"SNOOPGATE" SPYING ON AMERICAN HEROES
July 1, 2009 by Gordon Duff · 14 Comments
VA ADMITS TO ROUTINE SPY OPERATIONS AGAINST VET ORGANIZATIONS
VETERANS TODAY REQUESTS CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER with Robert Rosebrock in Los Angeles
As most veterans know, Veterans Affairs manages billions in land donated for use by veterans, some for parks, golf courses and some for housing for aging veterans. Some of this land was given to veterans over 100 years ago. ALL WAS GIVEN UNDER OBLIGATION TO KEEP LAND EXCLUSIVELY FOR VETERANS USE….FOREVER.
Robert Rosebrock, Walter Martin, Anita Martin and Luis Riveria met with the Department of Veterans Affairs regional director to discuss concerns with VA surveillance and how upsetting learning of these practices will be on the welfare of veterans being treated.
Last week, the VA was "worried" about veterans groups displaying the flag in the "distress mode" upsetting patients. How do they think their admission of spying operations on veterans will make patients feel? How can you diagnose "paranoid delusions" in people you are spying on?
We are awaiting a full briefing from Rob Rosebrock and his associates in the Military Order of Purple Heart, American Legion and other organizations that were involved in the confrontation with VA law enforcement over covert spying operations.
First word from the VA, if I understand it correctly, is that they were actually using their "spy van" to monitor potential terrorist activity during the Iranian election protests in Los Angeles.
If VA funds are being used in this fashion, as the VA claims, it doesn’t take a genius to understand why key areas of care, such as cancer treatments and colonoscopy, recent scandals that have plagued the VA, are happening.
A few weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security released a report indicating that returning veterans were a potential terrorist risk. The country was up in arms about this.
Now we learn that 80+ year old veterans have been subjected to full "counter-terrorism" surveillance.
Please, can’t we just get back to fixing problems in a constructive way and lose some of the delusional behaviors. Does every organization have to have its own "secret spy" group? What next, is the VA going to be implanting transmitters in employees and giving them all cyanide capsules?
Time for the VA to go back to the medical care business and leave the "James Bond" work to the real amateurs.
Sounds to me like a crock of S_it from the VAMC director and staff.
If this was truly a surveillance operation due to Iraqi elections or any other elections held in foreign countries, this would have and should have been a DHS operation not a VA or VAMC operation.
Again more veterans funds being wasted for no damn good reason what-so-ever!
And I challenge ever veteran in the state of California to send an E-Mail to Senator Diane Feinstein through her webmail at: http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe
She seems to be so far the only Senator in our state who gives a rats patoot about veterans, Senator Boxer is totally useless!
And I also encourage the VSO groups to continue their protests to bring more and more attention to the matter.
They’re doing what our Government won’t do, protect VA land!
Jim,
Rob’s article is quite telling.
We get enough coverage that few in DC are unaware. This, however, is ‘over the top.’
g
The VA has golf couses?
Why yes, yes it does.
A long and interesting history of golf courses, parks, housing facilities..etc.
Then came people who wanted the buildings and land or
the golf courses.
g
Not only does the West LA VA have a golf course, but more than $200,000 was embezzled over the past few years. At $12 per green fee, somehow 16,667 times somebody played golf there and the money went into somebody’s pocket, but not for the Veterans. Now the VA has shut it down and wants to lease it out to a “non-profit” organization to operate, and it will be open to the public. Of course Veterans can play at “selected times,” which will no doubt be before 5:00 AM and after 8:00 PM.
Senator Boxer is totally useless!
Every veteran should stage a sit in around his home area with signs.
Do this peacfully. Use signs that read,”Senator Boxer is totally useless to vets!” Hand out pamplets saying the same thing.
BOXER is a SHE not a HE, although being from California many times it is diffacult to tell. But for the puropses of reality lets just call HER “IT”. It lives in Contra Costa County California. One of the most Socialists Counties Holding Israle’s hidden wealth. Few know the facts. But due to the miracle of the internet, belive me the info. is there…
It is a crying shame that America (DVA who reprsents veterans) has lower themselves to a standards where only snakes and things that crawl in the ground. The DVa is no difference that corporate America with its corruptions and self interest greed. Where did the “we are here for the veterans” hypocrisy end stops. I know for a fact that much of VA healthcare is not for the veterans but a job for those who are appointed to VA top dog jobs. You would figure that maybe these jobs would be offerred to disabled veterans to help them improve themselves. Why should a public servant deserve bonuses for a job that any disabled veterans would be willing to do?
The VA needs reformed from the top down. Do away with the general (Sec of VA)and get a good hard working disabled veteran to get the VA back on tract. One that willing to work with veterans on issues and not lead from his ass, but on the ground. I feel that we have earned the respect to meet those who hope to deliver a service to us.
The SEc of Va has always been a puppet with no real ambition to work for his men. Historically, they have been poor leaders of soldiers and more incline to submit to executive pressure. Otherwise the whole VA top dogs would be fired and replaced with veterans with no hidden agenda. The VA system is about organized as the banks, AIG, GM. and Chysler and you know how for the American people.
Get ride of the “blind leading the blind” mentality and find people that are willing to make a difference.
Even with my disablity and problem getting around I could do a better job managering the VA than most with the jobs now. I would turn in my VA disability to get a job with the VA management and I am sure there are many more.
Simon,
Thank you for taking the time to read and reply.
g
Nationally chartered Veteran Service Organizations will never get off their asses and actually do a damn thing for veterans unless solicited by a major lobbying group willing to add to the coughers of the organization.
Such was the case with the American Legion stepping forward when Obama wanted to bill private insurance carriers for Non Service Connected Illnesses. Then and only then did the American Legion step forward to stop it, when the insurance carriers paid to have it done!
If the VA Facility wants the problem as they see it with the protestors to stop, then they should solve the problem and not try to give away our scared land which belongs to veterans!
Immediately terminate, not suspend or relocate VAMC Directors like the Catholic church does with pedophile priest, but terminate immediately for violation of policy and desecration of VA Land.
NO VA land should ever be used for civilians or civilian businesses to profit from! EVER!
And for those who cry boo hoo and yet sit on their collective asses and do nothing, then shame on you.
Try banging out a letter or E-Mail to your local Senators and Congressmen and tell them you’re angry as hell and you won’t take this crap and abuse any longer!
Then also send a letter to:
Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington DC 20420
The more who get involved and take back what is rightfully yours, fight for your benefits, medical care, facilities, etc., the better the chances are we will win!
Sit back and complain, do nothing, or piss and moan in the local VFW bar… you’re right nothing will ever change!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VETERANS-FOR-CHANGE/
ssssshhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
Damn it Barrie, go ahead and finish the word.
g
Could fraud, waste and abuse charges be brought against this VA facility for misappropriation of funds and the use of the van for this sort of activity?
If VA funds have been used in “that they were actually using their spy van to monitor potential terrorist activity during the Iranian election protests in Los Angeles.” As stated in the article, then none of the VA facilities monies were being used for veterans.
Just a thought….
Congress is now looking into this.
g