Veterans of the Semantic Wars

by Ripley

Un-fucking-believable.  via Cole:

In a little-noticed regulation change in March, the military's definition of combat-related disabilities was narrowed, costing some injured veterans thousands of dollars in lost benefits -- and triggering outrage from veterans' advocacy groups.

Pentagon officials argue that benefits should be greater for veterans wounded in combat than for "members with disabilities incurred in other situations (e.g., simulation of war, instrumentality of war, or participation in hazardous duties, not related to combat)," Carr wrote.

The Pentagon changes focused on "tip of the spear" fighters, or those "in the line of duty in a combat zone," said Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman. They comprise "a very special, yet limited, subset of those who matriculate through the Disability Evaluation System," Lainez wrote in an e-mail response to a request for comment.

You really need to read the whole thing to get the full... taste of it.

Hey, remember a few years back when the Bumper Sticker Patriots in Congress decided that our troops were so valuable, so honorable, so courageous, so absolutely blessed by God-his-own-self that they passed a law requiring that those killed in action be called "fallen heroes"?  Remember?  Do ya?  And do you remember how your chest swelled with pride and you spent the day shouting "America, Fuck Yeah!" at anyone who would listen and then you ran out to put a fresh coat of yellow highlighter and Turtle Wax on your magnetic ribbon?  Remember how fucking hard America supported the troops back then? 

Well, the Pentagon doesn't either.  Meanwhile, every wingtipped con man with a key to the Executive Washroom is falling over himself to get to DC for a handout before Jan, 2009.  But fuck the troops - they cost money.   Especially the ex-troops.  

I guess a Central Front in the War on Terror ain't what it used to be.  Dig?

Rip -