The families of US soldiers who have died in the US-Israeli war against Iran are battling to ensure they receive appropriate pay and benefits for their loved ones.

Libby Klinner, a widow, wrote on social media that the US air force had deemed her ineligible for additional benefits following the death of Major Alex Klinner, her 33-year-old husband, because Congress had not officially declared war.

He was one of six crew members of a KC-135 refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq in March while supporting US strikes against Iran.

  • BigDiction@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    Although Donald Trump, the US president, has repeatedly called US military operations against Iran a war, he backed Mr Vanceon Friday, saying US strikes were “intermittent”.

    He said “A lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict, because it’s small potatoes for us.”

    I can’t wait for this guy to shut the fuck up.

  • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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    7 hours ago

    When Vance was asked about this at a press conference, he asked the reporter for the widow’s contact information (because the Pentagon doesn’t have it?), and assured that she would get everything she’s entitled to.

    What do you want to bet that she’ll receive a visit from some military goons, who will tell her that she will get ALL that she is entitled to, which is NOTHING, because he didn’t die in an official war, and if she doesn’t shut the fuck up about it, she’ll be arrested and deported to Africa for being an undocumented alien?

    • BigDiction@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      It’s an answer a junior customer service rep would give when they have no idea how the organization or any processes actually work.

  • Mulligrubs@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    Somehow, we can afford to pay Mitch McConnell to take 3 months off, and hundreds of millions of dollars for Trump to play golf (with 50 secret service), but widow of dead soldier? That’s where we draw the line

  • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
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    18 hours ago

    That’s so fucking cool! I am a part of a union that is voting to strike. I realize that some people have financial opportunities in going through the military. Fuck you. War machine. Your fault.

    • madcaesar@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Military proceeds to vote GOP

      At some point you have to lose compassion for idiots voting for the leopards party

      • Mulligrubs@lemmy.world
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        6 hours ago

        40% of those in the military vote Democrat, do you have compassion for them?

        Please recall that most voters voted for Trump, so anyone in any other nation could use your logic to not have compassion for you, the minority.

        (if military are idiots because majority voted R, then you are an idiot because US majority voted R).

      • BigPotato@lemmy.world
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        19 hours ago

        Military recruits predominantly lower income, under educated people and then proceeds to fall for Republican propaganda - it’s like you sectioned off a control group and said “damn, why are they so control?”

  • pbhj@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    I don’t know … they followed the obviously illegal orders to go to war without congressional approval. They betrayed their oath to the constitution and favored Trump instead. Getting stiffed by Trump, as everyone expects of Trump, seems hardly something we should care about. Trump called them suckers, they chose to turn their backs on USA and follow Trump. It is of course sad when anyone gets hurt, but being willing participants in an unlawful and unjust war that is only about moving the stock market to make Trump rich … when Trump has betrayed the constitution practically every day …

    • corvide077@lemmy.zip
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      6 hours ago

      You mean they were deployed when there was no war and then got bombed because a specific fighter jet followed orders. Most enlisted before trump.

  • SalmonTractor@discuss.tchncs.de
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    1 day ago

    Since its inception, the US government has never liked paying soldiers for war. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Mutiny_of_1783

    Alexander Hamilton didn’t even want to pay the IOUs back, until he decided that many were owned by investors that had bought them from soldiers. The quote was something to the effect of, “those investors are true Americans and they should get their money.” The Dollop podcast has a good 4-parter on Hamilton that covers that and other issues.

    • BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world
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      7 hours ago

      Didn’t this also contribute directly to the business plot and not wanting to pay an army of veterans camped on the front lawn of the Whitehouse?

    • Snowies@lemmy.zip
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      19 hours ago

      Human history really is just a long convoluted story of class warfare isn’t it…

      Why the fuck is it so hard for these absolute demons to just fucking share?

      Is sharing really that bad? Is exerting yourself on others to spite their will really so addictive and so intoxicating?

      … why?… I don’t fucking see it.

      Why is power so delicious to some people? Why can nothing less sate their palates?

      I genuinely don’t fucking get it. To me, a good gathering with good people and good food, and then to go home with a kind partner who genuinely desires me — is heaven on earth. A day with all of it is a day my heart is full and my chin is high.

      What compels someone to look at that as though it’s some pittance, and the real prize is when ONLY YOU are allowed satisfaction??? Why do some people need others to suffer in order for them to feel pleasure???

  • NABDad@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I’ve said it forever: Screwing over veterans is more American than apple pie. We’ve been doing it since the American Revolution.

    I can’t imagine President Pedophile being the one to change that. He doesn’t even care enough to pretend.

      • hoppeduponcoffee@lemmy.zip
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        1 day ago

        He’s a draft dodger himself. They’re only pawns in his scheme to enrich himself and the capital class. It’s been the same with every president since WWII.

        This is what happens when you prop your economy up on war and petroleum. You have to fight constant wars to maintain it. You have to keep heating up the planet until it’s unliveable.

        The Great Depression proved that capitalism is a bubble that can’t sustain itself without constant exploitation of fossil fuels and the military-industrial complex. The second hit took place with the oil shortages and stagflation of the 1970s.

  • MahouOwl@piefed.zip
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    1 day ago

    Think about the bright side: If all countries stop using the term “war”, then we’ve achieved world peace!! /s