Mullen taken to the wood shed

[unhappycamper]

Mullen apologizes for comments on wounded care
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday May 5, 2010 8:47:05 EDT

A call by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs for community organizations to step in to help wounded war veterans make the transition to civilian life has drawn complaints from a major veterans organization and an apology from the JCS chairman.

There is nothing wrong with asking community-based groups to help, but the primary responsibility for wounded warriors rests with the federal government, said David Gorman, executive director of the Washington headquarters of Disabled American Veterans, in reaction to remarks made over the last few weeks by Adm. Mike Mullen.

“It is the exclusive responsibility of the federal government because it creates disabled veterans,” Gorman said Tuesday in a statement. “It is the government’s solemn duty to care for and treat all veterans who are wounded and disabled in America’s wars. It is unfathomable that Adm. Mullen would suggest such a plan, asking charities to provide the care now given so compassionately by the VA.

“It makes one wonder if Adm. Mullen believes it is best to return to the days when disabled veterans sold pencils on street corners and relied on the support of charitable organizations,” Gorman said. “The DAV has the greatest respect for Adm. Mullen” and said the organization commends Mullen’s “remarkable service to our country, but one must wonder what he was thinking.”

Mullen said he is sorry for what he called a “poor choice of words.”



unhappycamper comment: The DoD is tapped out when it comes to veterans care. At the moment we have approximately 22,000 severely injured veterans that will need care for the rest of their lives. Another 60,000 or so were denied benefits because of 'pre-existing conditions'. Pre-existing conditions = a fuck you to veterans.

Any idea on why money is tight? One possible answer is we are spending $200 grand a minute on the occupations.

[old mark]

1. uhc: in the Bush I days, my SIL's father was on the waiting list to enter a VA hospital

with a service connected disability that was killing him...they stalled him off for nearly a year till he died, then took him off the list - one less vet to worry about.
We have 2 useless wars draining our young people's lives and our national resources...maybe it's time we stopped being THE SUPERPOWER and became just another country.

We really don't need all those Navy carrier groups, nor all those bomber wings not all those ICBM's...we need the money here at home to help our own people whose lives have been ruined by politicians stupidity and ego.
rec.
Thanks again for your posts here.

Mark
former Sp4 1/504 PIR