VFA News Analysis: September 22, 2008

The saga of a military spouse, whose husband is on his second deployment to Iraq, and her commitment to her Family Readiness Group. “I’d heard the horror stories of FRG leaders who were stressed to the point of breaking. Rumors abounded about the wife one former commander who cried before and after every monthly FRG meeting, overwhelmed by all that the families expected of her.” The strain of war and ongoing deployments sting our military families hardest — we owe them more than this.

Gen. David Petraeus has been careful to avoid using the word “victory” when talking about Iraq. The American commentariat might want to consider the same caution. Iraq is fragile and will remain so until the Iraqis sort out everything.

The ongoing deployments to war zones that are grinding down our National Guard will continue as it is the only way to meet current policy, said Army Chief of Staff George W. Casey Jr., to the National Guard Association on Sunday during its annual meeting. He noted that 60,000-70,000 Guard members are deployed overseas and are critical to active-duty military plans. What about the health of our Guard, the readiness of our military and our preparedness for disaster at home? Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee for president, told the association that the Guard has met the challenges of the post 9-11 world. “At times, the Guard’s responsibilities exceed even the demands we put on our active-duty forces. And our government has certain obligations that it has not always kept,” he told the association, at its annual meeting in Baltimore this weekend. However, his talk about using the private sector to treat veterans has some concerned about potential government cuts in veterans health care funding. McCain’s voting record and positions have been criticized by Veterans groups before. McCain has opposed a number of veterans health bills supported by his opponent.

You would think that the current Justice Department would have plenty to do besides prosecuting the daughter of a disabled Vietnam veteran for pouring soda on a counter at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. You would be wrong.

The Last Tour: a decorated Marine’s war within. And, a Soldier returns home from war, only to find that the war followed him home. For those with the right support, veterans can turn their trauma into a message of help for others.

Examining the military suicide “epidemic.”

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