White House wants Court to Void POW Award.

[AndJusticeForAll]

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration urged an appeals court Wednesday to overturn a judge's order awarding nearly $1 billion in Iraqi money to 17 Americans taken prisoner by Saddam Hussein's government during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Attorneys for the POWs, who were tortured and starved, countered that the award — to be paid from Iraqi government assets frozen in this country — in no way threatens the rebuilding of Iraq, taking issue with the central argument of the administration.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ulf_war_pows_6

[cb88]

Originally Posted by AndJusticeForAll

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration urged an appeals court Wednesday to overturn a judge's order awarding nearly $1 billion in Iraqi money to 17 Americans taken prisoner by Saddam Hussein's government during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Attorneys for the POWs, who were tortured and starved, countered that the award — to be paid from Iraqi government assets frozen in this country — in no way threatens the rebuilding of Iraq, taking issue with the central argument of the administration.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ulf_war_pows_6

On intial review, my response is to agree with you, Westbrook. But I need to study this further.

At no time in history has our government allowed this to occur...look at those that were part of the Japanese POW's in WWII, they were forced to slave labor by corporations in Japan that are still in existance and our government blocked those suits as well.

I can't think of a logical reason at this time....other than that it was part of the "cease fire" agreement. But, my question is, should the government be allowed to waive off a citizen's private right to recover when they are "harmed"??????

[bd]

Originally Posted by AndJusticeForAll

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration urged an appeals court Wednesday to overturn a judge's order awarding nearly $1 billion in Iraqi money to 17 Americans taken prisoner by Saddam Hussein's government during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

$1B Iraqi!!!!!! Holy ****! That's got to be, what? ... Close to $60.00 US!

Okay, all fun and games aside, this is assi9. The POW's signed up for the military. Last I remember, there was no line in the contract that said "The US Government promises that as a member of the military you won't be put in harms way." If you don't want bad things to potentially happen to you, don't sign up.
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[AndJusticeForAll]

I think they are perectly well entitled to reparations from their Iraqi captors.

They should get that money and MORE!
What do they want to take next from these POW's, their VA checks?

[cb88]

Originally Posted by bd

$1B Iraqi!!!!!! Holy ****! That's got to be, what? ... Close to $60.00 US!

ROTFL

[bd]

Originally Posted by AndJusticeForAll

I think they are perectly well entitled to reparations from their Iraqi captors.

They should get that money and MORE!
What do they want to take next from these POW's, their VA checks?

No one is taking anything from them. This is a very slippery slope. You can't just pay out huge sums of money because someone knowingly and willingly put themselves into a situation and then didn't like the outcome. They knew the risks that come with being in the military. There's a certain level of danger associated with it.

So, if anyone's going to actually support this, I want reparations for all the mental anguish I've been though. My little feelers get hurt a lot. And I have a paper cut that still gives me nightmares. And I my hearing ain't what it used to be now either. Nobody said anything about my hair going grey at 35 from stress/lack of sleep/etc. So where's my money?

No way I'd ever go for anything like that. It's selfish and speaks that those seeking the money really have no understanding of what they fight (or fought) for.

BD

[cb88]

bd...


Good points.

I'd have to say the risk manager/insurance person in me would agree with you. ANYONE who knowingly & willingly accepts the risks should not be entitled to special dispensation.

It's like a police officer suing for having to deal with drug dealers, etc. Where do you draw the line?