Dean Condemns Administration for Failing To Honor Former Prisoners of War

[Rose Siding]

DES MOINES--Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, M.D., today reacted to the Administration's effort to block American troops who were tortured in Iraqi prisons during the Persian Gulf war from collecting any of the hundreds of millions of dollars in frozen Iraqi assets they won last summer in a federal court ruling against the government of Saddam Hussein:

"On the eve of Veteran's Day, we have learned that President Bush is blocking troops tortured in the first Gulf War from recovering due compensation for their horrible suffering. As we prepare to commemorate the heroism of the patriotic Americans who have served and sacrificed for our country, I am stunned by the hypocrisy of the Bush Administration and their betrayal of our troops," Governor Dean said.

"Instead of blocking the compensation rightfully owed to these war heroes, the President should freeze the profits of Halliburton and his other cronies who are benefiting most from the $87 billion to rebuild Iraq. I call on Congress to ask: if the recent $87 billion allocation does not provide for our veterans who fought in Iraq--where is this money going?" he added.

According to today's New York Times, administration lawyers have argued that Iraqi assets frozen in bank accounts in the United States are needed for Iraqi reconstruction. They also argue that a judgment won by the former American prisoners should be overturned.

Howard Dean also released the following statement today commemorating America's veterans and outlining his policies.

"As President, I will ensure that veterans receive the respect and recognition they so greatly deserve for the sacrifices that they have made serving our nation. This is fundamental to the ideal of the American Community, which my campaign seeks to restore,"Governor Dean said. "Those who have sacrificed for our nation deserve not only our admiration, compassion, and respect, they deserve health care and other tangible benefits that ensure that they can live their lives with respect and dignity."

As Governor, Dean took numerous steps to recognize and support the 40,000 veterans living in Vermont. He enacted legislation to protect state-employed veterans‚ retirement benefits and to exempt disabled veterans from property taxes. Dean revived the Governor's Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs, and dedicated Vermont‚s first veterans' cemetery.

As President, Dean said he will not turn his back on veterans. Dean will:

· support and sign legislation that fully funds the VA health care system, to ensure a level of funding that provides every veteran with quality, timely health care.

· Put an end to the Disabled Veterans Tax by supporting and signing legislation authorizing concurrent receipt.

· return the Department of Veterans Affairs to its mission of serving veterans, and educating them about their rights to quality health care rather than hiding their rights from them.

· push for full funding of Veterans Affairs‚ programs that treat mental illness, particularly relating to the lingering stresses of battle.

· provide homeless veterans with the resources and support that they need to regain stability, dignity, and control of their lives.

· support and sign legislation that ensures veterans sufficient G.I. Bill funding to send them not just to, but through, college or vocational school.

· enforce veterans' preference statutes applicable to all executive branch agencies.

Governor Dean dedicated Vermont's first veterans' cemetery in 1993 and revived the Governor's Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs. It was comprised of seven member organizations, representing tens of thousands of American veterans. The members of this organization were the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Benefits Association, Persian Gulf Veterans, and Waves National.

More information on the governor's veterans policy and his record is available at http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=community_veterans.

[Melinda]

1. I love this man.

I do.

[Scott Lee]

2. Come on, all you Dean Haterz...what's the hold up?

This thread has been up a whole five minutes...why no attacks on Dean yet?

Chop chop!

[UpInArms]

3. This mal-administration is so hateful, greedy, spiteful

and self-serving that one would hope that they would just eat each other - but no, they have to keep their fists firmly inside the coconut.

Well, if anyone wants to know - $2 million of the $87 Billion is a bounty for Charles Taylor - exiled leader of Liberia.

I would prefer to spend the money on protective gear and boots for our soldiers that are fighting and dying for *'s oil seat on OPEC.

[JNelson6563]

4. Support the Troops!

With prayer. We ain't gonna give 'em nuthin'! Not while they're in, not once they're out.

They are mere grist to the mill. Cheap protein.

Team Bush sucks.

Julie

[Polemonium]

5. Always nice to hear the sound of opposition to the bandit

administration robbing us blind now. Opposition should not feel new, but somehow it does.

[Don_G]

6. Fund Raising Is So Much More Important

Than Leadership, isn't it?

[depakid]

7. The campaign need to disseminate this statement

to vetererns groups all over the county.

[Rose Siding]

8. "A Choice on Veteran's Day" -Jon Zall, Colonel, USAF (Ret)

Veterans Day remembers the sacrifices of so many who have served our country and who continue to do so today. Many, of course, have paid with their lives or disabling injuries over the years. So, I would first ask you to consider taking a moment sometime today to "salute" them in whatever way you choose to do so.

You have seen the bumper stickers, "Support our Troops", and I know most of you do, regardless of administration policies and actions. Patriotism isn't the sole province of Republicans. And a lot of you have family and friends now in Iraq.

Please also understand that, in my opinion, "troops" includes our veterans, many of whom are being forgotten in a variety of ways by this administration. Nobody was sorry to see Saddam Hussein go. Nevertheless, many of us do not agree with how the Bush administration justified its actions in going to war. Nor do we agree with the Bush Doctrine, including pre-emptive invasions and regime changes as regular courses of action for the future. Nor do we agree with a Patriot Act that threatens the basic freedoms which many of you fought for. Nor do we agree with the deficiencies in veterans' medical care. Nor do we like the fact that veterans are three times more likely to be homeless than anyone else.

Why should military veterans, or anyone associated with the military, consider any option other than Mr. Bush for the coming 2004 election? I'm a veteran, retired with almost 27 years of service, who no longer believes this administration has the best interests of our veterans and our military in mind. Until two months ago, I (like many veterans) wasn't going to consider any Democrat – after all, I had voted mostly Republican for 40 years. But the weight of events and the actions of the Bush administration, especially with regard to veterans and the use of our military, including the Reserves and National Guard, caused me to change my mind.

That's why I decided to put the Veterans for Dean Blog into play. Something inside me said that if I am needing to talk about a lot of things that really bother me about the use of our military and support of our veterans, then I suspect there may be many more of you out there. The Blog is a forum for all of you – you don't have to be a veteran or in the military – who don't like the direction their country is taking. And, know this for sure, the blog is not intended to create dissent among our troops, veterans or active duty, but to intelligently lay out and discuss ideas. The blog also links to other important Veterans-for-Dean websites and other links of interest for you to check out.

Veterans, there are millions of you out there, and there is a better alternative for 2004! You can have a huge impact. On this Veterans Day while you honor your brothers and sisters in arms, resolve to make things better for those that follow them in the future, and for our country. Gov. Dean has taken time to clearly support veterans and their needs (see his Veterans Day statement, then go to Veterans Coalition site for more information). Dr. Dean will be happy to have you on board!

Jon Zall, Colonel, USAF (Ret)

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002225.html