http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080531/OPINION03/805310334/1017

President’s Actions Don’t Honor Heroes

On his final Memorial Day speech at Arlington Cemetery before a crowd of veterans and their families, President Bush ineloquently described America's soldiers as "an awesome bunch of people and the United States is blessed to have such citizens." 

 If Mr. Bush really wanted to honor our brave soldiers, why did he:

Send 160,000 to attack Iraq in 2003 when General Shinseki, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recommended twice that number? 

Send some soldiers into battle without Kevlar vests so that families and friends felt the need to buy them privately? 

Provide the troops with Humvees that had canvas side doors rather than armor plates? 

Delay the ordering of heavy armored Mine Resistant Armor Protected (MRAP) vehicles with V-shaped hulls to replace the vulnerable Humvees? They have been available since 2000, but have yet to be deployed in quantity. 

Order budget cuts for the care of the wounded, which resulted in filthy conditions at medical centers such as Walter Reed? Those same cuts increased the time to get care and the co-payments for service and medication. 

Promote the downgrading of injuries so as to reduce veterans' benefits? 

Sanction the practice of bonus take-backs when soldiers were unable to complete their obligations because of battle injuries? 

Threaten to veto the Webb GI Education Bill for giving veterans college benefits after three year's service?

Mr. Bush's actions have fallen short of his rhetoric. It is time to replace him with someone who will change his policies. Our heroes deserve that.

Nick Reina 

Milmay