World of Suck

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that U.S. armed forces medical benefits should cover abortion costs only when a mother's life is at risk, a decision that the judges acknowledged was ''callous and unfeeling.''

The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came in the case of a Navy sailor's wife whose fetus had a fatal birth defect. She had an abortion five months into her pregnancy, but coverage for the procedure was denied.

She filed a lawsuit claiming an armed forces health plan owed her $3,000 for the procedure. The government argued that refusing to cover such services ''furthers the government's interest in protecting human life in general and promoting respect for life.''

In plain english: The current administration values its religous fervor and cult of life over the pain and suffering of a mother whose baby can't survive. The message is clear, "We don't care about women, we don't care about human suffering, we only care about our image and the fanaticsm it engenders."

Keep in mind the armed forces will not pay for an abortion in the case of rape or incest either. So as a woman you can sacrifice your life in the service of your country, but if you get raped by anyone, or have a baby with a fatal defect, don't expect us to be there for you.