BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?

Subject: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 12:42 AM

Tuning on C-Span when we got home this evening we found Rumsfeld's latest action in support of our troops. According to the Senate military affairs committee Rumsfeld has ordered the closure of the child care center at the Pentagon with no replacement in sight until 2007! Wow, that's really going to be a great help to those miltary parents who work there!

In addition to that he wants to dump all of the DOD base schools and put the burden on the local school districts, presumably without paying any local or state taxes to support them. What a guy!

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 02:04 AM

Wa-ta-guy is phonetic Cree for prick. Well said.

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: DougR
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 02:23 AM

Hang him, I say. :>)
DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 05:11 AM

I thought he had been taken hostage. No such luck; he was on tv today, spreading the muck as always......

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 06:27 AM

"According to the Senate military affairs committee Rumsfeld has ordered the closure of the child care center at the Pentagon with no replacement in sight until 2007! "

According to the report this morning on WTOP news radio, the child care center is being closed due to worries about terrorism. All of the children are being welcomed at Ft. Meyer, the adjacent Army facility.

I guess we should put all the children in the front lines, like the Palestinians do... That should make you happy.

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: artbrooks
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 07:40 AM

The government makes a percapita payment to school districts, based upon the number of children residing on the base, that is approximately equal to the average school tax paid in the community. It is not a tax paid on the value of Federal property. Military instalations are not the only ones who do this; some VA hospitals, Park and Forest Service facilities, etc. who provide housing for employees do so as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 10:32 AM

Artbrooks, thanks for that information. The Senator who was speaking expressed a concern for the lack of support the kids would have by not being with so many others who may have parents deployed in Iraq or other offshore duty stations.

We have played at schools on and near military bases. In California they have all been part of the local school district. For the most part, on or off the bases, the kids had parents in the military. One school cancelled classes the day their parents ship was due in. So now that we know the federal government is making some payment to the school districts, it sounds more reasonable.

Beardedbruce, We do not favor putting children on the front lines! The Senate hearing we heard definitely stated that there is NOT currently an immediate replacement facility available. If Fort Meyer is immediately adjacent and available why would they say that? And, what makes Fort Meyer any safer than the Pentagon?

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 10:39 AM

Rumsfeld is STILL a turkey. Whataguy.

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 10:49 AM

Regardless of one's opinion of Rumsfeld, the temporay closing of the Pentagon child care is a smart move. I suspect that the Pentagon is a much more likely target than Ft. Meyer. In response to your question
"The Senate hearing we heard definitely stated that there is NOT currently an immediate replacement facility available. If Fort Meyer is immediately adjacent and available why would they say that? " PERHAPS they were using this as a political weapon ( SHOCK!)

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: artbrooks
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 02:33 PM

There are many fewer day workers at Ft. Myer then at the Pentagon...in fact, a significant percentage of the people who live on Ft. Myer actually work at the Pentagon. I'd be inclined to doubt that whatever day care facility exists there has the capacity to absorb children from the Puzzle Palace...in fact, their Fact Sheet says the new facility won't open until 2 years from now, and they are scrambling to locate alternatives. Ft. Myer, BTW, isn't far from the Pentagon as the crow flies, but that crow doesn't have to deal with Arlington traffic.

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: mg
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 03:43 PM

That was an uncalled for remark about the Palestinians, although any statement is undoubtedly true for some members of any group. I have heard of Palestinians beating their children trying to keep them away from either the terrorists or the rock throwing etc. Do you believe many inner city parents encourage their children to go out and join gangs? Probably not. There are powerful forces acting on young people in all these situations. There are not a lot of good options..keeping them home in a tiny place..my little two room beach cottage would probably seem like paradise to a family of 10....

They are obviously short on supervised activities etc. Perhaps you would like to help me build a small, very cheap, playground there.

mg

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 03:56 PM

mg,

I apologize- I was over the line. I get upset when I hear an obviously biased assesment of a situation, trying to put a bad spin on someone, even when they are doing what any reasonable person would do in the situation. But I was wrong. I should have said "Perhaps you think that children should be kept in places that are know terrorist targets."

If I thought the playground would not be used against either Israel or Palestinians, I might- But I have read too many stories about "sympathsyser" ( ie, any one advocating non-violence) being "tired" - and steel tubes such as swing sets being used as rocket launchers and morters. It is a horrible thing when even the best of intentions can be used against humanity.

Subject: RE: BS: Rumsfeld Supports Troops?
From: mg
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 04:40 PM

I'd thought of safety issues and hadn't thought of the tire thing..which I was thinking for swing sets rather than anything metal in a probably very tiny space. I'm thinking tether ball, some sort of tire swings...not much..paint for hopscotch or whatever. Some plants in tubs.

mg