There’s a little-known veterans’ benefit that helps wartime veterans and their surviving spouses pay for a variety of medical and long-term care costs.br /The VA benefit is called “Aid and Attendance,” a special pension benefit that provides monthly income up to $1,644 for a veteran; $1,056 for a surviving spouse; or $1,949 for a veteran and one dependent. The money can be used to pay for in-home care, assisted living and nursing home care as well medical expenses, prescription drugs and more.br /To qualify, the vet must have served 90+ days of active service with at least one day of service during a period of war (stateside or overseas), and not have been dishonorably discharged. (Single surviving spouses of wartime vets are also eligible if their marriage ended due to death.) The vet will also have to meet certain physical and financial requirements to be eligible.br /To learn more or to apply, contact a veteran’s service organization. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 800–827–1000 or a href=”http://www.va.gov/”www.va.gov/a.
A VA Benefit many don’t know about
April 30th, 2009Torture
April 30th, 2009Michigan’s Senator Carl Levin is the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He recently stated that his committee released its report on its investigation into the treatment of detainees in US custody earlier this week. The report, which was approved by the Committee on November 20, 2008, has been under review for declassification by the Department of Defense. The Committee’s report represents a condemnation of both the Bush administration’s interrogation policies and of senior administration officials who attempted to shift the blame for abuse, which occurred at places such as Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, and in Afghanistan, to low ranking soldiers. Claims, such as the one made by former Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz that detainee abuses could be chalked up to the unauthorized acts of a “few bad apples,” were simply false. The report continues that, early on, it was senior civilian leaders who set the tone. In September 2001, Vice President Cheney suggested that the US turn to the “dark side” in our response to 9/11. Not long after that, after White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales called parts of the Geneva Conventions “quaint,” President Bush determined that provisions of the Geneva Conventions did not apply to certain detainees. Other senior officials followed the President and Vice President’s lead, authorizing policies that included harsh and abusive interrogation techniques.br /br /While I didn’t know the facts presented in Levin’s report, they are not shocking to me. I expect our national government will do what they need to do to protect the nation. I know that the Geneva Convention only applies to countries that have signed it and the terrorists don’t belong to nations that have signed it—neither do they adhere to the Convention’s rules. I also know that telling the enemy what you will do and how and when you will do it to captured combatants is not smart. I don’t defend the Bush Administration’s actions, because I’m not sure why they made the decisions that they did. I do know that the efforts of Levin’s committee are giving great aid and comfort to those who hate us. While the Obama Administration has deleted the term “Global War on Terror,” we’re still at war; we should be focused on winning it.
A New and Wierd Secretary of the Army
April 29th, 2009Every time I think I can’t possibly be shocked any further, the new administration proves me wrong. You’ll never guess who they’re nominating to be the next Secretary of the Army! They’ve tagged retired Marine General ARonold Punaro, who presently oversees the huge McLean VA based SIAC’s lobbying effort. It’s said that Punaro has strong support in the White House for the Army job from a fellow Marine, National Security Council chief James L. Jones. While there are clearly questions about giving the Army job to a Marine, but there are huge questions about why this administration—pledged to be the most honest in history—also brought in former industry lobbyist Bill Lynn as deputy secretary of defense. Is the Pentagon becoming defense-lobbyist-central? Punaro reputation is hardly that of a gent who wants to make our military strong and effective; he’s more into tinkering with things that work well while ignoring the things that don’t. This is another recipe for disaster.
April 27th, 2009
Obama’s first foreign trip as President of the United States has confirmed the naiveté that many of us saw and were concerned about during the election. Worse than that, it also has shown that our president either a completely misunderstands of our heritage and history or has an utter contempt for it. I find neither to be excusable. To the cheers of the French (God help us), President Obama insulted our nation by saying, “In America, there is a failure to appreciate Europe’s leading role in the world. Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.” Our president spoke these words just 500 miles from the beaches of Normandy, where the sand is still stained with 65-year-old blood of “arrogant Americans.” Your comments are a disgrace, Mr. Obama.
Fire Napolitano
April 23rd, 2009Dept of Homeland Security Napolitano continues to demonstrate amazing incompetence. Her latest demonstration came when she wrongly claimed this week that the 9/11 terrorists came through Canada to launch the attack, even though not one of the radical Muslims traveled through our northern neighbor. Her statement questioning the loyalty of most American conservatives, suggesting they are possible terrorists set off another blast of criticism of the DHS Secretary. Last week, she released a report saying that returning veterans from Iraq or Afghanistan should be watched as they could become domestic conservative terrorists. In obedience to her directive, the FBI went so far as to film the recent tea party protests of loyal Americans because of warnings that conservatives could become terrorist threats. Her demonstrated ignorance about Islamic terrorism makes it no wonder she is wasting time and money examining our troops, anti-tax, pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment and other conservative groups. Napolitano is clearly clueless about the details of what happened to America on 11 Sept 2001. She has brazenly offended our brave troops who have protected us since that day America was attacked—and for the entire history of our nation. Her outlook and priorities are exactly backward and plainly dangerous. Napolitano is unfit to serve as secretary of Homeland Security and President Obama must fire her before she causes more damage to our country.
