Dear neo-cons: Still supporting those troops, I see.

Via this piece at Think Progress, we see that the neo-con dictatorship down south is supporting the troops the only way they know how -- by boning them up the ass:

A Pentagon proposal that could triple some Tricare insurance costs for military retirees and their families is drawing sharp criticism from military advocacy groups and members of Congress.

The plan, being considered as part of the 2007 budget request to be unveiled Feb. 6, would increase Tricare fees for retirees under age 65 beginning Oct. 1.

Increases would be substantial — as much as $1,200 more a year by 2009 — with no end in sight because the plan calls for annual rate hikes in 2010 and beyond that would match inflation.

And don't you troops even think of whining about this 'cuz, if you did, well, you'd just be hating America, wouldn't you?

Have fun over there. Try not to step on any suspicious mounds on the road.

AFTERSNARK: By the way, I disagree entirely with the attitude expressed in that headline: "Tell Congress To Reject Administration’s Plan To Triple Our Troops’ Health Care Costs." Let me explain.

For the longest time, the Dems have been fighting the most appalling and idiotic legislation coming out of the Bush administration. For their trouble, they've gotten beaten down, vilified and accused of being obstructionists. Fine. So why not turn the tables entirely?

I propose that, at this point, the Dems simply agree to sign into law any and all legislation that comes before them. (Well, OK, I'll qualify that -- they can still fight any legislation that would cause irreversible damage, the kind of stuff that couldn't be fixed by subsequent administrations.)

Quite simply, the Dem leadership should make the following announcement:

"My fellow Americans. Having tried all this time to protect you from the lunatic policies of the Bush administration, we're finally just tired of it. We've done our best and, for our troubles, we've been slimed as traitors and America-haters and obstructionists, not just by the opposition, but by a large part of the traditional media.

"And because we're just tired of it, we're announcing a new policy. As of today, we are simply going to agree on every piece of legislation that comes out of this administration. And why? Simple.

"We want to show you what life under this administration would really be like if they got the chance to implement their entire agenda unopposed. We've tried as best we could to protect you and, in return, we've been accused of having no morals, no values, no principles. Well, fine.

"So, as of today, what the Bush administration wants, it gets. Slashing Medicare? Fine. Gutted student funding? No problem. Draconian finance laws that will drive more of you into personal bankruptcy while enriching the wealthiest Americans? Absolutely. Stop-loss programs that keep soldiers overseas and separated from their families? Sure. Tripling the cost of military health insurance? All right. Slashing civil rights and warrantless spying on Americans? Where do we sign?

"Again, we're just plain tired of fighting this administration to protect the American public, and getting pilloried for it. So, for the next three years, in the run-up to the 2008 election, we're going to show you, in stark detail, what America would be like under an unchecked neo-con administration. It's going to be painful but, quite frankly, we don't know how else to get this message across.

"The experiment starts today, and may God have mercy on your souls."

Yes, I think it's time for some tough love.