Iraq and Afghan Vets Not Ready to Support New Afghanistan Strategy

It is a given that Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) would oppose let alone question President Obama’s decision to escalate his war in Afghanistan, but at least two other progressive (yet moderate) Veterans groups have expressed deep concerns and reservations about the Obama administration’s lack of planning on both "dwell time strategy," and "a Veterans healthcare strategy."

Ironically, one group VoteVets was and remains a strong supporter of the concept of escalation in Afghanistan and have been passionate supporters of the President, but now feel his speech and lack of a game plan addressing dwell time will ultimately hurt the troops sent in harms way. It is still not clear how the administration and Congress plans on providing the extra troops needed to provide adequate rest and relaxaton between deployments minus an early exit from Iraq or the draft.

The other Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) shares concerns about adequate dwell time but focuses on Obama’s lack of a game plan for the SURGE in patients at both VA Hospitals and Military Medical facilities.

ROBERT L. HANAFIN
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired
GS-14, U.S. Civil Service-Retired
Editorial Board
VT News Network &
Our Troops News Ladder

  Vets Not Ready to Support New Afghanistan Strategy
by: Richard Allen Smith
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ VETERANS NOT READY
TO SUPPORT OBAMA STRATEGY IN AFGHANISTAN

Usually supportive of administration, largest progressive veterans group in America has serious questions about future of War in Afghanistan following Obama speech

Veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are not ready to support the strategy for the war in Afghanistan, laid out by President Obama this evening, saying they had serious reservations and questions about it.  The veterans of VoteVets.org, the largest progressive group of veterans in America, said that the strategy left unanswered too many questions regarding strain on the Armed Forces, and didn’t address other issues that would help ensure that the entire mission wouldn’t be put on the backs of the troops.

  Jon Soltz, Iraq war veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org said, "We have been supportive of every move the President has made since he was elected, and have supported an increased focus on Afghanistan since our inception, but given the serious questions that are unresolved, we aren’t ready to support what
he’s laid out. 

First and foremost, we are always concerned about the strain on the American servicemember, and this plan leaves very big questions on that issue.  We know that the President has carefully considered all the options presented to him, and  doesn’t take this decision lightly. We appreciate that.
But before committing troops, he has to answer these questions."

 The questions the group raised are as follows:

1. By deploying an additional 30,000 troops, without speeding up the departure from Iraq, our force will remain overstretched.  How does the administration reconcile this issue?  

       * The administration has promised that each servicemember will receive appropriate "Dwell Time" (as much time home as deployed) and an end to stop loss.  With the operational tempo set out by this strategy, it is hard to see how the administration can keep to that promise.

        * Additionally, will this strategy mean a return to deployments longer than 12 months?  Again, by simply shifting Iraq troops to Afghanistan, it is hard to see how deployment times don’t go up again.  We’ve seen a record rate of suicide in the Army, linked to longer and more frequent deployments, making this a top consideration.

CONTINUED IN COMMENTS SECTION

Robert L. Hanafin

Readers are more than welcome to use the articles I’ve posted on Veterans Today, I’ve had to take a break from VT as Veterans Issues and Peace Activism Editor and staff writer due to personal medical reasons in our military family that take away too much time needed to properly express future stories or respond to readers in a timely manner.

My association with VT since its founding in 2004 has been a very rewarding experience for me.

Retired from both the Air Force and Civil Service. Went in the regular Army at 17 during Vietnam (1968), stayed in the Army Reserve to complete my eight year commitment in 1976. Served in Air Defense Artillery, and a Mechanized Infantry Division (4MID) at Fort Carson, Co. Used the GI Bill to go to college, worked full time at the VA, and non-scholarship Air Force 2-Year ROTC program for prior service military. Commissioned in the Air Force in 1977. Served as a Military Intelligence Officer from 1977 to 1994. Upon retirement I entered retail drugstore management training with Safeway Drugs Stores in California. Retail Sales Management was not my cup of tea, so I applied my former U.S. Civil Service status with the VA to get my foot in the door at the Justice Department, and later Department of the Navy retiring with disability from the Civil Service in 2000.

I’ve been with Veterans Today since the site originated. I’m now on the Editorial Board. I was also on the Editorial Board of Our Troops News Ladder another progressive leaning Veterans and Military Family news clearing house.

I remain married for over 45 years. I am both a Vietnam Era and Gulf War Veteran. I served on Okinawa and Fort Carson, Colorado during Vietnam and in the Office of the Air Force Inspector General at Norton AFB, CA during Desert Storm. I retired from the Air Force in 1994 having worked on the Air Staff and Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon.