11/5/09

For years, conservatives have claimed the mantle of being more pro-military, pro-veterans than progressives. But their actions and record paint a different picture. From the Bush administration neglect of and cuts to veterans’ health—culminating in the exposed tragedies at Walter Reed Hospital—to the underfunding and resourcing of our troops in the battlefield, it’s clear that for years veteran and troop well-being wasn’t a high priority for conservatives in power.  Today, even as President Obama is trying fix these failures, conservatives are still preventing our nation’s veterans and their families from getting the support and care they need. Yesterday, for instance, it was revealed that Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) is using a Senate procedural hold to block the passage of the Veterans’ Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act. This legislation is crucial to providing much-needed health care, counseling and support to seriously wounded soldiers returning from the battlefield. But instead of honoring the sacrifices of these brave men and women by providing the care America owes them, Sen. Coburn would rather pursue partisan politics.

But this isn’t the first time conservatives have allowed politics to trump the needs of our military.  Earlier this year, 34 Republicans tried to kill the Defense Appropriations Bill because it included language to expand hate crimes protections. Sen. Coburn has tried to block other key veterans health bills on purely ideological grounds.  This troubling pattern is set against progressive leadership on veterans’ health. While President Obama has declared November Military Family Month, calling “on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service,” extreme conservatives continue to prevent veterans from receiving the care they need. A nation’s strength is exemplified by how we treat our war heroes. Sadly, some conservatives’ weak support for our veterans only dishonors the sacrifices of these brave men and women.

Amid criticism from military and veterans groups, conservatives in the Senate block funding for veterans.  The Marine Corp Times reported yesterday that “Thirteen major military and veterans groups have joined forces to try to force one senator — Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma — to release a hold that he has placed on a major veterans benefits bill. Coburn has been identified by Senate aides as the lawmaker preventing consideration of S 1963, the Veterans’ Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act of 2009, by using an informal but legal practice of putting a hold on a bill. Coburn’s staff did not respond to questions, but Senate aides said the first-term senator has expressed concern about creating new and unfunded benefits and wants the opportunity to amend the measure.”  The bill that Coburn is obstructing provides “Enhancements in VA health care for female veterans, including new training for VA mental health providers to handle veterans who experienced military sexual trauma. … Support to family caregivers of severely disabled veterans by giving them access to counseling, support and a living stipend… Expanded mental health services to rural regions where veterans currently have to drive hundreds of miles to seek mental health care… Improved traumatic brain injury (TBI) care…  [and] Additional programs for homeless veterans,” according to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a non-partisan veterans’ advocacy organization.

Earlier this week, in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the country’s leading veterans and military organizations expressed their frustration that the bill, which has passed through committee, is being blocked by a single senator.  The letter says, in part,  “It is essential that Congress act on this comprehensive measure without further delay. Thousands of disabled veterans with serious medical conditions and the family members who care for them are counting on this additional support.” The letter was signed by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AmVets, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Blinded Veterans Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, National Military Family Association and the Wounded Warrior Project. [Marine Corps Times, 11/4/09. IAVA, 10/30/09. Letter to Senator Reid, 11/3/09]

Despite rhetoric from the right, conservatives have repeatedly denied support to America’s troops and veterans.  This maneuver from Sen. Coburn is part of a pattern of conservative obstruction and interference with legislation at the expense of America’s troops.  Last month, conservatives chose to obstruct the entire 2010 defense authorization bill, because of an amendment “that would specify harsh penalties for hate crimes, including those based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” reported the Hill.  As a result, 34 Senate Republicans sought to block a vote on the defense bill, prioritizing their opposition to the Hate Crimes amendment over support for the authorization of critical funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last year, progressives passed a 21st century GI Bill, with expanded and updated education benefits, over the opposition of John McCain and Lindsey Graham.  AP reported that “McCain says the legislation is too expensive and has proposed his own version, which would increase the monthly benefit available to most veterans to $1,500 from $1,100...  ‘He's trying to run interference for the White House with a watered down bill,’ said Jon Soltz, an Iraq war veteran and chairman of VoteVets.org.”  

Throughout the years of the Bush administration the Department of Veterans Affairs was ignored and underfunded.  John Soltz describes the situation saying, that “the Bush administration underfunded the VA by billions, leading to backlogs and some real horror stories.”  The Washington Post’s coverage of scandalous conditions at Walter Reed provided perhaps the most glaring example: “Signs of neglect are everywhere: mouse droppings, belly-up cockroaches, stained carpets, cheap mattresses.”  [The Hill, 10/22/09. Senate Roll Call Vote,10/22/09. AP via CBS News, 05/20/09. John Soltz, 8/20/09. Washington Post, 2/17/09]

Progressives have been leaders in supporting the troops and keeping America’s promises to our veterans. 

• Progressives in the Senate brought America a 21st Century GI Bill, despite opposition from key conservatives.   Last year Think Progress wrote, “the Senate passed Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) 21st Century GI Bill on a veto-proof 75-22 vote. Steve Robertson, the American Legion’s legislative affairs director, said Webb’s bill ‘was clearly a cooperative operation, bipartisan and with involvement with the veterans service organizations,’ adding, ‘That’s why I think everyone’s pretty much in sync with it … it was a group effort.’ Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) not only skipped the vote on Webb’s bill, but he and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) also failed to include veterans’ concerns while drafting their competing measure.” [Think Progress, 06/04/08]

• President Obama reformed the budgeting process for veteran’s health care.  In October, President Barack Obama signed new legislation that the Army website says, “creates predictable funding for veterans' health care. The Veterans Healthcare Reform and Transparency Act fundamentally changes how the Department of Veterans Affairs receive health care funding. The reform calls for appropriations a year in advance after more than two decades of regular budget delays, Obama said from the White House East Room.” [Army.Mil, 11/22/09]

• While in the Senate, Vice President Biden led the effort to provide solders with the necessary equipment to keep them safe. At the time, Defence Talk wrote, “Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr.’s (D-DE) bipartisan legislation (S.AMDT.3075) which boosts funding for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles by $23.6 billion, allowing the Army to replace all of its up-armored humvees in Iraq with MRAPs, passed the Senate today as part of the Department of Defense Authorization Bill. “We have no higher obligation than to protect those we send to the front lines,” said Senator Joe Biden.” [Defence Talk, 10/3/07]

• During Bush administration, progressives on Capitol Hill led in providing resources for the troops.  A 2007 “USA TODAY investigation shows. Since the war began, members of Congress — Democrats and Republicans — repeatedly have forced the Defense Department to invest in body armor, order devices to jam signals from detonators used by insurgent bombers, and buy vehicles that top military officials initially deemed unnecessary.” [USA Today, 10/2/07]

• President Obama proclaimed November “Military Families Month.”  His proclamation, the president stated, “This month, we celebrate the tremendous contributions of military families, convey to them our deepest respect and appreciation, and recommit ourselves to their support.  Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim November 2009 as Military Family Month. I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our Nation.” [Barack Obama, 11/2/09]

• President Obama named a retired four star general and Army Chief of Staff, demonstrating his commitment to America’s heroes.  President Obama’s appointment of, Eric Shinseki drew wide praise. At the time of the appointment, the Washington Post wrote, “Military leaders and veterans advocates hailed Obama's selection of Shinseki, describing the nominee as a soft-spoken, dynamic leader who is widely respected by rank-and-file service members past and present.  Retired Army Gen. Colin L. Powell, who was President Bush's secretary of state at the time of the Iraq invasion, called Shinseki "a superb choice.” [Washington Post, 12/6/08]

• Congress’s newest progressive, retired Air Force captain Bill Owens, has shown that progressives will  continue the tradition. While on the campaign trail, now Representative-elect Bill Owens made clear that: “In Congress, I will work every day to ensure that the service and sacrifice of our sons and daughters is honored and recognized when they return. I will work to keep Fort Drum strong and make sure our veterans get the healthcare they deserve, including increased support for soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” [Bill Owens, 9/19/09]

What We’re Reading

Afghan presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah continues to be a voice of opposition despite ceding the election to incumbent Hamid Karzai. Outcries continue in Britain concerning the murders of 5 British servicemen by corrupt Afghan police officers with whom they were patrolling. And the UN has ordered hundred of staff members to temporarily relocate as additional security measures for their residents are put in place following the murder of 5 foreign workers by Taliban militants.

Opposition protests in Iran occurred as planned, splitting events commemorating the 30th anniversary of the student takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran.  Reports indicated the size of opposition protests were larger than the state-sanctioned commemorative events.

Israelis say they have seized a ship in the Mediterranean that was shipping Iranian arms to Hezbollah.

The Pentagon is announcing it will request additional funding from Congress to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, even though President Obama pledged to end the practice of supplemental war-funding.

Mexican drug gangs have begun infiltrating Indian reservations in the United States.

Relations between Washington and the military junta in Burma continue to thaw as senior US officials are allowed to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma’s pro-democracy movement.

An Italian court convicted 22 CIA operatives and a US Air Force colonel in absentia on kidnapping charges, but any decisions on extradition requests have not been made.

Memories spur debate about East Germany as Germans reflect on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced her support for peace talks between Israeli and Palestinians, even if traction against slowing down settlements in the West Bank slips.

Commentary of the Day

The Los Angeles Times says the Obama administration must continue to stay behind the deal they brokered to resolve the Honduran political crisis.

Ray Takeyh explains how Iran is using its nuclear program to deflect domestic and foreign criticism of its anti-democratic moves and human rights abuses.

The Economist argues that diminish fertility rates is strongly correlated with economic growth and reduced environmental damage.

The Washington Post urges the Obama administration to continue their efforts in the Middle East, but to also put some energy into Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s plan to build Palestinian state institutions, with or without a formal peace deal with the Israelis.