The 'terminator', Spits on Us 'Nam Vets

The 'terminator' same same as the 'rambo', and the heroes to the 'kombat keyboarder chickenhawks', as they emulate the tough talking and gun toting non-reality, in their fantasy world of saving us all as they vegetate at their keyboards!

Once more we're 'Spit' on!!

Schwarzenegger vetoes bill honoring Vietnam veterans

"I dare the governor to veto this bill," said Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, D-Newark, before the close of Tuesday's session.

Shortly afterward, Schwarzenegger accepted the dare and vetoed Assembly Bill 264.

"Our state is facing significant challenges, including the need for comprehensive changes in our policies on water, energy, and corrections and the need to take meaningful steps to stimulate the economy and rein in the rising levels of unemployment," Schwarzenegger wrote in his veto message. "This bill does nothing to address any of these issues. I look forward to considering this measure when these other major issues are addressed."

Snip

Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, a Vietnam veteran who co-authored AB 264 and wears a Marine Corps pin on his lapel, said he was "dismayed and angry."..........Read Rest at Source or at McClatchy lead in

A Popular Comment

"I'm extremely patriotic and supportive of all our troops, past and present, and while I, too, would have liked to see him pass the bill honoring Vietnam Veterans, I understand the point he is making. We have so many important, pressing issues that need to be addressed, and the legislators need to focus on them, not spend precious time on bills that, while honorable, don't deal with our economic crises at hand."

-- Acegirl

Wonder if this 'acegirl' gives thought to Iraq and Afghanistan? Or how about

aces928

As a veteran who had six uncles in Vietnam I say, "VETO"!

Or:

rocketman

yes Arnold did all his defending of our country in fake movies and weightlifting with steroids. Stupid move Arnold but what else would we expect from someone who has to have it his way or he smashes everything else. One ore year and then .. no more Arnie.. Watch the backlash is going to set up Gov Moonbeam perfectly for another run at us. Repubs seem to have a real political death wish.

There's three pages of comments, but I'll bet little 'aces928' isn't what is being passed off as online!

Veterans "Death Book"? Not!! {UpDated}

As brought to you by their "Dear Leader" of their Political Cult:

Today Rush Limbaugh used Ted Kennedy’s death to keep pushing the “death book” tale, that claim being spread on the right that Obama’s veteran’s agency is distributing manuals urging veterans to hurry up and die.

And the followers of, strong on "National Defense" meme's, "Support the Troops" symbols and the cheerleaders of "Wars of Choice" as they show that support for those of us who actually serve:



And what do us brothers of 'Nam think:

Veterans Group Blasts Right Wingers Pushing “Death Book” Claim As “Cruel” To Veterans

That’s unsightly enough on its own. But it turns out Rush’s broadside comes a day after the Vietnam Veterans of America, a national advocacy group, defended the manual and strongly denounced “death book” claims as “hysteria” and as “cruel” to veterans themselves.

“This booklet was developed with guidance from clerics, and it addresses options most of us and our loved ones will have to sort through as we live our final years,” the group said in a little-noticed statement that was sent my way. “To play politics with veterans’ end-of-life choices is not only irresponsible politically, but it is cruel.”...........

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release

August 25, 2009

No. 09-027

Contact:
Mokie Porter
301-585-4000, Ext. 146

Health Care Reform Hysteria:
‘Death Book’ Scare Tactics Inexcusable

(Washington, D.C.) – “Health care reform is a legitimate topic for discussion and debate,” said John Rowan, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), “but it is outrageous for some partisans to politicize the debate by targeting veterans with blatant scare tactics.

“The issue du jour is the so-called Death Book for veterans,” Rowan said. In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, the person who headed the office of faith-based initiatives for the Bush White House attacked ‘Your Life, Your Choices,’ a 52-page booklet of end-of-life options to be considered by veterans and their families that has been given out by the VA as per federal law. This booklet, developed in 1997 when Bill Clinton was President, was given to veterans and their families, if requested, under a directive in 2007 from President Bush. It was updated last month, under President Obama.

“This booklet was developed with guidance from clerics,” Rowan said, “and it addresses options most of us and our loved ones will have to sort through as we live our final years. To play politics with veterans’ end-of-life choices is not only irresponsible politically, but it is cruel. We agree with Congressman Joe Sestak, a retired Navy Admiral, who is outraged at the ‘Death Book’ charges and has called them ‘inexcusable.’

“It is our hope that sane minds reject fear-mongering, and that veterans recognize these scare tactics for what they are,” Rowan said.
-- 30 --

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is the nation's only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated to the needs of Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA's founding principle is “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”

Controversy prompts Sestak to criticize Specter

That would seem to bolster Sestak’s assertion today that Specter has over-reacted to Towey’s assertions.

“As a Veteran, I read with deep concern an editorial entitled ‘The Death Book for Veterans,’ which accuses the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of deliberately sending Veterans a ‘hurry-up-and-die message’ with a pamphlet on living wills and end-of-life care,” Sestak said.

“Anyone may criticize — and, indeed, suggest improvements to the pamphlet — but to seriously allege that an honest effort by the VA that sincerely helps families plan for the most difficult emotional experience of their lives is a ‘death book’ is counter to the public’s and Veterans’ interest,” Sestak said.............

UpDate:

Veterans DEMAND Apology!!!

Veterans Demand Apology from GOP and FOX for Lies About VA

August 27, 2009 - The claim that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a manual encouraging veterans to "commit suicide," made by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, is an asinine assertion with no basis in fact.

Steele made the charge two days ago (August 25th) on FOX News. Steele's egregious comments are an outrageous slander against VA designed to create an atmosphere of mistrust and fear among the millions of our veterans who rely on the VA for medical care. Veterans demand an apology from Steele and FOX News.

"Let me be absolutely clear, Steele lied. There is no VA manual encouraging veterans to commit suicide," said Paul Sullivan, the executive director of VCS, a non-profit based in Washington, DC providing advocacy for veterans, especially veterans with mental health conditions.

Here is the full text of Steele's comments:..........

"HE KEPT US SAFE"

THE DECLINE OF AMERICAN CHARACTER

THE "CRINGING WIMP" GENERATION

For years we hear little else, "But he kept us safe." The "but" refers to bankrupting the country, stealing elections, suspending Constitutional Rights, poisoning the air and water and turning the country over to racketeers from oil, drug, insurance and crooked financial services..........

Gee, now who could Gordon be talkin about?

Our crimes are so heinous that our new government is fearful of allowing trials for the criminals, believing the entire world would rise against us if they knew what we had done. The process of declassification intended to bring the truth to the world has stopped as we are faced with unimaginable acts of cowardice, brutality and greed, all hidden behind the words, "But he kept us safe." ...........>>>>>Rest Here

Still wondering, well read the rest of what he writes. As I add my meager two cents, and that's not even worth what it used to be, below.

Oh and on this: "believing the entire world would rise against us if they knew what we had done", they already know, a few have participated, but more important in the two theaters of occupations they knew long before us here on the "homeland?", and not just in the occupation zones but the whole region. They had already started growing their ranks, taking to retaliation and the knowing blowback, these acts only adding to those committed against them in the invasions and now long running occupations. Killing and maiming the U.S. and other nations soldiers, anyone working with the occupation, and the citizens, women and children included, who we also killed, not joining them in their brutal attempts to rid their countries of the occupiers and puppet regimes!

These last years only enhanced, greatly, the already growing hatreds from our past failed foreign policies in meddling in their countries, resources, and politics. They have greatly increased the numbers of those we label as al Qaeda or Taliban and especially the new 21st century label, for all who oppose us and our actions, similar to theirs, "Terrorist", as we wage our Terror! Only ours is High Tech terror,, with greater destruction and death, theirs low tech, so ours is righteous, it cost more, and well we're the supreme power and leader of freedom? and democracy?!! "God Bless America"?!!

Gordon just lays out what many others have in a justifiable rant, he does that often, of a society of "cringing wimps" that still exists, as it fears holding those Responsible to the Accountability for their crimes committed, In Our Names!

Our Medicated/Wounded Military

Yesterday "GregMitch" posted a Diary on the same subject I'm placing up first.

But lets expand to on what our Civilian and Military leaders are doing to Our Troops and National Security in bushs, and now mccains call for More, occupations!

As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue, an alarming number of active-duty troops are turning to prescription anti-depressants to cope with the stress of battle. David Martin reports:

Many Frontline Troops Turn To Meds To Cope

(CBS) As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue, we're learning that a large number of troops are turning to medication to deal with the stress of battle.

Each year, between 20 and 40 soldiers are evacuated from war zones for mental problems brought on by combat, says CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin, and many more stay in the battle with the help of medication.

A recent survey found 12 percent of soldiers in Iraq reported taking either anti-depressants or sleeping pills. That works out to about 19,000 soldiers, half of them using anti-depressants.

Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Tuesday, "This high rate of the use of anti-depressants and sleeping pills is really just a symptom of a deeper problem. We're sending folks back over and over again in a tremendously stressful environment, and it's taking its toll. The anti-depressants and sleeping pills are one way that the military and the individuals are trying to meet that threat."

The current front page, Time Magazine, report mentioned in the video

America's Medicated Army

While the headline-grabbing weapons in this war have been high-tech wonders, like unmanned drones that drop Hellfire missiles on the enemy below, troops like LeJeune are going into battle with a different kind of weapon, one so stealthy that few Americans even know of its deployment. For the first time in history, a sizable and growing number of U.S. combat troops are taking daily doses of antidepressants to calm nerves strained by repeated and lengthy tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today we find out Much More:

Report: Unfit troops sent to war

The Army isn't following its own rules, as some GIs with "significant" physical problems were deployed, the GAO finds.

About two-thirds of the soldiers at three Army bases who had "significant" physical problems were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan anyway, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office survey released Tuesday.

I keep asking the question, "Why isn't bushs new son-in-law in a Military uniform, he certainly looks young enough and healthy enough to be serving in the all volunteer military and in these theaters of occupations?", I haven't gotten an answer.

Well maybe others could push for one:

Senator questions injured soldier deployments

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee blasted the Pentagon on Wednesday for sending a wounded Fort Carson soldier back to Iraq, questioning whether it had been done to fill depleted ranks.

Citing a Denver Post report, Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, asked about an Army captain's e-mail saying that Fort Carson's 3rd Brigade Combat Team had "been having issues reaching deployable strength," and that some "borderline" soldiers were sent overseas.

"Are there shortages in deployment strength that are now causing some of these decisions to be made that otherwise would not be?" Levin asked at a committee hearing.

No wonder I don't see as many cheap magnetic ribbons of support for the troops {while they Still support the bush}, not only on the younger folks vehicles but their parents as well, they can run but they can't hide, as our Military Breaks even further!

Bring Them Home NOW, And Take Complete Care Of Them When They Return, Health, Education, and Welfare!!

Ventura: Chickenhawks, Cusack: Military Contractors

Jesse Unloads on the 'Chickenhawks' who force their 'Wars of Choice' yet refused to fight when those before them, their peers, did same! And making sure their own don't come into the Harms way they have set up!

Ventura on 'Chickenhawks'

'Wars of Choice' make enemies of others, damaging national security, creating possible perpetual Guerilla Conflict from the 'Blowback' of Retaliation, Damages Economies, and a Countries Reputation and World Standing!


"I'm Not Ready to Cede the Constitution to This Bunch of Hoodlums!"

Cusack on Military Contractors in Iraq

John Cusack promotes his new film "War Inc", which satirizes the military culture that makes companies like Halliburton and Blackwater rich.

Veterans Need To Visit O'Reilly and FOX New York Studio's

I just sent out a Heads Up to Vet Pax, which is the coalition of Veterans For Peace and Vietnam Veterans Against The War Chapters in and around New York City.

I had been thinking about what could be done on this issue of o'really and his total lack of not only knowledge, about the Plight Of Veterans Who Are Homeless, but his total lack of Compassion, wasn't that what his hero ran on, and Support towards Veterans in General.

lbear sent me an E which cleared the thought process.

My call to 'Vet Pax' was that they pay a visit to the New York City Studios of FOX News?, now FOX advertises itself as a News Organization, so Real News, they can report, should be brought to their attention.

That Real News is the Truth about the Plight of Homeless Vets, not a fairy tail, but The Reality!

Brandon has a post up over at Vet Voice about the billo, along with a video, from Brave New Films of interviews with Homeless Vets about billo's comments. Take a trip over to either link and view.

I have never been able to figure out where billo, or for that matter any of their so called news anchors? or reporters?, fit into a News? channel, but I don't watch it neither.

Some of the Vets in Vet Pax have, at one time or another, experianced the Homelessness, for a veriaty of reasons, and they now help out Iraq and Afgan Vets, male and female, who find themselves in situations that leave them in that situation.

Now the New York City area isn't the only area where this happens, nor is it the only FOX Studio.

I'm writing this as a call to Any Veterans reading it, if you're near a FOX Studio, anywhere in the country, get together and pay it a visit, bring some Real Facts about what Veterans go through, in this country of flag wavers and super patriots. Bring FOX some real news to report!!

Oh and tell them it's Time Billo Be Gone!!

Fight the War Yourself or Just Shut Up

By Camillo "Mac" Bica

Who is Camillo "Mac" Bica, some of you may ask.

Well he's a Brother 'Nam Vet and much more.

Camillo "Mac" Bica, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. His focus is in Ethics, particularly as it applies to war and the warrior. As a veteran recovering from his experiences as a United States Marine Corps Officer during the Vietnam War, he founded, and coordinated for five years, the Veterans Self-Help Initiative, a therapeutic community of veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He is a long-time activist for peace and justice, a member of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and a founding member of the Long Island Chapter of Veterans for Peace. Articles by Dr. Bica have appeared in Cyrano's Journal, The Humanist Magazine, Znet, Truthout.org, Common Dreams, AntiWar.com, Monthly Review Zine, Foreign Policy in Focus, OpEdNews.com, and numerous philosophical journals.

Now here's a little taste of what 'Mac' has written, the rest of which You Can Find Here.

Recently, at a community forum on the war in Iraq, three individuals who termed themselves collectively as the "Patriots" made the argument that the war in Iraq was, and continues to be, necessary and important to fighting the war on terrorism, creating stability in the Middle East, and perhaps, even to prevent World War Three.

Ummmmm, World War III?

Didn't the wanna-be dictator use that term only a few days ago!

For purposes of argument, I will accept that such patriots - those who remain personally unaffected by the war in the sense that neither they nor members of their family serve in the military - sincerely believe in the justness and morality of their position.

'Mac' delves into these "Patriots" standing as to their beliefs as well as family members beliefs of Duty and Service.

'Mac' ends with the below true statement, it's the substance that leads up to that statement that should be read, although we already understand!

It is time that these "patriots" are recognized for the chickenhawks that they are and either back up their shallow words with actions or just shut up.

Lets Examine Some More of Our 'phoney' Soldiers

The 'rush' would have enjoyed this series from NPR's All Things Considered, Women in Combat, as would his minions. 'Phoney's' one and all! Their experiances, their treatment, their dedication, their service to country and fellow 'phoney' soldiers. If the 'rush' and his minions had listened that is.

You see the 'rush', as well as most who bow to his hypocrisy, being so articulate and knowledgable, with understanding and experiances beyond us all, Know War, Know Real Soliers, Know The Experiances In Theaters of Actions, hell he, they, know everything, just ask him, them, if you can get beyond his screeners when even bothering to take calls. He gives the talking points to the 'think tanks'{?} of those who refer to themselves as republican{?} and conservative{?}.

And as we all know most of those minions are big strong tough males, just like the 'rush'. Who, like the 'rush', don't bother with living the experiances before commenting on same, hell they don't read about nor watch, to much to fill their 'beautiful minds', they Just Know, and will band together to pass on All That Knowledge!

You see those who actually live the experinces can't have Minds to think for themselves, so the 'rush', and his minions, need to fill that 'void' and stop others from 'manipulating' those empty minds.


The series started on monday Oct 1st and covered differant reports by Michele Norris each day till friday the 5th.

You can read and listen to each report by visiting the differant pages of the All Things Considered NPR site.

The first report, Roles for Women in U.S. Army Expand, reports just as the subject title states, the roles of women in the military.

Since 2002, women have served nearly 170,000 tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pentagon rules dictate that women may not be assigned to ground combat units. That means they are not allowed to serve in the infantry or as special operations commandos.

But women are serving in support units as truck drivers, gunners, medics, military police, helicopter pilots and more.

On tuesday Michele brings to us The Experiances of Three Women, on the Ground, In Theater

Women serving in the U.S. military make up about 10 percent of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although they aren't assigned to ground combat units, they are experiencing combat nonetheless.

On wednesday she takes a look at Both sides of the issue of Women in the Military

The current Pentagon policy governing women in combat dates back to 1994. Then-Secretary of Defense Les Aspin wrote that "women shall be excluded from assignment to units below the brigade level whose primary mission is to engage in direct combat on the ground."

Thursday brings us a Report on Sexual Assaults on Women in the Military

Since 2002, the Miles Foundation — a private, nonprofit organization that tracks sexual assault within the armed forces — has received 976 reports of sexual assault in the Central Command Area of Responsibility, which includes Iraq and Afghanistan.

This page also gives us a related report by Gloria Hillard on The Deep Scars for Many Female Vets

Female soldiers have been returning from Iraq with not only combat-related trauma, but also with deep emotional wounds known as military sexual trauma. A 2003 survey of women using the Veterans Administration health care system reports that 28 percent experienced at least one sexual assault during military service. And that sexual trauma, combined with combat trauma, makes women far more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder.

On friday, the last and final day of these reports, we are given a report by one female soldier On Her Injuries and Military Service

To date, more than 80 women have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and hundreds have come home with combat injuries.

Her injuries, loss of both legs, and rape by rank.

"We were out there every day, patrolling, doing checkpoints, raiding villages, searching villages, searching females. That's what I was used for primarily," she says with a laugh. "We were out there doing everything."

Now if that isn't enough about our 'phony soldiers' you may want to visit This Report in todays LA Times

For 15 months, their platoon was sent where the violence was worst. Many lost friends or faith in their mission, but 'at least we made it alive,' said one soldier.

On the battalion's first run through the city, it was pounded at every turn with automatic-weapons fire, rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs. By the end of the day, one soldier was dead, 12 were wounded and two vehicles had been destroyed.

"That kind of overwhelming show, we had never seen before," Oliver said. "So we pulled back, took a deep breath and realized, yeah, this AO [area of operation] really is that bad."

By the time the Regulars left Iraq in September, 21 of their 300 or so soldiers had been killed. About 50 were so badly injured that they never returned to the fight.

Their 3,700-strong 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Ft. Lewis, Wash., lost 48 soldiers in all, and nearly 650 were injured.

With a reflection by one 'phoney soldier' on the realities of Guerilla Warfare:

"I had this romantic vision of going to war that just doesn't exist anymore, not in this kind of war," he said.

In the movies, he said, there was always a "band of brothers" going after the enemy with honor and glory. But in Iraq, it felt like the enemy was always one step ahead, melting away before a major assault, only to strike back with even greater fury.

Most of those 'enemies' are protecting their own in atttempting to rid their small country of univited invasion and occupation forces, of which the leaders of same want to control the lives and wealth of the occupied.

Just like the 'rush', and his minions, big brave and tough males, preach about being their right to own any and all types of weapons made, from single shot to fully automatic, not to hunt but to protect their own and their surroundings from all those evil forces ready to destroy them!

As the 'rush', and his minions, blather through the crack, which looks rather familiar to another bodily crack, on their faces!