AP IMPACT: Number of disabled veterans rising

[vietnam_war_vet]

Source: Associated Press & Yahoo News

AP IMPACT: Number of disabled veterans rising

By JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press Writer, Sunday May 11, 2:18 PM
ET

Increasing numbers of U.S. troops have left the military with damaged
bodies and minds, an ever-larger pool of disabled veterans that will
cost the nation billions for decades to come — even as the total
population of America's vets shrinks.

Despite the decline in total vets — as soldiers from World War II and
Korea die — the government expects to be spending $59 billion a year
to compensate injured warriors in 25 years, up from today's $29
billion, according to internal documents obtained by The Associated
Press. And the Veterans Affairs Department concedes the bill could be
much higher.

Why?

Worse wounds. More disabilities. More vets aware of the benefits and
quicker to file for them.

Also, ironically, advanced medical care. Troops come home with
devastating injuries that might well have killed them in earlier wars.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080511/ap_on_...sabled_veterans

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((In the years to come, the already severely underfunded,
understaffed, and under-resourced VA will only become more and more overwhelmed and
unable to adequately provide medical and mental health care for many of these new disabled veterans from the Iraqi and Afghani wars. Our government's elected and appointed officials sure have a self-serving,
hypocritical way of following through on their oft-repeated campaign
slogan of "support our troops." -- Michael))

[saigon68]

1. Draft Dodgers like Cheney don't give a Fuck about Vets

They only care about $$$$$$$

Welcome Home Bro::-) :-)

This Place Rocks

[peace13]

2. My guess is that the numbers aren't rising..

They have always been high, it is just too hard to hide now.

[Anarchy in Detroit]

3. Just wait...

for the suicide numbers when its all over. Some dudes in Afghanistan are on 7 tours of duty. Also keep an eye on drug abuse, specifically pain meds.

We're going to bring back Post Traumatic Stressing, pill popping, legless/armless soldiers and everyone is going to piss and moan when they have to pay for these poor guys. Support the troops though. Long as they don't get hurt and cost us money!

[vietnam_war_vet]

4. Speaking of Detroit ;-)

I was born in Detroit's Wayne General Hospital and then lived across from the Heinz Parkway on Warren Avenue in Garden City until 1961. Small world, eh? -- Michael

[LynnTheDem]

5. They're just "fungible" "pawns".

No worries.