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Yearly Archives: 2010
Vets Find Voice Through Film
More than 40 years ago Herschel Ryan of Monroe was piloting a helicopter on a combat assault mission in Vietnam when he lost his left hand and left eye during an ambush. But unlike many fellow Vietnam veterans, Ryan returned to Monroe to a hero's welcome. He was wounded and medically retired in 1968, several years before a mood of protest against the Vietnam War swept the country.
"Every Vietnam veteran's story is going to be different because we all had different jobs and served at different times," Ryan said. "When I came back to Monroe, I was treated like a hero and learned to make the best out of the situation. But many Vietnam veterans got a bad rap from the press and several individuals.
On Obama’s Iraq Speech Tonight – Combat’s Not Over!
As the hour for President Obama's speech to the nation on Iraq approaches, VT has been getting input from across the political spectrum from...
After Saddam, America’s Next Fake Enemy: Deficits
By Paul Krugman in Truthout
Were Americans misled into the Iraq war? Yes.
But Karl Rove, who served as senior adviser and deputy chief of staff...
Program Announced for 5th Annual 9-11 Freedom Walk
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (www.reaganlibrary.com) is joining forces with MilitaryConnection.com (www.militaryconnection.com) to bring to our city the fifth annual Simi Valley Freedom Walk...
The American Taliban
By Markos Moulitsas
Conservatives say a lot of ridiculous things. But few were more ridiculous than the repeated claims that liberals were in league with...
VA Issues Continue to Escalate
As your constituent and a member of Veterans-For-Change, an advocacy group for Veterans rights, benefits, and treatment, my co-members and I would like to bring to your attention the ever-increasing problems affecting veterans and their families every day. President Obama has clearly stated, “Whether you left the service in 2009 or 1949, we will fulfill our responsibility to deliver the benefits and care that you earned. That's why I've pledged to build nothing less than a 21st-century VA”.
U.S. Department of Defense Announces Latest Contract Awards
No. 785-10
August 31, 2010
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CONTRACTS
NAVY
Walsh Construction Co., Chicago, Ill., is being awarded a $131,103,000 firm-fixed price contract for construction of the National Oceanic and...
GULF DISPERSANT SPRAYING ILLEGAL
(DAUPHIN ISLAND, AL) - Riki Ott, PhD, Marine toxicologist, sends open letter to EPA, criticizing the unabated dispersant spraying inland and near the shore waters of the...
The Mormon Prophet Glenn Beck: Go with the GOP or Go with Pervision
- But Beck is really attacking the idea that anyone can be godly who doesn't believe God's Will on this Earth happens to coincide...
GORDON DUFF: CLEANSING HISTORY OF THE HITLER-ZIONIST NEXUS
NAZI TACTICS AND BOLSHEVIK ORGANIZATIONS, THE ROOTS OF GLOBAL TERRORISM
By Gordon Duff Senior Editor/STAFF WRITER
History is subjective, though it was never meant to be. ...
Doomsday Arctic Seed Vault: Do Bill Gates, Rockefeller and GMO (genetically modified organism) titans...
By F. William Engdahl
One thing Microsoft founder Bill Gates can’t be accused of is sloth. He was already programming at 14, founded Microsoft at...
What Is the US Legacy in Iraq?
- 4,416 U.S. military fatalities
- 31,911 wounded (official); Over 100,000 (unofficial)
- 320,000 veterans' brain injuries
- 100,000s veterans suffering from PTSD
- 1,457 contractor Employee Deaths
- 338...
Good-Bye: Truth Has Fallen and Taken Liberty With It
"Today Americans are ruled by propaganda. Americans have little regard for truth, little access to it, and little ability to recognize it. Truth is...
Push-back Against Veteran Initiatives Launched, Anti-Vet Critics: Benefits Are ‘Quite Extreme’
It's not war that is costly, about which lawmakers have no reservations about spending. No, it's those damn veterans who should go away or at least die.
Sen. James Webb and Congress Have Sixty Days to Stiff Veterans on Agent Orange...
via mal
In a victory for VA Secretary Shinseki, President Obama and veterans’ advocates, and Agent Orange victims, the new Agent Orange Illnesses’ Final Rules were published today in the Federal...
Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News
From the VA:
Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News
1. More Vietnam Vets Getting Benefits For Diabetes Than Any Other Malady. The AP (8/31, Baker) reports,...
VA details changes for Agent Orange claims
By Ed O'Keefe in the Federal Eye (Post)
More than 150,000 Vietnam War veterans may apply for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs in...
GORDON DUFF: GERMAN WINE BASICS
German Wines Basics, Yes, This is German Wines 101
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor
GERMANY’S WINE REGIONS
AHR
The river Ahr is a tributary of...
Officer Thanks Religious Freedom Org for Help Against Extensive Bible Training Material in U.S....
- Army pressured Soldiers to attend Christian concert, Anti-Discrimination Officials Pressured Soldiers Not to File Discrimination Complaints, the soilders did what they wanted and many supporters...
U.S. Department of Defense Announces Latest Contract Awards
No. 778-10
August 30, 2010
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CONTRACTS
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is pleased to announce the competitive award of five indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts for...
Dead soldiers’ parents sue insurer over benefits, seek class-action status
Update: See also Prudential defends armed service members payout practices.
Via the AP and Raw Story
Dead soldiers' parents sue insurer Prudential over interest paid on...
Why We Really Shouldn’t Keep the Bush Tax Cut for the Wealthy
By Robert Reich
The economy is slouching backward because consumers can’t and won’t spend enough to revive it. Congress is about to recess for the...
Updated -VA Publishes Final Regulation to Aid Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange Tuesday
Update: See Diseases Associated with Exposure to Certain Herbicide Agents, .
- The final regulation follows Shinseki’s determination to expand the list of conditions for...
Hysteria, fear and wishes of a magical kingdom
Steve Benen has an excellent piece in the Washington Monthly on the Tea Party's incoherence and blind emotion.
If we take the Tea Party seriously about...
All About MS – a reportedly common diagnosis among some Gulf War veterans
Via 91 Outcomes
All About MS – a reportedly common diagnosis among some Gulf War veterans
IMAGE: Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disorder marked...
Stryker soldiers allegedly plotted to kill Afghan civilians
By Hal Bernton at the Seattle Times
Last December, Army Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs began joking with other soldiers about how easy it would be to...
U.S. Wary of Example Set by Tribunal-Kangaroo Court
By Charlie Savage in the NYT
WASHINGTON — After working for a year to redeem the international reputation of military commissions, Obama administration officials are...
Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News
From the VA
Top 10 Veterans Stories in Today’s News
1. Concussions, Combat Stress Taking Toll On Vets, US Government. AFP (8/30, De Luce) reports, "Even as...
Indo-US-Israel-Afghan collaborative game against Pakistan
In its pursuit to denuclearize and secularize Pakistan , the US in concert with Israel , India and Britain worked out several contingency plans which ranged from coercion combined with inducement to destabilization, balkanization and fragmentation. Gen Musharraf was successfully coerced to ditch friendly Mullah Omar led Taliban regime in Kabul, to help US in militarily occupying Afghanistan, and to become a frontline state to fight US war on terror. Pakistan had to accept anti-Pakistan and pro-India Northern Alliance regime under Hamid Karzai in Kabul.
Did the Israeli Defense Force Bomb Jews?
Did the Israeli Defense Force lead Jews to be gassed like the Sonderkommandoes of WWII, or, just like their Bosses, the Nazis?
Fox News, evil and stupid? Jon Stewart looks at Ground Zero mosque Fox funding—Funny...
- With blazing brilliance, this half-comedian, half-social critic continues his run at being America's anecdote to the utter vacuity permeating our political culture -
By Brendan Patrick Keane at The...
B-52 Test Flights Debunk 9/11 Once and For All
Editor's note: The B-52 Stratofortress, one of the most robust aircraft ever built disintegrated, killing her crew, when tested at the same speed and...
Navy: Your service means nothing, on pace for one of the biggest years for...
- The advent of electronic communication has made it easier to catch personal indiscretions, the Navy says, and modern social norms mean there are...
American Legion and VA Crats Meet Amid Reports of Coming VA Housecleaning
- If a to-be-named, new head of the VBA is a hard-core veteran's advocate, it will go a long way toward proving that President Obama and VA Sec...
GORDON DUFF: BECK, RACISM AND THE THEORY OF CHRISTIAN INFERIORITY
"COWBOY JESUS" REVIVAL OR ZIONIST COLLABORATOR PICNIC?
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor
There is a certain absurdity for a group only remotely related to Christianity...
Lebanon Strikes Back, continues round-up of alleged Mossad agents
By Wayne Madsen in OpinionMaker
Lebanese counter-intelligence continues to round up a number of alleged Mossad agents embedded inside the Lebanese political structure and telecommunications...
America working to destabilize Pakistan
By Raja Mujtaba in OpinionMaker
I received an email from a friend Hamid Rajput; a keen surfer who always digs out something interesting and useful....
V.A. benefits topic of conference for 400,000 veterans in metro Detroit
Via Hometownlife.com
Educating veteran advocates — and the estimated 400,000 veterans in metro Detroit — about benefits available from the Department of Veterans Affairs is...
Thank You Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin, Rightwingers Will Regret It
- Stupid, white people do not mess with the memory of Dr. King and then get away with it -
By mal
I spent a lot...
GORDON DUFF: AMERICANS BELIEVED INVOLVED IN PAKISTAN AIR CRASH, HIJACKING
CRASH OF AIRBUS 320 OUTSIDE ISLAMABAD NOW BELIEVED HIJACKED, HEADING FOR NUKE FACILITY
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor
August 29, 2010 Islamabad, Pakistan (VT exclusive) Informed...
COL. EUGENE KHRUSHCHEV: UNAMA HR devil’s advocate: part two. Afghan WMD collateral damage
UNAMA HR devil’s advocate: part two. Afghan WMD collateral damage
By Col. Eugene Khrushchev (ret.) STAFF WRITER/Editor
The Methodology section offers contradicting disclaimers that effectively negate...
President Obama: Why Are You Allowing Your Postmaster General to Run a Plantation?
I've also previously mentioned how much pride I took in supporting your campaign, both in my column, and through my very meager bank account. While the historic nature of your candidacy wasn't lost on me, I didn't support you simply because you were Black, however - Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are also Black, but I didn't support either of them. I supported you because I was inspired by your pledge to usher in a change that I could believe in. Well, frankly, especially in the current matter, I'm not seeing that.