As the global recession spreads, it seems that the world is aflame with struggles and upheavals that make the situation in the Middle East appear relatively tame.
Close to home, the drug-related violence in Mexico is at a fever pitch and its effects are spilling over the U.S. border. And to the north, the seemingly staid Canadian government is currently without a parliament, inasmuch as it was suspended by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a move to avoid a national unity crisis.
Conditions in Zimbabwe have degenerated to the point that there is now a full blown humanitarian crisis developing. Meanwhile, a quarter of a million people have fled the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the situation there is deteriorating as well.
In Southeast Asia, Thailand is still reeling from the civil unrest that closed airports and caused a state of emergency to be declared. And following the Mumbai attacks, India and Pakistan, both members of the nuclear club, are involved in, what is at present, a war of words.
At the same time, the Associated Press, reported this week that attacks in Iraq are at their lowest level since the war began, and that the U.S. death toll in Afghanistan involved one soldier last month.
That is not to suggest that Iraq has become entirely free of violence. High profile attacks are continuing, including a spate of bombings this past week that killed 50 people in Baghdad and elsewhere. Also, Diyala province continues to be the site of attacks between Shiites and Sunnis. Raad Tamini, the provincial governor there, has survived 10 assassination attempts and 25 of his bodyguards have been killed. The mayor of Baqubah, the province's major city, was one of 34 people wounded in a roadside bombing just today.
Elsewhere in the Middle East, Mohamed Ed Baradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, described efforts to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions as a failure, setting the stage for a major challenge to be faced by the new Obama administration.
And Israel continued to exert pressure on the citizens of Gaza, controlled by Hamas, which is considered to be a terrorist organization. Few people are allowed in or out of the walled-in region, and a naval blockade prevents access from the sea. Last week, a ship carrying relief supplies from Libya was turned away.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced this week that he will support President-elect Obama's withdrawal plan from Iraq, a schedule that will evidently coincide with the terms of the security agreement between the U.S. and Iraq. The so called Status of Forces Agreement, which will be voted on in July, calls for U.S. troops to be off the streets of the cities by June 30, 2009, and to withdraw completely by the end of 2011. Despite the apparent atmosphere of agreement, the word "completely" may become the subject of some future contention.
In a new Gallup poll, 80% of Americans surveyed supported Obama's decision to keep Gates. In an article revealed Thursday, Gates said we must rethink our military strategy, decrying the "shock and awe" strategy of former Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and turning instead to the concept that the fight against extremism will involve a "prolonged, worldwide irregular campaign."
This past week, for the first time in the two years that the Toll has been published, there were no obituaries released by the Department of Defense for casualties incurred in Iraq. Unfortunately, however, three families are being notified today of the very recent deaths of their loved ones.
According to the web site icasualties.org, U.S. deaths associated with the war in that country now total 4,209.
The Department of Defense did release the obituary of one soldier, 31-year-old Army Captain Robert J. Ylleseas of Lincoln, Nebraska, who died at the National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. from injuries suffered on October 28 when a roadside bomb exploded near his unit in northeast Afghanistan. Robert's legs had to be amputated, but he was unable to survive the trauma to his head.
U.S. deaths in Afghanistan total 558 as of December 5, according to the Pentagon.
On Thursday, the Institute of Medicine reported that even mild traumatic brain injuries, which have been the signature injury during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, appear to be associated with long term problems such as seizures, aggression and dementia.
Yet, despite the sacrifices and lingering problems experienced by our returning veterans, the Pentagon, in a completely inappropriate move, decided earlier this year to quietly narrow the definition of combat-related disabilities. In so doing, the intent of Congress when it passed the "wounded warrior" law in January, was subverted, according to Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee.
Under the new interpretation, for example, Army Sgt. Lori Meshell, who shattered her hip and crushed her knees and back while diving for cover during a mortar attack, is not considered to have combat-related injuries, despite the fact that she has had two surgeries and needs three more. As a result, she estimates she is losing at least $1,200 per month in benefits, according to a recent article in the L.A. Times.
If the government can indiscriminately funnel billions of dollars to the financial sector to offset its years of mismanagement, then our veterans should certainly be receiving nothing less than the most appreciative consideration this nation can give them, and their medical care and benefits should never be discounted.
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Comments: 42
WAS NOT IN COMA. This could mean that a person could have suffered a skull fracture (as I did), or any one of a number of things but was not in a coma.
There is absolutely no relationship between the supposed type of TBI suffered and the long-term effects.
Woodruff was very lucky to have had the radical skull removing surgery he did; most have not had this, but it saved his life more than the usual shunt and pressure equalization treatment common in cases like his.
But I can see from the photo of him on the cover of his book that he is still suffering with fluid in the brain - his eyes are not the same - they are starry and cloudy, if one were to look closely.
Receiving compensation for combat related injuries has proven harder then surviving an enemy attack. It is a disgrace how we treat our returneing soldiers.
If there were ever a time in History that I would pray for Jesus to return it would be now. When looking at the upheaval in this world I think its beyond Human Intervention.
Survival.
We have more soldiers surviving injuries that they would have never survived in any other war. So we have had far more soldiers needing treatment. Our combat medics are better trained and have equipment that has never ever been available. We have a powder that clots wounds instantly that has never been an option before. I know of one unit who has a 97% survival rate. If you're alive when they reach you you chances for survival is great. They have saved far more than they have lost. That means more make it to the VA for treatment.
I think that some of the problem was the higher survival rate overwhelmed the VA system. That doesn't make the failure excusable.
This is just standard political support for the troops letting them know they are not worth any more than a burnt out Humvee.
To bad we can't throw Bush into a combat suit and throw his worthless hide into the Iraq front line.
I know, I know, we pay taxes, and this should not be necessary. But it is. This money should be followed to the last dime spent. I realize that there are some that may think this is wrong. That we "should" not have to do this. NO! What is wrong is doing nothing., While our Military again suffers through another hellish homecoming. I cannot stand the guilt. Our government is without heart, the kind that has kept us safe for years, and while I plan to put my Utopian idea in an article, reading about this has set me off.
Obama asked for us to help with this change. Well, that would be covered. I do believe his new appointee will fight for the Veterans of this country. In my mind, the horror stories we here about their treatment must travel across the globe. We can do better.
I am not talking about the "Dollar more" deal here in Missouri, where the extra dollar you pay on your utility bills will pay for heat and lights for the poor and the elderly and disabled, who are suffering through another winter, who never get a bill paid off with all that money, coupled with charitable donations pouring in, and who still live with the threat of giving up food or health care at some part of their winter. I am talking about a grass roots movement. This is our country. I live here as I do, while not in the best of circumstances, while given an amount to live on after my years of dedicated work to support my family, and that is what we are, the family that these brave men and women fought for, I am still able to help myself a little bit.
GWB and his morally inept administration cannot save themselves from the stigma that will follow them all of their lives and into history. I for one, do not want the rest of the world to think I condoned, nor sat idly by and allowed this to happen without a fight. My soldiers fought for me, not just GWB and his cronies.
I no longer care about all the "stuff" of opposition that will come around. Think of Katrina. The movie star giants of this nation are rebuilding the areas affected. One house at a time. IF they can do it, so can we. We do not have to just cry and shake our heads and comment about how deplorable THE GOVERNMENT IS> We know about this, have seen it, and allegedly cannot stand it. I say we do something about it. And really follow the funds. American style. I call it the "American Dollar Plan". From Americans, for Americans. What could be better than that. We have shown our capabilities as a giving nation before. Again, I think of Katrina. Millions poured in to agencies. Where is it? In trailors that are fulll of disease potential for the littlest of Americans?
They need our help, and it is just one way we can do it. I am so tired of cost. And the "glossing" over of problems. If cost is so high, make them stop. The entire country is cutting back. The Auto Industry is "Driving" to Washington. Health Care is ridiculous right now. I think of Carmelo Rodriguez, so often. Another really sickening situation. We are so proud of our Military coming home, let us show them. Perhaps shame, and people like you and I going in to paint and redo the areas that need it for long-term care health issues, like the helmet injury patients, many, who were injured due to lack of that kit that fits in the helmet. There lives are changed forever. I think of how many rotten caregivers and rip-offs that are out there, that do NOT belong in the nursing field. IT is a mess, but as usual, Money Changes Everything, and perhaps it's power, backed by us, and yes, I think we do still count, can do something. I do not want to give my dollars to anyone who has been taking it for years, and we never see a substantial dent anywhere. If the problems are so large, we have been misguided to begin with. Just something to think about doing, instead of just sitting and clucking.
All right, I am ready for the reasons why it will not work, is not necessary, not our job, and so on. But I figured the top twenty most neediest situations, and one dollar for each, given at three month intervals, over two years, or three, amounts to about $20.00. Much cheaper than funding a war. Can't wait to here I must be on some real strong pain meds, but that is ok. I am in the mood to move another "Rubber Tree". And helping the best we have, and honoring those who fought and lost, by taking care of their brothers and sisters as they arrive in the land they protect, to me, is a start. Ellen B
1st.............when a congress person of any stripe retires ... their entitlements need to be stripped. Another set of laws that need to change. Veterans are the only people entitled...in this country..............the only people. This must be restored.
As a disabled "Vietnam" vet and veteran of the CIA drug operations in Kampot and Chau Doc (yes, Pres. Johnson said we weren't there...), I totally agree with your evaluation. These operations have now moved full-time to Afghanistan. Because we "weren't there", it took 30 years for my disasbility to kick in and I had to enlist the help of my Senator to lean on the VA.
Veterans are only honored while they are in harm's way. Once they're out, or no longer able to continue to be cannon fodder, they become totally dispensable because there's more where those came from.
How many homes would be truly protected if private citizens treated their personal security companies the way our government treats our vets?
Troops of every branch serve and suffer to keep ALL of us safe. Our government should put taking care of them on a far higher priority than taking care of the banks.
It is absolutely disgusting that money has taken a higher seat than people in our society.
Here in San Antonio the VA pays for Home health care of Vets that is not covered by Medicare or Medicaid. In some cases the client receives Medicare but Medicare doesn't pay for what is considered 'custodial care' such as homemaker services or personal care assistance in situations where skilled care is not needed as well. The VA pays contract agencies to provide these services to qualified Veterans of all ages, currently most of the patients that I see through this program are Vietnam era veterans. I anticipate that we will see younger and younger Vets receiving this type of service in the not too distant future.
I hope that General Shinseki is able to fix the problems that plague the VA system but I also think that, as Ellen stated above, we as individuals need to step in and help out as well whether with her dollar per person plan or in some other tangible way.
Thanks for posting to Whatever Floats Your Boat
How long have we as a nation been trying to stop drugs from making it across our borders? Im sure Im going to get the crap beat out of me for suggesting this but maybe its time to Legalize drugs and tax them to the hilt. Take all the profits from them and bolster Programs like Social Security, Veterans Benefits and others. As long as our Government is not going to do what it takes to beat the Drug Cartels maybe its time to take money from them in the form of Import Taxes and Drug Taxes.
If we can drum up money for Wall street - there should be no restrictions on any military personnel... positively none.
Other than that, I agree with much of what you've written, especially the part at the end about medical and financial support for injured veterans. This is one of the most odious aspects of the neo-con agenda, and one of the most egregious examples of their penchant for Orwellian "newspeak", in which one says precisely the opposite of what one does. Conservatives have been on their patriotic high horse for years, claiming that their support for war was equal to support for the troops and that opposition to war amounts to disloyalty and a betrayal of the troops. Of course, the lie is put to this claim by their lack of support for injured veterans, surely the most tangible expression of "support for our troops". Cutting them off from support benefits and going cheap on their medical care is the real face of conservative troop support: lip service on the front end, callous abandonment on the way out the door.
My own grandfather, a veteran of the First World War, returned home from four years in France with epilepsy (courtesy of shell shock) and emphysema (courtesy of mustard gas) only to be denied benefits by the Conservative government of Canada of the day because he did not get a proper discharge with medical clearance before rushing to see his bride from whom he had been separated for all those years. I guess that meant that he picked up the epilepsy and emphysema while riding the street car in Montreal.
My dad was also in that war (in the Canadian army) for four years in the trenches - went over as a private and got battlefield promotions all the way up to captain, as a result of just surviving. His brother died "over there," but my father didn't retain any physical or emotional scars that I ever noticed.
He was tough as nails...grew up on a Nova Scotia farm during tough times (was forced to shoot his dog when it killed a chicken), ran away at 12 and worked the wheat fields out west, but ended up as an executive at Boston Edison Co. Once I mistakenly slammed the car door on his finger which caused him to lose the nail. The pain must have been immense but he never even made a sound - just said "It's nothing."
When he retired he went back to Nova Scotia where he could do what he loved best, fish for salmon. When he was near ninety, after my mother died, he was flying to Florida with his dog, Charlie. He didn;t want to have Charlie put in the baggage compartment, so he told them he was a seeing-eye dog. They began to be suspicious when they saw that he had to drag Charlie onto the plane. During the flight, Charlie became hard to control and ended up having diahrea. They put dad off the plane and told him never to fly on Air Canada again. He then wrote a long letter of complaint to the CEO, the copy of which we occasionally pull out and read when we need a good laugh.
Don't ever buy the repug talking point lies that repeat and repeat that repugs are more patriotic or support our troops more than dems.
Don't allow those lies anymore, don't allow them to change history by repeating thes same od lies.
It's this corner's view that there haven't been many commanders in chief who saw our hometown boys and girls, who gave it all to the cause of god and country, as anything more than brightly colored cubes in a giant game of "Risk".
If you want to read just how Japan was inveigled into attacking us so FDR could enter the war in Europe through the back door, check out Richard Owl Mirror's articel of 12/7 and the related thread...
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