everyday for our continued right of free speech. These vets should not be taking flack from us. Our flack should be directed at the politicians who have taken advantage of soldier's patriotism.

[ithacan]

17. how many voted for Bush?

great point, especially given the New Hampshire went for Bush in 2000...

[NewYorkerfromMass]

20. what war? there is no war.

Bush created this "war".

[Melinda]

26. "What do they expect?" How about the TRUTH from their CIC.

Bush* LIED. Our troops expect honesty and deserve no less when asked to put their lives on the line.

How anyone cannot "side with" those finally awakening to the real "truth" of Bush* is beyond me. And regardless any awakening, our soldiers deserve our support, period.

[progressivebydesign]

27. These are RESERVISTS... The families have a point!!!!

They were never meant to serve for such long periods. It is not what you sign up for. That I will give them. The abuse of Reservists has been rampant in this war. They have been deployed at an unprecedented rate.. and kept for months and months. Rumsfeld is using them the most because they do not get veteran's benefits the same way, or health care.. they are the "temp" military... the "part-time" military.. in the Pentagon's eyes.. and they are treated just like those types of employees in the real world.

I hope these people scream their heads off! This is NOT what being a Reservist is about. They are being abused for oil.

[Mountainman]

29. They already see things differently now.

You are a cold person to be saying what you do. I hope you never get into a situation where you regret a choice you made to get there.

[Florida_Geek]

5. NH should be a easy pick up for Kerry

273,559 Bush
266,348 Gore
22,198 Nader

With Nader out and the military families against him, NH should be an easy Kerry pick up.

[Maine-i-acs]

11. Sen. Collins - R-ME - is pissed.

She's expressing her concerns that the Guard and Reserve are being overly used in order to keep troop numbers high. She wants more regular army sent in so the reservists and guardsmen can come home. Pretty tough stance for her, she's usually deep in the RNC pocket.

If Collins and Snowe(R) both switch to Independent, they would hold the balance of power in the Senate, and become two of the most powerful people in Washington. They should think about it ... both are becoming alienated against Shrub, and both are popular enough to withstand an affiliation change and still get re-elected!

[MaineDem]

13. Twos years active out of the last four

Susie's comments in the Press Herald this morning:

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a member of the Armed Services Committee, has asked that the Defense Department redeploy troops from other areas of the world, such as Bosnia and Korea, rather than relying on weary reservists and National Guardsmen.

"The 94th is a well-trained, expert military police unit and as such its skills are in high demand," Collins said at a news conference Monday at the Portland International Jetport. "They're tired and they need a break."

The 94th, which is headquartered in Massachusetts and also has units in New Hampshire, has been on active duty for more than two years out of the past four. Members served nine months as part of the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia in 2001.

"We're treating them as active duty troops," Collins said. "These families are just in agony not knowing what's going to happen and I'm sure it's hard on our soldiers, too."

Members of the unit should know their fate by the end of this week.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/local/040413maineiraq.shtml

[Dhalgren]

19. I have wondered why so many NG and Reserve

units have been used in combat, rather than as replacements for regular Army in non-combat deployments. I mean, why have regular army units in Germany? Send those RA units to Iraq and replace them with NG and Reserves.
I have to say, though, that most of the soldiers coming back from Iraq (who get an interview) are very gung-ho about the "good work" we are doing in Viet...I mean Iraq. I know that this illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq has put a lot of soldiers in difficult positions, but if this country doesn't give a fuck about them (and this country doesn't) then they should think twice about serving. If you go out and beat a watch-dog every time he barks, pretty soon he will stop barking.

[Malva Zebrina]

25. Is there a link to this?

Last time I looked, Collins voted for the abortion bill. the last one-the one that , in effect, gives a fetus the status of a born human being, going back to the moment of conception.

Previously she is on record as pro-choice as is Snowe

and Snowe--my newspapers were full of her picture going oaround to all the senior centers, looking like Saint Olympia, telling all these vulnerable people how wonderful the new Medicare bill we take care of them like they have never been cared for before.

Many here in Maine go to Canada for medications. Chelie Pingree, Collins' opponent in the 2002 election, actually make the bus trip many times with the seniors.

In the next week, after Snowe's appearance on the Senate floor, supporting Bush, with all of her charts about how marvellous this Medicare bill, and appearing to look as though she is indeed the saviouress of the elderly, one of the most exploited of all American groups, out comes the news that the actual cost of this was upped and on purpose--it was held back and those who objected to the fudging of these costs, were threatened with loss of their jobs.

So much for the Bobsey Twins

I am surprised at Collins, but I think the both of them are simply playing the cards and really have nothing notable to brag about between them. They exist and float along.

It is time to get rid of these two, non interesting, rather banal women. Collins did win in 2002 with the help of a lot of Bush money and with a lot of kneeling--her knee pads must be worn out by now.

[Maine-i-acs]

28. Record of Collins being pissed?

Portland Press Herald printed it Tuesday.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/local/040413maineiraq.shtml


\snip\
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a member of the Armed Services Committee, has asked that the Defense Department redeploy troops from other areas of the world, such as Bosnia and Korea, rather than relying on weary reservists and National Guardsmen.

"The 94th is a well-trained, expert military police unit and as such its skills are in high demand," Collins said at a news conference Monday at the Portland International Jetport. "They're tired and they need a break."

The 94th, which is headquartered in Massachusetts and also has units in New Hampshire, has been on active duty for more than two years out of the past four. Members served nine months as part of the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia in 2001.

"We're treating them as active duty troops," Collins said. "These families are just in agony not knowing what's going to happen and I'm sure it's hard on our soldiers, too."

[Cooley Hurd]

12. I'm surprised to see such a critical article...

...from the Manchester Union-Leader!

Heaven help the families of the 94th MP Co - and all other family members of soldiers in Iraq - in their attempt to be heard. Too bad it all falls on deaf chimp ears. :(

[teryang]

14. Two comments

There aren't any more regular forces.

Military people and their families tend not to bother voting. The percentages are low. I do agree in principle that a portion of the military family votes are definitely going to switch to democratic. Every vote counts (I hope).

[VLC98]

18. Voting habits.

I think a lot of military members don't vote, not because they can't be bothered, but because living in one state and being a resident of another can make voting complicated. For example, my husband was a NY state resident, but stationed elsewhere, for about 15 years of his Air Force career and only voted once in that time. He was concerned that he would be liable for NY state taxes because the rules were confusing, depending on things like whether you lived in base housing etc. Also, having no reliable family members made it difficult to get the correct forms, especially when we were overseas.

I should add that he is now a Florida resident, although stationed in Delaware, and will definitely be voting this year!

[teryang]

22. When I was overseas

...someone voted for me in Virginia in two elections! I found out when I got back.

It is hard to vote when you are in the military because of tax issues, movements, PCS orders etc.

[daleo]

23. In 2000, Bush/Cheney went to great pains to count military votes

It sounds like they may not be as motivated to do so this year.

[opihimoimoi]

24. This is what Happens when the Young and Poor hardly show up to VOTE

and worse, a percentage of the masses are unduly influenced by Propaganda focusing on Conservatism.

The ill advised gets to be in charge of our Nation.

Look all around us for evidence, its everywhere.