Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-19-14-Mon. (226 days to go)

226 days to go for US troops in Afghanistan, but on the home front, veterans of Afghanistan and other wars face long wait times, and even death at VA hospitals they depend on for care.

An idea I had: Retired generals and admirals should VOLUNTEER and go into VA’s to help straighten them up and help our veterans. I would say they could drop their contractor jobs and live on their retirement and VOLUNTEER with the VA to straighten out the problems, and even hold accountable those involved in criminal actions is making bogus lists and letting US vets die. I would put a call out for these generals and admirals among others to VOLUNTEER to lead the VA into a new era: Gen. Petraeus, Adm. Mullen, Gen. Mattis, Gen. Cartwright, Gen. Sinclair, and many others.

Pray for American troops and veterans.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Army Times calls for the head of the VA to resign:

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140516/NEWS01/305160046/Editorial-Army-Times-says-VA-s-Shinseki-must-step-down

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 2-4-13-Mon.

Another work week begins and all the while, US troops remain at war in Afghanistan for yet another week. God bless American troops who are deployed. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Author of best seller, “American Sniper”, and former Navy SEAL, Chris Kyle was murdered in Texas. God bless his family at this time of loss. I don’t understand the story as details are still coming in, but initial reports are that the American sniper with the most kills, Kyle, who was highly decorated in his military career, took a former Marine with PTSD onto a gun range with loaded weapons for shooting practice to help him deal with his PTSD? That doesn’t sound right, as I don’t think a highly trained former SEAL like this would give a Marine  dealing with PTSD a loaded weapon. This is about all I know, the details will be coming out in the days ahead. I hope and pray that US troops suffering from PTSD will get the treatment they need and deserve through the VA and Department of Defense for those still on active duty, and there are professionals to deal with their PTSD and get them treatment. LInk:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/03/us-usa-crime-sniper-idUSBRE91202K20130203

2.) PTSD information: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Dr. Bridget Cantwell:

http://www.heartstowardhome.com/

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 11-28-12-Wed.

God bless American troops in Afghanistan and God bless our veterans who have to navigate the VA system after they are honorably discharged from the service. Look at link #1, it is a story about the VA spending money on travel and seminars. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Congress looks at VA expenses for travel, seminars:

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/55254887/78254949/House_panel_promises_more_aggressive_VA_oversight

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 10-20-12-Sat.

A fine fall day in America, crispness in the air, sunshine, blue skies, and red and yellow leaves falling off the trees. It’s autumn in America, but for our troops in Afghanistan they face more danger and deceit in a war that has no plan for victory, just a date in 2014 when the bleeding ends and our troops come home, and who knows, by then another war could be forming on another foreign shore, or in attacks at home in our land in America. God bless American troops, and say a prayer for all our injured from Iraq and Afghanistan actions. Pray for the families of the fallen. May our fallen RIP. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) No peaceful autumn day in Afghanistan, when 19 Afghans are killed and more injured when their mini van hits a land mine on the way to a wedding. Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/20/world/asia/afghanistan-bomb-kills-and-wounds-many-on-bus.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y&_r=0

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 10-14-12-Sun.

Another Sunday at war while those of us in America can attend the church of our choice, our troops are still stuck in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Pray for their quick victory and return home immediately, not in 2014, but now, as soon as a quick victory is achieved. We should have done this for sure after Bin Laden was killed by President Obama. The speech that night should have said as a result, US troops were returning home from Afghanistan and bringing our money with them. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) An interesting take on the NY Times call for the US to leave Afghanistan now. 45% of US troops applying for disability benefits it says. Hundreds of thousands more have PTSD from combat stress. Link:

http://rupeenews.com/2012/10/nyt-says-time-to-pack-up/

2.)  Now U.S. Marines install machine guns around Camp Bastion. The Marine base Camp Leatherneck is next to the British Camp Bastion. Link:

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/351963/Tighter-guard-at-Bastion

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 10-2-12-Tue.

While U.S. enlisted troops risk their lives in Afghanistan, they have sworn to uphold the US Constitution, and may lose their lives or limbs doing so. The political leaders should abide by the US Constitution and uphold US laws. So, when I read the story at link #1 I wonder what our troops are fighting for when government officials and agencies are into gun running? Links from around the GWOT:

1.) More news on gun running operations including Fast and Furious and newly revealed gun running into South America from Operation Castaway. What about gun running to domestic gangs? What is this all about? Read this story for full details:

http://pjmedia.com/blog/univision-breaks-new-details-of-obama-admins-fast-and-furious-cover-up/

2.) NATO may leave Afghanistan earlier, morale of troops sapped by Afghan soldiers and police killing their American and NATO commanders. Link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/01/nato-forces-afghanistan-early-retreat

3.) Hundreds of thousands of Iraq & Afghanistan veterans waiting months and months for benefits:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/29/health/delayed-veterans-benefits/index.html

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 9-23-12 Sun..

Another Sunday in the USA where we can go to the church of our choice, Protestant or Catholic, and have  a peaceful church service in most cases.

But, around the world, the GWOT rages and it’s not always safe to go to church, Protestant or Catholic. In this case, the story at #1, a Catholic church is attacked in Africa. Pray for these people injured and pray for peace and justice so this does not happen again.

God bless the USA and God bless our troops around the world, and those in Afghanistan facing death and injury daily.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Church in Africa bombed. This is a Catholic church that was attacked, read the story for details. Link:

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/55254887/75386274/Suicide_bomber_hits_north_Nigeria_Catholic_church

2.) Doctor describes her battle with PTSD after Iraq tours:

http://www.stripes.com/invisible-war-wounds-can-leave-very-deep-scars-1.190092

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 9-8-12-Sat.

God bless American troops as they face danger in Afghanistan. Pray for their safety and victory so they can return home soon, before the 2014 deadline would be ideal. Links from around the GWOT:

1.)  244,000 U.S. troops have been diagnosed with some form of brain injury in the last 12 years of war. Pray for our troops and our veterans. Link:

http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2012/October/Pages/FormerWarCommanderFightingForFundstoCombatBrainInjuries.aspx

2.) Recon Marines repel enemy ambush in Sangin, Afghanistan. To understand story at link #1, watch this video.

http://www.military.com/video/operations-and-strategy/afghanistan-conflict/recon-marines-repel-enemy-ambush/1826349088001/

3.) Political correctness “killing” U.S. Army:

http://times247.com/articles/officers-political-correctness-killing-army#ixzz25Jf6Z8C4

4.) President Obama’s speech to troops met with silence. Link:

http://times247.com/articles/obama-speech-to-troops-met-with-silence#ixzz25JgLQdYG

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 1-7-12-Sat.

A weekend at war for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. God bless them and keep them save as they strive for victory. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) President Obama discusses defense budget cuts, does not get specific:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/05/2575612/obama-outlines-leaner-military.html#disqus_thread

2.) Forgiveness doesn’t apply to war enemies: Letter to the editor:

http://www.jdnews.com/articles/main-99124-editor-problem.html

3.) In the discussions about the Department of Defense budget cuts, little is said about the veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who are in the VA system. Read this important McClatchy report and click on the data base by zip code showing all the injured, not just those combat injured.

From the story, important figures, click at link for full story:

For the VA system, that means costs will grow for years to come — even as the country is entering a period of belt-tightening that could reduce the size of government and put a damper on the agency’s ability to find the money to pay these expenses. The fatalities in war are only a small portion of its ultimate human cost. Soldiers back from the war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, or the war in Iraq, which began in 2003, carry with them a lifetime of physical and mental reminders. According to VA and Department of Defense information compiled by the advocacy group Veterans for Common Sense, 2.2 million service members have deployed to one of the wars since Sept. 11, 2001; 942,000 have deployed two or more times. Of those, 6,300 service members have died, and 46,000 have suffered non-fatal wounds in action. But more than 600,000 veterans have filed for VA disability benefits, and more than 700,000 have been treated in the VA’s medical system. “Right now, VA is getting about 10,000 new Iraq and Afghanistan claims and patients per month,” said Paul Sullivan, executive director of the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates, which helps veterans file their disability claims. “The numbers are devastating.” Compensating veterans for those injuries is the duty of the VA.

Link:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/12/05/131870/as-iraq-and-afghan-wars-end-costs.html

4.) McClatchy had to use the Freedom of Information Act to get this information. Search for war wounded in the VA, not just combat injured, but all injuries, via zip code. Link:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/12/03/132079/search-va-disability-database.html

5.) Pentagon undercounting injuries due to concussions: “Concussions missing from U.S. casualty list”-USA TODAY report. Compare to the McClatchy report on the number of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan in the VA disability and/or medical system. Link:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-01-05/concussions-war-casualties/52397238/1

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) Sat. 12-17-11

The countdown to Christmas begins for Americans. Shopping, eating, spending, and going about in all the hustle and bustle that is the commercial Christmas season in America, while our troops in Afghanistan secure our freedom, warmed by their camaradie and dedication to our country, the silent warriors, defending our freedoms and securing our Constitutional rights. May God bless them and God bless the USA. Links from around the GWOT:

1.)  While operations in Afghanistan continue for American troops, the long war in Iraq comes to an end of its campaign, first the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom and then the end of Operation New Dawn. The only remaining U.S. troops it has been reported in Marine Corps Times and other media outlets, are the approximately 50 Marine Security Guards at the US Embassy. There are reports that 16,000 Americans will remain in Iraq though, part of a contract security detail outside the Embassy Walls to escort and protect diplomatic staff, and to provide security to the State Department staff. At least, that is how I am reading it. Link to a story here about the end of US military operations in Iraq. I am asking my elected oficials and President Obama to authorize an IRAQ VICTORY MEDAL for those who served honorably there, with the motto: VICTORY THROUGH STRENGTH. Link:

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/55254887/57803235/Iraq_A_war_of_muddled_goals_painful_sacrifice

2.) 3,170 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan era living in a six country area around Kansas City being paid earned VA disability payments. I have been contacting my elected officials and presidents for some time now, stating that the injury rate is unsustainable and leaders of our troops in war need to be made aware that getting our troops injured like this is not acceptable and required new tactics. God bless our troops, especially say a prayer for our injured. Link:

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/16/3324432/veteran-benefits-inflate-rising.html