President Barack Obama has signed into legislation the US military budget for the year 2010 worth a whopping $636 billion.
This is a three and a half percent rise compared to the previous year.
Almost 130 billion dollars will be spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that were the US response to the 9/11 attacks.
Some of the 9/11 survivors and those who helped the rescue and recovery effort are outraged at the budget rise. They say they are suffering from illnesses caused by the events of 9/11 and the government should do more to cover the cost of their medical care.
With every escalation of war, comes something of a justification. Going on nine years, and two presidents, the US has used one.
“I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” said US president Barack Obama on December 2, 2009, in West Point, “This is the epicentre of violent extremism practised by Al-Qaida. It is from here that we were attacked on 9/11”
Barack Obama is surging 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan. While at home, the heroes of September 11 battle for their lives. Cancer is killing a growing list of 9/11 first responders. Countless others are sick and unemployed, unable to pay for medical treatment.
“What I went through, my husband went through and my son has been through three years of absolute hell,” said Jennifer McNamara, a 9/11 widow, “I know that there are other families going through the same or worse than we are.
McNamara’s firefighter husband Jon died from cancer at 44 years old. He fought as hard for his life as he did for federal health coverage for 9/11 heroes.
“The fact that this government has not stepped in, and not passed this bill, finally at this point in time, all these years after 9/11, is outrageous,” McNamara said.
The H.R. 847 federal legislation, which people such as Jennifer McNamara are backing, is to provide thirty years of health coverage to Ground Zero workers.
9/11 advocates like John Feal are appealing to the president who promised change. In return, Feal says Obama sent a generic letter, full of sympathy but no support.
“If I had bird, I would line the cage with that letter,” said John Feal from the NY based Fealgood Foundation.
After suffering injuries himself at Ground Zero, the former construction worker is providing support and services to 9/11 families struggling for assistance. Feal lost half a limb working at Ground Zero. An injury he says pales in comparison to the tragedy he’s seen.
“Over eight-hundred have died since 9/11. Over three hundred cancers have killed 9/11 responders,” he added, “I’ve been to thirty seven funerals in the last three years."
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