This is how McCain supports our troops?

Tomorrow is Memorial Day and I plan to run a piece by a veteran of the Iraq War. Today however, we take Weathervane McCain to task for his lies and bullshit he spews about supporting our soldiers. I hate this man like I hate Bush...perhaps even more so because he IS a veteran. May he suffer as our soldiers do..a thousand times worse for all eternity.

FAILING GRADES: McCain's record on supporting veterans is one of the worst in Congress. IAVA has given him a grade of a "D" for voting against veterans' priorities so often between 2000 and 2006. A scorecard of roll call votes compiled by the Disabled American Veterans found that McCain has voted for veterans funding bills only 20 percent of the time. For example, in May 2006, he voted against an amendment providing $20 billion to the Department of Veteran Affairs's (VA) medical facilities. In April 2006, he was one of just 13 senators to vote against providing $430 million to the VA for outpatient care "and treatment for veterans." McCain has railed against comprehensive universal health care and wants to give veterans the "freedom to choose to carry their V.A. dollars to a provider that gives them the timely care at high quality and in the best location." But as New York Times columnist Paul Krugman notes, "[T]he Veterans Health Administration is one of the few clear American success stories in the struggle to contain health care costs. ... [I]t's an integrated system -- a system that takes long-term responsibility for its clients' health -- to deliver an impressive combination of high-quality care and low costs." McCain's plan, however, would "privatize and, in effect, dismantle the V.A." In his narrow-sighted focus on eliminating earmarks, McCain may also cut funding for military housing.

From The Progress Report

Webb GI Bill passes Senate 75-22

Here is a list of how everyone voted. Let me save you the trouble of looking however...all the nays had an R behind their name. McCain did not vote.

The number of yeas should be able to blow off Bush's promised veto.


McCain, you really don't support the troops do ya? Not by a longshot asshole.

McCain and the GI Bill..

For a military man to pull this bullshit..well, its down right pathetic and a travesty. The bi-partisan bill sponsored by Chuck Hagel and Jim Webb puts no limitations on the benefits for our returning soldiers who want to receive an education.

McCain didn't like that, so he has now sponsored his own bill that puts caps on what our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans would receive. From the Washington Independent link above:

Funny, then, that the benefits in McCain's bill fall well short of those provided by the proposal he refused to endorse. That bill, sponsored by Sens. James Webb (D-Va.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), offers Iraq and Afghanistan vets full tuition, room, board and supplies at any state school, despite the cost. It also makes no distinction between active-duty troops and members of the Guard and Reserves -- a provision added in recognition of the unprecedented reliance of today's volunteer military on those service-members.

In fact, one of the central criticisms of the Webb-Hagel bill -- from both the White House and many congressional Republicans -- is that it's too generous, and therefore will encourage service-members to abandon the military in favor of college. Offer a lesser benefit package, the theory goes, and the troops are more likely to stay in their boots. (Supporters of the Webb-Hagel bill, including a number of veterans advocacy groups, say the better benefits will encourage recruitment, therefore nullifying any retention problems that might occur on the other end.)

We can never be too generous to our returning soldiers. Not. Fucking. Ever. To even suggest that is tantamount to heresy and dare I say it...a shitty and completely bogus way to support our troops.

Artwork by the talented Dark Black.

Commanders refuse military Drs advice for troops in action.

After my Sunday post about Army Spec. Jeans Cruz and his PTSD, this morning I got to read how the military continues to put the war before the troops mental health:

U.S. commanders in Iraq are rejecting a recommendation made by Army health experts that troops receive a one-month break after they spend three months in a combat zone. U.S. troops in Iraq are spending more time in combat than those who fought in Vietnam or World War II, and experts say continuous exposure can lead to more mental health problems.

So, Army health experts can kiss off? WTF here? Army psychologists say continual combat may cause more mental health problems. Their research, conducted in Iraq last year, shows that 30% of troops experiencing high levels of combat demonstrate signs of anxiety, depression or acute stress.

This research was conducted last year..it has to be worse now..judging by the violence and deaths spiraling up as the "Surge" has led to worsening numbers in dead and injured troops.

30% of our troops IN THE COMBAT THEATRE show high levels of anxiety,depression and stress....yet we can't do shit to fix it? How effective can they be working at that level?

Are the military commanders fucking nuts or is it that the war is more important than the lives and health of our troops?

Great way to support the troops gents..fucking awesome. You vile pricks.

Tags: War on Terror, Iraq+War, Troops Health Issues

Iraq Veterans Memorial

This is sponsored by Brave New Films/Foundation, and Robert Greenwald. The video will premiere on the internet March 17th. I will have it up on my site as will hundreds of other bloggers. Please watch this short video and if you wish to join this premiere and include the video on your website you can go here to read more about it, or here to the sign up page. The Foundation is also asking for submissions from folks who have lost a loved one and want to eulogize their soldier, you can do that here.



Tags: Iraq Veterans Memorial, Brave New Foundation

Walter Reed Medical Chief relieved of duty

Per MSNBC:

WASHINGTON - The Army said Thursday that the two-star general in charge of Walter Reed Army Medical Center has been relieved of command following disclosures about inadequate treatment of wounded soldiers.

Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, who was commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command as well as Walter Reed hospital, was relieved of command by Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey.

In a brief announcement, the Army said service leaders had “lost trust and confidence” in Weightman’s leadership abilities “to address needed solutions for soldier outpatient care” at Walter Reed.

This man isn't the reason the bureaucratic bs overwhelms our wounded soldiers. That crap has been going on for decades, back to the Korean War. But a Sacrificial Lamb he is...

Bldg. 18 has been rundown for ages as well. Its the amount of injured coming back that is bogging down the system and overwhelming it.

Another issue is the military's clampdown on service personnel speaking to reporters. They have shut the door very quickly and locked it, canceling the previously approved visits of the Discovery Channel and CNN who were going to do pieces on the military which had nothing to do with the W.R. fiasco:

"I wanted to spend some time with the trainers there and show how they instill core values and integrity in these troops," said Christenson. "They refused me access because Michelle Manhart was part of the story. They did not want to support another story that had Michelle Manhart in it."

If you can't say something nice..you can't say anything apparently..or else they are afraid of what other skeletons will be flying out of the closet.

"This is troublesome because it keeps the average person from learning the real facts here," he said. "They are trying to censor the news, in this case it is bad news. The military has gone into a bunker mentality." He also had heard reports from some reporters that casualty numbers were not being released as freely as in the past. "They are trying to manage the news," he said. "There has to be some middle ground and in the past there has been middle ground."

Tags: Politics, Military, Freedom of the Press

New actions planned for March and April 28th

On March 18-20, Impeach07 will organize local events for peace and impeachment around the country:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event

A growing network of organizations and individuals has launched a new campaign to pursue the immediate impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney through widespread public protest, creative dissent, media activism, education, and coordinated lobbying. We believe that Bush and Cheney have committed high crimes and misdemeanors, including misleading the nation into an aggressive war, spying in open violation of the law, and sanctioning the use of torture.

Participating Organizations

After Downing Street
Backbone Campaign
Center for Constitutional Rights
Citizens Impeachment Commission
CODE PINK Women for Peace
Constitution Summer
Consumers for Peace
Democrats.com

Participating Organizations

Democracy Rising
Gold Star Families for Peace
Green Party of the United States
Hip Hop Caucus
Impeach the President
Military Free Zone
National Lawyers Guild
Patriotic Response to Renegade Govt
Progressive Democrats of America
Independent Progressive Politics Network
Velvet Revolution
World Can't Wait

Small U.S. towns bear scars from Iraq

This AP article is quite depressing. It made me seriously mad. It shows, once again, that the poor are the ones paying the bulk of the price for Bush’s War in Iraq and there is a 'backdoor draft'. Small towns are never ‘middle class’, they are very seldom self-sufficient.

“Across the nation, small towns are quietly bearing a disproportionate burden of war. Nearly half of the more than 3,100 U.S. military casualties in Iraq have come from towns like McKeesport, where fewer than 25,000 people live, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. One in five hailed from hometowns of less than 5,000.”

“The AP analysis found that nearly three quarters of those killed in Iraq came from towns where the per capita income was below the national average. More than half came from towns where the percentage of people living in poverty topped the national average.”

Many of these soldiers believed in what they were doing. I do not question that. What I question is how the military offers opportunities for advancement and education as an enticement to these young men and women. When an individual lives in a dying steel town for instance, the opportunities for a decent life are far and few between. College is too expensive for even middle class families, and student loans will eat you alive after you graduate. Many of our best and brightest minds went into the war to pay off their student loans…ask tammara about that.

The AP article also brings up the financial burden of being a member of the National Guard or Reserves in the War in Iraq. Soldiers who were previously entrepreneurs are going bankrupt or losing their businesses. Families that were dependent on one spouse as sole income provider are experiencing a nightmare all their own.

The final blow is how the military delivers the bodies of military personnel killed in Iraq only to the nearest major airport. This is also a burden felt by the rural or small town inhabitants. It’s not only cruel, it is immoral to expect these grieving families to get the soldiers remains back to their hometown AND bear the cost of doing so. A bill has been introduced to cure this disgusting habit by a Democrat. Yes, I said a Democrat. Where are the Republican representatives on this issue? Will they fight this extra cost being added to the military budget?

Bastards better not. Our fallen soldiers and their families deserve better.

Bring their Buddies home-Mondays Activist Art in Carlsbad

I wasn't able to attend, living up in the San Joaquin valley and being unable to drive the distance with my hosed up back...but I do want to share with people how it went and what is being said in San Diego about the event Jeeni Criscenzo set up.

There is a moving video on the North County Times website here. Their article about the silent protest/activist art is here. It was cold, rainy and windy, yet people by the hundreds turned out. Bless them all and I thank them for their dedication.

*Photo from the North County Times article. Thanks to Bluegrrl for the links to the NCTimes piece :)

Bring their Buddies home-Monday in Carlsbad

Join us this Monday, Feb. 19^th (Presidents' Day)

Hwy 101 (Carlsbad Blvd) at Tamarack Ave, Carlsbad
Arrive 9 - 9:30 AM to sign & and get positioned,

Stand in silence 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Wear Black, No Signs

On Monday, Feb. 19^th (President's Day) hundreds of San Diego residents will come together in a collaborative effort to illustrate the tragic consequences of war and champion non-violent solutions to conflict, by being part of an Act of Art. You may remember that I organized a similar event in November 2005, the day after Thanksgiving.

The Bring Their Buddies Home Vigil will happen between 10:00 and 11:00 AM along Hwy 101 in Carlsbad, stretching north and south of Tamarack Ave. Everyone is invited to participate by standing in silence, dressed in black, with each person wearing a memorial page with the name of one of the fallen troops. The vigil is meant to declare, by our silent presence, that we honor the sacrifice of the U.S. troops who have died in Iraq and that it's time to Bring Their Buddies Home.

Bring your family and friends - the larger the turnout, the more effective our message will be. Here is a non-confrontational way to show that you support our troops AND want to bring them home.

The Press is already giving this event great coverage. Today's Local News covered it on the front page on Wednesday, and it was written up in the Union Tribune, Light Connection and Zengers. North County Time will have a stroy about it on Saturday. NPR & KPBS have called for interviews. This is going to be a historical event - please come be a part of it.

See www.BringTheirBuddiesHome.com for details. Call me, Jeeni Criscenzo, at 760-529-9809 if you have any questions.