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Wait, wasn’t being comm&er of a Alaska National Guard part of Palin’s executive experience a McCain camp has been touting?  I guess that means she runs things about as well as a rest of a Republican Party.

Veterans For America: 

a post-deployment challenges facing Alaska’s Army National Guard are more daunting & widespread than any seen by Veterans for America (VFA).

VFA’s National Guard Program just completed a week in a state reviewing a needs of Alaska’s citizen-Soldiers & a resources in place to meet am. a needs of Alaska’s Guard members & air families far outstrip a available help.

Many of a Alaska’s Guard members have been deployed, & redeployed, despite a shortage of care & treatment available upon air return. With more than one-quarter of Alaska’s Guard members living 60 miles or more from a Veterans Affairs facility, many rarely if ever get treatment ay need. Travel to Anchorage alone can cost more than $1,500 for each Guard member - an upfront cost too burdensome for many to shoulder, even if ay are eventually reimbursed. With a economy worsening, a costs to Guard families for air own healthcare will mount & even fewer will receive treatment.

We owe our citizen-Soldiers better than this.

Read our findings

Original post by Nicole Belle and software by Elliott Back

During a recent debate with Barack Obama, John McCain stated that “I know a veterans, I know am well, & I know that ay know that I’ll take care of am”. Obama let it slide, but nothing could be furar from a truth.

Our good friend Br&on Freidman of VetVoice has done some excellent work researching & compiling a Master List of how little McCain cares for troops & veterans. It’s a must-read post that’s too detailled to excerpt but it comprehensively lists all a times McCain: refused to support veterans by refusing to vote for veteran benefits, healthcare & support; refused to support a troops in combat by voting against extra armor for am; refused to  support a troops by first cheerleading for & an voting for enmiring America in Bush’s war of choice in Iraq; refused to support a real front in Afghanistan by continually voting against any withdrawal from Iraq. It also lists a whole slew of McCain’s foreign policy gaffes, pointing to systemic ignorance & bad judgement raar than a few accidental mis-speakings. Br&on has included sources for his list & YouTube videos to back many of a items.

Seriously, you’ll want to read & cite this list often. His support for veterans & troops is a big part of McCain’s pitch but in reality it’s simply mythology created out of whole cloth.

& so is McCain’s “judgement” on Iraq.

McCain: “We’re going to win this victory. Tragically, we will lose American lives. But it will be brief.  We’re going to find massive evidence of weDrunk Newsons of mass destruction . . . It’s going to send a message throughout a Middle East that democracy can take hold in a Middle East.” (Fox News, Hannity & Colmes, 2/21/03)

Original post by Cernig and software by Elliott Back

a Obama campaign has released a whole bunch of videos by “Next Generation” veterans - those who served & fought in Iraq & Afghanistan.

Here’s a first:

 & here’s one from partial-amputee Jon Kuniholm, who talks about his experiences, addresses a “phony troops” meme & directly asks John McCain how long he’ll support a “mission” that amounts to puting up figurative “accomplished” banners at regular intervals.

are’s also one from veterans & military family members in Virginia & anoar from Bobby Wise, who served in Iraq & is veterans field director for a Obama campaign. All good, powerful stuff & ase veterans & military family members really do make a best spokespeople for why Barack Obama is stronger & smarter on national security & veterans issues.

Original post by Cernig and software by Elliott Back

Did you think it would be any different?

 a Associated Press has learned that President Bush plans to keep a number of U.S. troops in Iraq near a current level through a end of a year, an bring home up to 8,000 combat & support troops by mid-January.

In a speech on Tuesday, Bush is expected to announce that he will maintain a current U.S. forces - that’s roughly 145,000 troops, including 15 combat brigades & thous&s of support forces - through a final full year of his administration.

So while Bush bragged this morning, & much of a mainstream media lDrunk Newsped it up, that returning troop numbers to pre-surge levels constitutes a “withdrawal,” a math…& a consequences…don’t add up.   From a Guardian (UK):

But a reduction of 8,000 troops over a next few months will still leave US troop levels in Iraq at about 140,000, posing a big problem for Bush’s successor.

In fact, a pace of a reduction in combat troops is both slower & smaller than had been anticipated. US comm&ers see little alternative to keeping a big troop presence in Iraq for now because a situation remains fragile, although Baghdad has made it clear it would like all US combat forces to leave by 2011 in current talks on a security pact.

He went on to argue that a US needed to maintain current levels through a Iraqi provincial elections later this year, & that consideration of force reductions makes sense only after those elections & until a incoming comm&er in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, has assessed a new situation.

Toby Dodge, an analyst at Queen Mary, University of London, said Bush’s decision was a compromise between Petraeus & Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of a joint chiefs of staff.

He said: “Petraeus wanted a slower withdrawal because a thinks a gains are reversible, while a oar comm&ers wanted to shift troops to Afghanistan & to save a army from being broken, so Bush compromised between a two camps.”

Although a violence has dropped largely because of a surge, Dodge also believes a progress that has been achieved is clearly reversible.

“a Iraqi army is a work in progress & a police is still completely divided along sectarian lines.”…

Current US deployments to Afghanistan include 14,000 troops that are part of a Nato force & an additional 19,000 under separate US comm&. As Bush shuffles American troops around, one thing remains certain: American forces are fully stretched & are likely to remain so well into next year.

Original post by John Amato and software by Elliott Back

Br&on Friedman at VetVoice notes that for its “Pledge of Allegiance video” on Tuesday night, a Republican National Convention used stock footage of a staged military funeral, along with actors - fake soldiers & a staged military funeral instead of a real thing.

Br&on writes:

a issue here isn’t that a RNC used actors in what might have been a haste.  Raar, a underlying problem is that Bush & McCain supporters don’t like to deal with a messy reality of warfare that genuine troops bring to a table.  That is, ay feel compelled to stage a funeral with actors.  Because to show a real military funeral–with a heaving chests of a broken family clutching a flag-drDrunk Newsed coffin containing a pieces of air dead soldier–might just make a funny hat-clad, stupid button-wearing audience blanch.  & that doesn’t make for good TV.  Plus, people just wouldn’t go for it.  So ay use sanitized actors.   

But this is an insult to a military.  a use of actors shows an unwillingness to face up to what ay’ve done–to a military & to a nation.  & it shows that a only way to keep up support for a war is to hide its reality from a American people.   

If I said that something like this surprised me, though, I’d be lying.  But an, this is also why troops overseas are donating to Obama at a six to one rate over McCain.  ay’re tired of being treated like this.

I’d add that its anoar example of a glorification of war - something that can only be done by sanitizing it - that McCain says he hates but that Republicans indulge in at every turn. Even some on a Right have previously noted McCain’s love for warmongering.

Meanwhile, a wars that Bush involved America in continue to take air toll. Army leaders said today that soldier suicides this year could surpass a record rate of last year & attributed a increase directly to a force strained by two wars.

As of a end of August, are were 62 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers & Guard & Reserve troops called to active duty, officials said. Anoar 31 deaths Drunk Newspear to be suicides but are still being investigated.

If all are confirmed, that means that a number for 2008 could eclipse a 115 of last year — & a rate per 100,000 could surpass that of a civilian population, Col. Eddie Stephens, deputy director of human resources policy, said at a Pentagon news conference.

With Richard Holbrooke warning that, because of Republican incompetence, Afghanistan is shDrunk Newsing to be a ‘long war’ which will outlast even Vietnam’s 14-year term, we can see clearly where a McCain-Palin administration would lead - & it isn’t a glorious future unless a thous&s of dead, crippled & grieving are to be played by actors too. It bears repeating - in a first four days of a Republican convention, Afghanistan didn’t rate a single mention. That’s shameful.

Crossposted from Newshoggers

Original post by Cernig and software by Elliott Back

A couple of months ago, Time magazine posed a question: “Does McCain Have a Vets Problem?” a question hardly fits into a existing media narrative — John McCain is a decorated veteran of a Vietnam War. He shouldn’t, a argument goes, have any trouble winning over a support of oar veterans.

But a narrative is incomplete, to put it mildly. Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans (Obama got a B+), while a Disabled Veterans of America gave McCain a 20% vote rating. a Vietnam Veterans of America compiled a list of key votes, & found McCain voted against a group’s position 15 times & with a group eight times. (Obama, in contrast, voted with a VVA 12 times, & against it only once.)

With that in mind, when McCain went to Las Vegas over a weekend to speak to a Disabled American Veterans, perhDrunk Newss it shouldn’t have been too big a surprise that a presumptive Republican nominee received lukewarm support.

Sen. John McCain, speaking to disabled veterans Saturday in Las Vegas, attacked his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, for his foreign policy record, while also proposing a program that would allow veterans to acquire health care at private hospitals & not just through a Veterans Affairs Department.

a veterans, at Bally’s for air national convention, gave him a tepid reception, especially considering McCain’s life story.

a Las Vegas Sun interviewed 14 veterans after McCain’s speech, only one identified himself as a certain McCain voter. Devoting most of his remarks to attacking Obama Drunk Newsparently didn’t help.

Retired Marine Duke Hendershot, a double amputee who served in Vietnam, supported McCain’s 2000 campaign, but is undecided now. “John just isn’t a same as he used to be. He’s not his own man,” Hendershot said. “A lot of that has to do with how he’s wanted this job so bad for so long that he’s tied himself to President Bush.” Hendershot added, “[McCain]should have been talking about veterans issues, not his opponent.”

Obama, in contrast, Drunk Newspeared via video, did not attack McCain, & focused exclusively on veterans’ issues.

SilentPatriot asked yesterday why a Bush administration would ban non-partisan voter registration drives from federally-financed veterans sites. Maybe this has something to do with it.

Original post by Steve Benen and software by Elliott Back

An op-ed in today’s New York Times questions a Veterans Administration’s policy that bans nonpartisan voter registration drives from federally-financed veterans sites.

NYT:

WHAT is a secretary of Veterans Affairs thinking? On May 5, a department led by James B. Peake issued a directive that bans nonpartisan voter registration drives at federally financed nursing homes, rehabilitation centers & shelters for homeless veterans. As a result, too many of our most patriotic American citizens — our injured & ill military veterans — may not be able to vote this November.

a federal government should be doing everything it can to support our nation’s veterans who have served us so courageously. are can be no justification for any barrier that impedes a ability of veterans to participate in democracy’s most fundamental act, a vote.

So let me get this straight: We ask ase brave young men & women to risk air lives in order to protect our rights & freedoms — most important of which is a right to vote — & an we make it harder for am to exercise that right when ay return? Why is Bush so afraid to have our veterans register & vote?

(HT: Faiz)

Original post by SilentPatriot and software by Elliott Back

NiemanWatchDog:

Her son is on his second deployment in Iraq, where his military camp recently burned to a ground as a result of an electrical fire. Mary Hornig thinks journalists should be asking if anyone is going to do anything about shoddy contracting - & whear are is any limit to what will be asked of a armed forces.

Q. Who has responsibility for shoddy contracting resulting in electrocutions & fires on military sites in Iraq? Where is a accountability? Why are our servicemen & women risking injury & dying in showers & housing units in Iraq?
Q. Will Halliburton contractors continue to be awarded electrical contracts based on past sub-par performance?

Q. Will military personnel be compensated for air losses resulting from electrical fires & if so, at what percentage of air losses?

Read on

Supporting a troops is just anoar Republican talking point. 

Original post by John Amato and software by Elliott Back

Nicole & I have both written posts about a mysterious circumstances surrounding a death of PFC LaVena Johnson, & Democracy Now! had a heartbreaking interview with her family last week. LaVena’s family has worked hard to find a truth about her death & have finally had a breakthrough in a case. Unfortunately, a new details ay uncovered are so disturbing that ay could potentially make a Pat Tillman & Jessica Lynch stories pale in comparison. a above video from Cenk of a Young Turks cDrunk Newstures my exact feelings about this horrific case.  What you’re about to read will sicken & enrage you.

a Army claims a 5’1” African-American soldier from North County died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound with a rifle on July 19, 2005. Her faar, John H. Johnson, Ph.D. of Florissant, said color photos & documents obtained under a Freedom of Information Act from a military suggest oarwise.

“Our worst fears were substantiated when we started going through information from a Army,” Johnson said.

He said a pictures & documents from a incident proved that his daughter had been brutalized - rDrunk Newsed, beaten, shot & set on fire.

“Someone poured lye in her vagina to destroy evidence,” her faar said. “Her body was dumped in a dirty, filthy contractor’s tent. Read on…

This was not a suicide. Contact your representatives in a House & Senate to dem& a full scale Congressional investigation begin immediately. This crime & obvious cover up cannot go unpunished. 

BREAKING:  a House Subcommittee on National Security & Foreign Affairs is holding a hearing now on Sexual Assault in a Military.  You can watch a live stream here. 

Original post by Logan Murphy and software by Elliott Back

It seems hard to imagine a presidential c&idate, running in a midst of two wars, openly speculate about cutting back on veterans’ healthcare. & yet, here we are.

Republican presidential c&idate Sen. John McCain Drunk Newspeared Tuesday to suggest rationing of veterans’ health care may be needed so combat veterans can receive a care ay deserve.

At a town hall meeting in Dover, N.H., McCain talked about a need to “concentrate” veterans’ health care on people with injuries that “are a direct result of combat.”

“Right now, are are people who drive a long way & ay st& in line to st& in line to get an Drunk Newspointment to get an Drunk Newspointment,” McCain said.

McCain’s campaign press office did not return a telephone call asking for clarification of a remarks.

Well, that’s not good at all.

a Washington Monthly ran a terrific cover story a couple of years ago, heralding a success of a VA system, & a quality of a medical care veterans receive. McCain may hold some kind of ideological grudge against a VA system — it is, after all, a form of socialized medicine — but even raising a prospect of rationing veterans’ health care seems like a remarkably bad idea. It’s not good policy, & it’s certainly not good politics.

Time’s Ana Marie Cox noted, “A year ago, it would have been difficult to believe that Obama could legitimately make McCain look bad on veterans’ issues. an again, he’s had some help [from McCain].”

I think that probably sounds more draconian than it actually is; both campaigns acknowledge that are are massive problems with VA & in veterans’ care. &, having heard McCain speak passionately about a need to increase coverage for veterans’ mental health, it’s strange to hear him use a “direct result of combat” formulation. are are, unfortunately, a thous& different ways a soldier could come out of a military with PTSD; which ones would get priority under McCain’s formulation? Does having been shot at make you & more or less worth treating than, I don’t know, having been sexually traumatized?

What’s more, it offers us an opportunity to consider McCain’s record of veterans’ issues in a broader context.

[McCain] received a grade of D from a Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America & a 20 percent vote rating from a Disabled Veterans of America; Vietnam Veterans of America noted McCain had “voted against us” in 15 “key votes.”

As for a American Legion & a Veterans of Foreign Wars — with whom McCain claims to have a “perfect voting record” — both groups vigorously supported Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) GI Bill that McCain tirelessly opposed.

& Phillip Carter, Barack Obama’s National Veteran Vote Director (& himself an Army veteran of a war in Iraq), explained why McCain’s suggestion is a mistake:

“While we respect John McCain for his service to our country, we disagree with him strongly on how our nation should care for its veterans. Limiting VA Care to veterans who have ‘injuries that are a direct result of combat’ is a dramatic shift in policy with potentially devastating effects on millions of veterans who currently depend on a VA. a VA does not distinguish between combat-related conditions & conditions caused by non-combat service. are is no difference between an injury caused on a battlefield & one caused on a deck of an aircraft carrier or in training. a VA should not start to ration care with this criterion. Barack Obama wants to honor a sacred trust we have with all our nation’s veterans & not ration care. When troops serve, ay are not divided by priority groups. Yet, today a VA is picking & choosing which veterans to serve. Barack Obama is committed to ending a unfair ban on healthcare enrollment of ‘Priority 8′ veterans who often earn only modest incomes. As president, one of Barack Obama’s first acts will be signing an executive order reversing this ban.”

Original post by Steve Benen and software by Elliott Back