The Forgotten Cost of War: Caring for Veterans

[unhappycamper]

The Forgotten Cost of War: Caring for Veterans
Paul Rieckhoff | December 02, 2009

President Obama has finally laid out his strategy for Afghanistan. Unfortunately he did so without using the word "veteran" and without articulating any back-end support for our returning troops. In typical fashion, we've heard the media's talking heads ask: Is Afghanistan Obama's Vietnam? Why only 30,000 troops? Will the exit strategy embolden the Taliban?

And now, the politics and policy of the new strategy have been broken down into predictable soundbite-sized morsels by the partisans and pundits. But few have focused on how the Administration plans to support those 30,000 troops when they return home. Nor have we heard much talk of their families who won't be on planes to Afghanistan, but are still making sacrifices every day on the homefront. These are the brave Americans responsible for executing this new plan or waiting for a knock on the door that they pray will never come.

President Obama's plan will significantly increase the demands on our servicemembers, almost 800,000 of whom have already served multiple tours. The propeller-heads in Washington have crunched the numbers determining how much it will cost to send these new forces to the front. But I'm not at all convinced that they've done the back-end planning that's necessary for a complete war plan; one that cares for these troops when they come home. As we saw with the implementation of the new GI Bill, failing to plan is planning to fail. If the President doesn't plan adequately now, Walter Reed will only be the beginning of a decades-long national embarrassment of failing to care for our nation's veterans and their families.

The only way to avoid another round of heartache, disappointment and frustration is to guarantee that our returning troops will receive the full support of the President, Congress, the Department of Defense, the VA and the American people (a critical spoke on this wheel that has been neglected for far too long).

We can start by ensuring that every servicemember receives the resources they need when they come home. This doesn't mean a welcome home parade, although that's always a nice gesture. It means leaders in Washington that don't live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue stepping up right now. Congress must send the VA health care budget to the President immediately. As of the West Point address, the VA budget is already 61 days late.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,206872,00.html?wh=news

[era veteran]

1. The VA sucks

At our VA there are more Federal Police than Doctors. I have had bad dealings with the VA which does make me very biased.

[niyad]

2. k and r

[gimama]

3. IAVA.org is an awesome advocate group

Paul R. founded it when he returned from Iraq,personally helped me in helping a deployed-for-2nd-time Soldier whose wife & kids were about to be deported..THIS Man, & the organization are truly HEROES.
I urge all concerned to ck out their website, donate, if possible. A REAL presence in DC, speaking Truth to 'power' & getting things done for all who Serve. If You are a Soldier or Vet & need some help/guidance, ck 'em out. REAL support for Vets, Active Duty, & their loved Ones.