Sen. McCain: Which Veterans’ Benefits Should We Cut?
By Lt. Gen. Robert G. Gard Jr. (USA, Ret.)
While no one would argue that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are stretching the Department of Veterans Affairs’ resources close to the breaking point, Sen. McCain’s suggestion yesterday that we ration veterans’ health care to ”concentrate” on people with wounds that “are a direct result of combat” is dangerously wrongheaded.
The stress of repeated 15-month deployments is taking an unprecedented toll on our soldiers’ mental health and thousands of soldiers are coming home with PTSD as a result of living for extended periods in a combat zone under constant threat of enemy fire. Is Senator McCain suggesting that we can’t afford to give them benefits?
These wars are the first to be waged in large numbers by a new generation of brave women – but 15 percent of our women soldiers that served on the front lines who walk into a VA facility screen positive for military sexual trauma. Is Senator McCain suggesting that we can’t afford to give them benefits?
Senator McCain’s campaign did not return calls for comment about his statement, but these are questions he must answer. All veterans respect John McCain’s service - if he too respects ours, he should not be suggesting that we shortchange our soldiers with non-combat injuries who have served with such honor and dignity.
Hi - wounded veterans have been waiting for the Bush administration to complete their 7 year old study of the value of SERVICE DOGS for returning veterans to literally support them and to assist with PTSD, both are sad outcomes of war…we (NEADS.ORG) provide service dogs at no charge for wounded veterans and we are literally searching high and low for the veterans who do not get our information from the military but must wait for VA (non government controlled so they don’t ‘play favorites’?) or therapists to refer them to us for service dogs…we’re 30 years old and have an excellent reputation for providing highly trained dogs to suit the needs of their owners….our program for Veterans is called CANINES FOR COMBAT VETERANS and we have graduated 9 (soon 12) Veteran canine assistance teams with Veterans as the human partner - help us help the returning Veterans! We’ve been invited to Walter Reed (2 years ago) to do an ‘in-service’ and want desparately to help the Vets….we’re a non-profit and don’t ask for any federal funding. Please tell us how we can penetrate the walls around helping these wounded heroes who are doing what they do for the rest of us at home! If you want to reach the military with a message of how Obama will support them, EVERYONE in the military will support him if he brings NEADS and the other service dog providers to Washington to show off his new program of support for returning, wounded Veterans.
all the best, John C. Moon - 978-422-9064 x18
During my 24-plus years in the Air Force, I encountered many officers withe the same mentality as John McCain. Although I respect his service and military accomplishments, I cannot see him as a rational leader. he is cast from the same mold as george Bush, Alexander Haig, etc., with an “I’m in charge and I can do whatever I please” attitude.
We’re in so deep right now, that we need a leader who wil step back and apply logic and common sense before making decisions with global consequences. McCain has been Bush’s toady for nearly eight years, and I don’t believe he can change that mindset.
McCains vision of a never-ending presence in the mideast is frightening. These people have been killing each other for thousands of years, and nothing we do will change that. We can’t afford to leave our military in the mideast. They were sent there on a fool’s (read Bush) errand, and continuing that course means that we condone Bush’s illegal and immoral actions, all of which were supported by John McCain.
Ronald,
While I generally agree with your assessment, “These poeple have been killing each other for thousands of years, and nothing we can do will change that”, is hardly a justification for pulling out. Such narrow, nationalistic views, isinuating that other world citizens are inferior to us is the type of thinking that gets us into wars in the first place. That our illegal, unnecessary invasion was based on lies and cherry-picked “evidence”, resulting in us (read U.S.) killing each other is far more egregious than what the people of the mideast have or have not done to each other. Consider the breathtaking irony if your statement were true and if applied to Iraqis and if our goal was to interrupt this history of killing, that our “solution” would be killing Iraqis! Peace is not supported by harsh, pejorative judgements aobut our fellow global citizens.
I’m a Korea Vet, and I’d like to offer Gen. Gard my theory as to why Senator McCain might suggest that we can’t afford to give PTSD Vets benefits. I’m convinced Sen.McCain has a serious case of PTSD himself. Like many PTSD victims he is in denial about his PTSD because he father and grandfather would probably have slapped servicemen who displayed symptoms of PTSD, just like Gen. Patton did.
McCain would never be able to admit he has a mental disorder like so many of today’s Vets.
Studies show that people who have been POW’s have a high incidence of of PTSD. The symptoms include a constant state of high vigilance, inappropriate explosive outbursts of anger, and it is typical of those with the disorder to convince themselves that there is nothing wrong with that and that their actions are perfectly justfied and normal.
My own case is being treated with daily medications and frequent sessions with PTSD Counselors and Psychiatrists and other mental health specialists in PTSD.
I am not capable of carrying a firearm because my PTSD would make it impossible for me to use it prudently. I hate to think what might happen is he actually did have to handle a 3 am phone call in the White House. With his finger on the button we can expect World War Three. !!!
I believe Gary May echoes my sentiments exactly. Seems to me that this boondoggle the U.S. is involved in; ‘Operation: Iraqi Freedom,’ should be about freedom. Perhaps this is only my interpretation but that seems to say to me that if the Iraqis ask us to leave, we leave, giving them their freedom… rather than attempting an on-going of occupation of their country.
I know too many people -still in the military or retired- sadly misinformed, and still believing the crap from the Bush administration that Iraq attacked us on 9/11 (it was actually fifteen Saudis [two of whom had some support from the Saudi government prior to the attacks] two men from the UAE, and an Egyptian and a Lebanese man) and that we have found WMD in Iraq. The administrations ’star’ weapons-inspector, David Kay, finally had to admit that there were no WMD’s in Iraq.
Belief in these myths continue…
I think McCain is now the ultimate panderer -appealing to the basest of attitudes by injecting racism into the race, cementing the support of those at that end that already lean toward him and driving a wedge where the swing voters are concerned, make no mistake, the republican party will not hesitate to use ‘race’ as a tactic.
Please be aware of google search about Keating Five. John McCain is a bearer of so many negative untruths about Sen. Obama. Now is the time to inform the American People about the fact that John McCain has no desire to do what is best for the American Service man or any other American citzen who is is not a member of the most wealthy and affuent Americans. His tract record is laden with so much that is not in the best interests of the people of this country. His special interest buddies all have gained wealth and will continue to do so aided by his influence in government activities. Ft Ord land deals, exchanging valuable government land for less valuable land for his friends monetary gain. All of these are facts obtained from google or yahoo search. These are just a few. Should we not speak up about these activities, I think the time has come when all of this should be brought to light. I will do my part. Grover Parrott
Please do google search about John McCain and Keating Five.
A google or Yahoo search nwill reveal some facts about John McCain that will make us think long and hard before we vote for this man for President of The United States of America.
To Gary May, there was no insinuation in my previous letter that Iraquis were lesser beings. It’s a fact that diferrent sects, tribes, factions, etc., are generally warring over something, be it religion, territory or whatever. I believe that once we leave, either now or umpteen years down the road, they’ll be back to status quo within a year or two.
Ron Godbout, CMSgt, USAF Retired
Another Veteran for Obama
I served my country proudly for 12 years as a member of the US Air Force, Air Force Reserve and then with the Air National Guard of Colorado including during the Libiyan crisis in the mid 80’s and through the first Operation Desert Storm in the early 90’s…
Although I no longer have the research information I once did (no internet at that time), I was disenchanted with our Commander in Chief - George Bush (not ‘W’) when I learned that while our brother and sisters in arms were dying in a country where we had declared WAR, George (just like his sin and McCain) was continuing to help his friends in south Texas (Dell and Compaq computers) who were losing money due to the embargos against most of the middle eastern countries at the time by allowing them to continue to sell and export their systems to countries listed on the embargo… now, if I’m not mistaken, isn’t that called TREASON??? And in a time of war under the UCMJ punishable by DEATH during a time of war???
I’m no conspiracy theorist, and I love my country - and swore like ALL of you to defend her against all enemies both foreign and DOMESTIC - and I am sick of watching people like Bush (both George and W) and McCain try to destroy her on a global scale - we’re a laughing stock around the world and looked at like the school bully who can’t take anyone saying something wrong to us…
I mean I’m all for security and all - but WIRETAPPING US Citizens after 9/11??? Can you say McCarthyism???
I know you can ‘never go home again’, but I would at least like to see a change at the top and see if we can’t at least step back and take a look at what we have done to ourselves - domestically and internationally - and remember what was once good and try to at least grasp some of that again.
I fear for my son (15 years old now) and the country and world he and his children will inherit from us if we don’t make some drastic changes.
I understand helping our neighbors and other countries in need, but at what cost??? CMSgt Godbut had it right - they have been fighting Jihads (holy wars) for thousands of years in the Middle East and all we do by being there is add fuel to their fire as outsiders in a world we never understand or belong in.
And then we send a BILLION dollars in aid to a country half way around the world while we CUT Veteran’s Benefits, do NOTHING for the Homeless here, and sit and watch as 100’s of people lose their houses monthly due to greedy/shady lenders skewering the real estate market.
We built our country on the foundation of Free Speech, Free Religion and the Right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness - but we go about the world and try to push OUR way of life down other countries throats - and our politics have become as much about which large religious right group supports a cause as it has about the actual cause itself and how it will really affect everyday people. It has been said that you cannot govern morality - but our government has lost its way and is highly influenced by groups who want to do exactly that.
I 1st saw Barack Obama on TV about 2 years ago and after his speech I called my wife and told her about this Illinois Congressman I had just seen… and I told her then - if he ever runs for President I am voting for him and I have been behind Obama ever since. I honestly believe with every inch of my being that he can right this ship and steer us back into some semblance of our former greatness.
Just my .02 - thanks for reading my rant…
- Christopher R Smith