From:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file...&type=printable

Troops in Iraq face pay cut
Pentagon says tough duty bonuses are budget-buster
Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Thursday, August 14, 2003
©2003 San Francisco Chronicle | Feedback

Washington -- The Pentagon wants to cut the pay of its 148,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, who are already contending with guerrilla-style attacks, homesickness and 120- degree-plus heat.

Unless Congress and President Bush take quick action when Congress returns after Labor Day, the uniformed Americans in Iraq and the 9,000 in Afghanistan will lose a pay increase approved last April of $75 a month in "imminent danger pay" and $150 a month in "family separation allowances."

The Defense Department supports the cuts, saying its budget can't sustain the higher payments amid a host of other priorities. But the proposed cuts have stirred anger among military families and veterans' groups and even prompted an editorial attack in the Army Times, a weekly newspaper for military personnel and their families that is seldom so outspoken.

Congress made the April pay increases retroactive to Oct. 1, 2002, but they are set to expire when the federal fiscal year ends Sept. 30 unless Congress votes to keep them as part of its annual defense appropriations legislation.

Imminent danger pay, given to Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force members in combat zones, was raised to $225 from $150 a month. The family separation allowance, which goes to help military families pay rent, child care or other expenses while soldiers are away, was raised from $100 a month to $250.

Title should have probably been DOD nickel and diming... Congress can fix it still if they want...

sorry bout that.........

wow. amazes me that people will fight and die for such small amounts of money.

I wonder if you could just say that you'd rather not be in imminent danger and let the govt keep the 75 bucks???

Not really. They can't give two weeks' notice, either.

Congress can appropriate more money if it's really necessary, but the Commander in Chief can order them to pay it.

I'd suggest they give the troops the money budgeted for bonuses for political appointees.

Not really. They can't give two weeks' notice, either.

Congress can appropriate more money if it's really necessary, but the Commander in Chief can order them to pay it.

I'd suggest they give the troops the money budgeted for bonuses for political appointees.[/b][/quote]
Sounds good to me

The US troops should get everything they have been promised
We're in a deficit anyway, cutting pay from our armed forces is NOT the way to trim the budget

Sounds good to me

The US troops should get everything they have been promised
We're in a deficit anyway, cutting pay from our armed forces is NOT the way to trim the budget[/b][/quote]
Exactly

We can't even take care of our veterans with proper VA hospitals and now this...

fucking ridiculous

So much for supporting our troops, huh? Notice it's after congress gets off VACATION. Next time we go to war with a country, maybe a few of this knuckle scraping fucksticks can go stand should to should with some of the boys?

Yeah our soldiers are getting the shaft on this one!!

Once they are in combat operations, these guys should be getting paid BIG TIME!!!

This is the reason I had a problem going into Iraq in the first place...

GW gets his rah-rah and looks like a hero for "liberating" the Iraqis and meanwhile the troops get shafted.

Is this what GW meant about supporting our troops? So, if we questioned involvement in this war, we were considered traitors and we weren't suporting our troops...and then this happens.

I hope the relatives of all of those soldiers DYING for another country's people remember this shit on election day. Granted induvidually, we're not talking about a large amount of money, but it's the principal.

This is a TYPICAL pattern our government seems to have against our troops.

Interesting I was supporting my troops by doing some volunteer work at the local VA clinic (what a joke and travesty that clinic is...sicne it's now spread out inot various retail centers since the original was condemned by the building inspector) and these guys could barely get any help at all and staff who were there were rude, incompetant and overworked.

I've supported my fucking troops and I'd expect our government to do the same.

If you haven't already, write, fax and email your congressman about this assfucking our troops are getting. Register to vote and let them know you are a REGISTERD VOTER and won't stand for this shit.

Fuck, now I need to go take a Valium........

Well, it's only minor combat, Mike.

Major combat ended 50-60 body bags ago.

PD combat is combat. I have nothing but respect for the men over there, and would be doing everything possible to make their jobs and lives easier!

They are just distinguishing between us running 1,000 bombing sorties a day, or huge tank movments to more of an occupation.

I was looking up numbers from the end of WWII in Germany, and it appears we had dozens of soliders dying every week for at least a year. This is one of the things that goes on at end of wars. There will always been some dead enders who have nothin to turn to.

There is also an influx of arab jihadist looking to cause trouble.

The Absent-Minded Beggar

When you've shouted "Rule Britannia," – when you've sung "God save the Queen,"
When you've finished killing Kruger with your mouth,
Will you kindly drop a shilling in my little tambourine
For a gentleman in khaki ordered South?
He's an absent-minded beggar, and his weaknesses are great –
But we and Paul must take him as we find him –
He is out on active service, wiping something off a slate –
And he's left a lot o'little things behind him!
Duke's son – cook's son – son of a hundred kings –
(Fifty thousand horse and foot going to Table Bay!)
Each of 'em doing his country's work (and who's to look after their things?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and pay – pay – pay!

Here are girls he married secret, asking no permission to,
For he knew he wouldn't get it if he did.
There is gas and coals and vittles, and the house-rent falling due
And it's more than rather likely there's a kid.
There are girls he walked with casual they'll be sorry now he's gone,
For an absent-minded beggar they will find him,
But it ain't the time for sermons with the winter coming on.
We must help the girl that Tommy's left behind him!
Cook's son – Duke's son – son of a belted Earl –
Son of a Lambeth publican – it's all the same to-day!
Each of 'em doing his country's work (and who's to look after the girl?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and pay – pay – pay!

There are families by thousands, far too proud to beg or speak,
And they'll put their sticks and bedding up the spout,
And they'll live on half o'nothing paid 'em punctual once a week,
'Cause the man that earned the wage is ordered out.
He's an absent-minded beggar, but he heard his country's call,
And his reg'ment didn't need to send to find him;
He chucked his job and joined it – so the job before us all
Is to help the home that Tommy's left behind him!
Duke's job – cook's job – gardener, baronet, groom,
Mews or palace or paper-shop – there's someone gone away!
Each of 'em doing his country's work (and who's to look after the room?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and pay – pay – pay!

Let us manage so as later we can look him in the face,
And tell him – what he'd very much prefer –
That, while he saved the Empire his employer saved his place,
And his mates that's you and me looked out for her.
He's an absent-minded beggar and he may forget it all,
But we do not want his kiddies to remind him
That we sent 'em to the workhouse while their daddy hammered Paul.
So we'll help the homes our Tommy's left behind him!
Cook's home – Duke's home – home of a millionaire –
Fifty thousand horse and foot going to Table Bay!
Each of 'em doing his country's work (and what have you got to spare?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and pay – pay – pay!

Somehow I don't think this lack of funds will stop the administration from trying to pass another round of tax cuts before the election.