Hundreds of thousands of servicemen were exposed to asbestos over decades, especially during the period from 1940 to 1980. Asbestos was used in construction of naval vessels as well as shore facilities. All branches of the military used asbestos, which was also widely used in civilian applications. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma. Because this cancer has a particularly long latency period, many servicemen who were exposed years ago are now developing this disease.
- Mesothelioma Patient & Family Resources: Mesotheliomahelp is provided by Belluck & Fox, LLP as a comprehensive resource for mesothelioma victims and their families. The site provides up-to-date information on the latest news and treatment options as well as an easy to use search feature to find local mesothelioma doctors and health care clinics.
We fight for veterans harmed by asbestos: Veterans with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer should know they have options: the opportunity to bring a suit against manufacturers and sellers of the asbestos that caused their illness. If you were harmed by asbestos exposure, for example, in ships or military housing, contact Weitz & Luxenberg to get a free case review.
Important Information for Veterans: Asbestos products were often used on military ships and within military housing, and Veterans may have been exposed. Previous exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that has no cure and affects countless Veterans and loved ones. For more information regarding military asbestos exposure visit Mesothelioma.com
Obama is Looking for an Endgame. So Are We!
by Tom Barnes, Staff Writer
This week we learned that President Obama is searching for an 'endgame' in Afghanistan prior to deciding on troop committments. It is a good idea, eight years late, but a good idea nonetheless! What a mess!
In a related story "Afghan minister accused of taking bribe", we find that American military intelligence has found that the Afghan Minister of Mines has almost certainly taken a $30 million dollar bribe from the Chinese in order to allow them to mine for copper on a sole provider contract.
Hmmm! Maybe I have been wrong about the Afghan government all along. Maybe they really are learning how to govern themselves modeled on how we operated in Iraq! Read More >>>
News: Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 11-20-09
What's Inside Today's Local News for Veterans
1. Durbin Amendment Would Establish Pilot Recruiting Program. 2. Sestak Proposes Increased Housing Assistance For Veterans. 3. In Unanimous Vote, Senate Passes Omnibus Veterans Bill. 4. GAO: Post-Deployment Questionnaires Missing. 5. VA Hospital Found To Have Committed Multiple Cancer Treatment Errors. 6. Dorn VAMC To Open New Clinic. 7. Loma Linda VA To Host Event For Women Veterans. 8. VA Hospital To Cut Ribbon On New Palliative Care Unit. 9. Following Contract Dispute, VA Clinic In New York To Move. 10. Planners Looking To Increase Burial Space At Chattanooga National Cemetery.
News: U.S. Department of Defense Announces Latest Contract Awards
No. 910-09 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTRACTS: AIR FORCE
DTS Aviation Services, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $13,893,827 contract which will provide aircraft backshop maintenance, munitions and equipment support services for the Air Armament Center and for their command and control, communications, computers and intelligence systems testing for a 12 month period. At this time, $11,517,159 has been obligated. 96 CONS/PKB, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (F08651-02-C-0085, P00066).
Special Report: 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:
Special Report: 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, advocate a "not in my backyard" policy toward homeless vets.
News: 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.
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.
Special Report: 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.
News: 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.
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?
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.
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!
Valero Marketing & Supply Co., San Antonio, Texas is being awarded a maximum $118,035,840 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for aviation turbine fuel. Other location of performance is in Corpus Christi, Texas. Using service is Foreign Military Sales. The original proposal was web solicited with two responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Oct. 31, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SPO600-10-D-0460).
Special Report: Taps November 09, Desert Storm/Gulf War Veterans Death Count 33 for November 19th Report
Data: 33 Deaths for Nov 1-18, 20009 Age groups: 30-1;40-11;50-10;60-5;70-4
Military Service: USA-13;USN-6;USAR-2;USMC-5;USAF-7:NG-1;civilian 2;Active duty 2
Death data: hospital sudden -1 ,hospice 1; home unexpected 1; home 8; Hospital 6; motorcycle accident 1; ALS 1;MS 1;ALZ 1; Cancer unspecif 3, Pancreatic Cancer 2; Brain Cancer 1; Leukemia 1
Multi theaters: Vietnam and Gulf War 6; VN, Panama, DS 1;DS+OIF 1; DS+OIF+OEF 1
News: Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 11-19-09
What's Inside Today's Local News for Veterans
1. Military Construction-VA Spending Bill Includes $3.3 Billion IT Budget. 2. Durbin: VA Rural Recruiting Measure Clears Senate. 3. "Ominous" Phone Message Tells Veterans About Education Claims Backlog. 4. Obama Chooses Petzel To Serve As VA's Undersecretary For Health. 5. Subcommittee Approves Veterans Appeals Improvement And Modernization Act. 6. Concern Expressed About Cemetery's Nondenominational Policy. 7. Forbes Concerned That VA's Decision On Agent Orange Illnesses Will Increase Backlog. 8. Mobile Vet Centers To Continue Providing Counseling Services In Fort Hood Area. 9. VA Therapy Helps Iraq Vet To Compete In New York City Marathon. 10. New York Department Of Labor Holds Veterans Job Fair.
Even if analysts existed who understood Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and the other countries of this region, their history, their people and why war and threat of war is a way of life, even if America's "decision makers" knew how ill conceived our policies are, how self defeating and how hopeless, we would make the same mistakes. We have willed ourselves this fate.
Everyone is advising the US, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Great Britain, Israel and our European "allies." Who is Congress, the Pentagon and the American people listening to? They hear fiction driven by party politics, hate groups, defense contractors and the great lobbies, big oil and Israel that buy and sell Generals and members of Congress like spoiled food from a vending machine.
A program intended to help disabled veterans win government business awarded at least $100 million in contracts to firms that were either ineligible or committed fraud to obtain the work, a federal review has found.
News: A look at "No Accountability". It is the American Way.
Today's New York Times shows all of us a breathtaking view of how the business segments in modern American society try as hard as possible to squeeze the largest amounts of profit out of situations where they are held barely accountable for their actions by the government.
They want something for nothing. They balk at being held accountable. This can seriously harm the health and well being of our nation's people while at the same time change the super-wealthy into the mega-wealthy. How does this serve the nation?
American veterans need to stand up and cry foul. The American people are on the receiving end of this nonsense. Common sense has to reassert itself here.
The following essay was forwarded to us from Veterans for Common Sense (VCS), and we wanted to share the red flags highlighted by a military spouse stationed at Fort Hood when the recent shooting incident occurred.
All credit and copyright for the story goes to Carissa Picard and VCS, so any use or reprint must be approved by the originators.
News: U.S. Department of Defense Announces Latest Contract Awards
No. 902-09 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTRACTS: NAVY
Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc., Monroeville, Pa., is being awarded a $248,787,610 modification to previously awarded contract (00024-07-C-2100) for naval nuclear propulsion components. Work will be performed in Monroeville, Pa. (95 percent), and Schenectady, N.Y. (five percent). Contract funds in the amount of $326,653 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. No completion date or additional information is provided on naval nuclear propulsion program contracts. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Special Report: Gulf War Veterans 1990-91 Demand Real Diagnostic Testing and Action NOW
The Controversy continues IS THE VA Using the Best Test?
Gulf War Veterans 1990-91 Demand Real Diagnostic Testing and Action NOW
I fully anticipate an attack but this article that follows is well written and addresses one issue. That issue is Science being corrupted and how it impacts veterans. The veterans of Gulf War 1990-91 are ill and not getting better. In fact I have the obits I am working on for October and November. I know I am not getting all the obits but these show a small picture of the impact and losses. How many of these went to the VA at all, I do not know. How many are rated by the VA, I do not know. I do know we the veterans are not getting all the facts. I can guarantee you that we are not getting the tests that are mentioned. Would the tests spoken about lead to more truth? Why aren't these test being used in research, I don't have that answer but could guess. The gulf war veterans of 1990-91 simply went and did their duty and came home ill and have been seeking answers and help. WE have no choice but to continue to seek answers in biomarkers, diagnostic testing, proactive care to include active screening for all diseases and diagnosis, and to push for treatment! And to demand compensation and all assistance, we went healthy and came back ill! WE need help rapidly just as much as OIF/OEF/Koskovo/Vietnam Veterans/Agent Orange/ WWII vets. WE need assistance that is being offered to OIF/OEF veterans in new legislation but we are not being covered. Why do sick and ill veterans have to battle every step of the way to get any help? We are the unseen casualties and the uncounted casualties.
HOW AMERICA CAN SEE THE DESTRUCTION OF IT'S MOST TRUSTED ALLY?
By Sohail Parwaz
During last year for quite some time the talk was in the air that American President Barrack Hussein Obama was resolute to send some more troops to Afghanistan. The presidential orders were issued, as soon as the New Year arrived and through these orders additional American troops something like seventeen thousand were allocated for their new duties in the most troubled waters of the world, a country known as Afghanistan. However this fresh pumping in of the troops was delayed quicker than its implementation, for an indefinite period because the Americans and the Europeans strongly believed (and they still believe) that merely the force is not an ultimate solution to deal with the militants in Afghanistan and the terrorists nesting in the trans-frontier adjacent tribal localities of Pakistan. This new American thinking is totally divergent to the mawkish Bush administration’s policies for Afghanistan and the other countries of the region and this could only be expected from bamboozled Barrack Hussein Obama, the Gorbachev of the West, who got Nobel Prize for Peace, for the achievements not known to him until now.
News: Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 11-18-09
What's Inside Today's Local News for Veterans
1. Disability Evaluation System To Be Implemented At Six New Locations. 2. Suicides In US Army Expected To Reach New High. 3. Coburn Offers Amendment To Omnibus Veterans Healthcare Bill. 4. Phoenix VA Serving More Veterans. 5. Report: Over $98 Billion Wasted By Government Agencies, Including VA. 6. VA, US Olympic Committee To Expand Paralympics Sport Programs. 7. First, Second Ladies To Celebrate Women In The Military. 8. Analysis: Despite "National Focus," Surgical Errors Continue. 9. "Bad" Cholesterol Down In US Adults, But Screening Target Not Met. 10. Facility To Undergo Multiple Renovation, Construction Projects.
Special Report: Retired military officers cash in as well-paid consultants
By Tom Vanden Brook, Ken Dilanian and Ray Locker, USA Today
Six months after Marine Lt. Gen. Gary McKissock retired in 2002, he did what many other ex-military leaders do: He joined the board of directors of a defense contractor, a company doing business with his former service.
McKissock also had a second job. The Marines brought him back as an adviser, at double the rate of pay he made on active duty. Since 2005, the Marines have awarded McKissock contracts worth $1.2 million, in addition to his military pension of about $119,000 a year.
Politics Daily has an interesting article posted today written by Lawrence J. Haas concerning Wafa Sultan, a Muslim-American female psychiatrist on the nature of Islam.
Since it is apparently true that Obama is going to widen the war in Afghanistan within weeks, and since we are presently engaged in 2 1/2 wars in western Asia now among majority Muslim populations, I thought it would be good to read this.
The article has some surprises. It needs no further comment from me.
News: Obama Says He Is Close to Afghan War Decision
BEIJING — President Obama said Wednesday he is “very close to a decision” on a troop increase for the war in Afghanistan, and will make his case to the American people for his Afghan strategy in the next “several weeks.”
“I am very confident that when I announce the decision, the American people will have a lot of clarity about what we’re doing, how we’re going to succeed, how much this thing is going to cost,” Mr. Obama told CNN in an interview at his hotel in Beijing. Most important, he said, is that he is asking “what’s the end game on this thing, which I think is something that unless you impose that kind of discipline, could end up leading to a multi-year occupation that won’t serve the interests of the United States.”
News: Tax cheats run this country. How do you feel about that?
In today's New York Times we learn that so far this year 14,700 Americans have applied for amnesty under an I.R.S. program. They are not prosecuted for tax evasion if they come forward acknowledging that they have offshore secret bank accounts set up by foreign banks in order for them to evade American taxes. The story is here.
The reason this is important is many-fold but from the point of view of veterans, it exposes the problems we have in this country with making the super-rich and powerful pull their fair share of the weight relative to the financial and civic burdens of citizenship. It can be damned near impossible to do that. They are wealthy enough to get out of their responsibilities to the rest of us. This affects veterans greatly.
VETERANS TODAY ORGANIZIES "FACT BASED" ADVISORY GROUP
ACLU MOVES TO STOP VA POLICE FROM VET ABUSE
Lawful Treason?
By Joe Conason 
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! 
GRAFT, CORRUPTION AND CHEAP POLITICS IN AMERICA
The following essay was forwarded to us from Veterans for Common Sense (VCS), and we wanted to share the red flags highlighted by a military spouse stationed at Fort Hood when the recent shooting incident occurred. 
By Sohail Parwaz
