Dear Editor:
President Obama has never served in combat. He’s never been in the military. Yet, he has proposed budget cuts for the Defense Department. Thus, it’s clear that President Obama doesn’t have a clue.
We have troops serving three and four combat tours. To force our Troops to serve 3 and 4 tours in combat is cruel and inhumane, and worse than torture. That many tours in combat is not only torture for the troops, but is torture for their families as well.
These proposed budget cuts for the military is just wrong. If there is equipment that the military doesn’t need, then use that money to put more troops on the ground so these troops can get a break! It’s obvious that our military budget needs to be increased to give these troops some relief! Our president and Congress are giving billions to big banks and insurance companies, and billions to other countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and others, yet the President wants to cut the military budget. That doesn’t make sense.
President Clinton and Congress cut, cut, cut and cut out military, including intelligence agencies during Clinton’s eight years in office, and what happened? The attacks on 9-11 happened, because our military and intelligence agencies had less personnel and equipment to protect the country.
President Obama should not make the same mistake.
Sincerely,
Lannie Ray (combat vet)
Varney, Ky.
Thank you Red Cross, family and friends
Dear Editor:
Thank you Tug Valley Red Cross for making Military Family Fun Day possible and a success. Paul McCallister and David Miller allowed Military families and friends to have an enjoyable, fun filled day at the Williamson Armory. Thank you also to the Mingo County Democratic Women, those “strong women”, for volunteering your time to assist with the activities of the day. We were very happy to have Gen. Bob Foglesong with us as well as Darrin McCorrrnick, Mayor of Williamson. Thank you to Father Harry Dunn, Sacred Heart Church, for your support for our Troops. Thank you to the Rear-Detachment soldiers, who came from the Eleanor Armory to assist in the set up and clean up, and especially Sgt. Mark Cook.
Thank you, DJ Yossi Hayon; Clementine the Clown; Lisa Yates for Face Painting; Rocky Ball, radio broadcaster; Food City for preparing and delivering the delicious food; Our Volunteers from Goodman Manor; Abe Hymore (the cake was beautiful and delicious); and everyone who volunteered to make the day a success.
Among our esteemed guest were General Fogle-song, Mayor McCorrmick, LTC Rob Scarberry’s wife, Sherry (State coordinator for the Family Readiness Groups, and sons, Dustin and Blake; Karen Allen from the American Red Cross; Rear Detachment Soldiers of the 150th; former members of the Wil-liamson Detachment (l50th); Thank you Wil-liamson Daily News and WXCC for running our ads and WDN for the article about General Foglesong. (We wish you had come to cover our event.) Thank you all members of the Williamson Family Readi-ness Group who worked tirelessly to insure everyone had a great day.
We know that everyone in the Tug Valley has our Troops and their families in their thoughts and prayers, and we ask you to continue to do so until our Soldiers come safely home.
Thank you,
Debby Bowen,
Vice-president/treasurer
Williamson Family Readiness Group
Our nation spends more that all the nations of the world COMBINED on defense. And for all that spending, for all the shiny new gadgets and all the fancy equipment, 19 hijackers with passports and box-cutters, were able to bring us to our knees. And because of Bush's lack of attention, we haven't got bin Laden after 8 years. If one doesn't think there can be cuts to the military, they just aren't thinking.