Politicians in Congress are on the verge of cutting funding for the treatment of a health problem that affects more than 100,000 Iraq war vets. Yes, you read that correctly.
There are THAT many documented, diagnosed cases of TBI in just Iraqi war vets? No WONDER Democrats have been moving up in the polls. Seriously, do we even HAVE 100,000 soldiers in ALL of Iraq? I would like a source for this figure, pleae...
Why? Because one in 10 Iraq vets has sustained a concussion at some point during his or her tour of duty. This severe blow to the head jars the brain against the inside of the skull, and often leads to TBI.
How often? What percentage of concussion incidents lead to TBI? The article kind of implies concussion = TBI, but I'm certain thats only true in a fraction of cases.
So, how does Congress respond to this growing need? It's preparing to slash funding for research and treatment of brain injuries caused by bomb blasts. The current House version of the 2007 defense appropriations bill contains just $7 million for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center - half of what was allocated to the center last year.
Perhaps the center doesn't NEED as much money this year. Perhaps the reduced level of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus increased armoring of vehicles, is reducing the need for treatment?
How on Earth do they try to explain this unpardonable cut? A congressional spokeswoman, Jenny Manley, told USA Today, "There were just so many priorities." Defending the elected officials, she added, "They didn't have any flexibility in such a tight fiscal year."
Let's get this straight. In a bill appropriating more than $400 billion in defense spending, primarily to support a war in Iraq that has already cost hundreds of billions ofdollars, Congress can't find a fewmillion to adequately treat troops wounded with brain injuries for the rest of their lives?
Any trrops NOT being adequately treated - for lack of funds? How many, IF ANY? You know, a million here and a million there, and pretty soon you're talking about REAL MONEY...
Rieckhoff is the executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and author of "Chasing Ghosts: A Soldier's Fight from Baghdad to Washington."
Perhaps some info about Reickhoff will be useful in determining how much weight to put behind his screed....
...(about his service in Iraq) - ""Sometimes I felt like I was a member of the Brown Shirts in Nazi Germany," admits Rieckhoff.
...(his political leanings) - he flirted with the Kerry campaign following his discharge, and gave a radio rebuttal to a presidential address on behalf of the Democrats, he claims to be disgusted with how both parties are treating the war. One got us in, the other won't get us out. (..so the Dems aren't LEFT enough for him???)
...and from IAVA itself:
"We are fully committed to the capture of Osama Bin Laden and the destruction of his terrorist network. With 90% of our active duty Army committed in Iraq and our National Guard engaged as well, our nation is now less secure than prior to our invasion of Iraq. We are more vulnerable to terrorism and less able to respond to natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina
We support diplomatic efforts and policies that are consistent with our values and interests as Americans. Displaying arrogance in diplomatic affairs, disregarding the world community and condoning torture are examples of actions that are irreconcilable with those values. In a world where America is battling for hearts and minds, we reject policies that jeopardize our international standing and therefore damage the interests of the nation as a whole "
Nah, no political axe to grind on the part of this DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPOKESMAN, Wall Street investment banker, and self-declared "expert" on the military and Middle East...no bias at all...
