As we Approach Five Years since 9/11: "Support Our Troops" Has New Meaning

In Rhode Island we have over 102,000 veterans and 4,000 plus active duty, guard and reserve -1,300 more who are deployed. As a Marine veteran who served during Desert Storm and assisted with combat zone to stateside transition, I can tell you there are some significant issues that need to be addressed by our citizens sporting those yellow ribbons. Failure to do so may result in expanded recruitment options that may include the draft after 2006.

Not enough of our elected officials know first hand the honor of military service. All too frequently, they do not fully appreciate the local and national impact of maintaining a force of readiness and keeping our "support the troops" promise. Our combat troop strength was not designed for sustained occupation for three plus years and certainly not five if Bush/Cheney get their way. This may explain why half of our homeless are Vietnam era veterans. The myriad of "mistakes "have an impact on military recruitment, retention and morale. My perceptions are shared by many who are members of the VFW, AMVETS, DAV and the American Legion.

The "humanity buzz saw" is enabled by many in Congress, which has the lowest level of military service in recent history. And they are seeking ways to cut benefits to veterans and active duty military while bilking billions of our tax dollars in no bid contracts to Halliburton and Blackwater (a company providing mercenaries who receive three times the pay as our troops). While enormous sums are diverted to defense contractors, veterans are being asked to pay more out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare. They often wait six months for an appointment and three years or longer to have a medical appeal heard.

Currently, the Veterans Administration is under staffed and under funded by billions of dollars. Rhode Island does not have a state level veteran's department or a budget line item for funding; however, it does tax veterans' retirement income. Most states, such as Florida, do not.

Activated reservists and National Guard members comprise as much as 50% of troop strength in Iraq and Afghanistan but do not receive the same education benefits as their active duty counterparts upon separation from service.

Finally, "John" had 16 years of military service and is one of an estimated 170,000 troops who will be permanently disabled from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This number does not include the 20,000 dead or wounded (missing limbs, sight or spinal damaged.) If John's wife had not been a Navy nurse, he likely would have successfully committed suicide while waiting to see his overworked VA psychiatrist. Given there have been more than 2,000 suicides from those serving in this GWOT and the Bush administration is recalling the inactive reserves to buttress the troops who have been deployed three times to stem a civil war with no short-term solution while cutting homeland security funds, I must ask do you believe a "rapid and responsible" withdrawal has any purposeful meaning? It's time national defense developed a conscience and a real plan to pursue terrorists - not line pockets.