… and forgot a few things.

If this doesn’t convince you Bush is in this war for one reason and one reason alone — his own pocketbook — nothing will.

FAHRENHEIT 9/11: Bush “proposed cutting the soldiers’ combat bonus pay 33 percent and assistance to their families by 60 percent.”

• The Bush administration announced that it would roll-back ‘modest’ increases of benefits to troops. The Army Times noted, “the administration announced that on Oct. 1 it wants to roll back recent modest increases in monthly imminent-danger from $225 to $150 (a cut of 33%) and family-separation allowances from $250 to $100 (a cut of 60%) for troops getting shot at in combat zones.” http://www.armytimes.com/story.php
  ?f=1-292259-1989240.php 

• “Thanks to a law passed this year, troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and other high-risk areas now receive $225 a month in supplemental pay. That’s an increase of $75 from the previous amount for combat pay. Under that same law, soldiers who have been forced to leave behind spouses and children receive $250 a month in additional separation pay to help cover child care and other additional expenses caused by assignment overseas. That’s an increase of $150 over the previous supplement. … In its 2004 budget request, the Pentagon asked Congress to cut both combat pay and separation pay back to the previous levels.” “Our Opinions: Proposal to Reduce Pay No Way to Salute Military,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, August 15, 2003.

FAHRENHEIT 9/11: “He proposed cutting $1.3 billion in veterans’ health care and closing seven veteran’s hospitals. He tried to double the prescription drug costs for veterans and opposed full benefits for part time reservist.” 

• “On Nov. 12, the Office of Management & Budget opposed restoring $1.3 billion in funding for Veterans Administration hospitals that the House Appropriations Committee had cut. ‘’It’s as if they’re not even aware [that] there’s a war on terror going on,’ says Steve Thomas, an American Legion spokesman and Navy vet who notes casualties in Iraq could make demand for VA services soar.” Stan Crock in Washington, with William C. Symonds in Boston, “Will The Troops Salute Bush In ’04?,” Business Week, December 8, 2003.

• “The White House had expressed its ‘strong opposition’ to the Senate’s effort to expand military health benefits to reservists and National Guard members, and boost ‘veterans’ health care spending by $1.3 billion.” Jonathan Weisman, “Bush Aides Threaten Veto of Iraqi Aid Measure,” Washington Post, October 22, 2003.

• In early 2003, the Bush administration announced that it was closing “seven of its 163 veteran’s hospitals in an effort to ‘restructure’ the Department of Veterans Affairs.” Suzanne Gamboa, “VA Proposes Overhaul, 13 Facilities Would Close or See Major Changes,” Associated Press, August 4, 2003.

• In 2003, the Bush administration proposed increasing prescription drug costs for veterans, a proposal that would have doubled the cost of prescription drugs. “The Bush plan would have included a new $250 enrollment fee and a co-pay increase from $7 to $15 for veterans earning over $24,000.” The House amended the proposal to reject the Bush administration’s fee increases and to recoup the $264 million in costs by reducing administrative funding for the VA. “Panel Rejects Extra Funds for AmeriCorps,” Washington Post, July 22, 2003.

•  “The Bush administration is flatly opposed to giving the Guard and Reserve access to the Pentagon’s health system.” Opinion, The Daily News Leader (Staunton, VA), October 25, 2003.

• “U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has helped push a bill through the Senate to improve the health care benefits of Guard and Reserve members. This bill has had broad bipartisan support since it was introduced in May. Last week Graham had his health care plan attached as an amendment to the $87 billion supplemental appropriations bill that President Bush is seeking to pay for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House should take up the amendment next week. Strangely, the Bush administration has opposed this new benefit for Guard and Reserve members, arguing that it would be too expensive.” Staff, “Helping our Guard and Reserve,” The Greenville News, October 16, 2003.

Go vote.