My New Years resolutions for Congress

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Dem. Says Iraq Troops Need More Support
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Lawmakers and President Bush (news - web sites) should make a New Year's resolution to give adequate equipment to troops in Iraq (news - web sites), the vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus said Saturday.

"Our soldiers should never want for proper equipment and accurate intelligence," Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina said in the Democrats' weekly radio address. "Their patriotism and sacrifice should never be doubted or compromised."

(snip) read in entirety at link above

Mata Musing

Here we go again. Congress whining about our troops not being adequately armed and supplied. The height of hutzpah.

It's odd to have to point out the very obvious. But, after a New Years Eve conversation with a friend, evidently Congressional blame for the state of the military is conveniently overlooked by many American citizens in order to feed their "blame Bush" desires.

So I offer contributing factors in the matter, plus my own suggestions for Congressional New Years resolutions.

Bush inherited a military stripped by the both policies of the Clinton administration, and deep cuts by Congress. Thus the meaning behind Rumsfeld's much maligned comment "we go to war with the military we have, not the military we'd like".

Military leaders, Rumsfeld, the Pentagon and the President were all aware of the armor issue early in the game after getting on the ground in Iraq back in 2003. But to get the armor ordered, made and shipped to Iraq requires... ta da... an act of Congress.

Remember that infamous appropriations bill? Therein lies the bulk of the funds needed for the armor. Let's look at the timeline.

March 2003 - arrival in Baghdad

November 2003 - appropriations bill finally passes. Almost six months Congress lets go by, leaving our troops vunerable. Thank heaven they are not wont to cry "victim" and instead exercise innovation. They set to work fashioning whatever they could to meet their own needs.

May 2004 - after all the BS paperwork, the orders for armor finally arrive at the manufacturers. Again, almost six months.

However the Pentagon, Commander in Chief and military weren't idle in the interim. With what funding was available, and thru every channel possible, they were already providing after market up-armoring kits, triaged by need, to the area.

Now I ask you... who truly is most at fault for armor taking so long? Does not the responsibility lie at the feet of those whining the most... Congress members? For it is they who hold the purse strings and the ability to rush an order thru the system.

So here's my open letter of suggestions for New Years Resolutions for Clyborn and other bloated, money grubbing, Congressional members who tend to point fingers and play the blame game.

1: First and foremost...give up your pay raise! You're looking for budget cuts. I suggest that should be the first cut on the list. You should not be so highly paid for your civil service. Indeed, if you're like Kerry, you should only get paid for half your term because you're on the road campaigning for the other half.

All of you make plenty of money with incidental benefits of your public fame... books, speaking tours, etc. Make your fortune there. Not off us... we, the taxpayers.

2: Stop passing the buck for blame to the Administrative branch, or anyone else you are trying to politically slander at the moment, for problems of your making. Generally, most of your gripes are the result of inefficiency and procrastination by Congress.

Congress and the NEA have done their best to keep the American public under-educated on the workings of gov't by eliminating Civics as a required curriculum. But rest assured, there are still enough of us left that remember how bills get introduced and mutilated by committees and floor amendments; how laws get formulated by you and a President can merely do a thumbs up or down and live with the Congressional retaliation for doing either one; and how long all this BS takes because of your partisan in-fighting.

In short, we know the biggest problem and source of corruption in federal government is the US Congress themselves.

3: Vote in term limits. If you all aren't around, siphoning off your paycheck from taxpayers for the duration of your life, the chances of corruption, influence by lobbyists, and those knowing "the game" is significantly lessened. I am very libertarian in this aspect. You should go, do your civic duty, then clear the hell out for someone else so your ability to get entrenched in favors owed is minimized.

If any of you have any other suggestions, feel free to add here!

And the happiest of New Years to you all. May it be filled with peace, prosperity, and may opportunity abound for all.

And oh yes.. may terrorists and all those teaching hate to perpetuate their violence be wiped off the face of the earth, leading to world peace.