VFA News Analysis: May 8, 2008

The U.S. deployed more than 43,000 troops to combat who were listed as medically unfit to do so in the years since 2003, Pentagon records show. The reliance on troops determined to be “non-deployable” is another symptom of the strain on the military. “It is a consequence of the consistent churning of our troops,” said VFA’s Bobby Muller. “They are repeatedly exposed to high-intensity combat with insufficient time at home to rest and heal before redeploying.”

About a day after Department of Veterans Affairs officials were grilled by a Congressional panel over their lack of proper care for traumatized veterans, a VA official declared that new benefits for vets that congress is considering would be extremely difficult to implement within two years. Keith Pedigo, VA’s associate deputy undersecretary for policy and program management, said meeting an Aug. 9, 2009 start date to begin offering the so-called 21st Century GI Bill of Rights would not be likely.

Tuesday was military spouses day, marked with a speech by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Planners dream of a five star hotel for Baghdad’s Green Zone.

Meanwhile, authorities say Baghdad should prepare for an exodus of thousands from the city’s eastern neighborhoods. Two football stadiums are on stand-by to receive the flood of people expected to flee fighting in Sadr City. In the last seven weeks around 1,000 people have died and more than twice that amount injured — mostly civilians.