Crooks and Liars � Cost-Efficiency In Discharging Vets: "A six-month investigation has uncovered multiple cases in which soldiers wounded in Iraq are suspiciously diagnosed as having a personality disorder, then prevented from collecting benefits. The conditions of their discharge have infuriated many in the military community, including the injured soldiers and their families, veterans' rights groups, even military officials required to process these dismissals.
They say the military is purposely misdiagnosing soldiers like Town and that it's doing so for one reason: to cheat them out of a lifetime of disability and medical benefits, thereby saving billions in expenses."
March 23, 2007
Republicans are anti-military
Let's just admit that and move on.
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6 comments:
Makes you wonder why anybody joins the US military anymore, if they just get royally screwed like this as their "payment" for giving so much to their country. All this talk about "honor," "duty" and "sacrifice for the country" are just rhetorical bollocks-- where the rubber hits the road, the military will happily shaft its veterans, who've given the most and gotten wounded in Iraq, to save a few bucks.
And c'mon-- a personality disorder diagnosis, given to a guy with obvious brain trauma from a rocket attack in Iraq? Can they get any more blatantly arrogant in their schemes to shaft the veterans? Those so-called "psychologists" named in the story, participating in this scam and fraud to cheat our veterans-- Mark Wexler and Ana Parodi-- should be ashamed of themselves for such blatantly corrupt and unprofessional behavior, as should that clod Col. Steven Knorr, who is defending this crap, just like the losers at Walter Reed tried to defend the sh*t on a platter that they were serving up to wounded veterans there who deserved vastly better for their services.
Lemuel, thanks for the comment. I agree, this is a complete farce, and comes from people not sufficiently planning for a war we didn't have to fight.
Gentlemen,
The question is how does one in the military express what it is like to those who have never served. People come in the military for a myriad of reasons and often times for several at once.
The simple answer is that it can't be done. Just like a doctor can never enable me to fully understand what it is like to be responsible for peoples' health on a day to day basis.
Suffice it to say that my experience is different from any other servicemembers experience because we are all different people with different lives. The truth of the matter is that we don't come from another planet but we are your neighbors. You went to school with us. You pass us on the street and shop in the same stores and our kids go to school together.
What is the difference then? Simply the path we each have chosen. We each learn from our lives. I am thankful that I have been all over and see the truth of the matter on so many things and do not have to simply sit and rely on the impressions of others... on "either side."
The frustrating thing about it all is that no one listens to us. People listen to politicians, people listen to musicians and actors and even reporters... but not to those who have been there for more than a 'visit'... and in some of our cases numerous times.
Since mine is just one voice I simply encourge you to seek out the impressions of those who have served in the locations in which you are interested.
I do not seek to change anyone's mind about anything, but simply provide what I have seen and experienced and feel to add to what you already know and feel.
I will share just one of so many significant things I have experienced:
Driving through a city in Iraq, Ad Diwaniyah, with my team I saw a man, older man, walking toward us with something in his arms. As we got closer we could see that it was a little girl. Our medic yelled to stop the vehicle and we all took up defensive positions as the medic ran up to the old man. Being at the medic's side as we quickly approached them a scene frozen in my mind is the look in that man's eyes. I can't be sure but every fiber of my body said that he was the little girls grandfather. So that it will not unduely affect the rest of this story she was seriously wounded in an insurgent attack by their rival Sunnis but we took them both to our FOB and the girl made a full recovery with the treatment she received.
What I wanted to share was what I felt in that moment/picture frozen in time... I saw in that man's eyes the EXACT same look that ANY loving grandfather would have for his wounded grandaughter. We may speak different linguistic languages, wear different clothes, even look different but we are all human beings.
We are 95% the same but choose to fight over the 5% that we are different.
The next time you see someone or find yourself falling into the human trap of catagorizing others, stop... think... and realize that nothing is that simple in the world. There is always going to be much more the each and every story than can be imparted to you from a short column or quick news bit on TV. And be aware that it is also a human failing of not being unbiased.
So why do I do it and why have I don't it so long, 17+ years? I love helping people and protecting those that cannot protect themselves. It is not black and white but I do my best.
The above is just a quick thought about the overall picture vice one little subject of which neither of us have the full story.
Take care,
Master Sergeant "J"
Master Sargeant,
I am not sure I understand your point. My post was not anti-military nor doubting the effort of those in uniform. I am questioning the Republicans who like to claim the mantle of being pro-military.
Thanks for coming by.
I am not presuming to speak for him, but I think he was trying to say that it would be worth while to speak to people that have served there in order to get the full picture of what is happening.
Unfortunately, I know too many people on both sides of the political spectrum that get their information from a few sources and call it good.
I don't disagree. I don't think that I am over simplifying--except for effect in the title. My point is that you have Republican politicians who like to play the military card and yet do things that undermine the military. I say that as a liberal, and liberals are often charged with undermining our country, our military, and our moral center.
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