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

This is insane!!! How in the world do you make the decision to go to war and not even consider how to care for those servicemen and women who come back wounded? They have paid the price and make sacrifice, not to mention their families!!!!! It seems to me this administration really does not care about the walking wounded or the damage done to their lives, not the least of which is the gross indadequate care and lack of financial support. It's almost as if they are basically being punished for having the nerve to come back alive!!!!! I think the one gentleman is right, this does not seem to be a high priority to this administration. I agree with pinkpanther8743, there should be thousands of comments posted on this horrible injustice. Where is the collective outrage of the American people?

6 POST TODAY PLUS MY THREE? SO MUCH FOR THE PUBLIC CARING ABOUT THE VET: PRAISE THE SOLDIER, FORGET THE VET! ALL OVER AGAIN-NICE-NOT

THIS ADMINISTRATION AND AT TIMES THE COUNTRY HAVE MADE ME ASHAMED TO BE A VETERAN, WHAT IS GOING ON DO YOU CLOSE BASES,STEAL VA FUNDS,KILL THE UNDERTRAINED AND UNDERFUNDED TO PAY FOR BLACKWATER AND CLAIM VICTORY EVERY TIME A SOLDIER [FAMOUS ONLY] DIES? FORGET IT, NOT TO MANY PEOPLE CARE FOR VETS. THIS WAS APPARENT AFTER NAM, AND NO I DID NOT GO. I WALKED UPSIDE THOSE WHO RETURNED TO STAND BETWEEN YOUR SPIT, AND THEM, SO I GET IT, THEY STAY DRY AND I SCREAMED, TO HELP THEM NOT HERE THE CAT CALLS AND THE NAMES THEY WERE CALLED, SO THEY COULD NOT HERE! VETERANS ARE THE FORGOTTEN. ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE SOLDIER IS TO. NOT MY INTENTION, I FIGHT FOR THERE RIGHTS, AND LOSE A LOT, BUT ALWAYS MADE THE POINT. WE ARE NOT WORTH DCS TIME,ENERGY,OR FUNDS. WE SHOULD HAVE DIED, AND WE ARE REMINDED OF THIS, EVERY DAY WE WALK OUT THE FRONT DOOR! DON'T DO IT TO US AGAIN, SOME OF US DON'T HAVE A LOT LEFT TO FIGHT UNCLE SAM, AS YOU DO. PLEASE! IT'S UP TO THE CIVILIAN POPULATION TO SCREAM FOR US NOW! WE NEED THE HELP, OR DOES 700 A MONTH TO LIVE ON SOUND OVERPAID?

I SERVED THE USMC FROM 79-84! I ESCORTED 79 HOSTAGES FROM IRAN,I ARMED, TRAIND AND KNOW WHO FUNDED THE TALIBAN AND AL-QUEDA. I SHOOK THE HAND OF THE PRO-AMERICAN BIN-LAUDEN, AS WE CREATED A FRANENSTIEN, AND AS FAR AS THE COUNTRY,MILITARY,CIA,SAS,IMI ARE CONCERNED I NEVER EXSISTED!! ACCORDING TO THE VA I STILL DON'T, BUT CAUSE OF MY SERVICE, I EAT 325MG OF MORPHINE A DAY, PLUS 15 OTHER DRUGS THREE TIMES A DAY, AND MY ER IS ONLY 170 MILES AWAY? THEY REFUSE TO LISTEN OR UNDERSTAND THE BLACK OPS DAYS, AND I HAVE ONLY DIVULGED WHAT IS KNOWN PUBLICALY, INCLUDING BAGGING AND TAGGING 241 MARINES IN THE MIDDLE-EAST [NO I CANNOT SPELL WHERE IT WOULD BE INSULTING TO THEM AND I DON'T DO THAT] AND THAT IS WHERE I BLEW OUT MY BACK!! WHILE A NOBODY,OFF THE GRID, NO RECORDS,NO BOOKS, NO ORDERS IN WRITTING, NON-EXSIETENT!!! SO FAR I HAVE BEEN STRIPPED OF ALL MY BENIFITS, CAUSE I AM A NOT SO COLD WAR VET, AND WE DO NOT EXSIST. NONE OF US, NOT TO THE PUBLIC, AND NOT TO OUR COUNTRY!! WE ARE ALL MADE TO BE GHOSTS,SHADOWS,DEAF, DUMB, MINDLESS MEN OF HONER! DO WE COUNT TODAY? NOT IN ANY BUDGET I HAVE SEEN IN MAY YEARS. DO YOU BLAME US FOR WHAT IS GOING ON TODAY IN IRAQ OR ELSWHERE? WHY?

FEAR IS THE MIND KILLER, AND BUSH TAKES THIS INTO CONSIDERATION EVERY TIME HE OPENS HIS MOUTH! JUST TO KEEP YOU IN FEAR SO YOU BLINDLY GO ALONG WITH HIS "STAYING THE COURSE" FEAR PROFITS A MAN-NOTHING! SO SAYETH THE CHICKENs OF DC, CAUSE FEAR PROFITS THEM PLENTY!!!

FIRST THING YOU DO IS KEEP BUSHS HANDS OUT OF OUR TILL!! THE LAST BUDGET HE TOOK NOT 90MILLION AS PLANED. HE TOOK AN EVEN BILLION!!! FROM HEALTHCARE AND BENIFITS. SO IF BUSH WOULD LIKE US ALIVE [HE DOES NOT] MAYBE WE COULD PROVE UNIVERSAL MEDICINE CAN WORK AS IT DOES, OR USED TO WITH THE VA. TILL BUSH-BOTH-MADE THE VA AN EASY TARGET TO ROB OUR TILL OVER AND OVER. I GUESS SOCIAL SECUTIRY FUNDS WERE NOT ENOUGH TO PAY HALLIBURTONS NO BID CONTRACTS IN IRAQ, OR BLACKWATER CONTRACTS. BOTH ARE PAID FOR BY DYING VETERANS, AND SOLDIERS! WHEN WILL THE PEOPLE SAY A WORD TO DC ABOUT VETERANS, OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL THEY REFUSE BENIFITS AND HEALTHCARE -AGAIN-OR LET NAM VETERANS LOSE IT ALL, OR AS BEFORE STRIP NOT SO COLD WAR VETERANS OF OUR BENIFITS AGAIN AS HIS DADDY DID!

Message to sundrips: I am so sorry for you and I feel your desperation. Somebody in the VA - DO SOMETHING, THE RIGHT THING, for this person.
Bush should be so ashamed of himself and his administration - imagine not being able to take care of the veterans coming back (after they fought his dirty war) but being able to fund this war and cutting taxes on the people who can most afford to pay taxes to fund this war (not officially a war). I believe WE THE PEOPLE should demand that all who believe in this war should get training to go into Iraq. That would include this administration and elected officials, their children and grandchildren. Bush has 2 daughters - Cheney has 2 daughters - send them in. Obviously they believe in this war because they haven't spoken against it.
Also, Bush, Cheney: you've got the money to personally help these veterans financially. DO IT.

It is correct that I did not know that the Social Work Services within the VA prevent Licensed Professional Counsellors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists from being employed by the VA. How dare they!! The richest country in th world (supposedly) cannot afford to fund the veterans' casualties but can fund a war. You would think the administration would have had plans in place for taking care of our veterans before they went to Iraq (or anywhere else). I think WE THE PEOPLE should demand that anyone who believes in this war (not officially a war) should go to Iraq, especially children and grandchildren of people in the administration and our elected officials. Bush has 2 daughters - Cheney has a daughter - send them in. I assume they believe in this war because they have said otherwise.
Message to sandrips: I am so sorry about what happened to you. I feel for you and hear how desparate you are. SOMEBODY IN THE VA - DO SOMETHING TO HELP THIS PERSON.

In response to emerick: It is rather ironic that you mention God as the solution to this war, considering people's differing opinions as to exactly what is the will of God is the underlying cause of this war...
You are seeing things from a strictly spoiled rotton Westerner's poing of view- try seeing things from the Middle Eastern deprived and desperate side. Are you willing to give half of everything you have to end this? It would require at least that much if not more to equalize access to neccesities and opportunity throughout the world. ColeenTAZ

I THINK WAR IS VERY SCARY AND SO MUCH KILLING AND SO MUCH HATE FOR ONE ANOTHER ITS SO CONFUSING TO ME WHY CANT, EVERY ONE LOVE AND HELP EACH OTHER WHY DOSE THERE HAVE TO BE SUCH BAD THINGS HAPPEN? WHY WHY CANT, PEOPLE WORK OUT THEIR TROUBLES IN TALKING, IAM A DISABLED PERSON MY FATHER DID HIS TIME IN THE WAR, ITS SO SCARY FOR ME TOO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE DIEING IN WARS SO MUCH HATE NOT ENOUGH PEACE AND LOVE, LIKE GOD WANTS. WHY CANT THIS WAR STOP AND PEOPLE GET ALONG.! PLEASE STOP THESE WARS FOR OUR CHILDREN,S SAKE OR THEY WILL SUFFER MORE WITH OUT MOMS AND THEIR DADS ETC, SANDLYN

everybody keeps talking about the people in iraq that have ptsd but what about our people who went through the terrorist wars in japan in the 80's? my husband went through that for two years. Now he not only has ptsd but, severe bi-polar disorder as well. We as a country need to think about not only the resent vets but ALL of our vets who have given the best years of their lives to this country that is supposed to be free. For example, the cold war, the korean war the vietnam war ALL of them deserve more than what they have gotten over the years. Thank you for listening Tanya Turk Yuma Az.

No money to expand Childrens' healthcare, but an endless supply of money for Iraq to satisfy men with egos 1 milliion times as large as their brains. JUDY

This article is not about Democrats or Republicans it is about VA care. What the public does not know is that the VA Social Work Services as successfully dominated the Masters Degree level of Mental Health Care for our Veterans and not allowd Professional Counselors or Marriage and Family Therapist to apply for employment in the VA. Even after Congress passed legistlation stating the VA could recognize these two professions. That said the VA cannot possibly say it even has the best people serving our Veterans if they do not allow these two professions into thier fold. Why would a profession such as Social Workers prevent others from serving our Veterans when there is such a need for mental health professionals within the VA. Did they forget the VA motto- "Veterans Come First"?

This article states that the VA lacks the Mental Health Professionals needed for the troops returning from Afganistan and Iraq. What the public does not know is that Social Work Services within the VA has successfully prevented Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists from being employed by the VA. The VA cannot say it has the best mental health professionals if it continues to allow only one profession from dominating the Master Degree level of Mental Health professionals. I am looking forward to the day that the VA learns to put pride in professions aside and allow other professions into the Mental Health ranks of the VA. Remember the VA motto? "Veterans come First?"

It is the pathetic fighting that's preventing anything from helping the vets. I mainly blame the Democrats. They are to ignorant to realize that trying to fight Republicans and Bush is helping nothing. And they ignore the facts and only do what is popular. Trying to leave Iraq in a year because a bunch of ignorant people think so is a horrible idea and will cause massive losses. I also blame Bush' administration for not being prepared in this war. Bush is a bad President but is not the worst. Something the left keep ignorantly thinking while ignoring real facts and our vets. Both sides are to blame and both sides are responsible to fix the problem.

Put me in there to chop out all of the beaurcratic red tape and get the ball rolling. It doesn't take a rocket scientist or a college degree to handle fundamental health issues and funding. The biggest problem that the VA and DAV have to consistantly struggle with is all of the pork and fat that has come between where the metal has been tearing up the meat. That is total BS and I can clean it up! Put me in there! Contact me: USMC0351Grunt@yahoo.com 918-582-1694 (24/7)