Edwards offers plan for vets, troops

[JohnLocke]

Edwards offers plan for vets, troops
By Amy Lorentzen--Associated Press Writer
Friday, May 25, 2007
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FORT MADISON, Iowa--Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards on Friday unveiled a new policy to support veterans, service members and military families, a popular move for many presidential candidates leading into the Memorial Day weekend.

The recent scandal over substandard treatment at the Walter Reed military hospital is only a small fraction of problems facing U.S. troops, the former North Carolina senator said as he began a weekend trip through southeastern Iowa.

Extended tours of duty are putting pressure on military families, troops are being sent to war underequipped, and the GI bill is failing to adequately provide education to returning soldiers, Edwards told about 100 people gathered in a hotel conference room.

If elected, "I will do everything to support our troops that is not being done today," he said.

Edwards' plan, which he called a "sacred contract," includes:
--*Fully funding veterans' health care.
--*Providing a plan for coming home, including screening for post-traumatic stress disorder.
--*Enacting a new Total Force GI bill, giving Guard and Reserve members benefits proportionate to the service they perform. It would expand benefits for college or technical school tuition and fees for service members coming off of active duty.
--*Creating a Military Families Advisory Board to allow families a voice at the U.S. Department of Defense.
--*Closing the gap between military and civilian pay.

Edwards unrolled the new policy just two days after he presented his ideas for rebuilding the nation's military at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
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Read the rest here.

[Monticus]

1. I know this isn't going to be always possible...

but wouldn't it be cool if we could elect people who would more greatly ensure that our military spends its time cleaning its toys than using them?

We are the greatest country in the world, aren't we? The best that we can do is, "...or we'll kick your ass"?

Time we became adults as a nation.

Cheers, all.

[JohnLocke]

2. Kick (nt).

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Gee, If Edwards Hadn't Pushed So Hard For Starting This War

Then maybe we wouldn't need all of these promises.

[waiting for hope]

4. Like he has had something to do

with the shitty way veterans and returning service men and woman are being treated now? Get a life, move on and find a candidate you can support.

Edwards' plan, which he called a "sacred contract," includes:
--*Fully funding veterans' health care.
--*Providing a plan for coming home, including screening for post-traumatic stress disorder.
--*Enacting a new Total Force GI bill, giving Guard and Reserve members benefits proportionate to the service they perform. It would expand benefits for college or technical school tuition and fees for service members coming off of active duty.
--*Creating a Military Families Advisory Board to allow families a voice at the U.S. Department of Defense.
--*Closing the gap between military and civilian pay.

[w4rma]

5. Obama and Hillary tacitly supported the IWR-2007.

Obama and Hillary waited until it was safely passed to vote.
Obama and Hillary did not say one word against IWR-2007 until it had been passed and they voted.

And this is all while Bush's and Republican approval is in the toilet and Edwards is strongly speaking out against it and the majority of the nation (rather than 10% of the nation) is opposed to this war.

That is way things stand in the present day.

[Catchawave]

6. Most of the problems he's addressing

existed before the war, even BEFORE he was in the Senate. Did you serve Manny?