veteransinaction.org

This Tuesday, Oregon veterans from both the Iraq War and the Vietnam War joined together with AFSCME Council 75 to call on Sen. Gordon Smith to vote in favor of the Labor-HHS funding bill when Congress returns to session.

Smith may have changed his stance on the war, but he stills holds no credibility with Oregon’s veterans. And considering his failing 40 percent rating from Disabled Veterans of America he’s got a lot of catching up to do. Smith’s record on taking care of veterans put him in roughly the bottom 25 percent of U.S. Senators.

The Labor-HHS bill will provide a much needed increase in funds that are key in helping to keep veterans housed and healthy. The package includes $3.4 billion for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, $228 million for veterans’ employment and training programs, $23.6 million for the Homeless Veterans Program and $10 million earmarked toward traumatic brain injuries. Yet President Bush says the increase is too high, and has even gone so far as to threaten to veto the bill.

Knowing how much Smith sides with Bush - 90% of his votes - Veterans in Action and AFSCME Council 75 decided to take their message to the public, holding a press conference to call on Smith to support the bill and stand up to Bush. Nathan Hepper, an Army vet of the Iraq War, spoke from personal experience about his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder. Eugene Rosolie, president of VIA, called on Smith to prevent a repeat of post Vietnam by funding a safety net for soldiers returning from combat.

This September, Smith will face a test of how much he’s really dedicated to following through on doing his part to end the War, bring the troops home, and make sure they are properly taken care of. Will he cower to the Bush Administration spin, or will he take a stand for veterans? To the veterans of Oregon, it makes sense that out of the billions spent on the war each day a deserving fraction should go towards helping the men and women sacrificing their safety and sanity to this debacle.

Coverage by 1190 KEX available here

Watch for the story on KOIN 6 evening news

VIA president Eugene Rosolie will be making an appearance on Air America’s Portland station, 620 KPOJ, to talk on Thom Hartmann’s morning edition. He’ll be discussing the recent progress against Sen. Gordon Smith, current veterans’ issues people should know about, and what Veterans in Action has planned for the upcoming months.
Update: You can listen to the podcast here. Interview starts halfway thru.

AM 620 Podcast for 8/13/2007

Came across these today, take a look.

This first article from the NY Sun is about those returning from Iraq with cancer:

Veterans’ Rare Cancers Raise Fears of Toxic Battlefield

The second article from McClatchy Newspapers is an interview with retired four star General Volney Wagner:

Veteran General Hears Echoes from Vietnam in Iraq

Yes, you did read that right. We were surprised when late this afternoon word came that McCain had canceled the fundraising event at the Heathman Hotel. This turn of events has to be a blow for Senator Gordon Smith who has supported McCain’s run for the presidency. Although we won’t get to take our message to the streets, that Smith is hypocritical for saying he’ll do everything he can to bring the troops home from Iraq while at the same time supporting the biggest proponent of leaving them there, we did get it out to the press and the public. VIA will continue to expose the real record of Smith on Iraq and on veterans issues. We long forward to your support.

On Wednesday August 1^st, 2007 chronic Iraq War supporter and Sen. Gordon Smith’s personal choice for president, Sen. John McCain, will hold a fundraiser in downtown Portland.  McCain refuses to look at reasonable solutions to the Iraq occupation, supports indefinite occupation, has stated “public opinion doesn’t matter,” and has even proclaimed “Bomb Iran.”

 Please come out to support your fellow veterans in letting the public know McCain’s dangerous ideas not shared by all veterans.   Tell Sen. Smith he can’t say he opposes the war, but endorse its #1 proponent.

Veterans in Action will hold a public demonstration at the August 1^st McCain fundraiser to show Sen. McCain and Sen. Smith where Oregon’s veterans stand. We had a solid turnout at our last protest of Sen. Smith. You can help us repeat the success by donating your lunch hour to stand in solidarity with your fellow veterans.

What: Protest Gordon Smith’s Candidate for President, John McCain

When: 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM, Wednesday, August 1^st 2007

Where: In front of the Heathman Hotel

           1001 SW Broadway

           Portland, OR

We will meet 11:30 am at SW Park & Salmon, 1 Block West, and walk down

           Bring friends and family; we’ll have signs ready at the site

For more information, or for other ways to get involved, contact:
Adrian Rosolie
503/522-1830
arosolie@gmail.com

According to the New York Times and USA Today, training of Iraqi troops is losing out to the surge. Are we just riding on the merry-go-round? Here is the NYT article, Gaps in Training.

Two articles, one from the Oregoina and the other from the New York Times, highlight the growing opposition from military families to the occupation in Iraq. You can read the Oregonian article, Army wife and mother battles war here as well as the NYT’s Even in families sworn to duty misgivings arise as war goes on.