Just peachy-dandy that the nomination of Mike Mukasay as AG, who can now wring his Hamlet-like hands in wonder about just what waterboarding is or is not, was swapped for $700 mil in Israeli arms as part of the Department of Defense appropriations budget.
Gee, Israel wouldn’t have any reason to want us to fight further in Iraq, or attack Iran, now, would it?
Nice to see the military-industrial complex isn’t just limited to the U.S. of A.
There is a travesty occurring in our midst, and my Senators are doing something about it.
Yesterday, Missouri Senators Christopher (Kit) Bond and Claire McCaskill joined forces to sponsor an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 that would temporarily suspend the Pentagon’s use of Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-13: “Separation Because of Personality Disorder” discharge for combat veterans, pending a thorough and comprehensive review of the current procedures and the establishment of an independent discharge review board. They were joined by additional co-sponsors Barack Obama, Barbara Boxer and Patty Murray.
Senator Bond was the only Republican to sign on, and this Missourian gives him a standing ovation for putting sound policy and the welfare of those who step up to serve ahead of politics.
"Abuse of personality disorder discharges is inexcusable. This amendment will put a stop to these discharges until we can fix the system," said Senator Bond. "The men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our freedom have earned a debt of gratitude from all Americans that we will never be able to pay in full. The very least we can do is take care of their battle wounds, whether physical or mental, and ensure they receive the treatment and benefits they deserve."
The abuse of the 5-13 is especially insidious, because it is being used to deny combat veterans the benefits and care we owe them. A Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine discharged under Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-13 stands to lose all benefits. They can not collect disability pay; even for life-altering injuries sustained in combat; nor are they entitled to medical care through the VA for those very combat injuries.
In a prepared statement, Senator McCaskill said “We have no greater obligation to those who serve our country in the Armed Services than to ensure they get the care they’ve been promised. We cannot stand tall and proud as Americans if we allow one single service member to go without the benefits they deserve due to a misdiagnosis. Far too many combat troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are returning with mental health injuries that bear the potential for misdiagnosis, and we need to do all we can to prevent that from occurring.”
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The use of the 5-13 has skyrocketed in recent years, rising precipitously as the occupation of Iraq takes its toll. G.I.’s who are seriously affected by PTSD and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) the signature injury of this conflict, have been discharged from service under the 5-13, which implies a pre-existing condition – even when they have received service commendations, been allowed to reenlist, and received reenlistment bonuses – only to find out when they are out-processing that they will have to repay thousands of dollars of their reenlistment bonuses. The bonuses carry with them a commitment to serve the entire enlistment. If it is not served, they leave with no benefits, no care for their injuries, and in debt for the portion of their bonus that the military paid and did not get service for.
I could go on for pages. I really could. I have. (See here, here, here, here, and here) But if a picture is worth a thousand words, the video of those who have been screwed over by this sickening scam should be worth a thousand calls to the Senate switchboard. Here is the number (202) 225-3121.
After serving honorably and going to war, they are simply thrown away.
But all four face almost insurmountable obstacles on their journey to enactment.
One measure would set a largely advisory timeline for withdrawing most U.S. combat troops from Iraq, a provision similar to the one President Bush vetoed as part of a war supplemental (HR 1591) last month. Another would rewrite Congress’ 2002 authorization for the war (PL 107-243). A third would set readiness standards for U.S. military units. And a fourth would require the withdrawal of all but a limited set of U.S. forces by April.
Bush still is likely to veto a bill — probably the fiscal 2008 defense authorization (S 1547) — that carries one or more of the four provisions. But Democrats hope political pressure to end the war will have increased significantly before the bill reaches Bush’s desk, possibly this fall.
on the active side, however long an individual has been deployed, they have to be allowed to stay home at least that long before you send them back.
If you’re Guard and Reserve, however long you’ve been deployed, you have to be able to have been at home at least three times that length before you’re sent back, because of the nature of the Guard and Reserve.
Among the 9 cosponsors are Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.).
As of right now the four proposed Amendments have not been loaded in OpenCongress. I am sure that will change as the week moves along.
Accountability. We have to be accountable, and we think our politicians should be too. We do not want a replay of the craven perfidy of the last 12 years that nearly sunk the ship of state. The administrators of this blog have decided, as a group, that working to elect real Democrats to office at all levels of government is the best way to achieve the restoration of oversight and accountability.
But please! Don’t make the mistake of thinking of us as battered wives who keep coming back for more, because that would be totally wrong. Parole Officers would be much more fitting. (Full Mission Statement here.)
