Veterans Advisory Commission Stacked Against Vets

THE "NEW" BUSH ‘VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION TASKED WITH STIFLING CHANGE

BURYING PROBLEMS AND LETTING THE PROBLEMS BURY VETS

By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER

Bush appointed a commission today headed by General Terry Scott to deal with the abuses caused by, among others, General Terry Scott.  Scott is known for making two recommendations.  One is a good one and that is for the DOD to turn veterans disability evaluations over to the VA, known to be drowning in paperwork, incredibly inconsistent in evaluations, often taking years on a single case and notoriously unfair to veterans.

• SCOTT’S SECOND REQUEST IS THAT DISABLED VETS BE CONTINUALLY REEVALUATED TO "ENCOURAGE WELLNESS."  THIS, OF COURSE, IS A "CON" TO ELIMINATE THE BENEFITS OF PERMANENT AND TOTAL DISABILITY FINDINGS WHICH INCLUDE INSURANCE AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FOR DEPENDENTS.  WITH SCOTT’S PLAN, THESE CORE BENEFITS WOULD DISAPPEAR AND VETERANS WOULD LIVE IN DAILY TERROR OF THE ‘REEVALUATION LETTER’ IN THE MAIL.  ANYONE WHO HAS DEALT WITH THE VA KNOWS THAT A BLIND MAN WITH NO LEGS COULD BE FOUND FIT AND WELL BY SOME VA DOCTORS.  THANKS GENERAL SCOTT, WE ALL NEED TO TAKE OUR HATS OFF TO YOU.
• CHARLES BATTAGLIA IS A MEMBER OF THE SECRETIVE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, A BUSH ADMINISTRATION INSIDER AND FORMER CIA OFFICIAL.  BATTAGLIA IS A CLOSE ASSOCIATE OF ANTHONY PRINCIPI, FORMER V.A. DIRECTOR WHO RESIGNED IN DISGRACE IN 2005 AFTER THE V.A FINANCING SCANDAL.
• ROBERT J. EPLEY SPENT 31 YEARS AT THE V.A., MUCH OF THAT TIME, MANAGING THE ‘MISMANAGED’ PENSION DIVISION THAT HAS BEEN SITED IN SO MANY SCANDALS.  HARDLY A REFORMER, EPLEY IS THE ULTIMATE V.A. INSIDER.
• GENERAL THOMAS CARNEY IS ONLY KNOWN AS RUNNING CALIBRE CORPORATION WITH GENERAL SCOTT.  THEY SELL CONSULTING SERVICES TO THE DOD AND FAA.  NO OTHER QUALIFICATION IS AVAILABLE OTHER THAN HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH GENERAL SCOTT.
• MAJOR DANIEL GADE IS AN IRAQ WAR VETERAN WHO LOST A LEG IN COMBAT.  WELCOME ABOARD!!!!!!!!!!!
• ROBERT BURKE IS AN EXPERT ON DISABILTY MANAGEMENT.  WELCOME ABOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• BONNIE CARROLL, AT FIRST, APPEARS TO BE A CHARITY WORKER.  ON CLOSER INSPECTION, SHE WAS LIAISON BETWEEN THE BUSH WHITEHOUSE AND THE V.A. DURING THE ‘DISASTER YEARS’ AND A DEFENSE LOBBYIST.  SORRY.
• GENERAL RONALD BLANCK IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN AND COMMANDED WALTER REED HOSPITAL.  OUCH.
• DENEISE TURNER LOTT IS A DISABILITY JUDGE FROM MISSISSIPPI.  IT IS NOT KNOWN IF SHE IS RELATED TO TRENT LOTT. LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT HER IS AVAILABLE
• EDWARD REESE, DIRECTOR OF THE DAV.  WELCOME ABOARD EDWARD!!!!!!!!!!!
• RICHARD T. KATZ IS A NEUROLOGIST WITH EXCELLENT CREDENTIALS.  WELCOME ABOARD RICHARD!!!!

OF 11 MEMBERS, FOUR ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, ONE PROBABLY QUALIFIED BUT UNKNOWN AND SIX HIGHLY POLITICAL, SEVERAL OF WHOM ARE CLOSELY TIED TO CURRENT V.A FAILURES. 

Why does everything that comes out of the Bush administration have to have the stink of corruption on it?  I read the announcement and knew how the math would turn out.  You would have a commission head who is a slick hustler and the majority of the commission would be stacked with adminstration hacks, defense industry insiders etc.

What I never imagined is that so many of the faces that should be hiding under their beds after the scandals at the V.A. and Walter Reed, would show up on the commission that is supposed to fix things.

As this is a 12th hour Bush appointment of a group that will never serve in any meaningful way, I guess I should be thankful.

For the members who are qualified, though they are a small minority, I hope the opportunity to serve in a constructive way for a rational presdient is a possibility for you.

Perhaps they have a commission in Chile or Austria you could serve on.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gordon Duff is a Senior Staff Writer for VeteransToday.com. He is a U.S. Marine Vietnam Combat Veteran and regular contributor on social and political issues.  He holds a United Nations diplomatic post.