Political Reps - A Look at American Politics

Decision to Discontinue Destroyer Due in Part to Cost

2008-07-24T09:35:00.009-05:00

The Associated Press reports today the Navy is ending its DDG-1000 Zumwalt destroyer program because of anti-ship missile vulnerability and because they can't afford the estimated $5 billion per ship.

Congressional investigators involved are concerned that the Navy tried to use too many technologies on the "stealth destroyer" designed to sneak near to the shore, undetected and pulverize its targets with massive guns. A planned 32 ships eventually dropped to seven as costs grew.

Instead the Navy plans to build nine more of its current Arleigh Burke destroyers, said Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday, a member of the Armed Services Committee.

The Navy's plans to expand its 313-ship fleet so even though it can't afford to keep the DDG-1000, it can't afford to stop building ships either, says Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington Institute.

In addition to cost concerns, the DDG-1000 is vulnerable to attack when doing what it was designed for: coming close to shore to use 155-millimeter guns instead of missiles.

Finally, there is currently no threat that the DDG-1000 could be used for.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

In the Headlines Today

2008-07-16T13:45:00.004-05:00

Military surge in Iraq ends; 150,000 troops remain [USA Today]

VA to advertise its suicide hot line program [AP via Newsvine]

US soldier who deserted over Iraq is deported [The Guardian]

Pentagon: U.S. may cut Iraq troop levels this fall [USA Today]

More US troops may go to Afghanistan this year [AP via Newsvine]

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Veterans Possibly Shortchanged Say Democrats

2008-07-15T11:49:00.008-05:00

The AP is reporting that according to a new congressional report at least 28,283 vets may not have been paid money owed to them by the government because the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) were working frantically to clear a backlog of claims resulting from changes in the law allowing vets to claim both military retirement and disability at the same time.

This evaluation was carried out by the House Oversight and Government Reform's domestic policy subcommittee, headed by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio.

From the AP article:

In mid-2006, DFAS had hired Lockheed to help it work through the long list of cases. The government identified some 133,000 veterans who were eligible for money through its "VA Retro" program. The list quickly grew by another 84,000 names because newly retired veterans or those with a changed disability status were being added.
Officials finally cleared the backlog last June, seven months after the original deadline.
According to the House investigation, officials reached their goal only after lowering their standards. . .

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

In the Headlines

2008-07-08T09:33:00.006-05:00

Study: Military Gays Don't Undermine Unit Cohesion [ABC News]

Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki demands US withdrawal timetable [Times Online]

U.S. Military Mulls Iraq Troop Pullbacks [CBS News]

The Iraq war movie: Military hopes to shape genre [LA Times]

Soldier Made Famous By Photo Dies in Pinehurst [ThePilot.com]

Pentagon aims for less deadly cluster bombs [AP via Newsvine]

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Vet Group will Air Ads Touting Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

2008-07-07T13:49:00.009-05:00

According to a report by the Associated Press Saturday, veteran group Vets for Freedom is launching a national ad campaign this week touting the troop buildup in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Vets for Freedom is spending $1.5 million on the ads that will first run on cable television nationally starting out in five states: Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Virginia.

The group also plans to send members to several swing states as part of a four-month education campaign that they plan on formally announcing Wednesday.

The article also mentions McCain and Obama. Vets for Freedom more or less seem to back McCain and criticize Obama for not visiting Iraq since 2006.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Two Stories to Check Out Today

2008-07-03T15:13:00.002-05:00

US, Poland agree on outline deal for missile bases [AP via Newsvine]

Pentagon extends tour of 2,200 Marines in Afghanistan [USA Today]

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

'Swift Boat' Vets Want to Reclaim Name

2008-06-30T13:09:00.007-05:00

The term "Swift Boat" has become synonymous with nasty campaign smears. Today's New York Times has an article that basically states these Vietnam Veterans, who served on the type of boat pictured above (know as Patrol Craft Fast or Swift boats), want their good name back.

A little background from Wikipedia:

Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, formerly known as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (SBVT), is a political group (527 group) of American Swift boat veterans and former prisoners of war of the Vietnam War, formed during the 2004 presidential election campaign for the purpose of opposing John Kerry's candidacy for the presidency.

Even some of the Vets who associated with the anti-Kerry group do not like what "Swift boat" has become (to mean.)

Swiftboats.org has a disclaimer on their site claiming no “express or implied” political ties.

Source: New York Times

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Political Reps Editorial Note

2008-06-30T08:09:00.002-05:00

If you haven't been paying attention, haven't visited in a while or are new to the site, maybe you missed the new direction PoliticalReps.com is headed.

The blog is moving away from covering little noticed and overlooked political news items and towards exploring veteran and military related issues of a political nature, particularly those in the news.

Topics like the VA, the Pentagon and how congress interacts with two appear now regularly here.

Not much rhyme or reason to it other than, currently, this significant arena of American politics deserves added attention.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Army's Request for more Brass Rejected by White House

2008-06-23T10:55:00.008-05:00

The AP reports today that Bush's administrative arm, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has rejected a plan to add five generals to oversee monitor and purchasing contractor performance.

A blue-ribbon panel, chaired by former Pentagon acquisition chief Jacques Gansler, criticized the Army for contracting blunders and recommended the generals.

From the article:

The war in Iraq exposed major flaws in the Army's contracting abilities, particularly when the buying was done outside the United States. An overworked, under-experienced, and short-handed Army contracting staff was unable to meet the fast-paced demands for supplies and services. Bad deals were made and procurement fraud cases mounted in an environment prone to abuse.
Defense contractors, frequently criticized for war profiteering, complained of being pushed to accept flat-fee arrangements in high-risk combat zones where expenses could soar and confusion existed over what U.S. laws and regulations applied.

Putting generals in contracting jobs is believed to bring experience, give the profession clout, and build up talent by showing junior troops that contracting is viable career choice.

The Army learned its proposal for the generals was rejected on May 12. A week later, the Army repealed the decision. On Thursday, an Army spokesman said communications between the OMB and the Army are "pre-decisional and not releasable to the public at this time."

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Health Care for Women Vets to Improve says VA Secretary

2008-06-20T14:15:00.006-05:00

VA Secretary James Peake told women vets Friday that the VA is working hard to get better outpatient care for them, reports the Associated Press.

The AP has learned of an apparent disparity between the health care male and female veterans receive in about one third of the VA facilities offering outpatient care.

An internal VA report acknowledges the need for more doctors trained in women's care and more health equipment to fit the needs of women.

Peake said the VA recognizes that 86 percent of women veterans from the recent conflicts are under age 40, and have health needs related to having children. He said the agency is spending about $32 million for equipment specific to women's health needs.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Hope for Iraqi Interpreters to go to U.S.

2008-06-19T10:48:00.005-05:00

The Christian Science Monitor profiles the Shiite, Iraqi couple "Sarah" and "Chris" today, telling their troubles and turmoil of being interpreters for the U.S. forces in Iraqi and their plan to enter the U.S. under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program to raise a family.

Because of security concerns the nicknames Sarah and Chris are used instead of their real names in the article. Sarah is on a militant hit list. Her mother's life has been threatened. Chris's folks house has been bombed twice and he's lost 11 interpreter colleagues and friends since 2006. There is also a $20,000 bounty on interpreters offered by militants and one double that amount for female interpreters.

Chris and Sarah feel their current environment is too hostile to bring up kids. They would like instead to raise a family in the states. They said they are willing to come back after they spend some time in America.

Their dream could be within reach.

President Bush recently extended a law, through 2012, that will continue to allow Afghan and Iraqi interpreters working for the State Department and military possible entrance into the United States under the SIV program.

Right now, the US has already met its quota of 500 SIVs for 2008. According to the State Department it will grant 50 more in 2009.

The article goes on describing the long and arduous process of applying for an SIV. It also mentions the interesting mix of culture and politics surrounding interpreters.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

A Few Vet/Military Related Headlines

2008-06-17T14:15:00.003-05:00

Officials Warned Against Using Snarling Dogs, Forced Nudity During Interrogations, Senate Investigation Finds [HuffPo], [USA Today version], [WashPo version]

'Disposable Heroes': Veterans Used To Test Suicide-Linked Drugs [ABC News], [Washington Times version]

Official says Iraq contract dispute cost him job [AP], [New York Times version]

Vets to Testify on 1960s Chemical Tests

2008-06-12T09:25:00.010-05:00

The Associated Press comes today with the story of Jack Alderson (pictured above), a retired Navy Reserve lieutenant commander who claims his allergies, skin cancers and chronic fatigue -- as well as the sicknesses of his comrades -- are directly linked to the secret weapons tests he helped conduct in the Pacific during the 1960s.

Alderson was ordered to keep mum about his involvement in project SHAD -- Shipboard Hazard and Defense -- where the military tested germs and test participants were given experimental vaccines. But low turn out at a 1993 reunion motivated him to speak out. Alderson found out that more than half of the approximately 500 crew members who participated in the tests were either dead, inflicted with cancer, breathing problems or other ailments.

Alderson and other witnesses are to testify before a House Veterans Affairs panel today considering a bill requiring more Pentagon disclosure of Cold War era chemical and germ weapons testing along with extending benefits to vets who took part in them. Similar legislation is scheduled to be voted on by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee later this month.

Officials at the Pentagon haven't ruled out a health link but say such a link is hard to prove.

"We cannot say that this exposure 40 years ago had absolutely no health effect," said Dr. Michael Kilpatrick, deputy director for force health protection and readiness at the Pentagon. "I don't think any physician would risk saying that. Because how do you prove that that's the case?"

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Retired Army Officer Admits to Helping Fix Iraq Contract

2008-06-11T09:28:00.013-05:00

Levonda J. Selph, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, pleaded guilty Tuesday to steering a Pentagon contract for warehouses in Iraq to a Kuwait-based firm in return for a $5000 trip to Thailand and $4000 cash.

Selph pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery in U.S. District Court as part of a plea bargain to cooperate with the government in an investigation. The Virginia resident was secretly indicted on those charges in October -- the charges weren't revealed until her day in court Tuesday. She also agreed to serve a prison sentence --up to 33 months -- and pay the government $9000 restitution.

Prosecutors said Selph headed a selection board in 2005 that awarded a $12 million contract to build and operate Defense Department warehouses in Iraq. The contrat winner was not named in court documents.

The Justice Department said she will remain free until her sentencing October 14. She is not allowed to leave the country.

Source: Ex-colonel pleads to helping fix Iraq contract [AP]

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

VA Staffer to Testify to Senate Committee about PTSD email

2008-06-03T11:54:00.003-05:00

Norma J. Perez, former coordinator of the PTSD program at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Temple, Texas, will go before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Wednesday morning to answer questions on whether an internal email she sent was an attempt by the VA to circumvent paying benefits to soldiers with PTSD, or just misguided advice from an individual, reports CBS News.

In an email, sent on March 20, she wrote the following to the social workers and psychologists
under her supervision: "Given that we are having more and more compensation seeking veterans, I'd like to suggest you refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out."

Instead she said for clinicians to "consider a diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder."

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, a watchdog group based in Washington, obtained and distributed the email, along with VoteVets.org, a veterans lobbying group.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are pushing for an investigation. They want to make sure PTSD is being properly diagnosed at VA facilities.

Perez was recently reassigned to a VA hospital in Austin, TX. She works there as "Mental Health Integration Specialist."

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Top Ranking Military Officer Warns Soldiers About Politics

2008-05-27T12:02:00.008-05:00

The New York Times reports that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen has written an open letter to all active military personnel warning them not to engage in politics as the U.S. approaches a presidential election in which wars in Iraq and Afghanistan play a key role.

“The U.S. military must remain apolitical at all times and in all ways,” wrote Mullen. “It is and must always be a neutral instrument of the state, no matter which party holds sway.”

Mullen's essay appears in a coming issue of a military journal widely circulated among officers.

Retired military have every right to take part in the political process, but those still in uniform are prohibited to partake in partisan politics.

“As the nation prepares to elect a new president,” Adm. Mullen wrote, “we would all do well to remember the promises we made: to obey civilian authority, to support and defend the Constitution and to do our duty at all times.”

“Keeping our politics private is a good first step,” he added. “The only things we should be wearing on our sleeves are our military insignia.”

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Federal Court Reinstates Gay Military Nurse

2008-05-22T08:38:00.004-05:00

A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday to reinstate Air Force flight nurse Major Margaret Witt who was dismissed in 2004 for being a homosexual.

However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals let stand the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Yet the court said the government may only "intrude upon the personal and private lives of homosexuals" for such purposes as improving morale and maintaining troop readiness.

Maj. Margaret Witt was discharged after nearly 20 years of service on grounds she had a six-year relationship with a civilian woman. The women kept their relationship private. The court's decision did not reveal how the Air Force found out.

But one of Witt's lawyers said, “Some citizen in Spokane called up and said there are these lesbian women living in a house here and one of them is in the Air Force and you should know that.”

After an investigation and military hearing Major Witt was discharged.

Major Witt filed a lawsuit challenging the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy as a violation of the Constitution’s equal protection and due process clauses. The suit was first dismissed by a Federal District Court in Tacoma, Washington. Then on Wednesday the appeals court disagreed, reinstating much of Witt's suit and returned the case to the Washington court for further proceedings.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

DoD an Obstacle in Aid Boost for Vets

2008-05-13T10:23:00.007-05:00

The Associated Press is reporting that the Pentagon is actually the biggest obstacle between soldiers and expanded G.I. Bill aid for college.

The Defense Department is lobbying against a bill backed by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., that would provide a free ride to any instate public college for soldiers serving at least three years. The Pentagon believes that making troops eligible so soon would hurt retention rates -- providing too much of an incentive to leave -- and instead suggests collegiate benefits be made available after six years of service.

Webb counters that any losses in retention would be offset by the number of new troops the measure would attract.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Disabled Vets' Costs to Surge while Number of Vets Decrease

2008-05-12T14:45:00.005-05:00

The AP has obtained internal documents from the VA showing that despite the declining number of vets, the government expects to spend $59 billion a year in 25 years to compensate injured troops, up from today's $29 billion.

Today's total vets number nearly 24 million. The VA expects that number to drop to below 15 million by 2033.

Reasons for the spike in cash include:

Inflation
More vets are aware of their benefits and are quick to file
Modern medicine returns troops with injuries that may have killed them in past wars
Certain medical conditions may worse with age and require higher payments

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Hearing on Vet Suicides

2008-05-07T13:03:00.004-05:00

CBS News reports on a congressional hearing titled, "The truth about veteran suicides."

There is talk of a "cover up" within the VA over veteran suicide data. A congressional committee is looking into the matter.

Internal emails by Dr. Ira Katz, the VA's head of Mental Health, seem to have landed the VA in hot water. In a email to his top media adviser Katz says, "Our suicide prevention coordinators are identifying about 1,000 suicide attempts per month among veterans we see in our medical facilities."

Katz's e-mail was written shortly after the VA provided public data showing there were only 790 attempted suicides in all 2007.

Katz later said, "There is no epidemic in suicide in VA."

Sarabeth of 1115.org has no sympathy for Katz:

Why address the problem, and try to reduce the number of actual suicide attempts, when it’s so much easier to just perform a radical numerectomy on the official statistics? Especially when you can achieve much more dramatic results by number-fudging than you ever could through providing adequate mental health services.

This guy is surely the perfect combination of criminal negligence and criminally stupidity? What kind of mental defective do you have to be to a) think you can get away with claiming that attempted suicides are 15 times lower than they actually are, and b) to openly put it all in writing in an email like that?

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

WashPo G.I. Bill Article

2008-04-29T09:58:00.004-05:00

Not much hard G.I. Bill news in an article by the Washington Post, but plenty of moving personal stories. It starts off:

Two years after a rocket-propelled grenade hit Nathan Toews during an ambush in southern Afghanistan, sending shrapnel shooting into his skull and spiderwebbing through his brain, he has recovered enough to ask: What now?

Like so many leaving the military, after years of taking orders, he's facing an almost infinite number of choices about his future.

The political G.I. Bill news it does touch on include the dozens of veteran related bills currently in congress and a recently revised bill -- now with 58 co-sponsors -- that would "expand benefits for veterans, including active-duty National Guard troops and reservists, to cover the cost of the most expensive public universities and to match contributions from private schools with higher tuition, for four academic years."

A decent portion of the article reveals the limitations of the current G.I. Bill and the struggles by Vets with a myriad of educational choices.

Source: Some War Veterans Find GI Bill Falls Short [Washington Post]

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Voting Problems for Troops

2008-04-28T13:36:00.008-05:00

The AP, by way of USA Today, ran an article yesterday about the voting struggles of many military members.

Although communities in 13 states will send ballots by email and at least seven states allow the return of those ballots electronically, thousands of troops in remote bases still rely on regular mail to cast their vote -- often at the last minute due to ballot preparations.

Allowing at least part of the voting process for the military to be carried out electronically would help ease these problems but raise concern of privacy and security.

Pentagon officials are urging more states to take the electronic route before November in order to alleviate the problem of thousands of troops asking for ballots who either ended up not voting or having their ballots rejected because of flaws.

I don't see too much of a problem of at least delivering a blank ballot via email. Potential issues arise when sending a completed ballot back through the internet. The postal service and FedEx are offering discounted or free postage to military members, so it would appear the voting process could wrap up in half the time -- while still maintaining privacy and security -- if one were emailed a ballot then returned it via post. Faxing is also worth exploring.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Senate Passes Bill for Filipino Veteran Benefits

2008-04-25T08:26:00.007-05:00

The Senate approved legislation Thursday that would provide increased veteran's benefits and set up pensions for Filipino vets who served beside American troops in WWII.

The bill passed 96-1 and now moves onto the House where it is expected to get a vote before the end of the year. While Bush has not threatened a veto, the White House and some Republicans want to strip out the provision for Filipino veterans because they believe the money would be better spent on U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

Jaywalker of the blog Pedestrian Observer sides with the Filipino vets:

There is a long road ahead for the FilVets and their supporters and it will help if every Filipino American will do their share of lobbying but all these will be for naught if Gloria Arroyo is allowed to sabotage the gains of the lobbying effort. That is if we allow Gloria Arroyo in her illegal abuse of her executive powers in including VMMC in her development plans that will serve as an excuse to sell a property that belongs to the Filipino Veterans not the government to dispose off as they please. Leave it to the president with questionable mandate to spoil everything what could have been the most important legislative victory for the FilVets. Like a typical destructive and vindictive person afflicted with crab mentality will pull down the FilVets because they are $300 a month richer. Denying them hospital care at the twilight of their years is just plain cruel and as sick as it can get.

Genghis of 8Asians says the bill is too little too late:

The bill’s passing is honorable, and it’s welcomed. But for most it’s a bit too late. But even if it came many years after, I’m sure if my grandfather was here today, he would still stand and salute and would have been ever so proud to have served.

Opponents point out such a pension would be in addition to the one already received by their own government.

The bill also makes some veteran benefits retroactive for more people, gives new kinds of housing benefits to severe burn victims and increases the amount of mortgage life insurance some disabled veterans can buy.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

The M4 Situation

2008-04-21T08:06:00.006-05:00

The AP ran an article yesterday questioning the reliability and cost of the military's primary rifle, the Colt M4. While the piece delves into the intricate mechanics and operation of the M4 -- and how the weapon is prone to jamming and requires more maintenance than similar models -- there is also an interesting judical and political side:

In 1996, a Navy office improperly released Colt's M4 blueprints, giving nearly two dozen contractors a look at the carbine's inner workings. Colt was ready to sue the U.S. government for the breach. The company wanted between $50 million and $70 million in damages.

Cooler heads prevailed. The Defense Department didn't want to lose its only source for the M4, and Colt didn't want to stop selling to its best customer.

The result was an agreement that made Colt the sole player in the U.S. military carbine market. FNMI challenged the deal in federal court but lost.

And then there is the cost:

More than $300 million has been spent on 221,000 of the carbines over the past two years alone. And the Defense Department is asking Congress to provide another $230 million for 136,000 more.

And now, as Congress considers whether to approve this request, critics are saying Colt's exclusive deal is bad for soldiers and tax payers.

TheRazor.org offers a solution:

Given the situation, why not have them all? Just standardize on the caliber so that ammo can be used by all the guns and let “the market” (soldiers in the field) decide which they want. I’d rather see them decide than an Oklahoma senator anyway.

"Fits" writes on the blog Shooting the Messenger:

Not wishing to get into a platform war, hey, who the hell has time to answer hate mail, $1500 is ridiculous for a mass produced jam-a-matic poodle shooter. The article does provide some interesting history of the battle to keep the M4 in service, however, and worth a look.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation

Military Blogger Michael Yon Interviewed

2008-04-17T13:19:00.004-05:00

The Glen and Helen Show recently interviewed military blogger and author Michael Yon. They discuss his new book, Moment of Truth in Iraq: How a New 'Greatest Generation' of American Soldiers is Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope. Michael also gives some interesting advice to the presidential candidates about what to say and do concerning the situation in Iraq.

You can download the podcast here. More information and a streamable player is available on this page.

-Dippold

Political Online Reputation