Tag: veterans

We Were Right About the Costs of War

Listen to Rep. Paul deliver this address. This month, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced the addition of some 1,900 mental health nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers to its existing workforce of 20,590 mental health staff in attempt to get a handle on the epidemic of suicides among combat veterans. Unfortunately, when presidents … Continue reading “We Were Right About the Costs of War”

Slowly, Toxic Vets Get Recognition

WASHINGTON — Some two million men and women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since the wars began in 2001. Little did these individuals know that surviving the improvised explosive devices and insurgent gunfire wouldn’t necessarily guarantee their health or survival once they got home. We of course have heard about the high suicide rate … Continue reading “Slowly, Toxic Vets Get Recognition”

Occupy Veterans Day

If only Marine Scott Olsen had behaved himself. If only he had been a “good” Marine, believing in the “correct” universal truths and keeping his mouth shut. He may not have gotten shot. The right-wing blogomob, not to be outdone by its past displays of repulsive reasoning — like saying humanitarian aid worker Marla Ruzicka, … Continue reading “Occupy Veterans Day”

Anatomy of a Pentagon Lie

It shouldn’t startle anyone to find that the Pentagon has blatantly ignored a congressional mandate to start reducing its use of burn pits at U.S. bases overseas. It was only a year ago that Pentagon officials openly doubted that the black hellfire released from tons of burning hazardous waste in the open air could possibly … Continue reading “Anatomy of a Pentagon Lie”

Are Veterans Our Only Hope?

WASHINGTON – Joyce Wagner is one of those women who is supposed to be celebrated but instead has had to endure a unique hell seemingly reserved for women in the military. She was sexually assaulted in-theater by a fellow Marine who Wagner had trusted. She didn’t say anything for six years because she thought no … Continue reading “Are Veterans Our Only Hope?”

Study: Vets Are a Massive ‘Unfunded Liability’

Experts say the projected cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has gone up another trillion dollars, but the general sound we hear from Congress isn’t outrage. More likely it’s the sound of crickets. Crickets most definitely from the empty chairs at the House Veterans Affairs Committee, a clear majority of which didn’t bother … Continue reading “Study: Vets Are a Massive ‘Unfunded Liability’”

Downplaying the Mess of War

“Honor those Who lives did give; But now who pays For those that live?” The best part of America’s wars is that, except for limited attacks during WWII, all our conflicts have been fought on somebody else’s soil since the battle of Appomattox. This represents good and careful planning. You certainly don’t want your own … Continue reading “Downplaying the Mess of War”

Servile Journalism for Memorial Day

Sunday’s New York Times, gearing up for Memorial Day, carries a leading front-page story direct from the Afghan front, complete with photos. Does it tell of the 1,000 Americans who have perished there in America’s longest war, or the unknown number of innocent Afghans to fall, or the many more on both sides gruesomely injured, … Continue reading “Servile Journalism for Memorial Day”