What the f**k is going on?

The Arizona Republic is one of those newspapers that sets a standard for conservative—nay, right-wing—positions on the issues of the day. It was once owned by the same Pulliam family that controlled the Indianapolis Star. Even these Republican mouthpieces are beginning to recognize and expose the insanity that is Bushco's Iraq.

A story in yesterday's Republic tells how a 45-year old blue-collar dad is buying his Iraq-bound son more than $600 worth of flak vests and other military equipment after the young Marine told him it had been strongly suggested by his commanding officers.

The paper reports, "(John) Tod said his son's call about two weeks ago from the Marine Corps Air Station-Yuma was a sobering reminder that the military is not prepared to equip Pfc. Tod and fellow Marines with the best equipment.

Besides the essential flak jacket with steel 'trauma' plates, the shopping list for the young Marine included a Camelbak (water pouch) special ballistic goggles, knee and elbow pads, a "drop pouch" to hold ammunition magazines and a load-bearing vest."

In a related story, Salon reports that "...the inspector general finds that U.S. Marines assigned to fight in some of the most dangerous parts of Iraq haven't been provided the weapons, communications gear or vehicles they need. The inspector general says that 'all' Marine units currently fighting in Iraq 'require ground equipment that exceeds' what they've got, 'particularly in mobility, engineering, communications and heavy weapons.'"

Salon suggests that Bushco supporters consider these egregious failures by the administration to support our own troops before slapping another red white and blue magnetic ribbon on the back of their SUVs.

Come on America; wake up! These are your sons and daughters Bushco is sacrificing. Do you think you should be buying armor for them out of your own pockets while Halliburton pockets hundreds of billions of dollars from this war? And remember, this is a debt your grandchildren (if you're lucky enough to have any) will be saddled with.