U.S. Army Europe Eliminates Funding For Welcome-Home Celebrations For Troops
U.S. Army Europe Eliminates Funding For Welcome-Home Celebrations For Troops
In Feb. 2005, President Bush visited U.S. troops stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany and thanked them for “serving our great land.”
But that gratitude extends only so far. Those U.S. troops in Wiesbaden — and others stationed in Europe — will no longer receive welcome-home celebrations from the U.S. military. Stars and Stripes reports that the U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) is cutting troop celebrations in an effort to save money:
In response to continuing financial strains, U.S. Army Europe has canceled all welcome home celebrations for units returning from deployment through this fiscal year, halting the tradition of free food, rides and other community festivities for returning soldiers and their families.
While USAREUR cited cost-saving reasons for its decision to cut the celebrations, it was “unable to say how much the command would save by canceling the events, or what a celebration typically costs.” One of the largest units to be affected by the decision will be the 1st Armored Division’s 1st Brigade, based in Friedberg, Germany. It has been in Iraq since Jan. 2006, and was supposed to come home in January, but had its deployment extended by six weeks.
As Fred Steube, a Vietnam veteran and organizer of a May 2005 welcome-home celebration for Arkansas National Guard and Reserve members, noted, these celebrations are a way “to give these troops the welcome home we never got. … This celebration is the least we could do to express our gratitude.”
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No real point in celebrating their return when they will probably just be sent back into the Iraq “theater”. Might as well save some money and hold the celebration when they return for good.
/sarc off
February 5th, 2007 at 11:53 amIf they come home at all….other than in a coffin that is. Pathetic.
February 5th, 2007 at 11:54 amOh boy no welcome home for the troops now? Where the hell is the billions of dollars going to fund the Iraq Fiasco War? Does Bush and Cheney have secret Swiss bank accounts stuffed with the missing billions?
February 5th, 2007 at 11:55 amWhile President Bush may be turning his back on our service men and women, here are resources all Americans can use to support the troops and their families.
February 5th, 2007 at 11:55 amthis sends a very disheartening, disturbing message to those troops…
there will be negligent savings, as most celebrations are locally arranged and “financed”, i am logically guessing…
what is this REALLY about???
February 5th, 2007 at 11:57 am…
Blaming the anti-war movement and/or Democrats en masse in 5, 4, 3 …
February 5th, 2007 at 12:02 pmRest assured, the families will do what they can to pick up the slack on this. They’re not going to stand for no welcome whatsoever, and without all the fuss the troops will be able to get to their families that much quicker.
When my dad’s aircraft carrier came home after the VietNam War, my mom and her wive’s club got the city of San Francisco to let them put a giant yellow ribbon on the frickin’ COIT Tower. That, and all the families waiting on the pier, were the only things needed.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:07 pmA welcome home celebration, while nice, is not as needed as the physical and psychological rehab services all these vets will need. Along with cutting the funds for that, this administration plans on raiding the till so that it can eleiminate all public services — except of course the pentagon. Then it will say that any of these services: Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, community services funding . . . will need to be ended or privatized. In short, the repug/necon agenda layed out is war without end and elimination of all public services.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:10 pmI don’t want to hear one syllable of bullshit about us peaceniks spitting on the returning troops. The government takes care of that.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:11 pmMore hypocrisy from the right. How much did the GOP spend at their victory gala again?
February 5th, 2007 at 12:11 pmSeriously, about 400 billion has been funded for the Iraq Fiasco War so far, but soldiers in the field are short of body armor and equipment, and now no funds for welcome home events, so where did the money go?
If the Congress has one shred of decency left, then it must investigate where the money for Iraq has gone? Has the money gone into secret bank accounts in Switzerland, Cayman Islands, or the UAE?
February 5th, 2007 at 12:12 pmI was always disgusted to hear the now-debunked reports that VietNam vets returning were spat upon. Now, I find myself fantasizing several big ones launched onto Bush, Cheney, et al.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:13 pmTP, please give us articles of substance, and try blurbs exposing the dems as well,
February 5th, 2007 at 12:17 pmho hum
But you can damn well be that the money set aside for the president’s celebration of success in Iraq and Afghanistan will not be messed with.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:21 pmif they came home it would be worth celebrating.,
but can you really
buy their forgiveness for sending them into an illegal war by giving them and their families gifts?
express gratitude by ending the war…
the only way i could forgive my country for sending me into an illegal war would be if they ended the war
and Bush has no intentions of ending the war
http://www.micropoll.com/akira/MicroPoll?mode=html&id=23186
February 5th, 2007 at 12:23 pmhttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/10/04/MNGF3LHPGN1.DTL
ednesday, October 4, 2006
(10-04) 04:00 PST Washington — Even as the Bush administration urges Americans to stay the course in Iraq, Republicans in Congress have put down a quiet marker in the apparent hope that V-I Day might be only months away.
Tucked away in fine print in the military spending bill for this past year was a lump sum of $20 million to pay for a celebration in the nation’s capital “for commemoration of success” in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Not surprisingly, the money was not spent.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:24 pmNow congressional Republicans are saying, in effect, maybe next year. 20 million for the chickenhawks – for the troops not neraly so much.
Maybe “US Army Europe” isn’t necessary?
February 5th, 2007 at 12:29 pmThis is the army they signed up for, don’t forget. War is hell! Remember that, the Maine, the Alamo, Tonkin, and don’t forget 9/11!
Carry on!
February 5th, 2007 at 12:29 pmOne might assume that the neo-con administration that is currently at the helm of our democratic government is ashamed of our troops. Is that the case? If the government can spend literally billions of dollars on an illegitimate war, give tax cuts to the wealthy during war, not impose windfall profit tax on the oil companies also during war, and lose tens upon millions of dollars to broken, no-bid contracts to crony companies, how is it that these neo-cons can consider saving money by cutting money designed to celebrate the soldiers’ return? After sending them into hell, this government feels that it’s OK to do THAT to them? I spit on this dysfunctional government, not the troops.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:31 pm#18- Crawl back into your dark, damp hole.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:34 pmThe Bush Cabal will do anything they think will lessen attention on their failed war. They are afraid “welcome home ceremonies” could turn into demonstrations I believe. Of course, they can’t win, because people will not tolerate this tactic for long.
No matter what they do to shut people down and manipulate them to their tastes, it will not ultimately work.
Their time is ending.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:34 pmwe’re broke
February 5th, 2007 at 12:36 pmThis is the army they signed up for, don’t forget. War is hell! Remember that, the Maine, the Alamo, Tonkin, and don’t forget 9/11!
Carry on!
Comment by RichRepub
Bush called it a peace operation.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:37 pmUnder the New World Order, only celebrations of our great leader, Saddam Bush, will be allowed.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:38 pmI believe that #18 is sarcasm.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:39 pmDirect result of Donald Rumpsfelt’s saga as the Secretary of War.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:40 pm600 Billion for the killing machine and they couldn’t kick in a little something for cocktail weeinies and kool-aid.
Cheap bastards
February 5th, 2007 at 12:41 pmWell, look at it this way: Bush can add this to his list of sacrifices that the American people are having to make due to the “war.”
February 5th, 2007 at 12:43 pm#17 For Thruth
“Maybe U.S. Army Europe isnt necessary”
you sound sarcastic here.
the U.S. should not have bases in other countries, a begining point for minimizing the american military industry would be to begin closing U.S. foreign bases
would make the world a safer place
February 5th, 2007 at 12:45 pmNot only Defense Dept. budget is mashrooming,but so is Secretary of State Dept. BUDGETED figures…Department is allocated amount is around $1.82 BILLIONS for ‘Stengthening Democracy in Iraq),whatever that means !!
But for energy research:
$385 millions on coal
$148 millions for solar
$179 millions for biofuel
$309 millions for hydrogen
$114 millions for nuclear power
$42 millions battery power research
The lion’s share is going to defense and, fighting terrorism….around $145 BILLIONS !!. The military complex will be having another sweet year,it is getting sweeter in fact for them…the Hulliburtons and others will be enjoying another year….But this Congress might begin asking questions…that’s what the people elected them to do…Let’s wait and see,if this Congress lives up to expectaions or it will stay anemic like the one before. Coming days will tell…….
February 5th, 2007 at 12:45 pmNot honoring our soldiers, not a surprise I guess, after the insult of lack of armor kits, lack of armored vehicles, not enough VA care upon return to the US, etc… could they slap these soldiers in the face more if they tried? Utterly disgraceful how they treay our troops.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:46 pmThis is George Bush’s idea of tupporting the troops!
February 5th, 2007 at 12:48 pmWonder how much taxpayers pay to fly Bush to Crawford, TX every 6 weeks? Hell, he could sacrifice a couple trips there per year and use that $$$ to pay for the celebrations.
But I am not surprised. Remember when China held our people for, what was it…11 days (?) when our spy plane had to make an emergency landing there? When the crew returned to the U.S., Bush refused to go welcome them home. Why? He didn’t want to interrupt the celebration.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:48 pmExpanding on my earlier post, Bush thought a visit by him (you know, a president) would take the focus off the celebration welcoming home the plane’s crew.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:54 pmso – it turns out that carlx (and varients thereof) is actually a winger… that endearing “bio” and first posts were a ruse… whodda thunk it…
February 5th, 2007 at 12:58 pmwhy do wingers think they have to lie about their true feelings? …
the truth is so much easier, and faster, and always come out anyway…
…
This is the limbo administration – ‘How low can you go?”
They have lives of luxury, waited on hand and foot, their food cooked for them, their cars driven by others, free travel in private luxury. I’m sure they see cutting welcome home celebrations as not big deal. One more nail in the coffin of the Republican Party – it’s become the party of nut cases and screw the little guy.
February 5th, 2007 at 1:02 pmalso, want to get this out before i forget… only a bit off topic…
a caller to sam this morning had a very good logic for the reasoning behind bushco not admitting that iraq is a “civil war”…
because if that were true, they would not have the excuse of “fight them there so we don’t have to fight them here”… if it is a CIVIL war, they are not interested in fighting US…
ponder that one…
February 5th, 2007 at 1:02 pmAnother horrible possibility is maybe the troops sent to Iraq will never be allowed to return home alive. Perhaps Bush intends to keep them in Iraq till they are returned home dead or maimed. Dubya Dunce Decider Despot Dictator wants endless war in the Middle East now, so no welcome home events needed.
February 5th, 2007 at 1:03 pmCarlX
That was a real question. Wtf do we need military bases in Europe for? Other than support for the Middle East?
February 5th, 2007 at 1:11 pm” a winger “? katy?
it is perfectly within the realm of civilized discourse to consider the possibility of NOT having U.S. bases in other countries… is it not?
most “progressive” “social justice” types would consider this a necessary step in minimizing U.S. abuse of power and diminishing the expanse of the military industrial complex.
why do you think we have military bases in foreign nations Katy, to protect them from invasion? To make sure human rights are respected?
Would you agree to having a German base in your hometown Katy?
I have always argued on TP that I think we should be opening the discourse to more than just the narrow spectrum of Dem vs Rep, right vs left; the political elite discourse, why limit ourselves to that?
And my very first comment on TP was a long winded tirade against the U.S. military industrial corporate complex, hardly acting like I’m a “right of center democrat” like yourself
February 5th, 2007 at 1:20 pmand to expand;
i work, pay rent, am married, have a kid, two cats;
is there something in this fact of being genuine and “normal” and having a world view that goes beyond: “I am democrat and the U.S. is a positive force in the world”
February 5th, 2007 at 1:26 pmwhy do I have to follow that party line crap?
in my first posts i suggested reading chomsky, not limiting yourself to Dems are good, reps. are bad, I’ve derided Billary Clinton; I don’t see where I’ve been hiding or pretending…
and I don’t see why at the very least expanding the discourse in a leftward/social justice direction would not be welcome here
CarlX > When President Clinton was in office I sent him a FAX that the US military bases in Europe and Japan should all be closed down. Even in Korea the South Korean army could take over the US positions on the DMZ line. I told Bill that closing the bases would save billions of dollars, but the Pentagon would not let Pres. Clinton do it. Military Industrial Complex is a CANCER on America!
February 5th, 2007 at 1:27 pmi’m glad to hear it
jay, i’ll try writing a a letter to my politicians along those lines, see what kind of form letter I get back;
katy would obviously categorize you as a “winger”; maybe she learn a little or re:
February 5th, 2007 at 1:34 pm“just another crazy talkin nut…”
re#39 Carlx
For one to understand why it is wrong for the US to have military bases in other countries, it requires that one not be a HYPOCRITE.
The US is full of HYPOCRITES, therefore the lack of discussion about doing the ONLY thing guaranteed to stop foreign “terrorist” attacks!
Pleasenote that the lack of Swedish military bases in other countries, definitely explains their lack of foreign “terrorist” attacks!
February 5th, 2007 at 1:44 pmI think the issue of closing U.S. bases is more complicated than has been discussed above. One major issue is that, for those bases which have been long-established, the local economies have grown dependent on money being spent in their communities by the troops and civilian support personnel on those bases.
This country has been on an imperalistic course for many, many years. I would like to see that reversed, but don’t believe for a moment that it would occur “voluntarily.” There’s no reason to believe that the Democrats, anymore than the Republicans, want any kind of real change when it comes to America’s geopolitical resultant policies and goals. The way the goal of being the sole Superpower in the world is achieved may call forth somewhat different tactics on both sides of the aisles, but the goal itself is never questioned. It wasn’t in Rome, either. But empires do end, generally falling under their own weight.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:10 pmHacker Bob must be re-educated!
instaling solar panels in poverty stricken neihborhoods? supervised by Gogreen?
February 5th, 2007 at 2:15 pm#44 Impeach
correct, it is not a discourse allowed in dem vs rep. discourse.
It is important to raise people like Katy’s consciousness concerning: “The way the goal of being the sole Superpower in the world is achieved may call forth somewhat different tactics on both sides of the aisles, but the goal itself is never questioned” (to quote you, Impeach)
we should be questioning “that goal” here at TP, as well as “talking what’s politically realistic”
February 5th, 2007 at 2:26 pmMaybe Bush can hit up Exxon-Mobil for a half a bill….seems they are swimming in profits these days and they ought to be damn thankful that this administration invaded Iraq and crippled their ability to supply the market. Maybe Bush can get his other favorite country, Saudi Arabia, to chip in another half a billion to help pay the costs of broken families, lost jobs, and healthcare for the troops who are fighting their proxy war against the Shia’s.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:58 pmMaybe a welcome home celebration isn’t in order for troops leaving the progressive Europe to return to the neocon USA…
/Sarcasm (?) off
February 5th, 2007 at 3:14 pmAnother reason why this criminal regime must go.
February 5th, 2007 at 3:23 pmexcuse c/k/arlx… i misunderstood your first comment here…
February 5th, 2007 at 3:30 pmbut i have seen others that gave me a clue…
me thinks you doth protest too much..
and just why do you keep changing your name?
i’ve been away for a while… may have missed something…
Why Does George Bush Hate Our Troops?!
February 5th, 2007 at 3:38 pmMaybe Bush can hit up Exxon-Mobil for a half a bill…
Comment by Innocent Bystander — February 5, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
exactly! corporate sponsors! imagine the product placement!
February 5th, 2007 at 3:43 pm…………………………………………………………………..(sarcasm)…
America, good at starting wars, bad at winning them. I think I will send $$$$ to the homecoming of those poor bastards at you GITMO concentration camp
February 5th, 2007 at 4:01 pm#50 katy
i do versions of karlx/carloX/ etc becasue for awhile my comments were not getting through and zooey suggested changing name (so i tried to chang ethe name that allowed all to still see its me); but I’m curious what “winger” means (left winger? right winger?), did you actually confuse me for a “right winger”? I’ll repeat that I fidn the republicans evil and the democrats almost evil (hence, why I want to see more criticism of democrats around here from progressives and not just from idiots like michael,20wordsorless,etc)
February 5th, 2007 at 4:55 pmsome things get me going, and suggestions that I’m a nutcase becasue I suggest the U.S. shouldn’t have military bases in foreign countries got me on my soap box.
welcome back from haitus
You Communists can all take a lesson from that little trooper in the photo. Now that is a picture of a true American Patriot! You Democrats are a disgrace to yourselves and to America as a whole.
February 5th, 2007 at 4:58 pmi do versions of karlx/carloX/ etc
Comment by KarlX — February 5, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
SO IN OTHER WORDS……YOU HAVE BEEN BANNED AND ARE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TOI BE HERE!
AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A TROLL.
February 5th, 2007 at 4:59 pmno, i was never banned, there were problems with TP about a week ago and comments werent coming through, so F**k you commi killer, i’m never profane (sarcasm) and usually civil, and seeing as to the content of your message, it is obvious who the troll is! so back to eating rotting meat for you, back to your den of stench and ignorance, ugly beast!
February 5th, 2007 at 5:08 pmYou were BANNED and DO NOT even belong here now.
Why are you posting?
TP? Can you do something about this banned poster?
Thank you.
i do versions of karlx/carloX/ etc
Comment by KarlX — February 5, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
SO IN OTHER WORDS……YOU HAVE BEEN BANNED AND ARE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TOI BE HERE!
AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A TROLL.
February 5th, 2007 at 5:15 pmKarlX is not a troll, katy! There’s a problem with the filter fairy and his name.
I address that only to katy, because I don’t give a shit what Commie Killer thinks about anything. Geez, talk about a troll….
I hope you don’t mind, KarlX. :)
February 5th, 2007 at 5:20 pm#55 – “You Democrats are a disgrace to yourselves and to America as a whole.” Comment by Geraldine Ferrari — February 5, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
Says the woman who hasn’t signed up to serve in the military. Why not? Full of talk, but no action? Typical neo-con loud mouth.
Most of the people I knew in the Army got out and became Democrats because they were tired of being screwed by the Republicans! Now, the Republicans are screwing our service members some more.
February 5th, 2007 at 5:21 pm#58 – So, Commie Killer, how many commies did you kill when you served in the armed forces?
I’m assuming that you MUST have served and killed commies, or else it’s flagrant false advertising.
February 5th, 2007 at 5:23 pmIn my experience, those who talk about all the killing they’ve done, were never in a war zone.
February 5th, 2007 at 5:29 pmahhh,
February 5th, 2007 at 6:19 pmthanks guys, i’ve never seen so many trolls at once!
i send you all a great big progressive communist pink hug!
What – these celebrations aren’t big enough for Halliburton to take?
February 5th, 2007 at 6:25 pmThe dollars spent on local celebrations couldn’t even come close to the dollars wasted on the inflated Haliburton fleecing of America, yet to cut costs, Bush&Co think first of screwing the little guy.
karlx – sorry about the confusion… i’ll be more cautious…
February 5th, 2007 at 6:28 pmlike i said, i misread that comment…
ahhh,
thanks guys, i’ve never seen so many trolls at once!
i send you all a great big progressive communist pink hug!
Comment by karlX
Brace yourself, karlX, you haven’t been here on a troll heavy day — yet. :)
February 5th, 2007 at 6:30 pmIf you are aware of the cost of military funerals, you can see that W could save real money by just dropping all those flag draped coffins into the Indian Ocean. That would also decrease our carbon footprint as the planes involved would not have to transport our brave soldiers’ remains all the way back to Delaware. (Sure hope that W and Dick are
February 5th, 2007 at 7:17 pmnot reading this thread!)
67
February 5th, 2007 at 11:02 pmno problem katy
Looks like Jet Mech has decided to come out of the pedophile closet!
Do you meet many church officials at your meetings?
February 6th, 2007 at 9:44 amThis by an administration that blew $60,000,000 on an inaugural ball. (Of course, that money came from corporate backers, all of whom expect “payback”.)
February 6th, 2007 at 3:14 pm