From:  The American Military Retirees Association's
Ed Lawton, Legislative Representative


  Ed Lawton
Washington, DC, Representative
  
MILITARY RETIREES TARGETED BY DOD

From the Desk of Ed Lawton -
Washington, DCMilitary
Retirees Targeted by DOD

The past weeks, America’s warriors – past, present and future, were ambushed by a new adversary – bureaucratic shortsightedness!

The war on terror progresses daily and young Americans continue demonstrating their grit and courage by confronting an unforgiving and brutal enemy. Sadly we continue losing troops and somewhere in America, chaplains are comforting families over their grief at the loss of loved ones.

We were especially saddened recently when the crash of a single helicopter resulted in the deaths of 30 combat marines and one sailor. Most of those killed in the crash were from a single base in Hawaii. With the pain of these events fresh in our hearts and minds, I wondered if things could get worse.

Well, they did!

A United States senator pilloried our brave forces in Iraq by accusing them of “being part of the problem and not the solution,” a slogan harkening back to the days of Vietnam anti-war radicals. (Thank you Senator Kennedy.)

Worse, a senior DOD official now publicly asserts that veterans and military retirees and, by extension, their families, are complicit in the conditions and events just described. To be more specific, this official was quoted by a major national newspaper that Congressionally mandated, earned entitlements such as military retirement, disability compensation, TRICARE and VA health care are hurting the national security.

Say that again!

Military and VA health care are hurting national security?  I am struck by the presumption of an unelected bureaucrat who is dismissive in his opinion of Americans who’ve already honorably served their nation, many in times of war and many suffering lifetime disabilities from injuries and other service connected maladies and diseases.

Has there been an outcry to this disparaging characterization? One of the largest Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) representing approximately one-half million members mildly called the comments “disappointing.” I hardly consider this a meaningful rebuke.

I am shocked and chagrined at the comments by this senior DOD official, as are veterans and military retirees throughout the nation. Don’t take my word – scan the internet veteran lists and talk groups and you’ll detect the pain and anger being felt by men and women who have honorably served this nation and thought their government actually respected their service.

The official who uttered these words owes every veteran, every military retiree, every serving member and every American family who has ever had a member in the armed forces, a public apology.

No, the apology is not because military members or families are any more patriotic or deserve more than any other American.

The apology is owed because the roots of our national defense are nurtured by the blood of millions of Americans who have served for over two hundred years. No government official has the right to insult the honor of America’s warriors, past or present or future, merely to fulfill an agenda.
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Contributed,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(ret)