[427TJ]

The United States Government has a long and proud history of paying the military as little as possible. Republican or Democrat, it makes no difference. We pay them a pittance because we can. As a matter of fact, the Bush administration has been cutting pay and benefits for active duty (and activated Guard and Reserve) personnel and they've been cutting Veterans Administration benefits too.

Lots of flag waving when the TV cameras are rolling but behind the curtain the slashing continues.

Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld said: "You go to war with the army you have, not necessarily the army you want or would like to have." Well, he's in charge and he can certainly change it if he wanted to. Donald Rumsfeld is probably the most powerful Secretary of Defense we've had in decades and he can't blame Congress for inaction because both houses are controlled by his party.

Why is pay so low? Because that's the way it's always been.

Why do they keep cutting pay and benefits? Because they can.