Stephanie’s Special Comment: True Support for Our Troops

I remember distinctly what I was doing when the war in Iraq started. My mother and I were coming back from North Carolina where we spent Spring Break visiting family and checking out colleges. Upon deplaning in Atlanta on our way back to Oklahoma, we were bombarded by images on the CNN Airport Network of “Shock and Awe,” which had begun in earnest in Iraq. I could only shake my head at what I saw as the senseless nature of this war. I still think this war was unnecessary and has irrevocably harmed our national interests and compromised national security. But that is not the reason behind this special comment. This special comment is the result of all of the bullshit we’ve heard about supporting our troops and how the people spouting it have failed miserably to do so.

The costs exacted by this war have been extreme. At present, almost $5 trillion has been spent on the war in Iraq. But more importantly than that is the human cost: over 4,000 American deaths, between 35,000 and 53,000 injuries, depending on whose count one chooses (the military doesn’t count injuries that don’t require air transport to a military hospital), close to 400 amputations as a result of IEDs. The military has gotten too good at saving the lives of its soldiers, it seems. Forward operating hospitals and the technological advances of miniaturization of medical equipment, as well as better body armor, have led to a survival rate of over 90% for injuries suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan. But even the best body armor can’t protect against traumatic brain injuries, which plague many veterans whose bodies had to deal with the concussive blast of IED explosions.

And those who have been lucky enough to come back in one piece and with their brains unscrambled have a different kind of problem. The Montgomery GI Bill, which was last updated 20 years ago, only pays approximately half of the cost of the average college tuition, making it difficult for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to afford college. And the benefits are even less for reservists and National Guardsmen, who have constituted up to 60% of the troops in Iraq at some points. Over 80% of all reservists and National Guardsmen have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, and 20% of those have been deployed more than once. While a decent proportion of these “weekend” warriors have attended college and now have jobs, there are still plenty who could reap the benefits of the GI Bill, assuming it was actually beneficial to them.

One of the first things Jim Webb (D-VA) did upon being sworn in as a United States Senator was introduce the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (S. 22), co-sponsored by Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and John Warner (R-VA), all of whom, including Webb, were recipients of GI Bill benefits. Despite the bi-partisan support the bill enjoys from former members of the armed forces, only half of this country’s senators and a quarter of congressman have endorsed the measure.

Here’s what S. 22 does: It guarantees that the federal government would pay the highest in-state tuition rate to public institutions plus books and fees, as well as providing a cost-of-living allowance. It would also increase benefits to Guardsmen and reservists and create a matching funds program with private colleges that chose to participate.

Notably absent from the list of senators supporting the measure is John McCain, who has said in the past that the bill seemed like a good idea, but has yet to speak out in favor of it. I realize the man’s running for president and everything, but Hillary and Barack both support the measure, so there’s no excuse for McCain not to say something nice about the bill.

But more importantly, officials in the Bush administration oppose the measure, calling it a “retention-killer.” They apparently fear that if soldiers are given an easier time getting an education, they’ll be less likely to want to put up with crappy pay, endless deployments, and the world’s most dangerous working conditions. Even still, these are the same assholes who have been telling us all that our troops need our support for the last five years. I agree. But apparently, my opinion of supporting the troops and the Bush administration’s are far different. Seems to me that supporting the troops cannot end with the right equipment, the right weapons, and the right body armor on the battlefield (none of which, by the way, this administration has felt the need to supply the troops with anyhow, but I digress). Supporting the troops must also mean taking whatever measures necessary to help them readjust to civilian life, including helping them get a college education without amassing huge amounts of debt. Doesn’t their service, their sacrifice, their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way mean anything? Shouldn’t these men and women be afforded the full benefits of the GI bill as the Greatest Generation was after World War II?

Then there are those who suggest that the estimated $2 billion a year it would require to fund this measure is too expensive. You gotta be bloody kidding me! We’ve spent $5 trillion on this war! The health care costs for the 90% of injured soldiers who have survived their injuries could climb into the hundreds of billions of dollars over their lifetimes. And we’re going to get uppity about $2 billion?!? This country has got to pull its head out of its ass and realize that this war and the men and women who fight it are our responsibility. And not just the ones who have died, not just the ones who have been injured, but all of them. They are all our responsibility. We owe it to these men and women to help them in any way we can, including paying for their college education. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America have a list of those senators who support S. 22 and the representatives who back the corresponding House resolution. If your senator or representative is not listed, call them, e-mail them, annoy the hell out of them, anything to get their attention. Tell them you support the troops in every way.