'How Do You Fund a War, But Not the Casualties?’

how does the army recall a solider back to go to iraqwhen he is receving 40%disabiity for ptsd and get acheck every month for this disability. someone please help me to understand this.

I am doing my research paper on the suicide rate of our soldiers. It has been a problem since WWI and it is about time we do something about it. I have family in Iraq and I believe that the Government should be doing alot more to make people aware of PTSD and where they can get help. Thank you to all the men and women who fight to protect the freedoms I enjoy everyday.

As Veterans we deserve the very best care.And the VA will be in trouble soon trying to take care of the soldiers coming back.We need to fund the VA system with a large infusion of money and new facilities..

Little Ceasar is terribly mistaken that serving in air force, obeying orders of higher ups and serving in war in afgan and iraq are the only proud things for a patriot? You are injured in war and you you are a war veteran. We honour you we salute you. But JFK's views are totally outdated in this modern age where your Nations reputation is viewed and judged by other nations by not just the out come but by the motives whether these were really honourable? Remember Vietnam war and present Iraqi invasion by US. In both occassions the pride of this great nation US has been greatly damaged. In Iraq US invaded on misled information that iRAQ has Chemical weapons. After so many yeras of occupation has one ounce of chemical weapon was unearthed? How many trillions of tax payers money wasted? To be a patriot our friend should also take a look at the suffering of the Nations pride in the International forums.

No one knows the horror of being a combat vet but a combat vet. "Support Our Troops" is as much a slogan as is the VA and this Administration's support of the men and women they have sent into combat.

Let me see.. If memory serves me correctly,, The White House promised that this entire war could be waged for 50 billion dollars. We spend more than that per month now. And did we not invade two countries to capture and arrest the mastermind of 9/11.. TRILLIONS SPENT and Bin laden is still free. And now the injured, the true cost of this fiasco, need a VA system that does not exist. Hmmm.

More than 10,000 military personnel have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan severely wounded, but In their struggle to meet the needs of fallen comrades, physicians and therapists have found a new resource. Horses For Heroes is a national therapeutic riding program created to serve America???s wounded military personnel and veterans.

A nonprofit, Marion Theraputic Riding Association in Ocala, Florida has partnered with the Veterans Administration and the veteran???s hospitals in Tampa and Gainesville to offer the Horses For Heroes Program. Participants in the program benefit from improved muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, and motor development as well as emotional well-being.

By using the power of the horse, MTRA???s equine programs and therapies will help change the lives of service personnel who have fought to preserve our freedom, and, for many, at a very dear cost. The true beauty and success of this program stems from the horses helping their new comrades regain a different kind of freedom.

Like all other MTRA programs, Horses For Heroes is funded through individual, corporate and community support. To ensure that any wounded service personnel or veteran who wants to benefit from Horses For Heroes, and that no one will be turned away, there are many ways to support this patriotic cause through corporate partnerships and donations by calling 352-624-4240 or mmonte@hotmail.com.

As a vet I am in line for a VA disability. I am still able to work and choose to so. My 25 plus years in the U.S.A.F has been good. I will also receive my pension along with the VA check. Yes we do need to take care of those who have served and are still serving. Yet my motto is and always will be. "Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country " JFK. I love this nation I support her military and their Commander and Chief. I support the good works being done in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are at war with those who hate all that we stand for that want you to march in goose step with their religion and philosophy. The battle ground is the globe, their method of attack terror. For those of you who hate President Bush your are part of the problem . What have you done to stop the terror ? What have you done to help the voiceless? What have you done? Get off of your left knee and step up and support not only our military but our President. Proud American and proud supporter for the fight for world FREEDOM and the fight on terror.

Patriot

It's extremely sad that a President who is a Vet himself would keep funding this war and not think of taking care of our Vets, from this war or other wars. I am extremely grateful to those who put their lives on line to protect our freedoms and what do they get in return, a whole lot of nothing. They come back, affected for the rest of lives either mentally, physically or emotionally and we don't care of them the way we should; that is something I'm not proud of. Whether or not I agree with this war or not, those who fight for our safety should be respected, helped out and honored no matter what their position.

Intensely revealing

This is partially a response to SirLips' comment. There is definately an issue with offering these sign on bonuses and other financial "perks" that seem to be specifically geared toward getting poor people to sign up. And that is what they are designed for. Bill Gate's kids aren't going to be looking for ways to improve their financial abilities, and they aren't going to want it badly enough to be willing to possibly kill themselves to have the opportunity to go to college.
It's not that I think soldiers need a pay cut. Some of the administrators and guys in jobs where they aren't in harm's way or running the neccessary electronic and technical equipment could take the pay cuts. But I think when your government gets into wars that people don't believe in, the obvious result is fewer people signing up to die in that war.
I wanted to go in. I was interested in Equestrian Sciences, which would have meant I would have been one of the first to go into Afgahnistan. I never wanted to kill people, or to die, but I realize sometimes these things really are neccessary. I also come from a long family line of people who served because they felt it was the right thing to do.
The US has made a joke out of the concept of patriotism. We have made a laughing stock of what used to be one of the BEST military forces on the planet. We have basically reduced the word "soldier" to "mercenary" through the recruitment offers.
I say "we", because while the government is in charge of this stuff, WE own the government. The reason there's a huge gap between the average citizen and the average Congressman is because no one holds them accountable anymore. And that is why they get to maim and butcher our son's and daughters for dubious reasons, and when we ask, they can so easily lie straight to our faces. We don't hold them accountable for the choices they make.
It's not just healthcare for veterans, welfare, warfare, or legistlation. It's ALL of those things and so much more. These people decide upon things that are crucial to our lives, and yet we hire liars, cheaters, hypocrits, and other nastey characters to do these jobs. Of COURSE following up on disabled and injured American soldiers isn't important. They already took the bullet that made Mr. Politician the money they wanted, and gave the next guy his platform for election.
And those who think voting for a Dem next time will fix it all? Read some books. Democratic presidents are no more ethical than Republicans, historically. The most ethical politicians we ever had in this nation died before the Civil War, and they were tax-evading anarchists. Some of the unethical people did good things for Americans on American soil, but committed atrocities elsewhere and got laws passed that set the next president up to be even more powerful than the last.
Democracy doesn't make us exempt from the possibility of living under a despot. We just get to vote on which despot we want every 4 years. For now.

"I think it is about time that the average American steps up and does his or her duty for being free??? - I was a firm believer that every person should do military service (I did my time) - my thought process at the time was just as this sentence starts off + I thought it would teach everyone a real balance of life...meeting people from all different walks of life... BUT today my advice to my 18 year son is "you keep away from those people" - sad as it may sound... I am totally disillusioned by the "leaders'" of this country and have come to see that it is just a "profit for war" business with the soldiers as fodder...

I am a vet from Desert storm. There is something i have noticed, with dealing with many VA patients, and staff. There is a CLEAR line between those that "wanted school paid for" and those that "wanted to protect their country". Most would probably tell you that it was both, but the key, and you can tell who these people are, is which came first? Did they go to the military for the "free ride" and hope they never had to actually fight, but proudly did when called to duty? OR, did they join with the intentions that they would fight for our freedom/way of life/etc..., and the school bonuses were a nice plus? We are bribing these kids to join. We use "quick cash" and "free school" to bribe them into a military. There is a HUGE bias in the number of soldiers that come from low income, low potential, low classified areas. They dont have a real choice. Kids that do their jobs in war, but then have ALL of that piled on top of what they had to deal with before they joined. Most dont go career. they "do their time", and quickly find out the problems of the past are still there, along with all the new ones from the war. WHAT DID WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN? I would amagine that the problems that WE NEED TO FIX, would be much lower, if we first started out by sending only soldiers that WANTED TO BE SOLDIERS into war. If we cant find enough, then maybe we need to re-think war as an option, when we dont get our way.

As a family member of 5 veteran military members, all of whom know a soldier injured or killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, I would have like to have seen options we in the public have for making this a public outcry....where should we write? How can we organize our efforts to send the White House the message that ignoring the needs of our veterans is NOT ok???

williev i can only speak for myself - but i pay through the nose for taxes. How many crippled vets can we help for the cost of one B-2 bomber? It is not that extra money is needed, the problem is the money needs to be properly allocated!!! The link between the taxpayer and government spending is non-existant, we have no say in how our money is spent - even when it results in injustice like mental and physically crippled vets going without help and care! The only way to fix it is to get involved and vote too!

I think it is about time that the average american steps up and does his or her duty for being free and give a little of their hard earned money back to no better cause than helping the ones who gave that right to them..1. If you are in the 0 to 50 k tax bracket than a flat tax of 50 dollars is taken from your return, 2. If your in the 50 to 100k bracket a 100 $ fee is taken. 3. If your in the 100k and a year bracket and up than a appriate tax should be assesed against your return and if you make the hollywood figures income than your tax should reflect as such, So many people in life wine about the little things in life and its about time we as Free Americans gave Just a Little back to the ones who have given that right to us. Im a disabled veteran and when I feel sorry for my self I just go to the local V.A Hosiptal and take a good look around and I'M curred, So I can say Step Up America the land of the Free and Brave and give back a little to those who have fought for that right to say and do what you want with out getting your head cut off!!!!!!

I will tell you how to fund the casualties, 1. Charge every tax paying american a flat fee of 50 dollars annually, 2. If you are in the 6 figure a year bracket then a 100 dollar a year fee is taxed, 3. If you make more than 250k a year than a 500 $ tax fee is assesed a year you will pay taxes for this or that, or will try to get out of a tax here or their so I feel that It's about time americans step up to the plate and take some responsibitly for their own, and if you are a part of the rich and famous Hollywood than your tax should reflect your income. Im sorry if I hurt some feelings but I feel that some people have really taken advantage of the fact of living amongst the free and the brave, now its about time some be brave and step up to the plate and pay back our vetrans for the service thay have gave. Angry American