1 In 5 Iraq Vets Are Affected By ‘Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries’

[Taomon]

Absolute bullshit. You made this thread to attack the war, which is an attack on Bush. Yes lets hope our Government takes care of them? Funny but the Government has been doing JUST that. Increasing funding to the VA and Military hospitals, requiring more effort be put into just such programs that address these injuries and issues.

http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfFEB07/nf021607-1.htm

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Dude, I never said that ever. You are delusional.

Huh?

Bullshit. This is an example of why we need VA benefits and why those benefits need to be reformed so that veterans never lose them ever and that there is better treatment for these injuries.

We should not be in Iraq. That is a given. But I am all for fighting terrorism.
The problem is that we are going about it the wrong way.

Instead of torture, coercion and faulty intelligence, let's do some actual investigative work and hunt down terrorists, prosecute them and either imprison them (if they have not committed an act of terrorism but it can be proven that they would) or execute them (if it can be proven that they committed an act(s) of terrorism and will do so again).

We need to stop all finances (including our own) being funneled to terrorist regimes.

We also need to address the issue that cause a person to become a terrorist. These are the only ways to eradicate terrorism.

VA benifits have gone up every year, under Bush they have gone up 70 percent over the last 7 years at least and will go even higher this year. More importantly specific programs to address the specific injuries talked about here are being targetted and implemented. You and your buddies need to actually research shit before you make ignorant claims divorced from reality.

The Pentagon is doing its job and reported this, not some "save the troops" peace group out in lala land. The Government is and has been taking steps to address injuries in this war and every other one. The claim otherwise is nothing more than a lie designed to attack an administration you don't like.

 

[Taomon]

VA benifits have gone up every year, under Bush they have gone up 70 percent over the last 7 years at least and will go even higher this year. More importantly specific programs to address the specific injuries talked about here are being targetted and implemented. You and your buddies need to actually research shit before you make ignorant claims divorced from reality.

The Pentagon is doing its job and reported this, not some "save the troops" peace group out in lala land. The Government is and has been taking steps to address injuries in this war and every other one. The claim otherwise is nothing more than a lie designed to attack an administration you don't like.

http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfFEB07/nf021607-1.htm

 

[RetiredGySgt]

http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfFEB07/nf021607-1.htm

Did you even read the link? Once again for the retarded, it is the largest increase in HISTORY for the VA. Because it is not as large as YOU think it should be is irrelevant.

 

[Taomon]

Did you even read the link? Once again for the retarded, it is the largest increase in HISTORY for the VA. Because it is not as large as YOU think it should be is irrelevant.

Veterans, Congress say VA budget needs more money

By JAMES W. CRAWLEY
Media General News Service

WASHINGTON - The good news for veterans is President Bush wants to spend more next year on veterans than ever before.

The bad news, say veterans groups and many in Congress, is it's not enough during wartime.

Also, the president is trying to revive proposals that Congress rejected previously to boost prescription drug costs and to require some veterans to begin paying enrollment fees for VA medical care.

At $87 billion for fiscal 2008, the Bush budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs is the largest in history and 77 percent higher than 2001. About $45 billion would go to mandatory benefits and pensions, the rest for healthcare, construction and other programs.

Health care, cemeteries, education benefits and construction would receive an 8 percent increase in discretionary spending.

VA Secretary James Nicholson called it a "landmark budget" when he testified before Congress last week. On Tuesday, Nicholson lobbied the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on the spending plan.

But any optimism the VA budget would pass muster was quickly dispelled.

Proposals to boost prescription drug co-payments for some veterans from $8 to $15 for a 30-day supply of medicine and charge medical enrollment fees, up to $750 annually, for wealthier veterans without service-connected disabilities met stiff opposition.

"I think it's dead on arrival," declared House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif.

While noting that the budget calls for a spending increase for medical care, Filner said, "I strongly believe that more resources are needed to properly fund the VA."

He and veterans groups want more money for mental health services, assistance to military personnel leaving the armed forces and research.

"It's a really good step in the right direction, but there are some shortfalls," said Dennis Cullinan, Veterans of Foreign Wars' legislative director. "It continues to fall behind veterans' needs."

Four veterans organizations -- the VFW, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and the Paralyzed Veterans of America -- produce an annual "Independent Budget" for the VA.

As in past years, the organizations' substitute budget is higher than the White House version -- for 2008 by $3.7 billion.

Under that plan, health care would get an extra $2 billion and another billion dollars would go for new hospitals and clinics. Cemeteries, benefits processing and other accounts also would be boosted.

With an aging veteran population from the Vietnam War, along with new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, the VA has seen a ballooning backlog in benefits claims. Last year, the VA received more than 806,000 claims. The Bush budget seeks to add 457 more claims personnel in hopes of lowering the average processing time from 177 days to 145.

House VA committee member Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., said, "They are addressing the (claims) backlog."

"It may not be enough, but it's a start," he said.

 

[Taomon]

Did you even read the link? Once again for the retarded, it is the largest increase in HISTORY for the VA. Because it is not as large as YOU think it should be is irrelevant.

DEMOCRATIC PRESS RELEASE

February 15, 2007

Contact: Kristal DeKleer
202/225-9756



Statement from the Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee Bob Filner (D-CA) regarding the President's proposed budget for FY 2008:

"We have inherited many years of neglect in funding the needs of our country's veterans. The magnitude cannot be corrected overnight but we must begin to address the serious shortfalls that exist.

"We have recommended to the House Committee on Budget that improving health care for veterans must be a priority. We must fully fund the health care needs. Mental health and post-traumatic stress disorders are serious problems facing our returning service members and are an ongoing issue facing veterans from our previous conflicts. I reject the fees proposed by the Administration, which are nothing more than a tax on our veterans.

"If we can pay for the war, we must be prepared to pay for the warriors. Caring for our veterans is a cost of war and a continuing cost of our national defense."

 

[M14 Shooter]

It is called war. Pretending things that happen in war are suddenly new and somehow worse now then in the past is a joke.

Zactly.
People who think this is something unique to the war in Iraq because of the nature of the war in Iraq simply don't have a clue.

 

[Taomon]

Did you even read the link? Once again for the retarded, it is the largest increase in HISTORY for the VA. Because it is not as large as YOU think it should be is irrelevant.

Does that help?

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Does that help?

Posting the opinions of others does not change the FACT the Government is addressing the issues now does it? Does that help? I am sure it doesn't since you have shown you have no grasp on the concept of fact and opinion.

 

[DeadCanDance]

Posting the opinions of others does not change the FACT the Government is addressing the issues now does it? Does that help? I am sure it doesn't since you have shown you have no grasp on the concept of fact and opinion.

You are an absolute moron.

Rarely, does "the government" all on it's own, address an issue out of sheer goodwill, and a sense of fair play.

The citizens, and in particular, out independent media is supposed to be a watchdog on the government AS THE FOUNDERS INTENDED. And it is an informed citizenry, and a media that commonly bring these types of issues to light, and demand the government address them.

But, your attitude, which is obvious throughout this thread, is that the media and informed citizenry should shut up, and "hope" the government merely does the right thing.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

You are an absolute moron.

Rarely, does "the government" all on it's own, address an issue out of sheer goodwill, and a sense of fair play.

The citizens, and in particular, out independent media is supposed to be a watchdog on the government AS THE FOUNDERS INTENDED. And it is an informed citizenry, and a media that commonly bring these types of issues to light, and demand the government address them.

But, your attitude, which is obvious throughout this thread, is that the media and informed citizenry should shut up, and "hope" the government merely does the right thing.

You mean Liberals when you say informed.... Remind us again how a 70 percent increase is really a cut.

 

[eots]

Go ahead Taomon make some ignorant statement about how you are free and have rights. Ignoring the fact the rest of us protect your sorry ass and ensure you have those freedoms and rights.

protecting are freedumbs from all- cia - duh...we love you big brother !

 

[Shogun]

gunny..

for real.

 

[Paulie]

Well, yeah ... cuz everyone knows managing editors of magazines are experts on brain injuries.

They're usually not experts on ANYTHING, except for journalism. But yet, many still print articles all the time that supposedly prove or debunk things, of which they have no real knowledge in.

It's funny how we'll naturally gravitate towards the op-ed's that benefit our current beliefs, and write off any others as bullshit.