Says it All

The 'jihadist', al Qaeda and the Rushlicans, enemies of the State!!

"Honorably Discharged"

Attorney: mom recalled to Army duty is discharged

The attorney for a North Carolina mother who reported for Army duty with her two young children says she has received an honorable discharge.

What the Army put this mother through, as well as many other Soldiers, should Never Have Happened!

It's not about her nor any other soldier mom, it's about using the IRR to beef up the military anytime, backdoor draft, especially when all the services are propagandizing they are topping their recruitment numbers.

The IRR is supposedly setup as a Last Resort in Times Of Emergency, Real Emergency, and the needs of the already trained is a must!

New Veterans Work To Get Valley Hospital

Talking about the fact that our Local VA system will not be ready for the new Veterans coming home.

Reynaldo Leal, Iraq Vet, has put out a call for an action to bring to light the need for a VA Hospital in South Texas, any Vets, and friends of, in Texas join him:

March to San Antonio

Because no Veteran should have to go this far for care OIF & OEF Veterans of South Texas

Time and PlaceStart Time: Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 8:00am

End Time: Friday, March 20, 2009 at 6:50pm

Location: Dustin Sekula Library Freddy Gonzalez Dr Edinburg, TX

You can make contact at the above link, hopefully he will have more info soon.

In the meantime sign on to the online petition he has up to help him and these Vets get the help they seek!!

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

This is not the only location that needs a facility like this, there are many places around the country where our Veterans have to travel great distances for the care needed!!

KRGV NEWSCHANNEL 5

VA: A Bureaucratic Mess, DeJa-Vu

We've seen this before, especially us "Nam Vets as we returned, tens of thousands, and those needing and seeking the care from their service in a war became backlogged, or just plain denied. Many of us veterans were trying to be heard, over the rising drum beat of war, of what was coming especially if invading a country that did absolutely nothing to deserve that invasion and occupation. We were one of those groups politically labeled, by our hired administration, as a 'focus group' that they didn't listen to. But it wasn't only the administration not listening it was the greater majority of this country, they don't mind spending billions upon billions upon billions........... on the war machine and waging war with same, but when the soldiers start returning and the system gets overwhelmed the country doesn't want to hear anything about that, or if they hear they most certainly don't want to pay..

The Veterans Administration has really never been perfect, nothing is, but in a once supposedly rich society it always could have been better, much better. During the years of basically no conflicts it ran fairly well but than the country got what it deserved, for eight years a totally incompetent administration and congress, the proof has been witnessed over and over, more than willing to show the countries might and in doing so, with the drums of war beating louder and louder, never once mentioning nor acting on enhancing the agencies that will be taking care of not only the active wounded but the veterans of two invasions and occupations even as the problems started surfacing. It wasn't only the political leadership but also the country as a whole, No Sacrifice!

Under the leadership of the previous Commander in Chief of the Military Forces, the President, with a willing Congress and the Country, more and more is coming to the surface of the total incompetence and apathy!

Veterans Department A Bureaucratic Mess

CBS Evening News: Missing Files, Unopened Mail, Deliberately Misdated Forms Revealed By Inspector General

Iraq War veteran Jason Scott is one of thousands who have endured disastrously poor health care coverage from the Veterans Affairs Administration, which lost his health files, and, according to an inspector general's audit, is sitting on 16,000 pieces of unopened mail in a single office.

All too often, our veterans feel like they're David battling Goliath, when dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In the latest outrage involving the VA, it turns out thousands of claims for benefits weren't even opened, reports CBS News correspondent David Martin.

Jason Scott is one of nearly 350,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who depend on the VA for health care. When CBS News met him two years ago, he was already worrying about what would happen after he was discharged from the army.


Watch CBS Videos Online

Joint Hearing of Oversight and DAMA Subcommittees “Document Tampering and Mishandling at the VBA”

DAV calls for prosecution of VA employees who fraudulently withhold benefits or destroy records: "The message must be clear...you will go to jail."

House Subcommittees Probe Mishandling of Veterans Disability Claims

“In the last few months, we have tracked a problem brought to our attention with misdating of claims information at the New York Regional Office,” said Chairman Hall. “This situation was a clear attempt by managers to fudge performance numbers. The incorrectly entered data made the regional office look like it took fewer days to process claims than in actuality – yet still beyond acceptable levels to me, or to most veterans. Although veterans were not directly harmed by this practice, since the effective date of a claim was logged correctly in a different system, perpetrators of this kind of dishonestly impact the entire veteran community’s ability to trust the institution charged with its welfare. This is shameful!”

National Council on Disability Says More Needs to be Done for Service Members and Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury

WASHINGTON—The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released a report recommending changes in the continuum of health care provided to service members and veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

The report, Invisible Wounds: Serving Service Members and Veterans with PTSD and TBI - doc, addresses those concerns and makes 10 recommendations.

Unopened claims letters hidden at VA offices

A new report about Veterans Affairs Department employees squirreling away tens of thousands of unopened letters related to benefits claims is sparking fresh concerns that veterans and their survivors are being cheated out of money.
VA officials acknowledge further credibility problems based on a new report of a previously undisclosed 2007 incident in which workers at a Detroit regional office turned in 16,000 pieces of unprocessed mail and 717 documents turned up in New York in December during amnesty periods in which workers were promised no one would be penalized.
“Veterans have lost trust in VA,” Michael Walcoff, VA’s under secretary for benefits, said at a hearing Tuesday. “That loss of trust is understandable, and winning back that trust will not be easy.”

Kathryn Witt of Gold Star Wives of America said survivors trying to receive VA benefits have long complained about problems getting accurate information and missing claims. “When they call to check on the status of the claim, they are often told that the VA has no record of their claim and that they should resubmit their paperwork,” she said.
In one case, a woman claimed she had to submit paperwork to VA three times to prove she was married and had three children, Witt said.
And having to resubmit the same claim, she added, does nothing to reduce the backlog that already forces survivors to wait six to nine months for simple claims to be approved.
The Congressional Hearing Yesterday, brings up the video player.

Wartime brain injuries could reach 360,000

About 20 percent of troops suffer head trauma, Defense Dept. doctors say

WASHINGTON - The number of U.S. troops who have suffered wartime brain injuries may be as high as 360,000 and could cast more attention on such injuries among civilians, Defense Department doctors said Wednesday.

The estimate of the number injured - the vast majority of them suffering concussions - represents 20 percent of the roughly 1.8 million men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where blast injuries are common from roadside bombs and other explosives, the doctors said.

Wartime brain injuries could reach 360,000

About 20 percent of troops suffer head trauma, Defense Dept. doctors say
WASHINGTON - The number of U.S. troops who have suffered wartime brain injuries may be as high as 360,000 and could cast more attention on such injuries among civilians, Defense Department doctors said Wednesday.

The estimate of the number injured — the vast majority of them suffering concussions — represents 20 percent of the roughly 1.8 million men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where blast injuries are common from roadside bombs and other explosives, the doctors said.

All hail Rush!‏

You've got to wonder if there's a rash of skinned knees going around the GOP these days, what with Republican politicians falling all over themselves to kiss the ring of their new Dear Leader.

Congratulate Rush Limbaugh on ascending to the Republican Party's heights -- by dragging it down to his level. Send Rush a note of congratulations now:

Congrats rushy

Limbaugh says he hopes President Obama's economic plan fails, and Republican leaders have rushed to agree.

Never mind that the fate of our economy -- and Americans who are suffering because of its decline -- are at stake. And that siding with Rush means rooting against recovery.

Michael Steele learned only a few days after taking the helm of the RNC who the real head of the party is.

After calling Limbaugh's show "incendiary" and "ugly" on cable TV, he was forced to backtrack and apologize profusely to Rush. Lesson learned: you don't insult Dear Leader, no matter what he says.

Right now, it's good to be Rush. Join the lovefest by sending him a congratulations card:

Congrats rushy

Pass it on to your friends and colleagues! No one should miss the chance to congratulate Rush on his sweet new gig.

Thanks,

Jeremy Funk
Americans United for Change

"Closed Zone"

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- An Israeli creator of the Oscar-nominated "Waltz with Bashir" released a short film Wednesday about the effects of his country's Gaza blockade on Palestinians.

Yoni Goodman said he hoped the 90-second animated film, "Closed Zone," would draw attention to the plight of Gaza's civilians.

Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement calls on the State of Israel to fully open Gaza's crossings and to allow the real victims of the closure - 1.5 million human beings - the freedom of movement necessary to realize their dreams and aspirations. For more information visit 'Closed Zone'

Iraq: Military to Withdraw{?}, Media Retreats!

War, And Results Of, Fast Becoming A Non-Issue!!

US Withdrawing as Media Retreat from Iraq - 03.03.2009

Last week, President Barack Obama fulfilled one of his campaign promises to the US electorate when he laid out his public plan to have the US military withdraw from Iraq by 2010. While some have bristled at Obama’s decision to leave 50,000 troops stationed in Iraq for support and advisory roles, the reaction from Iraqi citizens has been for the most part positive. Even the Mujahideen Central Command of Rafidain, an Iraqi resistance group based in Baghdad, released a statement warmly congratulating Obama for his plan.

If you were to judge only from the press coverage in Europe or the United States, you might gather that the conflict in Iraq is all but over and done with. Newspapers, broadcasters, and even wealthy satellite news agencies are all cutting back on their foreign reporters, and the Iraqi bureaus full of producers, editors, and reporters are first on the chopping block....Read More Here

"In Our Names", As Our Countries Policy!!

Ex-Guantanamo Guard Details Prison Abuse

Brandon Neely was a military police officer at Guantanamo when the camp opened. He's now out of the Army, and unlike other former guards, he has been speaking about what he saw there.

NPR Player to Listen

Unopened claims letters hidden at VA offices

A new report about Veterans Affairs Department employees squirreling away tens of thousands of unopened letters related to benefits claims is sparking fresh concerns that veterans and their survivors are being cheated out of money.
VA officials acknowledge further credibility problems based on a new report of a previously undisclosed 2007 incident in which workers at a Detroit regional office turned in 16,000 pieces of unprocessed mail and 717 documents turned up in New York in December during amnesty periods in which workers were promised no one would be penalized.
“Veterans have lost trust in VA,” Michael Walcoff, VA’s under secretary for benefits, said at a hearing Tuesday. “That loss of trust is understandable, and winning back that trust will not be easy.”

Kathryn Witt of Gold Star Wives of America said survivors trying to receive VA benefits have long complained about problems getting accurate information and missing claims. “When they call to check on the status of the claim, they are often told that the VA has no record of their claim and that they should resubmit their paperwork,” she said.
In one case, a woman claimed she had to submit paperwork to VA three times to prove she was married and had three children, Witt said.
And having to resubmit the same claim, she added, does nothing to reduce the backlog that already forces survivors to wait six to nine months for simple claims to be approved.

Rest Here

They are Still finding hidden or mislaid unopened claims letters in VA offices, this continues the incompetency of the previous administration and the initial reports that came out late last year

The Congressional Hearing Yesterday {Brings up Video Feed}

Scary Movie

The Horror of the Employee Free Choice Act

SEIU: Click to join our campaign!

Our country is on the verge of "armageddon," "nuclear war," and "the demise of a civilization." According to CEOs and their front groups, the fabric of our nation may well fall apart, all because of the Employee Free Choice Act.

In reality, the Employee Free Choice Act is a bipartisan, common sense economic recovery for working families that will pump billions into our nation's economy.

Close Down the School of The Americas Mr President

Our very own, embedded within, Terrorist Training Camp, with known graduates who went on to exactly that, Criminal Terrorism, within their own countries against their own fellow citizens!

Vera Leone: "They may have changed the school's name, but we are still seeing the same violent results"

Pablo Ruiz: "US tax dollars are used to train Latin American soldiers how to oppress their own people"

While the US commits 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan, in part to seek out terrorist training camps, many in the US and Latin America are demanding that President Obama shut down what they believe is a terrorist training camp run on US tax dollars, the School of the Americas. One such person is Pablo Ruiz, who spoke to The Real News during his first-ever trip to the US, where, as a survivor of torture carried out by SOA graduates, he is laying out his argument for the immediate closure of the school.

Campaign to close the School of the Americas Pt.2

In recent years, one of the largest civil society movements in the US has been the movement to close the School of the Americas. Why? What is the connection between the school and the violence of today in Latin America? Pablo Ruiz and Vera Leone explain that even if they succeed in closing the school, there is plenty of work still ahead of them.

SOA Watch

The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation No. 459

Fort Benning Georgia

The War Comes Home

That's the subject title of this post by The War Comes Home that I'm bring a part of here, video and a snippet.


The War Comes Home from New America Media on Vimeo.

President Obama may want to end the war in Iraq and beef up troops in Afghanistan, but another battle is brewing on the homefront. In January alone, 24 soldiers were believed to have committed suicide. Journalist Aaron Glantz, author of "The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle against America's Veterans" discusses veterans' struggles in America.

Stop Loss: Soldier mom plans to report for duty with kids {UpDate #4} To Be Discharged!!

N.C. woman settles on alternative to leaving family behind, refusing orders
Lisa Pagan with her husband, Travis, and her children Elizabeth, 4, and Eric, 3, at their home in Davidson, N.C., on Friday. The mom has spent more than a year fighting her recall to active duty.

Video Report Link from a local channel

DAVIDSON, N.C. - When Lisa Pagan reports for duty Sunday, four long years after she was honorably discharged from the Army, she will arrive with more than her old uniform. She is bringing her kids, too.

"I have to bring them with me," she said. "I don't have a choice."

Pagan is among thousands of former service members who have left active duty since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, only to later receive orders to return to service. They are not in training, they are not getting a Defense Department salary, but as long as they have time left on their original enlistment contracts, they are on "individual ready reserve" status — eligible to be recalled at any time.


Soldiers can appeal, and some have won permission to remain in civilian life. Pagan filed several appeals, arguing that because her husband travels for business, no one else can take care of her kids. All were rejected, leaving Pagan with what she says is a choice between deploying to Iraq and abandoning her family, or refusing her orders and potentially facing charges.

Then she hit on the idea of showing up Sunday at Fort Benning, Georgia, with her children in tow.

StopLossed, the BackDoor Draft, when the services are reporting record enlistments in these real tough economic times!
What's wrong with this Picture besides the 'any warm body will do'!!!!

Where was there any help from her two Senate Representatives during the past year, Senator Dole(R) and the now 'Support The Troops' Senator Burr(R)?

Senator Burr is still in the Congress, as the Jr Senator before none heard a peep out of him, especially concerning the Soldiers and Veterans, as he was rubber stamping everything the previous administration wanted and did! Now that he's the senior Senator, from North Carolina, he's been talking up a storm which you can read some of the recent Here, Here, and Here, in this short time period of the 111th Congress.

It's real good he's finally come out of the closet, especially on these subjects, but the way he is shows he's just using the military and veterans as Political Tools for re-election, as he rubber stamped their use and lack of support for the previous administration!!

UpDate 7pm 3.01.09

NC military mom heads for Fort Benning with kids

DAVIDSON, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina woman who was recalled to the Army four years after being honorably discharged was driving nearly 400 miles and braving a Southeastern winter storm to report for duty Sunday, with her children by her side.

Lisa Pagan was en route to Fort Benning, despite the snow, and said in a phone interview she hoped to reach the Georgia post by early evening.

"I know I'm on my way doing what I need to do," Pagan said. "But I'm a little nervous."

Pagan said she wasn't expected at Fort Benning at a specific time, other than to get there by the end of the day. She said road conditions weren't too bad, but the weather had slowed her down.

Pagan is among thousands of former service members who have left active duty since the Sept. 11 attacks, only to be recalled to service. She filed several appeals, arguing that because her husband travels for business, no one else can take care of her kids. All were rejected, leaving Pagan to choose between deploying to Iraq and abandoning her family, or refusing her orders and potentially facing charges.

Master Sgt. Keith O'Donnell, an Army spokesman in St. Louis, said earlier that the commander at Fort Benning will decide how to handle the situation.

UpDate #2 3.02.09

Military mom arrives at Fort Benning with kids

A woman called back to the Army has braved a winter storm to report for duty - with her children in tow.

Lisa Pagan drove from North Carolina to Georgia's Fort Benning and arrived Sunday night. She says bad weather made the drive "a little scary." For now, she and her kids are staying in a motel.

Pagan was honorably discharged four years ago

WIVB TV 4


She and Most

Of these 'Backdoor Draft' call ups has already served In-Theater, she's been Honorably Discharged and out, not doing a thing as to the Military, for a couple of years. Her job, even if sensitive, is already being done by someone else. She hasn't been a part of a Military Unit these past years nor in any training.

Now hers isn't the only story like this, all who are called back up from IRR are in the same situation just as to the Military, than there's the family situations, jobs in a down collapsing economy, health, physical fitness.............., and more.

They should not be getting these call ups at all, having already served in occupation zones! They Really should not be getting them to be sent back into a Theater of Occupation.

But if there's an Extreme Emergency and need for Expertise on a Base to replace someone who is Active and their unit is being called into action, than the possibility for recall exists, but Only In An Extreme Emergency and Need. Especially in a time that the services are saying they are getting the recruiting, in these jobless times, they need to fill the billets.

UpDate #3 3.02.09

Army mom who reported with kids meets base leaders

"She's just passing through on her way to be deployed," Purtiman said. "She's here and she's going to process in. The command's looking at a range of options available to have resolution of her situation."

Purtiman said he didn't yet know what range of options commanders were considering. He said Fort Benning has day care services available for Pagan's children while she's there.

"There will be some resolution over the next couple of days about some temporary arrangements to help care for the kids while this affair is ironed out," Waple said.

UpDate #4 3.02.09PM

NC Mom recalled to Army duty will be Discharged

RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina mother who reported for Army duty with her two young children will be discharged from the military, her attorney said Monday. Attorney Mark Waple of Fayetteville said it wasn't yet clear if Lisa Pagan would receive an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions. It also wasn't certain when she would be discharged.

The reason for the discharge will be that she doesn't have, and cannot have, an adequate family care for her two young children, he said.

"There is definitely some feeling of relief, especially since she has been led to believe that the command at Fort Benning is going to do everything to expedite this so she can return to Charlotte, North Carolina, with her children," Waple said of Pagan's reaction to the decision.

She has received no time line "except they are trying to process it as quickly as possible," he said.........

goper Economics: Says it All '08 &...........

All that Wealth in one place, at the Top, Never Trickling Down!!


“Workers Aren’t Responsible For The Failing Economy Or The Sinking Of The Flagship Of American Industry”
“Bankers, Bosses And Bureaucrats Failed, Not Workers”