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.

  • MahouOwl@piefed.zip
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    2 hours ago

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

  • Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca
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    38 minutes ago

    JD Vance gets asked about the widows case and he responds to the journalist “send me her contact info so I can discuss it with her” as if he isn’t the second most powerful person in his country and already has full access to all of the info but doesn’t care. If they have to start paying out benefits to dead soldiers it might become more clear how many service members have actually died.

    There are likely more fatalities of American soldiers but they are hiding them behind mission secrecy.

  • NABDad@lemmy.world
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    5 hours 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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        3 hours 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.

  • Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca
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    3 hours ago

    Huh? Didn’t know the Americans had that little clause. My SDB is paid out to my spouse regardless of whether I die in a war.

    • Ravenheart@lemmy.zip
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      8 minutes ago

      I 100% agree. But also, some folks have little choice as it’s the only path they have out of poverty. Could be their only chance for a decent education too.

      Edit: I understand the backlash I’m getting. But I also realize that poverty produces desperation, and desperation can push people to extreme decisions. Easy for me to say “don’t ever join under any circumstances” when I’m not the one suffering in extreme poverty.

      • flandish@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        the “have little choice” is just being able to shift guilt. we 100% know this is a genocidal fascist regime, and i have more support for someone who chooses to be gifted “life’s plan” of hardship over joining this mil.

        fyi: this is the plan. the capitalists who profit from war know they can only profit if there is a cohort of poor, hungry, stupid kids they can use for the human parts.

        • MiddleAgesModem@lemmy.world
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          3 hours ago

          they can use for the human parts.

          If you want people to take you seriously, you could make less childish arguments.

          • chunk6235@piefed.social
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            1 hour ago

            Are you upset that you can’t refute the 100% accurate point?

            The troops are pretty much there to go kill or die for some billionaire’s profits, and Smedley Butler said as much decades ago and it’s only gotten worse since. Once they get the killer robots working, they’ll cut out the troops and not have to worry about people complaining about pay.

          • flandish@lemmy.world
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            2 hours ago

            explain how this is childish. machines like weapons require people to operate. it’s always been the working class and poor who are scooped up to operate them. “ain’t no war but class war” is not just a bumper sticker.

            so: try your reply again.

      • Tyrq@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        3 hours ago

        Becoming a disposable weapon of the state is still a choice, they still have blood on their hands, whether or not the game is rigged to coerce desperate people into becoming murderers or cannon fodder

          • chunk6235@piefed.social
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            1 hour ago

            I was when I was enlistment age, and I told the recruiter to go fuck himself when they came asking, and then to go find a squadmate to assist if he couldnt follow the directions himself when he didn’t like the first answer.

            I had enough combat vets in my life to know what was up. No glory seekers, only people who saw the brutality fist hand.

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        5 hours ago

        Honestly, if it’s this bad, why is this put up with?

        For a country that has spent so much time telling others how free it is, its citizens take a lot of shit

        If it’s that bad, no point waiting around any longer, shut the thing down.

        • Tyrq@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          3 hours ago

          All you gotta do is tell people they’re free.

          Then you place them in freedom shackles, and give them freedom bucks to trade around inside their freedom cage. Why do you hate freedom so much, don’t you like your freedom slop?

      • chewypoops@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        The military is never anyone’s only choice out of poverty. The military is a career you choose. Just because you were in poverty when you made that choice does not mean you didn’t have other choices.

        • wewbull@feddit.uk
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          2 hours ago

          Officer grades…sure.

          Rank and file… Nah. Not if you want OUT of poverty.

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        5 hours ago

        Sorry i have to kill brown people. Some rape is expected, but i really didn’t have a choice.

      • reparæi [he/any]@lemmy.ml
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        Sorry I had to serve in the SS cuz it was the only path I had out of poverty, for a chance at a decent education too, I 100% hate those Nazis please don’t put us on trial 🥺

    • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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      59 minutes ago

      “special military operation”

      Being conducted by the “department of war”.

  • yoriaiko@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    6 hours ago

    Smort move… those who had guns died, no need to pay those who don’y have weapon or treats.

    For those, who still have weapons…