Guest post by Howie Howe
For those who are not familiar with subject, let me tell you about something we need to be concerned about that involves our current serving members.
In Iraq and Afghanistan, we hire outside companies to provide basic living services and provisions for our troops. These contractors determine their own methods of providing those services, which includes the removal and destruction of waste and trash.
It appears that in Iraq the contractors are burning medical and other waste in the proximity of our troops breathing area, and the troops are claiming they are feeling sick and getting adverse reactions to this. We should all remember what many of our troops in the Gulf War claimed, and should make a big stink that we don’t allow these contractors to jeopardize the health of our children and grand-children for serving in order to save a buck.
This issue was brought to my attention by Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, who is very concerned about this, and asked that we get the word out, and put an end to this practice.
Here are some links to the issue (problem):
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_burnpit_102708w/
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/military_burnpit_complaints_111308w/
We need to make a big stink (no pun intended) to Congress, the President, and the DOD over this problem, demanding that the health of our troops not be jeopardized by contractors taking shortcuts in serving them.
I thank NH Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter for bringing this to my attention. I encourage everybody to take note on this, take action on it, and send the word out to everybody and ask them to do the same. Please pass this along to everybody you know – Remember in taking care of and dealing with Vets and our military service members, there is no room for Partisanship.
Howie Howe is the founder/regional coordinator of New Hampshire’s Help On The Homefront (NH HOTH)– a group of Motorcycle Riders, and others, who support Veterans and Miltary members in need of asstance, pay tribute for Veterans service, and help families who have suffered the loss of a loved one in Miltary service.
[H/T pic]