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Veterans Today Af-Pak Study Group: DANGEROUS MISCONCEPTIONS

VETERANS TODAY ORGANIZIES "FACT BASED" ADVISORY GROUP

TOP MILITARY AND ACADEMIC EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON AFGHANISTAN

By Gordon Duff Senior Editor/Group Coordinator

An informal study group composed of research specialists and former senior military and intelligence officials, diplomats and government officials from the US, Britain and Pakistan and other interested countries is examining our combined understanding of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In combination with Opinion Maker in Pakistan and Defense of the Realm in Britain, we are examining how a cascade of errors and ill considered moves has brought about the dangerous situation facing the world today.

Putting aside political agenda's, we hope, will lead to an end to hostilities and increased international respect and understanding. In the interim, here are some of the issues we are examining:

ACLU SIDES WITH VETS AGAINST VA LAND SCANDAL IN LOS ANGELES

ACLU MOVES TO STOP VA POLICE FROM VET ABUSE

CONGRESSMAN FILNER DISAPPOINTS VETS

By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor

This week, the ACLU informed Veterans Today that they will be representing Robert Rosebrock, a well know veterans advocate, who has, along with groups including the American Legion and Military Order of Purple heart, protesting VA polices that are harming homeless vets in California.

VA security guards had, according to the ACLU, illegally ticketed demonstrators on public property. These demonstrations were protesting attempts by wealthy homeowners in Brentwood and West Los Angeles who, according to spokesman Robert Rosebrock, a "not in my backyard" policy toward homeless vets.

SECRETARY SHINSEKI ANNOUNCES STUDY OF VIETNAM-ERA WOMEN VETERANS

Comprehensive Study Will Help VA Provide High-Quality Care

Health Editor Note: Will the results show a difference in the way female and male veterans experienced the Vietnam Conflict? Will this affect healthcare for women? Carol Ware Duff MSN, BA, RN

RECENT VA NEWS RELEASE

WASHINGTON (Nov. 19, 2009) -Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching
a comprehensive study of women Veterans who served in the military
during the Vietnam War to explore the effects of their military service
upon their mental and physical health.

Follow up on the Army fixing recruitment goal numbers to justify SURGE in Afghanistan

A few days ago, we at Veterans Today received this feedback and commentary sent in by from Paul Sullivan, Executive Director, Veterans for Common Sense (VCS).

It was his message to the article author reporter Fred Kaplan at State highlighting the fact that Kaplan's article and this Veterans Today post left out a very significant aspect of Army number crunching for Afghanistan - the continued use and abuse of the National Guard and Reserves as the Army fixes recruitment quotas as if our recruits and troops were beans.

Paul's commentary and response to Slate reporter Kaplan were in reaction to our Special Report: Is the Army fixing recruitment goal numbers to justify SURGE in Afghanistan?

ROBERT L. HANAFIN
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired
GS-14, U.S. Civil Service-Retired
Veterans Advocacy Editor
Veterans Today News Network &
Our Troops News Ladder

Jeff Gates: ARE HATE CRIME LAWS LEGALIZING TREASON?

Lawful Treason?

By Jeff Gates STAFF WRITER/Editor

Winning wars in the Information Age largely depends on winning the battle for public opinion. Thus the opinion-shaping role of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) when it attacked a high profile California professor for his criticism of Israeli policy in Palestine.

That ADL intimidation campaign successfully chilled debate on campuses nationwide during several time-critical months while a new president, promising the hope of change, reassessed U.S.-Israeli relations. His only change—endorsing more Israeli settlements on Palestinian land—quashed any hope of peace.

Governments and ancient organizations need to rethink who they are.

In today's New York Times we see many articles that show the effect of the devestating crash of the financial markets last Fall (2008) on American life. We cannot afford to spend money we do not have anymore.

First up is this article entitled "Air Defense Push Inspired by 9/11 Gets a 2nd Look" in which the U.S. commander of North American air defenses against terrorist attack has ordered a re-assessment of those defenses, mostly based on the prohibitive cost.

We cannot be the big bully on the block anymore if we don't have enough money to buy the biggest stick. We had better get used to this. This is only the beginning.

By Joe Conason Truthdig

The loudest voices on the right never tire of telling us that they are the truest patriots. They claim to be the deepest believers in our system, the strongest defenders of our Constitution, the most upbeat, bold and courageous Americans anywhere. But now that the government is finally prepared to put the perpetrators of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on trial, these same patriots are the first to spread doubt, instigate anxiety and abandon constitutional principles.

When did fear-mongering in a time of war become an act of patriotism?

Regional Veterans' News

Dallas, Texas Military veterans gear up for hunt
Eureka, California Help connect California's returning vets
Washington, DC Senate passes benefits for vets' caregivers
Salt Lake City, Utah Veteran honors veteran grandpa with flag
Phoenix, Arizona Former Arizona veterans services head indicted

U.S. Coast Guard helping to midwife Chinese Coast Guard

I was shocked. I was looking through the Jamestown Foundation's weekly briefing on Eurasian security issues, and there she was, my old ship, the Coast Guard Cutter RUSH (WHEC 723) moored up in Shanghai China!

I have not laid eyes on her since I left her at the end of my three year tour of duty in RUSH as chief yeoman in July 1987.

The article, Chinese Coast Guard Development: Challenge and Opportunity ,is here for your perusal. It seems that the U.S. Coast Guard is working with the fledgeling Chinese Coast Guard on building it into an effective force.

I will simply keep my mouth shut relative to that last sentence above. You would need to have served in the U.S. Coast Guard to understand the irony of that statement. Wow!

CWO3 Tom Barnes, USCG (Ret.)