And the double talk continues
From: John Roane
And the double talk continues. How much are you willing to bet that they cut back VA benefits for AO? And it won’t be just the last three conditions added. Its coming boys with Webb and friends, budget has nothing to do with the cost of war. Don’t start a war if you can't afford it. How do you like the change now?
2. Lawmakers Praise VA for Expanding Agent Orange Benefits. In continuing coverage, the Westchester (NY) Journal News (9/3, Easley) notes that the US Department of Veterans Affairs "has added three new diseases to the list of conditions considered to be associated with Agent Orange, a herbicide widely used during the Vietnam War that is believed to have caused severe health effects in those exposed to it. The change will allow Vietnam War veterans suffering from Parkinson's disease, chronic b-cell leukemia and ischemic heart disease to claim benefits and health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, said" US Rep. John Hall (D-NY) "at a press conference to announce the new regulations. 'This is a huge step,' said Hall," chairman of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance, who added, "Those who had feet on the ground in Vietnam are now covered." The Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record (9/3, Randall, 63K), meanwhile, notes that Hall "said adding these three diseases could open the door to benefits for up to 150,000 veterans."
A Staten Island (NY) Advance (9/1) ran a story mainly focused on US Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY) expressing "optimism" about this week's peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Advance added, however, that "on the veterans' front, McMahon hailed this week's announcement by US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki to expand the medical conditions allowable for Vietnam veterans to receive health care and disability payments for exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange."
Age Adjustment Impacting Cost Estimate For New Benefits. The syndicated "Military Update" column, appearing in the New Bern (NC) Sun Journal (9/3, Philpott, 16K), says VA has "revealed that the price tag for adding...diseases to its Agent Orange presumptive list could be at least 50 percent higher, over the next 10 years, than the $42.2 billion" estimate it has been using, due to an age adjustment issue raised by US Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. The "higher cost projection is sure to be raised at a Sept. 23 hearing" of Akaka's panel, which will "examine...whether a finding by scientists of 'limited or suggestive association' between these diseases and herbicide exposure is sufficient evidence to award
disability compensation to any ailing Vietnam veteran. To stop payments," a resolution passed by Congress would have to be signed by President Obama, whose "own Office of Management and Budget spent the past two months studying the VA rule before finally approving it," which, according to the column, means VA officials are "preparing to make payments."
Blue Water Vet Attempting To Secure Agent Orange Benefits For His Former Shipmates. The WCMH-TV Columbus , OH (9/2, Bowersock) website said, "After years of denying...claims" from Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange, the Federal government is "stepping forward and taking care of...ill troops," announcing a new rule this week that will provide benefits to more such vets. The "blue water battle," however, is a "growing issue for sailors" like Dennis Agin, an Ohio vet who "was on the USS. Newport News, a cruiser" in the Gulf of Tonkin, "from 1967 through 1969." After stating that blue water vets have been "denied Agent Orange claims because they were on ships, not on land and actually" in Vietnam, even "though they showered in or drank water that may have contained the defoliant," WCMH pointed out that Agin "spends his days" making phone calls and filling out paperwork to help his former shipmates "get the benefits they feel they've earned."
JunkScience.com Publisher, Rep. Hall Differ On Simpson Comments. In an op-ed for "Congress," a blog for The Hill (9/3, 21K), Steve Milloy, who "publishes JunkScience.com and is the author of 'Green Hell: How Environmentalists Plan to Control Your Life and What You Can Do to Stop Them,'" says he agrees with "White House fiscal commission member Sen. Alan Simpson," who is "drawing fire from veterans groups for objecting to the Obama administration decision to expand Agent Orange benefits to Vietnam vets." According to Milloy, there "really is no firm science indicating that any vet has ever suffered from Agent Orange exposure; yet we have historically given vets the benefit of the doubt because we honor their service." Milloy argues that a "cash-strapped government can no longer afford to be so generous without good reason."
But in a separate op-ed "Congress," the same blog for The Hill (9/3, 21K), Rep. Hall says VA's recent "announcement that it is expanding eligibility for disability compensation to veterans suffering from three diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange" corrects a "long running injustice." Halls goes on to say that if Simpson "thinks the way to balance the budget is to cut health care benefits for disabled veterans whose diseases were caused by exposure to toxic chemical during service they were drafted into, then I call for President Obama to replace Mr. Simpson" on the President's deficit reduction panel "with someone better capable to serve...the nation."
The Hendersonville (NC) Times-News (9/2, 15K), however, said in an editorial, that "veterans who happened to be in Vietnam when Agent Orange was used and now suffer from common ailments that have not been shown to be linked to Agent Orange should not get the same level of support" as those who "were hurt fighting for our nation." And, according to the Times-News, "such veterans are receiving disability checks."
Paul Sutton "Dominus Fortissima Turris"
Patriotism: Supporting your Country ALL THE TIME; and, your government when
it deserves it - MARK TWAIN
"For ours was a Noble Cause and we will be remembered as the Noble Generation."
IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS,
PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM !!!
"Freedom is not free . . . but the U.S. Military will pay most of your share."
Pacifism is a luxury paid for by warriors!!
And the double talk continues. How much are you willing to bet that they cut back VA benefits for AO? And it won’t be just the last three conditions added. Its coming boys with Webb and friends, budget has nothing to do with the cost of war. Don’t start a war if you can't afford it. How do you like the change now?
2. Lawmakers Praise VA for Expanding Agent Orange Benefits. In continuing coverage, the Westchester (NY) Journal News (9/3, Easley) notes that the US Department of Veterans Affairs "has added three new diseases to the list of conditions considered to be associated with Agent Orange, a herbicide widely used during the Vietnam War that is believed to have caused severe health effects in those exposed to it. The change will allow Vietnam War veterans suffering from Parkinson's disease, chronic b-cell leukemia and ischemic heart disease to claim benefits and health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, said" US Rep. John Hall (D-NY) "at a press conference to announce the new regulations. 'This is a huge step,' said Hall," chairman of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance, who added, "Those who had feet on the ground in Vietnam are now covered." The Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record (9/3, Randall, 63K), meanwhile, notes that Hall "said adding these three diseases could open the door to benefits for up to 150,000 veterans."
A Staten Island (NY) Advance (9/1) ran a story mainly focused on US Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY) expressing "optimism" about this week's peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Advance added, however, that "on the veterans' front, McMahon hailed this week's announcement by US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki to expand the medical conditions allowable for Vietnam veterans to receive health care and disability payments for exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange."
Age Adjustment Impacting Cost Estimate For New Benefits. The syndicated "Military Update" column, appearing in the New Bern (NC) Sun Journal (9/3, Philpott, 16K), says VA has "revealed that the price tag for adding...diseases to its Agent Orange presumptive list could be at least 50 percent higher, over the next 10 years, than the $42.2 billion" estimate it has been using, due to an age adjustment issue raised by US Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. The "higher cost projection is sure to be raised at a Sept. 23 hearing" of Akaka's panel, which will "examine...whether a finding by scientists of 'limited or suggestive association' between these diseases and herbicide exposure is sufficient evidence to award
disability compensation to any ailing Vietnam veteran. To stop payments," a resolution passed by Congress would have to be signed by President Obama, whose "own Office of Management and Budget spent the past two months studying the VA rule before finally approving it," which, according to the column, means VA officials are "preparing to make payments."
Blue Water Vet Attempting To Secure Agent Orange Benefits For His Former Shipmates. The WCMH-TV Columbus , OH (9/2, Bowersock) website said, "After years of denying...claims" from Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange, the Federal government is "stepping forward and taking care of...ill troops," announcing a new rule this week that will provide benefits to more such vets. The "blue water battle," however, is a "growing issue for sailors" like Dennis Agin, an Ohio vet who "was on the USS. Newport News, a cruiser" in the Gulf of Tonkin, "from 1967 through 1969." After stating that blue water vets have been "denied Agent Orange claims because they were on ships, not on land and actually" in Vietnam, even "though they showered in or drank water that may have contained the defoliant," WCMH pointed out that Agin "spends his days" making phone calls and filling out paperwork to help his former shipmates "get the benefits they feel they've earned."
JunkScience.com Publisher, Rep. Hall Differ On Simpson Comments. In an op-ed for "Congress," a blog for The Hill (9/3, 21K), Steve Milloy, who "publishes JunkScience.com and is the author of 'Green Hell: How Environmentalists Plan to Control Your Life and What You Can Do to Stop Them,'" says he agrees with "White House fiscal commission member Sen. Alan Simpson," who is "drawing fire from veterans groups for objecting to the Obama administration decision to expand Agent Orange benefits to Vietnam vets." According to Milloy, there "really is no firm science indicating that any vet has ever suffered from Agent Orange exposure; yet we have historically given vets the benefit of the doubt because we honor their service." Milloy argues that a "cash-strapped government can no longer afford to be so generous without good reason."
But in a separate op-ed "Congress," the same blog for The Hill (9/3, 21K), Rep. Hall says VA's recent "announcement that it is expanding eligibility for disability compensation to veterans suffering from three diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange" corrects a "long running injustice." Halls goes on to say that if Simpson "thinks the way to balance the budget is to cut health care benefits for disabled veterans whose diseases were caused by exposure to toxic chemical during service they were drafted into, then I call for President Obama to replace Mr. Simpson" on the President's deficit reduction panel "with someone better capable to serve...the nation."
The Hendersonville (NC) Times-News (9/2, 15K), however, said in an editorial, that "veterans who happened to be in Vietnam when Agent Orange was used and now suffer from common ailments that have not been shown to be linked to Agent Orange should not get the same level of support" as those who "were hurt fighting for our nation." And, according to the Times-News, "such veterans are receiving disability checks."
Paul Sutton "Dominus Fortissima Turris"
Patriotism: Supporting your Country ALL THE TIME; and, your government when
it deserves it - MARK TWAIN
"For ours was a Noble Cause and we will be remembered as the Noble Generation."
IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS,
PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM !!!
"Freedom is not free . . . but the U.S. Military will pay most of your share."
Pacifism is a luxury paid for by warriors!!
Comment
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Comment by CHUCK W. on September 3, 2010 at 2:20pm
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A Postscript to the Da Nang Harbor Report
Throughout the entire project of returning veteran benefit rights for disabilities caused by herbicide contaminants to offshore personnel, one of the hardest factors to overcome has been the constant stream of disinformation given out by the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA). Most of us know from experience that this is standard operating procedure for DVA. Unfortunately, the general public typically takes many of the items reported in the news as the cost of doing business. Once the wrong data gets out, it is very hard to 'un-do.' We see for ourselves how these types of inaccurate statements of grotesquely twisted and erroneous data is common practice when the Directors of various departments of the VA present these bogus facts and figures to Congressional Committees.
These 'misstatements' could in no way be mistakes on the part of these VA employees, because the data had to emerge from within their own specific departments. Rather than consider such misstatements as errors presented to Congress, I see them as perjury. Congressman Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans Committee, has stated in public media on several occasions that the DVA continuously lies to him and his staff, and to Congress itself, and there is nothing he or the Congress of the United States can do about it.
Serendipitously, within days of the posting of "The Da Nang Harbor Report," (1), an AOL Health Report, picked up by Associated Press, got wide circulation. (2) It contains seriously erroneous data. It states: "[including] those veterans who served off the coast of Vietnam - which would add an estimated 800,000 people to the 2.6 million who served there on land." Let's break this down by element:
- During the Vietnam War (assumed to be 1962 to 1975), 2,594,000 servicemen and women served in "South Vietnam." This is specifically in South Vietnam as a sub-group of those serving in "Southeast Asia." So it is legitimate to round this to "2.6 million who served there on land (in-country)." (3)
- But that was nearly 40 years ago. Vietnam Veterans, just like the general population, die as they get older. However, unlike the general population, Vietnam Veterans are dying at a much faster rate than the general population. Less than 40% of in-country veterans are alive today. Some research put that figure lower, to 33%.(4) Annual deaths of the United States population actually dropped in 2006 and is now holding fairly steady. (5) Vietnam veteran death count doubled between the years 2001 and 2010, from 52,587 in 2001 to 103,890 in the 2010 projection (6). Even using the 40% survivor rate, only 1,040,000 of all in-country veterans are still alive today. (7)
- During the Vietnam War, there were 229,000 Navy personnel in all of Southeast Asia. (3) There's no possible way to expand that number to 800,000 without re-writing history from 1962 until now. The DVA has been attempting to re-write history on many aspects of the Vietnam War, but they will only succeed if readers never question the sources available to them.
The grief that these inflated numbers cause occurs when they are computed into the cost of legislation which depends on head count. VA numbers for various costs are traditionally overstated, but inflating the cost figure of Naval personnel by almost 300% is ludicrous. It would scare any legislator away if their attention were only focused on the numbers; and if they didn't check the sources of the figures. Unfortunately, that describes the majority of our legislators.
John Rossie
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association
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