Bad move Mr President!!

[Emperor Napoleon]

Stunts like this make me really angry. I have become a Bush supporter pretty much since 9/11, and still prefer him over Kerry, but this is not right. Also isn't very bright to do in an election year:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ulf_war_pows_6

Those soldiers deserve every penny of their lawsuit, not some (sorry Sluggo) fucking French oil company with claims. Tell me again why we invade countries, get US soldiers killed and maimed and give away all that we win in the conflict? HOW STUPID CAN A GOVERNMENT BE!!! Napoleon treated every invasion like a business venture, and he rewarded the soldiers who did the work. And that's how it should be! [img]mad.gif[/img]

[Raven Soul]

I am going to have to agree with you. This is just about as stupid as stupid gets. For whatever reason Bush must want to be like his daddy. Only this time we have no Bill Clinton to save us, only a Jon Kerry to lead un into a pit of darkness and dispair.

[jumper69]

Sorry guys, I'm gonna disagree with you on this one. Being a soldier, sailor, airman, or jarhead carries with it implied dangers, one of which is the possibility of becoming a POW.

I was infantry, specifically a Ranger. My job was inherently dangerous and could have gotten me killed or worse. But had I become a POW, I would have expected my government, my unit, and my buddies to try and get me out. But I NEVER assumed I had a right to compensatory damages because I might have been tortured and had bad dreams. Sorry. That doesn't wash with me.

My $.02

[Emperor Napoleon]

Maybe not ordinarily, but since the assets had been seized and were available the suit should be settled in the veterans' favor IMO. What are we going to do with Bin Laden's assets seized, rebuild Afghanistan and not give 9/11 victims a penny? That's bullshit!

[jumper69]

I'm not saying the seized money shouldn't compensate, in some way, the VICTIMS of 9/11 or whatever. But it SHOULD NOT be used to compensate military members who think they have a right to it because they got their asses captured.

THAT is bullshit!

As far as putting the money back into the country, that is an excellent idea. Otherwise who's paying for it? WE are! My tax dollars, your tax dollars...are going to pay for the reconstruction. If the seized assest can alleviate some of that cost (assuming greedy American contractors don't steel it), then I'm all for it.

[Emperor Napoleon]

Their own oil resources should pay for rebuilding the country, in addition to paying the United States for coming in and making things right. If we are going to take the responsibility to rebuild the place we should use whatever resources they have to do it. But contractual obligations made under Hussein's regime should be null and void, hence French oil companies would have no right to the funds already seized and the vets who already won a judgment should get it. As it stands now the US is doing all the work, US soldiers are getting killed and those who opposed the war in the international community stand to get their money back.

[Emperor Napoleon]

Other issues aside it was just plain stupid and bad politics. It paints the administration exactly as Kerry is trying to paint them, cold and indifferent to veterans and not looking out for US interests.

[Anybody]

But you were never captured by the enemy Jumper. Were you?

[jumper69]

Nope....never captured.

But I've been shot at many times. If that had caused me to have bad dreams and stuff, would I be entitled to some money or is the getting shot at part of my job?

[Anybody]

So you dont know then their situation and should really keep quiet. Not to start something but how can you say what they should or shouldn't get if you not experienced what they did.