« This » is how the Empire supports the troops these days apparently:

‘John Tod of Mesa had been prepared to face Father’s Day worrying about his son’s pending date with the war in Iraq. Then Uncle Sam stepped in with more disappointing developments. Marine Pfc. Jeremy Tod called home with news that his superiors were urging him and fellow Marines to buy special military equipment, including flak jackets with armor plating, to enhance the prospects of their survival. The message was that such purchases were to be made by Marines with their own money. “He said they strongly suggested he get this equipment because when they get to Iraq they will wish they had,” Tod said. Total estimated cost: $600.’

Hopefully, John Tod won’t have to « feel the same pain as Celeste Zappala »:

’”This war was based on lies and deception,” said Celeste Zappala of Philadelphia, whose soldier son was killed while providing security for investigators searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Zappala said, “The only way we can understand how we’ve come to this disastrous position is to find out what the truth is.” Zappala’s unsettling words appeared even more striking considering the newspaper in which they appeared: Her quoted remarks were included in a news story in Stars & Stripes, a Department of Defense-authorized newspaper distributed at U.S. military facilities. Knocking some of the shine off the tabloid’s usual cheerleading tone about U.S. foreign policy and the military, its obligatory news article about parents who have demanded that Bush come clean about his actions in the run-up to the war seemed uncharacteristically somber. The newspaper also quoted Dianne Davis, a mother from Pennsylvania whose son was killed last August. “I envy the parents who support this war, because if I did I’d sleep better,” Davis said. She added, “But I don’t sleep well. My son died for a lie.”’

Which is as good a summation of things as I’ve seen yet.