Can't any of that 87 Billion go to help wounded soldiers?

[GAsux]

Just like to add two quick things for perspective.

First, there are probalby somewhere close to 300,000 people deployed to the Middle East right now. The fact that a whopping 40% of the just under 2,000 that took the time to reply to the Stars and Stripes survery (which from my expereince provides little more to the troops than a way to keep up with sports scores back home) is hardly an insightful picture of the morale level. I'm quite sure that there is a lot of division on the subject, which can even vary from day to day. I'm not saying there isn't plenty of discontent over there, but I don't think a Stars and Stripes survey of 2,000 troops is a fair indication.

Second, in my opinion, this article as a whole is a bit of an attempt at sensationalism. I've been around this business for a few years now and see my fair share of things. From my experience, probably half of the medical facilities in the military are inadequate, particulary those that cater primarily to Guard/Reservists and retirees. Retired military folks have been complaining about the poor quality of health care service for as long as I've been around.

Additionaly, I believe Kellychaos touched on this, but it's true that when it comes to the money gravy train, the Reserve/Guard-Retiree type facilities are at the bottom of the totem pole. I can think of a handful of military facilities that are some of the best in the nation (Wilford Hall, Walter Reed). Typically, when it comes to places like Ft. Stewart, GA, the money just isn't flowing.

The point I'm making is that while this is certianly a problem, I find the timing of the article and the attempt to somehow tie it to the current administration and ongoing situation in the middle east a bit of a stretch. Five years ago Ft. Stewart was as shitty as it is today, it just didn't have the "sellability" that the article does now.