Veterans For America

U.S. forces arrested an aide to Ahmad Chalabi – once a top ally of the Bush Administration and a key player in helping the administration push the U.S. to war in Iraq — for being involved in bombings that killed Americans and Iraqis. It’s alleged the aide was working with the “highest echelons” of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. With friends like these, it’s no wonder the U.S. is facing a growing tab for security in Iraq — with fees to private contractors soaring to more than $1.2 billion this year. Are we wasting our money in Iraq? Did we establish a strong ally in Iraq, which just signed its first major oil deal with a foreign country since the invasion in 2003 — a deal with the Chinese worth up to $3 billion.

With Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast, it’s yet another reminder that we need our National Guard here at home, guarding the nation. Instead, our Guard is being chewed up by current deployment policy. More than 1,500 could be called to New Orleans because of Gustav; as many as 8,000 could be activated in Mississippi; 3,000 are on alert in Alabama.

With all the stress and strain our military is under to maintain troop strength in Iraq, it’s no wonder they’re calling ours the “Prozac Army.” Thousands of our troops are shouldering too much stress because of poor planning and destructive policy.

The Democratic National Convention is over, and soon the Republican National Convention will begin. One thing that observers agree on is that: “No matter what, the president must pay close attention to military families.“