A modest (and slightly selfish) suggestion re: Afghanistan...

[Wounded Bear]

Ugly or not, fair or not, moral or not, it looks like the Afghan withdrawal will be a done deal in a few weeks.

My modest suggestion is to take the $100 billion or so dollars spent there per annum and funnel it into the Veteran's Administration for benefits and healthcare/rehabilitation to take care of the thousands of vets who still suffer the physical and mental/emotional scars of war.

[jimfields33]

1. We're still giving Afghanistan 4.7 billion a year for awhile.

I’m in agreement with the VA being fully functioning and helping the vets.

[Wounded Bear]

2. I would suggest that that amount should be provisional going forward...nt

[Act_of_Reparation]

5. Yeah, I think that's probably off the table now.

If we do not recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, there's no way they're getting that money.

[Wounded Bear]

6. Maybe teach the Taliban a lesson on making deals with trump...

J/K. In reality, hanging some human rights requirements on aid to Afghanistan sounds reasonable to me, whether they were in the orginal agreement or not. We have a 'new' government and so do they. Old agreements should be subject to review.

[marble falls]

3. The VA is doing a great job, more money and less political footballing, and an end of ...

... talk about privatization would all be good things for us vets.

[Wounded Bear]

4. I've always been basically happy with their medical system...

perhaps I'm lucky and live in a 'good' region where it works, but still. The point I always make is that they have never treated me worse than how I've been treated by civilian facilities along the way and usually better.

I agree on all of your points. The only way I would go for any 'privatization' would be the ability to use my VA Medical ID like people use their Medicare cards, especially for those who live remotely from a VA facility, at a local doctor or clinic. Oh, and like Biden is proposing for Medicare, let me get dental, etc.

[marie999]

7. That would help to hire the 36,000 healthcare workers the VA is short.

[maxsolomon]

8. Its not free money.

The VA is requesting $270 billion this year.