War Is Over!

By now, you've seen the video footage of the last of U.S. ground troops leaving Iraq, thus ending Operation: Iraqi Freedom. 50,000 U.S. forces will stay to train the Iraqi army, and provide security for the country for the time being. Most of you who have read my blogs, both at Jonathan's Corner and on B&D, know my stance on the Iraq war, so I won't continute to beat a dead horse. Instead, let me take this time and this space to thank the men and women who served with the upmost honor and disinction during tour after tour. These brave souls answered the call when their country called on them to serve, and did their job to the best of their ability. For that, they have my, and a nation's, eternal thanks for doing what they did.

Privatize what????

Mr. Obama, you're dead wrong on attempting to privatize veteran's healthcare.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service-related injuries.

The plan would be an about-face on what veterans believe is a longstanding pledge by the government to pay for health care costs that result from their military service......

The proposed requirement for these companies to reimburse the VA would not only be unfair, says the Legion, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families. The Legion argues that, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran’s condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health care benefits. The Legion also points out that many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered.

“When a man goes and defends his country and gets injured and then they want your insurance to pay, that’s wrong,” said David Gerke, a 60-year-old Vietnam veteran and retired postal worker from Kansas City. “When we went into the service, we were told our medical needs…would be taken care of for the rest of our lives.”

Mr. Obama, people like my dad, a retired veteran of Desert Storm, risked life and limb for their country, they deserve to be taken care of for their sacrifice and service. End of story. Please reconsider your stand on privatizing veterans healthcare.