Veteran Gary Chapman writes in the Austin-American Statesman:
Many veterans, like me, are still shaking their heads in disbelief over President Bush's recent bluster about the Iraqi opposition killing our troops one by one almost every day. "Bring 'em on," said Bush, sounding like a character out of a bad Hollywood movie or an ad for TV wrestling.
The White House opposed a doubling, to $6,000, of the benefits paid to families when a soldier dies in combat. In October, the White House announced a planned rollback in monthly "imminent danger" pay and in family separation allowances, even though the military is turning to reserve forces.
The White House also cut budgets for upgrading military housing, and it proposed caps in pay rates for the lowest ranks of enlisted personnel.
It also whacked veterans' benefits, cutting $14.6 billion over 10 years.
Missed this one in The Smoking Sentence flap. With these guys, it's always "Follow the money!"