About Us
Mission Statement
Rules of Conduct
 
Name:
Pswd:
Remember Me
Register
 

Ask a Vet
Author: TriSec    Date: 04/14/2009 10:58:55

Good Morning.

Today is our 2,218th day in Iraq.

We'll start this morning as we always do, with the latest casualty figures from Iraq and Afghanistan, courtesy of Antiwar.com:

American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 4273
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 4134
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3812
Since Handover (6/29/04): 3414
Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09): 45

Other Coalition Troops - Iraq: 318
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 677
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 452
Journalists - Iraq: 139
Contractor Deaths - Iraq: 1264

We find this morning's cost of war passing through:

$ 613, 348, 000, 000 .00




http://iava.org/sites/default/files/VSOs%20at%20White%20House%20March%202009.jpg


Last Thursday, leaders of the major Veteran's Service Organizations met with President Obama in the Oval Office. Never mind what they were able to accomplish, just ponder the fact that there was a meeting for a moment.

The previous occupant wouldn't give the time of day to Veterans or those that would support their transition back to civilian life...this truly is change we can believe in.


So, why were they there?

President Obama made a major announcement on April 9 about the future of veteran's healthcare. You all know this is an issue near and dear to our hearts here at 4F; I've blogged incessantly about the shabby treatment our veterans get in the VA system, and we're all too aware of the Walter Reed scandal and all its ramifications. The system is still groaning under the weight of red tape, overcrowding, and inept treatment, but the changes announced by the President may finally begin to address that and yes, they also fulfill a campaign promise. (Isn't that refreshing?)

Of course, there's no missing Paul Rieckhoff in the picture, and he issued the following statement via IAVA:


“Today is a very good day for our men and women who serve in uniform. President Obama has taken bold action on two key campaign promises to America’s veterans. Advance funding VA healthcare and overhauling the transition process for veterans from military to VA will eliminate two of the most significant bureaucratic hurdles that keep veterans from the health care and benefits they have earned. Veterans nationwide thank the Administration for making them and their families a priority.

The President’s announcement marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration and cooperation between the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. With the implementation of the Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record Initiative, DOD and VA medical records will finally be electronic and interoperable. This initiative will help simplify the transition from the DOD to the VA for our nation’s heroes, and improve care for all veterans, especially the more than 33,000 wounded troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. With this initiative, President Obama is finally bringing VA and DOD healthcare into the 21st century.

The President also reiterated his support for advance funding of VA healthcare. For nineteen of the last twenty-two years the VA budget has been passed late, forcing the largest healthcare provider in the nation to ration care. Imagine trying to plan for next month’s bills without knowing your next paycheck. That’s what we ask veterans’ hospitals to do almost every year. Advance funding will ensure that the quality of care for veterans will no longer be compromised by budget delays. With the strong support of the President and bipartisan leadership in Congress, advance funding can and must move forward this year.

Advance funding for VA healthcare and seamless transition between the military and the VA have been top legislative priorities for IAVA this year. IAVA applauds President Obama, Secretary Shinseki and Secretary Gates for their leadership. We look forward to continuing to work together on the many other issues facing today’s veterans, including psychological injuries, unemployment and homelessness.”


Do check the website for some additional embedded links and a video. Also, would you all please take the time to send a wee thank-you to the President? We took great joy in assailing the previous guy for his transgressions; we should be as quick to thank the current resident when he gets things right.


 

62 comments (Latest Comment: 04/15/2009 03:41:30 by Mondobubba)
   Perma Link

Share This!

Furl it!
Spurl
NewsVine
Reddit
Technorati

Add a Comment

Please login to add a comment...


Comments:

Order comments Newest to Oldest  Refresh Comments

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 13:08:10
Morning :hug:

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 13:11:01
Listner audio fun

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 13:17:17
Mornin ya'll.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 13:17:23
Isn't he Opus Dei?

Comment by Scoopster on 04/14/2009 13:20:56
Mornin' folks.. Back in the office... meh!



My uncle sent us some videotapes of my cousin interviewing Grandma a few years ago.. was nice to see her again even though she's passed on. :(

Comment by Scoopster on 04/14/2009 13:27:53
Something on topic to the opening btw.. Anyone see the 60 Minutes piece about the advances in orthoelectronics that the VA & DARPA have been making? Fully functioning prosthetic hands are close - cool stuff!



Here's a link in case you missed it..

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 13:28:18
Hey Random :)

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 13:37:34
Handboats? Is this another name for a Johnboat?

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 13:44:34
How are things going on here?

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 13:48:23
Since I'm not listening, has Stephanie gotten annoyed yet that the Obama dog isn't a rescue dog?

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 13:53:14
Wait 3000 years?

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 13:54:34
Going fine - except for rain and people who can't drive on wet roads





Yes and No about the dog.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 13:54:47


Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 13:56:23
So instead of trying to reach a peaceful agreement first, just f-ing blow them out of the water?

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 14:01:33
Quote by wickedpam:

So instead of trying to reach a peaceful agreement first, just f-ing blow them out of the water?


can't win Battleship any other way.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 14:10:19


YAY!

Collapse EA, for all your shitty sports games, and your mistreatment of employees. Burn in Corprate Hell!



...Random doesn't like EA.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 14:27:00
Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:

So instead of trying to reach a peaceful agreement first, just f-ing blow them out of the water?


can't win Battleship any other way.






but you have to yell out "Hey you sank my Battleship" first

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 14:28:17
Quote by Random:



YAY!

Collapse EA, for all your shitty sports games, and your mistreatment of employees. Burn in Corprate Hell!



...Random doesn't like EA.








*hides Sims2 games under desk*

Comment by velveeta jones on 04/14/2009 14:56:06
Morning all!



Funny video here: :lol:





Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/14/2009 14:59:08
Good morning, bloggers!



Excellent post, TriSec! I will make a point to thank the President later for meeting with the veterans organizations.



I hope that everyone is doing well. I am off today, and have a few errands to run. However, I will check in a few times.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 15:13:25
Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:



YAY!

Collapse EA, for all your shitty sports games, and your mistreatment of employees. Burn in Corprate Hell!



...Random doesn't like EA.








*hides Sims2 games under desk*




Hm...Sims was the only decent thing EA created...and even that wasn't EA but by Will Wright.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 15:20:31
Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:

So instead of trying to reach a peaceful agreement first, just f-ing blow them out of the water?


can't win Battleship any other way.






but you have to yell out "Hey you sank my Battleship" first


Hm...Good point.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 15:24:27
Quote by velveeta jones:

Morning all!



Funny video here: :lol:









that's just too funny!

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 15:26:51
Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:



YAY!

Collapse EA, for all your shitty sports games, and your mistreatment of employees. Burn in Corprate Hell!



...Random doesn't like EA.








*hides Sims2 games under desk*




Hm...Sims was the only decent thing EA created...and even that wasn't EA but by Will Wright.






I love my Sims2, and I want Sims3 with a passion but I'm holding off since i just got a bunch of expansion packs at Christmas. Love to build in this program, you can get pretty creative. In fact I should have Zin's shop done fairly soon.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 15:36:35
Quote by wickedpam:



I love my Sims2, and I want Sims3 with a passion but I'm holding off since i just got a bunch of expansion packs at Christmas. Love to build in this program, you can get pretty creative. In fact I should have Zin's shop done fairly soon.


Random doesn't have time to fool around with Sims...maybe He'll pick up Sims 3 since he's so far behind.



Or if Sims 2 is cheap.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 15:40:12
Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:



I love my Sims2, and I want Sims3 with a passion but I'm holding off since i just got a bunch of expansion packs at Christmas. Love to build in this program, you can get pretty creative. In fact I should have Zin's shop done fairly soon.


Random doesn't have time to fool around with Sims...maybe He'll pick up Sims 3 since he's so far behind.



Or if Sims 2 is cheap.






I know the expansion packs just got a bit cheaper - check out 3 first it looks really cool

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 15:46:01
Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:



I love my Sims2, and I want Sims3 with a passion but I'm holding off since i just got a bunch of expansion packs at Christmas. Love to build in this program, you can get pretty creative. In fact I should have Zin's shop done fairly soon.


Random doesn't have time to fool around with Sims...maybe He'll pick up Sims 3 since he's so far behind.



Or if Sims 2 is cheap.






I know the expansion packs just got a bit cheaper - check out 3 first it looks really cool


When i get home, but I'm thinking of getting Sims 2 Double Delux

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 15:58:39
Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:



I love my Sims2, and I want Sims3 with a passion but I'm holding off since i just got a bunch of expansion packs at Christmas. Love to build in this program, you can get pretty creative. In fact I should have Zin's shop done fairly soon.


Random doesn't have time to fool around with Sims...maybe He'll pick up Sims 3 since he's so far behind.



Or if Sims 2 is cheap.






I know the expansion packs just got a bit cheaper - check out 3 first it looks really cool


When i get home, but I'm thinking of getting Sims 2 Double Delux






have the whole series except for 2 stuff packs - H&M & Ikea

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 15:59:20
I love that we have a Pres who doesn't talk to me like I'm a idiot and explains stuff so I can understand it :)

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 16:00:45
Random would like to admend his statement about EA. He still hates it, but Mirror's Edge was one of the most awesome game of last year.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 16:02:18
Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:



I love my Sims2, and I want Sims3 with a passion but I'm holding off since i just got a bunch of expansion packs at Christmas. Love to build in this program, you can get pretty creative. In fact I should have Zin's shop done fairly soon.


Random doesn't have time to fool around with Sims...maybe He'll pick up Sims 3 since he's so far behind.



Or if Sims 2 is cheap.






I know the expansion packs just got a bit cheaper - check out 3 first it looks really cool


When i get home, but I'm thinking of getting Sims 2 Double Delux






have the whole series except for 2 stuff packs - H&M & Ikea


Cool...maybe I'll go your example...though I can't really make a shop for my characters. I can make my characters in Simness.

Comment by Scoopster on 04/14/2009 16:04:49
Quote by Random:

Random would like to admend his statement about EA. He still hates it, but Mirror's Edge was one of the most awesome game of last year.


It's too bad Spore was such a dud.. There's a lot of promise in the idea behind the game but it just failed to execute after a certain point.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 16:11:30
Quote by Scoopster:

Quote by Random:

Random would like to admend his statement about EA. He still hates it, but Mirror's Edge was one of the most awesome game of last year.


It's too bad Spore was such a dud.. There's a lot of promise in the idea behind the game but it just failed to execute after a certain point.


Heard that...but Random's holding out for a Mirror's Edge 2.

Comment by TriSec on 04/14/2009 16:15:04
Heading out to the store...TTFN.





Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 16:20:35
wait...these Tea partiers are actually calling it Teabagging? really...seriously...jesus...I thought it was a Wonkette Joke...

Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 16:23:42
Quote by Random:

wait...these Tea partiers are actually calling it Teabagging? really...seriously...jesus...I thought it was a Wonkette Joke...






nope it's completely real

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 16:31:02
Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:

wait...these Tea partiers are actually calling it Teabagging? really...seriously...jesus...I thought it was a Wonkette Joke...






nope it's completely real


...Random feels bad for disent in this country for using a vulgar sexual innuendo.

Comment by Scoopster on 04/14/2009 16:47:36
Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:

wait...these Tea partiers are actually calling it Teabagging? really...seriously...jesus...I thought it was a Wonkette Joke...


nope it's completely real


...Random feels bad for disent in this country for using a vulgar sexual innuendo.


....and you don't hear ANYTHING from the hoity-toity religious right about using this kind of imagery either.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 16:51:04
Quote by Scoopster:

Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:

wait...these Tea partiers are actually calling it Teabagging? really...seriously...jesus...I thought it was a Wonkette Joke...


nope it's completely real


...Random feels bad for disent in this country for using a vulgar sexual innuendo.


....and you don't hear ANYTHING from the hoity-toity religious right about using this kind of imagery either.


Hm...does the religious right even know what it means? I mean, aren't they probably just as ignorant.

I would bet, there is a sharp divide, where the left knows a lot more vulgar innuendo's than the right.

Which is better...you decide.



Comment by Scoopster on 04/14/2009 16:56:15
Quote by Random:

Quote by Scoopster:

Quote by Random:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Random:

wait...these Tea partiers are actually calling it Teabagging? really...seriously...jesus...I thought it was a Wonkette Joke...


nope it's completely real


...Random feels bad for disent in this country for using a vulgar sexual innuendo.


....and you don't hear ANYTHING from the hoity-toity religious right about using this kind of imagery either.


Hm...does the religious right even know what it means? I mean, aren't they probably just as ignorant.

I would bet, there is a sharp divide, where the left knows a lot more vulgar innuendo's than the right.

Which is better...you decide.



Oh I agree I'm sure they know just as many out-of-the-mainstream terms as we do. The point is that they practice both ignorance (of the actual meaning) and hypocrisy when they choose to employ such terms.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/14/2009 16:56:41
I will say that the choice of tea bagging as a term for the actions of a few on the Right is amusing. It seems that some of them are almost beyond the ability to satirize.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 17:03:17
Hm...It honestly sounds like an SNL parody of the moment.



So...that video down there, with the 2M4M...I can't watch videos...is that a parody?

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 17:12:23
Never mind...I looked up where 2M4M comes from...

2 Million for Marriage.

On their website...they even put 2M4M.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 17:17:42
Damn IT!

Where's the podcast...Random needs his binky.

Comment by livingonli on 04/14/2009 17:18:21
Finally awake and on-line.



Did anyone miss me?

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 17:27:23
yes Liv, we did.

Comment by Scoopster on 04/14/2009 17:30:41
Heya liv :D



LOL 2M4M.. If they went on Craiglist they could find out what that means. :lol:

Comment by livingonli on 04/14/2009 17:36:39
Quote by Scoopster:

Heya liv :D



LOL 2M4M.. If they went on Craiglist they could find out what that means. :lol:


Are cons that clueless about the internet and innuendo? Especially when you see how many cons have those secret lives and inclinations like a certain senator from Idaho.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 17:39:52
Quote by Scoopster:

Heya liv :D



LOL 2M4M.. If they went on Craiglist they could find out what that means. :lol:


Yes...<< >> Random's never looked...honest.

Comment by Scoopster on 04/14/2009 18:05:39
Quote by Random:

Quote by Scoopster:

Heya liv :D



LOL 2M4M.. If they went on Craiglist they could find out what that means. :lol:


Yes...<< >> Random's never looked...honest.


Can't say I ever looked at that section.. it's hard to miss the link tho on the way to the w4m missed connection area.

Comment by Random on 04/14/2009 18:08:15
Quote by Scoopster:

Quote by Random:

Quote by Scoopster:

Heya liv :D



LOL 2M4M.. If they went on Craiglist they could find out what that means. :lol:


Yes...<< >> Random's never looked...honest.


Can't say I ever looked at that section.. it's hard to miss the link tho on the way to the w4m missed connection area.


Yes...<< >> That's how Random has seen it...<< >>

Comment by Scoopster on 04/14/2009 18:44:46
Comment by wickedpam on 04/14/2009 18:53:38
Quote by livingonli:

Finally awake and on-line.



Did anyone miss me?






Of course :hug:

Comment by livingonli on 04/14/2009 18:58:14
And now it's time to head off to the salt mine after a stop at the post office.

Comment by Mondobubba on 04/15/2009 00:05:48
:rofl: KO is having too much fun saying teabag/teabagger/teabagging.

Comment by TriSec on 04/15/2009 01:00:30


Comment by livingonli on 04/15/2009 01:07:34
Tri stirs outward and now it's back to work for me.

Comment by Raine on 04/15/2009 01:29:40
Good Evening!



We have arrived back home to the mothership. Nice relaxing weekend -- for the most part.







Comment by Mondobubba on 04/15/2009 01:54:26
How's Republi-dad?

Comment by Raine on 04/15/2009 02:48:40
Republidad seemed subdued.



HE refused to talk politics at all. Even when the gun talk came up : Nothing.



His only gripe? Obama should have gotten a multi colored dog... I can't say that much about my Step Mom's Brother and his wife. I will not go into details, but--- if I ever hear the crap that came out of her mouth again... I will make a comment that will include the words Wop and Greasy Guinea and see how she likes it when things are turned.



'nuff said.





Comment by Mondobubba on 04/15/2009 03:41:30
Quote by Raine:

Republidad seemed subdued.



HE refused to talk politics at all. Even when the gun talk came up : Nothing.



His only gripe? Obama should have gotten a multi colored dog... I can't say that much about my Step Mom's Brother and his wife. I will not go into details, but--- if I ever hear the crap that came out of her mouth again... I will make a comment that will include the words Wop and Greasy Guinea and see how she likes it when things are turned.



'nuff said.







:Mrs Miller: Oh dear.