Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35568

So, the plan to increase GI death benefits to $100k for those killed in battle, and which will also increase the maximum life insurance to US$400k, is back on the table in the Senate sponsored by Sens Sessions (Republican) and Lieberman (Democrat), and something similar is going to appear in the House.

This will presumably help recruitment, which appears to be something of a big concern. On the other hand, it could end being really very expensive.

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with incentives like that, it's amazing that the ranks aren't flooded.

all they've gotta do is die, and then the government pays out.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
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Dying is a growth role in the US military at the moment.

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You would think that at the rate guys are dying over there they would be cutting their payout.

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Registered: Jun 2002
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I think TT may be encouraging his youngster to sign some papers quite soon

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Registered: Jul 2000
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A related story, and something you haven't seen reported in the American media at all. From the Telegraph.

quote:

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American Army soldiers are deserting and fleeing to Canada rather than fight in Iraq, rekindling memories of the thousands of draft-dodgers who flooded north to avoid service in Vietnam.

An estimated 5,500 men and women have deserted since the invasion of Iraq, reflecting Washington's growing problems with troop morale [...]

The Pentagon says that the level of desertion is no higher than usual and denies that it is having difficulty persuading troops to fight. The flight to Canada is, however, an embarrassment for the military, which is suffering from a recruiting shortfall for the National Guard and the Army Reserves.

The deaths of 18 American soldiers in a suicide bomb attack in Mosul, northern Iraq, last month, was a further blow to morale. Soon after, the number of American soldiers killed since President Bush declared that large-scale combat operations were at an end passed the 1,000 mark.

Lt Col Joe Richard, a Pentagon spokesman, said that the US government wanted the deserters to be returned from Canada. "If you don't want to fight, don't join," he said.

"The men in Canada have an obligation to fulfil their military contracts and do their duty. If and when they return to this country, they will be prosecuted."

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quote:

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Originally posted by Smug Git
So, the plan to increase GI death benefits to $100k for those killed in battle, and which will also increase the maximum life insurance to US$400k, is back on the table in the Senate sponsored by Sens Sessions (Republican) and Lieberman (Democrat), and something similar is going to appear in the House.

This will presumably help recruitment, which appears to be something of a big concern. On the other hand, it could end being really very expensive.

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Last edited by BellaDonita on 01-16-2005 at 06:10 AM

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Registered: Jul 2001
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quote:

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Originally posted by SocialParasite
You would think that at the rate guys are dying over there they would be cutting their payout.

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Registered: Dec 2002
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if im lobbying for anything, it's going to be to create less veterans, not better pay for them. sorry.

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Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Akron
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Thats an ignorant statement!

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Registered: Nov 2004
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^^no shit.

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Registered: Oct 2001
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dismantle the federal army and bring back state militias.

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Registered: Aug 2001
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Do the National Guard not count (or do the Feds pay for them)?

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