For Veterans, an Evocative Repeat

Rising Casualties in Iraq Prompt Memories That Generate Doubts

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- It's all starting to look like a rerun -- a sad, troubling rerun -- from the bar stools in the smoky haze of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4127, "Your Friendly Post," as the sign out front says.

The television images from Iraq tell of a conflict that is not officially a war anymore, but sure feels like one to the men and women who come here for Bar Games Night or to tear through $7 steak dinners. The almost daily reports of another soldier, or two, or three, being killed in Iraq bring back bad memories of the war these veterans fought, the one in Vietnam that eventually was not an official war, either, but felt like one just the same.

(snip)

The grumblings are a sign of growing discord from a group that has been strongly supportive of Bush throughout his presidency. Many veterans were gung-ho about the war in the beginning. But their unease about Iraq is coming when many of them are increasingly unhappy with the Bush administration and Congress about attempts to cut proposed spending increases for Veterans Administration health care programs and lengthy backlogs for doctor appointments. Advocacy groups say that more than 140,000 veterans have been forced to wait six months or more for routine doctor visits and that two-year waits for appointments with specialists are not uncommon.

(snip)

The benefits complaints combined with concerns about the conflict in Iraq are clear cracks in Bush's once solid standing with an important constituency.

"I think this could be Bush's demise," said "Fireman Bill" Marcollier, 56, a Vietnam veteran who describes himself as an independent who leans Republican.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36482-2003Sep6.html

It's still too early, but is the grumbling in the military ranks real or just a few disgruntled grunts? Honestly, my jury is still out.

I regularly read David Hackworth's site, which has lots of emails from Iraq and reports how veterans are getting shafted by this regime. But is the military connecting this with the Repugnican party? It doesn't have the feeling yet that resulted in a backlash against the Democrats (how ironic, since it was Gene McCarthy, Bobby Kennedy & George McGovern) who ran to end the war and misery while Nixon prolonged it. Then again in the 90's with Clinton's Don't Ask/Don't Tell and the wild spinning and lying by the Right Wing spin machine.

My hopes are that enough vets...past and present just are disgusted enough to just stay home next November, or not fill out those wonderful absentee ballots...especially ones earmarked (but not postmarked)to Florida

They do. I am a VET and they shit on me every chance they get. It takes over 4 months to get an appointment to see a VA doctor.

Disgusting the treatment at the VA.

The horse veterinarian down the road from me, cares more for his horses well being, than the H-1 Visa holding Pakistani and Indian M. D. s who occupy space at the VA, apparently only to gain U. S. citizenship and then work for corporate medicine.

Absolutely rotten to the Core.

Every democratic candidate should come out strongly in favor of fully funding the VA medical system. No strings attached, no qualifications.
By reaching out to the veterans in the interests of fairness, decency, and true patriotism--we can seize back our flag.

I repeat this same sentiment a lot on DU. Not to bore anyone, but I really believe the republicans are very vulnerable on this issue. And I cannot understand why the democratic candidates don't go after this hypocrisy like a dog smelling blood and go in for the kill.
Kerry has expressed the right setiments--but damn it, I want the angry, powerful rebuking attacks that Howard Dean and Sharpton are so good at--on this issue.

veterans are the proverbial "canary in the coal mine" in this screwed-up country-- they know firsthand what the BFEE is doing

"For every soldier that dies over there, there's $250,000 that just got put back into the economy," he said, referring to the standard military life insurance policy amount. "When you walk in that door, right after basic training, you know what your job is. If you stay because you want the college money, hey, I'm sorry, you took the risk."

I can't believe anyone thinks along these lines. Did Rush or some other ignorant talkshower say anything like this? It just seems so far from the rightfield that I almost wonder if it is a sick meme.

This really disturbs me.... someone (or people) looking that the deaths of US service folks as "good for the American economy".

No one counts on an idiotic moron for a commander in chief.

http://www.takebackthemedia.com/onearmy.html

ARMY OF ONE

As a Veteran I believe that this is the demise of bush too, we need to stick together as a 30 million people voting block..