Why We Care

A touching, inspiring video passed along from my friend Sharilyn, a fellow USAF Veteran and wonderful human being who is becoming a doctor. Let this five minutes move you on this Veterans Day.

Veterans Day POV

PBS' Point of View series is running a program tonight called "The Way We Get By." Give the preview a look-see and tune in tonight. Check your local listings.

Veterans Day

In spite of all the recent tragic incident at Ft. Hood, all of our Veterans and their families deserve our thanks and support. Thank you to all that have served.

Memorial Day: "Honor the Fallen"

The best way I can think to honor those who have died serving their country is to care for and acknowledge those who still serve and those who are injured. Our vets and the still-active duty Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have sustained devastating injury need all that we can offer. CSPAN re-aired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing with witnesses who have served and share their personal stories and opinions on what policies need improvement or outright change in the military care system. Please watch and get first-hand information about the America's nearly forgotten, ongoing occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan that have taken the lives of almost 5000 young Americans.
The main issue as pointed out by Col. Andrew Bacovich (Ret.) during his testimony at the hearing is the fact that very few Americans have a personal connection to the conflicts in which we are currently embroiled, which leads to an certain apathy or "war fatigue." This is personal for me; I have people I love either serving or have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. I have lost people too. Let true respect flood your senses today if only for a moment.

To all who have served and are still serving, thank you for your service and may we all find Peace sooner rather than later.

Dropping the Ball...and picking it back up

I have been Absent With Out Leave for quite a while now, but life had become overwhelming. A move, an injury, some big family stuff and other things made blogging a luxury I could not afford. Thankfully things seemed to have smoothed out a bit.

Despite my absence, others carried on with their eyes ever on the ball. Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend and Paul Rieckhoff of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America are blogging respectively, about the DADT debacle, and the continuing need of our newest veterans. Please give this stuff a look-see and remember just because the "war" and the military are seemingly off the American public's radar does not mean we can turn our backs on those who serve us ever-faithfully.

Veterans' new war is a bad economy

American Public Media's Marketplace has gives us the story via our friend Paul Rieckoff at IAVA. Have a listen.

Services for homeless veterans have improved over the last decade, but the stagnating economy and job losses have created a rise in needy vets. Steve Henn explores the issues vets may have upon return from duty.

VA Holiday

...Or 'How the VA got a new boss and the truth came out.' While not A Dr. Phil fan, he did a show that was worth watching. According to the VA Watchdog website, Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, say that the VA lies to Congress. Col. David Hunt, Fox News analyst, talks of "criminal" activity and says someone should be doing a "perp walk." Tammy Duckworth, head of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, tells of her terrible experiences with the VA. and veterans tell heart-wrenching stories of trying to get the care they need and have earned.Also... you'll want to hear Dr. Phil explain why the VA canceled their appearance on the show.


Parts two through six can be viewed here at VA Watchdog's website. Hopefully the present of presence will come to the VA in the New Year.

Tin Soldiers

A little interruption in what was a perfectly nice day. From VetVoice:

When two deaths in Iraq were announced late Sunday, something didn't sound right. It wasn't combat, there was no mention of a vehicle accident, and with two dead, it clearly wasn't a suicide...

US Soldier in Iraq Kills Superior and Another Soldier

The Uncounted

News Release from Bethesda Naval Hospital: Post-War Suicides May Exceed Combat Deaths

These deaths are not part of the "official" casualty count, and have not surpassed those of Vietnam veterans, but are near-to-topping the current official combat death toll in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every death connected to the illegal occupation of Iraq and the poorly-directed fight in Afghanistan, is tragic. The Bush administrations 'new math' method of counting which obfuscates the true death and injury toll, is criminal. The American people are far too disconnected from the effects of these conflicts, and the cooked accounting of the true human toll only adds to the lack of attention paid by the 99% of Americans who don't have a dog in this fight.

In all past wars, Americans shared the burdens of war. During the draft, most people had or knew someone serving. During other conflicts, there was rationing, war industry staffed by American women, sacrifices being shared. At the very least, everyone saw the coffins coming home which this administration forbids. BushCo keeps the impact as far away from the public as possible; their idea of support:go shopping.

With the economy being front and center of most American's attention, the chances of this story seeing any light of day or stirring public outcry is negligible.

McCain's Vet Support a Sham

First, sorry for my absence, I've been wicked busy at work and at home, not to mention this campaign season has begun to take it's toll. On to Grampy MCAncient's voting record on vets (and the troops).

Making Sense Of It All has a great piece on just how many lies McCain tells about his support for veterans and active duty troops.

When it comes to his voting record and him claiming to be supported by all veterans groups is obviously false. This would be obvious because even back in 2000 veterans groups have been the most critical of McCain’s voting record.

Frankly, McCain rest on his laurels as a veteran but has an 80% negative voting record, while Obama maintains an 80% positive voting record on veteran's issues and support. I have not heard ONE mention of it in the MSM. Fucking assholes.

Vet for Obama

Move On's latest ad for Obama

Why I Despise John McLame

Despite His Votes To Cut Veterans Funding, McCain Says We Owe Vets ‘A Debt We Can Never Repay’




Think Progress has the dirt on the back-stabbing, pandering, flip-flopping, hypocritical, senile old bastard McCain. Definitely watch the video, and then remember why we need a Dem in the WH. On the intemperance of McLame, Watertiger posts, "Campaigns for the McAncient," and more on the "Real McCain"

Winter Soldier Hearings

Here is a direct link to the on-going hearings until March 16th. Please listen. Or watch courtesy of Iraq Veterans Against the War

Someone Remembers the Troops

John Edwards sends season's greetings to the mostly forgotten, ignored Americans-- homeless Vets.
Thank you John Edwards.

The 23,000

Thanks go out to the ever-excellent Lotus at folo for her link to this story about the 23,000 women service members serving in Iraq from The Anchorage Daily News.

The death in Iraq this week of Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis of Anchorage vividly demonstrates the evolving role of women in the U.S. military. As one of about 23,000 women deployed to Iraq with U.S. and coalition forces, Davis was the 85th woman to die there when a roadside bomb exploded near her Humvee.

VETERANS DAY 2007 -- "Thank you for your service."

Today should be a day of celebration and honor for those that have served, made sacrifices for their country. Instead I'm reminded of the inhumane demands made upon our military without proper rest or follow-up care once tours end, and the callous treatment by the current administration who put our military in harm's way. I cannot help but cringe when I acknowledge the fight war-injured veterans have in front of them for the benefits they were promised.

"Caring for a dead veteran is easy...bring a wreath, say a few
words and walk away. Caring for a living veteran requires
time, money and a life-long commitment. Every Veterans
Day our politicians show they don't know the difference
as they visit a cemetery instead of a VA hospital."

The poor treatment of our soldiers and veterans is shocking. VA Watchdog has story after story of mistreatment by the very government we serve. Today, read at least one story. Let it move you to action. If you "support the troops" actually do something today to show that support. Visit a VA, send an email to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, call your rep. ask them to support the current legislation to provide for Vets.

DAV REFUTES ADMINISTRATION'S CLAIM OF JUST 30,000 WOUNDED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN -- "That 30,000 number is a fantasy...202,000 have filed claims for VA disability...A quarter million have turned to the VA for treatment...Our government tried to do war on the cheap..."

DEMS FAIL AT PROMISE OF VA BUDGET BY VETERANS DAY --Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO): "These are the men and women we will honor on Monday Veterans Day, with parades and accolades. But thanks to Democrats in Congress, we won't be honoring them with the spending bill they deserve."

Just as an aside, having Dick Cheney, the five-time differed chickenhawk give the invocation yesterday makes irony shake its head in disbelief. Do something for a veteran, indict Dick Cheney. Or as better said in the comments, send Dick the message he has sent us Veterans, "Fuck You for your service."

A Duty to the Wounded

Why won't anyone call Bush on this shit? Bob Dole and Donna Shalala were part of a presidential commission on reforming the VA several months ago in the aftermath of the Walter Reed malfeasance scandal. Today they co-wrote a WaPo OpEd calling on Chimpy to put these recommendations into action. Meanwhile, the VA operations budget has just enough for current recipients and no money for our newest war-injured veterans. Yet another show of support for the troops from this criminal enterprise called BushCo

We have also testified before Congress and met individually with lawmakers. Overall, we are buoyed by the strong bipartisan support being given to the proposals.

Despite this support, however, it is clear that our recommendations are being swept up in a decades-long battle to reform the entire disability system for all service members. It is important to remember that our commission was tasked with improving care and benefits for those returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While we hope that our recommendations will help many others, our mission was to make the system work better for this new generation of veterans.

DKOS has more on this story.

VA Chief Resigns!

And none to soon for me. Jim Nicholson is a dick. His only qualification was being a loyal "Bushie". Read about it at VA Watchdog. Latest here.

The "Salvador Option" in a Lose-Lose War

I have been busier than I ever wanted to be. I'm anxious to return to a normal schedule rather than this 'Farmer John' dawn-to-dusk thing.

Meanwhile, back at the illegal occupation of Iraq, Dr. Dahlia Wasfi joins Robert Scheer and James Harris of Truthdig to discuss the past, present and future of the Iraq war. This piece is interesting and thought-provoking. Give this 30 minute interview a read or a listen.

With all the supplemental bills and Pentagon’s baseline budget of $500 billion and everything that’s been appropriated for continuing our occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite all that money floating out there, in 2005 the Veterans Administration healthcare budget came up $1 billion short. The only people who are not supporting the troops are the ones who’ve been delegated the responsibility to do so, and that’s our government. That is unacceptable that the troops who come home can’t get access to healthcare for six months. It is unacceptable that one-third of the homeless on the streets today are veterans. And there’re already Iraq war veterans showing up homeless on the street. It is unacceptable that after we put them in a war zone, when they come home we don’t take care of their psychological trauma.

Memorial Day

Today is the day of Remembrance for those fallen and those whom have served. Please take a moment in spite of the department store sales, sporting events and BBQ's, to remember the dead and the injured of the less than one percent of Americans making actual sacrifices for the failed policies of the criminal Bush administration, because they have to. The men and women that serve in our military are committed out of contractual obligation and personal integrity to complete the jobs they signed on for. Today's military support for the failed war/occupation strategy closely mirrors that of the American public.

Slate has compiled the timely and important Doonesbury strips that speak to the bush shit of this ongoing Iraqi and American massacre that fuels such unrest in the Middle East.

As of noon today, four thousand, four hundred and fifty five members of the American military have died. Please remember and honor their service today. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Take a moment to remember.

Op-Ed Columnist Paul Krugman puts it like this: Trust and Betrayal

“In this place where valor sleeps, we are reminded why America has always gone to war reluctantly, because we know the costs of war.” That’s what President Bush said last year, in a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Those were fine words, spoken by a man with less right to say them than any president in our nation’s history. For Mr. Bush took us to war not with reluctance, but with unseemly eagerness.

Now that war has turned into an epic disaster, in part because the war’s architects, whom we now know were warned about the risks, didn’t want to hear about them. Yet Congress seems powerless to stop it. How did it all go so wrong? read the rest...

The NYT photo essay of the day.