Just when you think Bush couldn't sink any lower...

erik_kosberg · #1 11-20-2007, 03:33 PM

"Wounded soldiers asked to return signing bonuses"

*emeleel* · #2 11-20-2007, 03:42 PM

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #3 11-20-2007, 03:47 PM

**theworm**[$] · #4 11-20-2007, 08:59 PM

well, Bush could say "this is asinine" and undo this. That would be a good move.

**conradd** · #5 11-21-2007, 01:07 AM

Yes, a bill has been introduced to amend this policy error. It will get fixed and anyone who has been affected by this will be recompensed.

**theworm**[$] · #6 11-21-2007, 09:45 AM

I couldn't see this one not being fixed. I'm glad to hear its already happening.

erik_kosberg · #7 11-21-2007, 10:59 AM

Why wait for a bill to move through Congress? If it's simply a "policy error", Bush can order the military to change it.

**pippadaisy**[$] · #8 11-21-2007, 11:00 AM

But it would be a conflict of interest if he were Commander in Chief AND President, remember?

erik_kosberg · #9 11-21-2007, 03:34 PM

"Injured troops to keep their bonuses"

*emeleel* · #10 11-21-2007, 04:12 PM

That's good.

brian_igo · #11 11-21-2007, 07:11 PM

Okay, how do you rank this compared to the DOD billing wounded vets for their meals at Army hospitals and billing them for body armor and weapons they lost when they were blown up?

The Bush DOD - real good at fixing shit like this once its exposed in the media. Not so good at not doing it in the first place.

**conradd** · #12 11-22-2007, 05:18 AM

If they were getting BAH, including a meal allowance, it makes sense that the cost of their meals be assessed against it. I don't recall the details and I'm supposed to be grading, so I won't look it up now, but I think that is what happened.

The body armor thing - each troop gets issued a supply of equipment prior to deployment and they are responsible for turning it back in at the end of the tour. In a case where it was lost due to an explosion or accident, it should be noted so that the Marine or soldier won't be billed, but the folks at home who receive the equipment might not have those records handy when they check stuff back in, especially if the injury happened late in the deployment. It's not like it's a deliberate attempt to gouge the wounded troops - it's just a very complex task. When they're dealing with numerous pieces of issued equipment times one or two thousand troops, they match what comes in with what's supposed to come in. If it doesn't match, it will get sorted out, but not without a few glitches. There are things that make me mad. This isn't one of them.