Leave No Soldier Behind (CLARK'S Plan for Veterans)

[DoveTurnedHawk]

General Wesley Clark announced his policy to fulfill our nation's debt to veterans on Monday after touring a VA Hospital in Tuscan, Arizona. Clark's Veterans Security Plan would give our veterans and our servicemen and women the respect and resources they deserve.

"The ingratitude we show our veterans is appalling," Clark said. "As of earlier this year, more than 235,000 of our veterans are on waiting lists for VA care. Many wait six months or longer to see a doctor; some wait as long as two years."

Clark's four-part plan would create a National Soldiers Memorial, fully fund veterans' health care, end unfair benefit practices, and ensure better protection for military communities.

Clark proposed a new memorial to honor the men and women who fought and died in wars not yet memorialized in our nation's capital. Clark supports a tribute to all Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, including those who served in Panama, Somalia, Iraq and many other places around the globe.

"They answered the call," Clark said. "They served with honor. Their sacrifice is a solemn reminder that 'freedom is not free.' Generations of young Americans have paid for it with their lives."

<...>

Story here:

http://www.clark04.com/story/15/

Full text of the policy here:

http://www.clark04.com/downloads/pdf/brief_veterans.pdf

Clark's related press release, "Morale Is High???" is available here:

http://www.clark04.com/press/release/070/

DTH

[Avalux]

1. This is good

I'm still waiting for Clark to speak out on the media ban for flag draped coffins though - hope it's soon. Tomorrow would be a good day for it.

[neuvocat]

3. Excellent idea.

I'm gonna mention that on his site and hope he gets it (if he didn't plan on mentioning that already).

[realFedUp]

2. This isn't LBN material

Sending you over to GD...

rfu, moderator

[jarab]

4. kick !! n/t

...O...

[eileen_d]

5. kick, and a related article

Disabled Vet Fights For Respect

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=20627

[Eloriel]

6. That's a little disappointing, esp. coming from a former General

Here's Dean's:

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.

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002214.html

I will compliment Clark on including military communities. But it really does seem slim from a military guy.

Edit: Oh, and he prefaces his statement (see the link) with a lambast at Bush for blocking the lawsuits of former (Gulf War) POWs suing for some of that Iraqi money as compensation.

Eloriel

[DoveTurnedHawk]

7. Perhaps You Should Read the Four-Page Policy Statement

http://www.clark04.com/downloads/pdf/brief_veterans.pdf

It's quite a bit more detailed than that post on Dean's blog.

Nothing against Dean; I like how he spoke on this issue, it's more than most of the other candidates have said. But your constant denigration of Clark has gotten extremely old.

DTH

[Donna Zen]

10. An added benefit

Clark would make sure it get enacted. It's the little thing called the honor code.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Eloriel.....

Do you ever get tired? Personally, you exhaust me. It's like the Clark name in any thread just attracts you so.

[eleny]

11. Yawn....

[RandomUser]

13. Dean supporters bash Clark

Film at 11.

Elly, darling, why not post something positive about Dean instead? This is why Dean is no longer my number 2, even though I backed Dean before Clark entered. Negative smearing turns me off.

Note that Clark has never retaliated against Dean even when he's had the chance, and even when Dean attacked him. Instead, Clark attacks Bush even while Dean is attacking Clark. That's why I trust Clark's integrity more.

[Skwmom]

15. Guess what Eloriel when veterans find out how Dean dodged

the draft leaving some poor kid to take his place, they really aren't interested in listening to Dean. In addition, because Dean has a huge "credibility" problem - nobody knows they can believe what he has to say. We can't beat Bush with a guy America can't trust.

[RetroLounge]

18. OK, first off, Dean did NOT dodge the draft

he reported for the physical and was turned down because of a back problem that would prevent him from hiking long distances. The Army made the choice, not Dean. And before yu bring up the Skiing part, it had nothing to do with this. Read up on it before you lie. If you want support for your views, drop the lies, it's pathetic.

Second. Good job General Clark! We need more people pointing out how badly Bush* treats the vets and their families. It's really a crime, to get $87 billion for his little war of revenge and oil, and yet he cuts the vets benefits. His mama should slap him for that...

Clark will get it done. And so will Dean. But togeher? with both candidates on the ticket? It's a done Deal!

So Kudos to Clark, keep up the fight.

[tokenlib]

8. This is what I've wanted from Clark..and ...

..I'm glad to hear how he not only released the policy but expressed his heartfelt feelings about the issue.

Both Kerry and Dean and other candidates have also issued commendable statements about veterans benefits and the betrayal by Bush and the GOP. However, coming from Clark today it was most powerful. If Clark continues to drop by veterans hospitals as he travels the country--he could really put Bush to shame--and bring hope to the veterans and their families for a better future.

[grasswire]

12. If Clark could just....

...capture 1/4 of the military and veteran vote, W would be O-U-T bigtime.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. Nice.

I would expect nothinG less from the General. Our Veteran's deserve our help.

250,000 HOMELESS VETERANS! SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

[KittyWampus]

16. This Is A GREAT Soundbite

glad Clark & his campaign came up with it!

All the candidates are addressing Veterans issues thank goodness.

Clark does seem to bring an edge to the issue though.

[tokenlib]

17. Deserves a kick for Veteran's Day

After the empty words and platitudes of Bush this morning--it is good to know that Clark would put the words in action.