Military Pay problem adds insult to injury

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By BOB HERBERT
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST

Tom Davis, R-Va., is chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform. He tells a story about Sgt. Daniel Romero of the Colorado Army National Guard, who was sent to fight in Afghanistan.

In a letter dated March 23, 2002, Romero asked a fellow sergeant: "Are they really fixing pay issues are they putting them off until we return? If they are waiting, then what happens to those who (God forbid) don't make it back?"

As Davis said at a hearing this past January, "Sgt. Romero was killed in action in Afghanistan in April 2002." The congressman added, "I would really like to hear today that his family isn't wasting their time and energy fixing errors in his pay."

As we mobilize troops from around the country and send them off to fight and possibly die in that crucible of terror known as combat, is it too much to ask that they be paid in a timely way?

-more-

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/164861_herbert16.html

[Catch22Dem]

1. A repuke concerned about pay?

Amazing, and I agree with him to boot. What's the story on Davis anyway?

[DarkPhenyx]

2. Not all Republicans are Repukes.

Some of them are honest and decent people with a different view on issues and reality. A view that is not, necessarily, wrong.

Of course he is concerned about the military, soldier pay and benefits, and ensuring that our soldiers are well taken care of. Contrary to popular belief, and many posts on this board, most Democrats feel the same way.

We focus far too much on the places where we disagree than on the palces where we do agree. It makes us beleive we don't agree anywhere. This is flat wrong of course.