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Body Armor - Senator Dole
Senator Dole voted twice against funding for modern body armor for the troops
I look back on my almost 25-year-long life of being treated by public health care, and am honestly insulted by the misinformation that comes from anti-reformers.
Check out Richard Smith talking about the Post 9/11 GI Bill payment delays on Marketplace! Great to hear them give the perspective of someone actually coping with the challenges caused by the slow implementation.
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VoteVets.org
Richard Smith on Marketplace! http://bit.ly/21kshX
Here is a video of a debate on health care between Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas and former Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo. My intent is not to wade into a health care debate here. What I'd like to point out is that there seems to be an assumption by conservatives that you CANNOT ...
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Here is a video of a debate on health care between Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas and former Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo. My intent is not to wade into a health care debate here. What I'd like to point out is that there seems to be an assumption by conservatives that you CANNOT be a Veteran and be a p...rogressive. Tancredo should have done his homework. If he had, he would have known that Markos served in the U.S. Army for three years as a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Fire Direction Specialist. Unfortunately for Tom, who received a draft deferment during Vietnam due to being treated for depression, he was unaware. Watch as hijinks ensue: Read More
CNN is reporting that two Soldiers from my old unit are missing in Afghanistan: Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Two American paratroopers went missing on Wednesday during a "routine resupply mission in western Afghanistan," the NATO-led force in the country said Friday. The pair -- from the 4th Briga...
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Yesterday was one of the most tragic days in the military, in the midst of a slew of tragic days as we continue to...
CNN is reporting that two Soldiers from my old unit are missing in Afghanistan: Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Two American paratroopers went missing on Wednesday during a "routine resupply mission in western Afghanistan," the NATO-led force in the country said Friday. The pair -- from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Ai...rborne Division -- are operating under NATO's International Security Assistance Force. Initial reports indicate that 25 ISAF and Afghan forces have been wounded in the search for the two. I'm running with Spencer's policy on reporting details, but I'll be sure to follow this with any information that is appropriate. In the mean time, I'm going to hope my Fury buddies are okay. Read More
Yeterday's liveblogging thread can be found here. So here is what we know for sure: Yesterday, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist at Darnell Army Medical Center, entered the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood, Texas and opened fire on his fellow Soldiers with two handguns, killing 1...
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So here is what we know for sure: Yesterday, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist at Darnell Army Medical Center, entered the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood, Texas and opened fire on his fellow Soldiers with two handguns, killing 13 and inuring 28. All of the injured are in stable condition today. Major... Hasan, earlier reported to have been killed, was shot four times by a civilian police officer who was also shot and is in stable condition. Major Hasan is in stable condition and on a ventilator. Major Hasan, originally from Virginia, gained an undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech after which he entered the Army and began pursuing a career as a mental health professional, performing his internship and residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Major Hasan was later transferred to Fort Hood where he recently received deployment orders to Afghanistan. He was not happy about this. If anything breaks, we'll continue to update here throughout the day. UPDATE 0946 EST: Spencer Ackerman at the Washington Independent reports on possible religious utterances and justifiably encourages due caution: Ft. Hood's commander, Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, said today that there are unconfirmed reports that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan shouted "God is great" in Arabic before opening fire yesterday at the Army base. Again: we will soon be able to hear Hasan's motivations in his own words. Even if he shouted such a thing, it would no more reflect on his co-religionists than does the fanatic who murdered Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller and who happened to consider himself a devout Christian does on his co-religionists. It's worth remembering that nearly all mass shootings in this country are committed by white men. Do we have a white-man problem on our hands? Read More
Not many details yet, but here's what we know so far: At least seven people are dead and 12 wounded in a shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, the base's public affairs office told NBC News on Thursday. The official would not give his name nor additional details. It was unknown whether victims are sold...
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During all of the debates on supplemental funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I never once heard of Republican Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn questioning the cost of massive military operations that are creating a new generation of combat Veterans. This begs the question, why does Se...
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Not many details yet, but here's what we know so far: At least seven people are dead and 12 wounded in a shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, the base's public affairs office told NBC News on Thursday. The official would not give his name nor additional details. It was unknown whether victims are soldiers or civilians. One ...gunman was reportedly in custody and another was on the loose, NBC News said. A third shooter may be involved, according to NBC News affiliate KCEN, which said the person had opened fire on the SWAT team at the base. KCEN in Waco reported that the second suspect may be holed up in a building on the post. A congressman told MSNBC that a graduation ceremony may have been taking place at the time of the shooting. We'll keep you updated is information becomes available. UPDATE 1552 EST: MSNBC reporting that the incident is "all military", shooters and victims. Caveats that this is early and unverified. Read More
During all of the debates on supplemental funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I never once heard of Republican Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn questioning the cost of massive military operations that are creating a new generation of combat Veterans. This begs the question, why does Senator Coburn suddenly c...are about the cost of benefits for those Veterans? Thirteen major military and veterans groups have joined forces to try to force one senator - Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma - to release a hold that he has placed on a major veterans benefits bill. Coburn has been identified by Senate aides as the lawmaker preventing consideration of S 1963, the Veterans' Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act of 2009, by using an informal but legal practice of putting a hold on a bill. Coburn's staff did not respond to questions, but Senate aides said the first-term senator has expressed concern about creating new and unfunded benefits and wants the opportunity to amend the measure. [...] "It is essential that Congress act on this comprehensive measure without further delay," the letter reads. "Thousands of disabled veterans with serious medical conditions and the family members who care for them are counting on this additional support." The letter says passing the bill by Veterans Day would be a "fitting way" to honor veterans. Those signing the letter include the nation's major veterans groups - The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AmVets, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Blinded Veterans Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Jewish War Veterans, plus the Military Officers Association of America, National Military Family Association and Wounded Warrior Project. Steve Robertson, legislative director for The American Legion, said delaying the bill hurts families caring for severely wounded combat veterans who would benefit from the stipends, health care, counseling and respite care that would be provided to caregivers in the bill. This bill isn't out of the ordinary. Traditionally, bills funding benefits are considered separately from bills authorizing the benefits. The institutional norms of the chamber have not, however, prevented Coburn from inflicting harm upon our nation's Veterans. A constituent of Sen. Coburn, Iraq War Veteran and VoteVets.org Oklahoma State Captain Miranda Norman had this to say about her Senator's deplorable behavior: By blocking this bill Sen. Coburn is denying veterans a myriad of benefits and services. One of these benefits is caregiver assistance to our most wounded veterans. Severely injured veterans often need assistance to do some of the smallest tasks, and generally family members often putting quite the strain on those family members do that assistance. This bill will provide much needed relief for those caregivers by allowing for family caregiver assistance and lodging and food assistance for attending caregivers. Sen. Coburn is blocking some benefits specifically for women veterans. Title II of this bill increases funding for such issues as mental health care for women who suffered military sexual trauma, women's health care needs and medical services for newborn children. Other aid in the bill concerns rural veteran health care issues, mental health care matters and programs to help ease the burden of veteran homelessness. Now is not the time to play petty political games with our veterans. What Senator Coburn is doing is shameful, and he deserves to know that those of us who are veterans and support veterans will not stand for it. Additionally, National Security Network made this statement in a report today: For years, conservatives have claimed the mantle of being more pro-military, pro-veterans than progressives. But their actions and record paint a different picture. From the Bush administration neglect of and cuts to veterans' health-culminating in the exposed tragedies at Walter Reed Hospital-to the underfunding and resourcing of our troops in the battlefield, it's clear that for years veteran and troop well-being wasn't a high priority for conservatives in power. Today, even as President Obama is trying fix these failures, conservatives are still preventing our nation's veterans and their families from getting the support and care they need There is no legitimate excuse Tom Cobrun can make for holding up legislation to help Veterans and wounded warriors in need of care. He is simply playing politics with are nation's heroes. VoteVets.org has created a petition to tell Senator Coburn to stop blocking Veterans' Aid. You can sign it here. Read More
Continuing the it's not about tree hugging theme, here is Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) discussing the benefits of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act: Here is a statement you probably never thought you'd read on this blog: Lindsey Graham is absolutely right. Not only will a trans...
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Continuing the it's not about tree hugging theme, here is Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) discussing the benefits of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act: Here is a statement you probably never thought you'd read on this blog: Lindsey Graham is absolutely right. Not only will a transition to clean energy p...reserve our national security, but it will create good-paying "green collar" jobs for Americans. That's why organizations like Veterans Green Jobs are training military Veterans to work in the green sector and getting those Veterans (some of whom were previously homeless) hired into the green workforce. You don't have to join Greenpeace, grow dreadlocks, not shower for six months and live in a tree house to understand that transitioning to American clean energy power is a necessity upon which the United States has a unique opportunity to capitalize. You just have to think about the problem with common sense, like Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Read More
Here is a story that is an example of the little things civilians across the country are doing to show support for U.S. service members in harms way: Operation Gratitude 2009 is going on now through Thursday at the office of orthodontist Dr. Jim MacAlpine, 1061 Haywood Road, in West Asheville [NC]. For each pound in ca...ndy children bring in, with a maximum of 5 pounds, they will get $1. Buy-back hours are 9 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m. through Thursday. Participants are asked to write a thank you note that will be included with the candy and sent to the California Army National Guard, in Van Nuys, Calif. It will then be mailed to wherever troops are stationed. Read More
Here is a story that is an example of the little things civilians across the country are doing to show support for U.S. service members in harms way: Operation Gratitude 2009 is going on now through Thursday at the office of orthodontist Dr. Jim MacAlpine, 1061 Haywood Road, in West Asheville [NC...
link:Full Article...
This is not good: British defense officials say five British soldiers have been shot dead by an Afghan police officer in southern Helmand Province. Officials say the incident occurred Tuesday when the gunman fired on the troops without warning at a police checkpoint and then fled. A joint stateme...
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Washington, DC - The largest progressive group of veterans in America, VoteVets.org PAC, cheered the win of fellow veteran Bill Owens in his race to succeed John McHugh as the Congressman from New York's 23rd District...
This is not good: British defense officials say five British soldiers have been shot dead by an Afghan police officer in southern Helmand Province. Officials say the incident occurred Tuesday when the gunman fired on the troops without warning at a police checkpoint and then fled. A joint statement from NATO and the Af...ghan interior ministry said six other British troops and two Afghan police were wounded in the incident. Bloomberg reports that responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Taliban. I don't know how to place this in the context of the overall counterinsurgency effort. Surely, you can't take one incident and use it as a point of argument that the entire effort is failing. However, it certainly isn't good that we are having trouble gaining the trust of our partners when that is essential to achieve to goal of gaining the trust of the population. So what does COIN doctrine have to say about this? What's the answer? Do we need to work to develop more trust with our partners who will eventually work to purge their own ranks of insurgents? Or is this just an isolated incident that is, however tragic, to be expected in a counterinsurgency campaign? Read More
I'm no scientist, but when national security agencies and top officials say climate change is a threat to American national security, I think we should listen: WASHINGTON - An island in the Indian Ocean, vital to the U.S. military, disappears as the sea level rises. Rivers critical to India and P...
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I'm no scientist, but when national security agencies and top officials say climate change is a threat to American national security, I think we should listen: WASHINGTON - An island in the Indian Ocean, vital to the U.S. military, disappears as the sea level rises. Rivers critical to India and Pakistan shrink, increas...ing military tensions in South Asia. Drought, famine and disease forces population shifts and political turmoil in the Middle East. U.S. defense and intelligence agencies, viewing these and other potential impacts of global warming, have concluded if they materialize it would become ever more likely global alliances will shift, the need to respond to massive relief efforts will increase and American forces will become entangled in more regional military conflicts. [...] "Our economic, energy and climate change challenges are all inextricably linked," retired Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn told the committee. "If we don't address these challenges in a bold way and timely way, fragile governments have great potential to become failed states ... a virile breeding ground for extremism." "The U.S. military will be called to respond to these threats," added McGinn, a member of the CNA Military Advisory Board, an influential think tank on military and security issues. The security implications of climate change have been an issue of growing concern in the defense and intelligence communities. Dennis Blair, the Obama administration's national intelligence director, has told Congress that global warming will have broad security implications over the next two decades. Also, the Central Intelligence Agency has created a new group of experts to study the security fallout of increased droughts, population shifts, sea level rise and other likely impacts of severe climate change, and the Pentagon has embarked on a detailed study on the military's vulnerabilities from a warmer world. "U..S. vulnerabilities to climate change are linked to the fate of other nations," says Kathleen Hicks, a deputy undersecretary for defense. She told the Senate panel that senior defense officials believe climate change will make U.S. security challenges more difficult and complex. Just further illustrating the concept that fighting climate change is not about tree hugging. It's about making sure our national security is preserved. That's why Veterans spent the fall traveling the country in a biodiesel-powered bus to talk about the need for clean energy. It's why former Republican Senator and Navy Secretary John Warner has worked to raise awareness about the issue. It's why the United States Marine Corps held an energy summit and sent an energy conservation team to Afghanistan. It's why the Central Intelligence Agency opened a Center for Climate Change and National Security in September. The national security establishment is in agreement. Climate change is a threat to our country and clean energy alternatives must be developed in order to combat it. When will the opposition stop playing ostrich and help us create a clean energy economy that both creates jobs and increases our security? Read More
FYI, We've been experiencing a mass spam registration of new accounts over the past few days. For this reason, I'm going to assume that if your comment signature advertises penis enlargements, vacation packages, cheap prescription drugs, etc., you are a spammer. If you don't think this is fair, e...
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FYI, We've been experiencing a mass spam registration of new accounts over the past few days. For this reason, I'm going to assume that if your comment signature advertises penis enlargements, vacation packages, cheap prescription drugs, etc., you are a spammer. If you don't think this is fair, e-mail me (richard (at) ...votevets (dot) org) and we'll discuss why your signature should be an exception. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to e-mail a Nigerian prince. Read More
VoteVets.org endorsed candidate and Air Force Veteran Bill Owens has won the election to represent New York's 23rd Congressional District, replacing Republican John McHugh who resigned the seat in order serve as Secretary of the Army in the Obama Administration.
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VoteVets.org endorsed candidate and Air Force Veteran Bill Owens has won the election to represent New York's 23rd Congressional District, replacing Republican John McHugh who resigned the seat in order serve as Secretary of the Army in the Obama Administration.
Hal Donahue is writing at HuffPo that DoD is boloing on its own standards for the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center: The Department of Defense informed Congress late last month that the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) will not be a world-class facility aft...
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Hal Donahue is writing at HuffPo that DoD is boloing on its own standards for the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center: The Department of Defense informed Congress late last month that the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) will not be a world-class facility after all. This stunning a...dmission came from Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn, III in a letter to congressional defense committees: "While Congress has specified that the new WRNMMC and FBCH should be designed and constructed to be world-class military medical facilities, this is not an underlying requirement of BRAC 2005 recommendations. Instead the development of these facilities as world-class military medical facilities in collaboration with our academic and clinical partners such as the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), National Institutes of Health, and Veterans Administration will be an ongoing requiring continuous improvement and bench marking to commercial best practices. " Finally, in black and white, the Department of Defense admits that after spending the approximately 400 million dollars budgeted and an additional already huge billion dollar cost overrun, the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center will fall far short of world-class status. [...] What I find amazing is that in addition to apparently condoning the mismanagement of the entire National Military Medical Center project, there is no failure admitted or proposals for correction. In essence, the Department of Defense kicked the can far into future budget cycles. In the meantime our troops and their families will be deprived of Walter Reed and shoehorned into a facility that may not even achieve state of the art for modern medical centers. There is no excuse for the Defense Department's premier medical facility to not be among the best in the world. This is deplorable. Read More
Secretary Shinseki is stepping the VA up to the plate: The Department of Veterans Affairs is slated today to unveil a five-year plan for ending homelessness among veterans. The plan is to be released today during a Homeless Veteran Summit that will include VA officials and community outreach spe...
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