Stars & Stripes letter: VA chief (Nicholson) should be replaced

[lebkuchen]

It's excerpted:

...Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson serves at the pleasure of Bush, but apparently not at the service of our veterans. War correspondent Bob Woodruff asked Nicholson about the discrepancy between the Department of Defense’s official list of 23,000 wounded soldiers/Marines and the VA’s treatment of 205,000 veterans for diseases of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, mental disorders and other problems. Nicholson explained that the VA’s higher number included those in need of dental care.

The 37,000 cases of post-traumatic stress disorder alone make a mockery of DOD’s count and Nicholson’s absurd response.

In 2005, Senate Democrats and veterans agencies pushed for the expansion of mental health resources and funding for returning vets. Nicholson argued that the VA already was adequately funded and he opposed expanding postwar health care coverage from two years to five years. In fact, the VA was under serious financial strain when Bush appointed Nicholson in January 2005.

As former chairman of the Republican National Committee, Nicholson has aptly demonstrated his allegiance to his party rather than to veterans. Although Bush may feel “Jimmy” is doing a heck of a job, unless the GOP is plotting its own ruin in 2008, it must work with Democrats to replace Nicholson.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=44121

[babylonsister]

1. NOM! So important! Nicholson (and Kiley) need to accept

their guilt and go!
And we need to keep attention on Walter Reed, and those involved.
Thanks!

[librarycard]

2. Libby guilty, Iraq disintegrating, a GOP guilty of treating horribly wounded soldiers

like dog shit (see "you're doing a hellava job, Brownie!") -

Bush just never has a good day, does he?

[salin]

3. It is time for more and more of these letters to be written

and long past time for these voices to be heard and the concerns addressed. k&r

[lebkuchen]

4. In remembrance of Molly Ivins' last words...

"Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there."

On edit: Anthony Principi was George H.W. Bush's Sec. of Veteran's Affairs as well. See the chart:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_Veterans_Affairs

[salin]

5. She would approve.

kicking for the evening crowd.