Jane Delanko – 9/30/07

This page was last updated on October 6, 2007.

No light at the end of this tunnel; Jane V. Delanko; Beaver County Times; September 30, 2007.

This is at least the sixth letter from Ms. Delanko on this subject since May 2005. The previous letters were entitled “Bring our troops home,” “Bring the troops home,” and “Listen to the generals,” “Get out of Iraq now,” and “Define ‘success’.”

This letter is nothing more than a series of statements and Ms. Delanko makes no effort to substantiate them.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Do the American people know that President Bush had threatened to veto a bill that would provide health care for children?”

[RWC] Below is what I wrote in a comment I posted on the Times website.

“Why does Ms. Delanko apparently believe its OK for parents to dump their childrearing responsibilities on their neighbors?

“I’m sure it was an honest oversight, but Ms. Delanko neglected to mention President Bush is fine with reauthorizing the current SCHIP program. The current program helps with healthcare for children of the poor not poor enough (up to 200% of the federal poverty level and allows states not to count certain income) to qualify for Medicaid. Incredibly, SCHIP also covers some parents. What Mr. Bush opposes is expanding the program beyond the poor and increasing the max age for covered children beyond the current 18. The current House version would triple federal SCHIP spending to $15 billion/year and the Senate version would increase it to 2.4 times the current level.

“At one point the proposal included families of four making more than $80,000/year and increased the max age for covered children to 25. Make no mistake about it; the proposed SCHIP expansion has nothing to do with “the children” as proponents would have us believe. It’s all about gradually implementing a taxpayer-funded, government-run healthcare system for the U.S.

“While I believe President Bush should veto the SCHIP expansion, I’m disappointed in him – and all elected Republicans – for not letting the SCHIP program expire on schedule.

“Do I believe people who need help because of unforeseen circumstances should get it? Of course, but via private charities funded by voluntary contributions.”

“Yet the president keeps on insisting on money for the war. He requested nearly $190 billion to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the budget year 2008.”

[RWC] Providing for the “common defence” is a constitutional responsibility. Providing healthcare is not.

“Our military is so worn out that it will take years to rebuild. This administration has sent our armed forces into a conflict with inadequate equipment and under-prepared plans.”

[RWC] It’s clear Ms. Delanko has been reading Times editorials.

“At least 30 percent of our soldiers meet the critera for mental disorders related to emotional problems from deployment stress. Also, the equal time spent in deployment should equal time spent at home. This is not the case.”

[RWC] According to an MSNBC article, “Military medical officials, however, cautioned against people reading their data as suggesting the war had driven so many soldiers over the edge. Instead, they characterized the anxiety and stress as normal reactions to combat, seeing dead and mutilated bodies, and feeling helpless to stop a violent situation.” I’m sure Ms. Delanko just forgot to mention that tidbit.

“Also, the equal time spent in deployment should equal time spent at home.” Who says? Is that what happened in World War II, Korea, et cetera? Ms. Delanko likely knows we don’t have enough members in the armed forces to meet this new “requirement” she’s been told to lobby for.

“At one time for [sic] prime minister of Iraq said, ‘Americans can leave anytime they want.’ Well, we should have immediately started procedures for moving out after such remarks.”

[RWC] I’d like to know what Ms. Delanko believes would happen if we just surrendered and immediately left Iraq.

“The Democrats are holding back and not pushing hard enough to end the war because they are intimidated by the president.

[RWC] Then, Ms. Delanko, why aren’t you writing letters bashing Democrats for not fulfilling the promises you believe they made to you? They control the purse strings, don’t they?

“Believe you me, there is no light at the end of this tunnel. The surge is not working. More U.S. troops have died every month this year compared to the same month last year.”

[RWC] “The surge is not working?” From where does Ms. Delanko get her news?

“More U.S. troops have died every month this year compared to the same month last year.” While true for January – August, it was not true for September. In any case, the reason we had more troop deaths this year is mostly (completely?) because of the surge. After all, you can’t implement a more aggressive strategy of uprooting your enemy and expect lower casualties.