Discuss Adm. Mike Mullen's Nov. 25 Op-Ed article

Yes Mr. Mullen vets deserve extraordinary treatment the VA is capable of. Unfortunately, in a dishonet way, Mr. Mullen, you included 4,400 deaths of U.S. Soldiers who died needlessly in Iraq with the overall 4,800 U.S. Soldiers who died since 911. Your dishonarable attempt to conflate these numbers is an effort to cover for the uniformed military leaders' enabling of Bush's Iraq attrocities Untill Canada or Mexico invades the U.S. those in Military ARE NOT defending our freedom, you Mr. Mullen are only serving imperalism and war profiteers, remember the 700,000 to 900,000 Iraqis you contributed to the deaths of.

KP @ 6:10 PM PST, Nov 25, 2008

Adm. Mullen, talk is cheap! Use your powers to fix the broken VA system. It's a travesty the way this country treats our veterans. Doesn't get much higher than the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Redefine the Pentagon definition of combat injuries. What happened to your "CAN DO!" spirit Adm. Mullen? DO IT NOW!

Bob Merlin @ 1:56 PM PST, Nov 25, 2008

Ahoy, Admiral! You're only packing one half of your sea bag. http://johnmccarthy90066.tripod.com/id70.html Those wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are victims of Guerrilla Warfare, which uses Terror as phase one. IED's and "friendly fire' are still wounds suffered while engaged with the friggin' enemy. Lets not change saddles on horses in the middle of the stream.

John McCarthy @ 11:14 AM PST, Nov 25, 2008

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-combat25-2008nov25,0,3682816.story The article above shows us once again how desperate the 'bean counters' are at the Pentagon. Even Levin states that this is not what Congress intended last January.

John McCarthy @ 10:25 AM PST, Nov 25, 2008

In this same issue of LA Times is an article "Injured Veterans Engaged in New Combat" by David Zucchino, about how the Pentagon has narrowed definitions of combat injuries, resulting in loss of thousands of dollars worth of benefits for wounded vets! Talk about irony! Hey Adm. Mullen, the GOVERNMENT needs to show 100% gratitude! The private sector, and individuals, should not be expected to take over the function of the VA!

Lynda Hendrell @ 7:50 AM PST, Nov 25, 2008

I find it astonishing that the military which is contesting the benefits and medical care of its own men, is exhorting the public to show gratitude to them. I have not seen any sign that any member of the public has resented any benefits for the military personnel.

Aung Soe @ 6:46 AM PST, Nov 25, 2008

While living in Los Angeles I had some of best care by one doctor at the VA on Temple Street. Since I move from there and Bush took office I have had terrible care at the VA. I am 100% disabled. I had to outside the VA to get proprer treatment for my disablity. I servered Our counrty proudly in the Air Force it took Senator Boxers office to get my benifits. We treat out Vet terrible in this counrty today. The lack of trained proffionals and cut back is doing a dis sevice to all who have proudly serverd our counrty. I have been dealing with the VA for 26 years. I have never seen it htis bad. It need a complete overhaul

GAReece @ 6:12 AM PST, Nov 25, 2008

I am a disabled veteran who finds it ironic that Adm Mullen would make these statements when DoD has restricted the definition of combat disability. No diabled veteran I know has ever asked for a hand-out, only a hand. Makes you wonder who is really running the Pentagon.

Tom Misskerg @ 6:05 AM PST, Nov 25, 2008

This OpEd is a Lie. Just today in another section of the LATimes is article about how Adm. Mullens, the VA, abd the Pres. are reducing the disablility payments to our wound Warriors by playing games with the Law. They have gone against the wishes of Congress and twisted the law just to save money for exotic weapon systems. That is not giving back the 100% as Adm. Mullens claims to want. When I was a child we called this speaking with a forked tongue.

SmileySam @ 5:01 AM PST, Nov 25, 2008

While all these programs are nice and all, it's not exactly what we Veterans want. Give us Victory with a Capitol 'V'. We want the ticker tape parades in Los Angeles and New York and Washington for our victories in Afghanistan and Iraq. And yes, we want American babes showing their appreciation for us, by greeting us at the airports with signs and giving us free coupons for Hooters. And maybe some free tickets to the Chargers, Cowboys or Eagles games. You Liberals seem to forget that Vets are testosterone filled Masculine thrill seekers and adventurers.

Eric Dondero @ 4:55 AM PST, Nov 25, 2008

Next