It would be prudent to ask outside legal and medical resources to provide some expediancy to our Veterans.

This graph illustrates the increase of disabled veterans since the Iraq War.

Everyone knows, or I hope they know, that President Obama has recognized 'the condition' of our Disabled Veterans differently than past Republican administrations.

He is taking the returning disabled seriously, but, he has also recognized past veterans disabled as well. 



What is tragic about the current disabled veterans compared to the past is the severity of the injuries suffered in Iraq.

By Hayes Brown on Jan 16, 2013 at 10:28 am

Though the war in Iraq has ended (click here) and combat in Afghanistan is winding down, the cost of providing disability coverage to those who fought those battles has doubled since 2000, USA Today reports. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, granting adequate coverage to military veterans has ballooned in cost from $14.8 billion in 2000 to $39.4 billion in 2011. That number tracks with previous statistics that showed 45 percent of 1.6 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have sought disability benefits....

The best spokesperson for the Disabled Veteran and their needs is Phil Donahue. He showcased the Disabled Veteran in "Body of War," a documentary that received less attention than it should have. 

"...nobody thinks of coming home like this..."

4,487 US Soldiers Killed in Iraq, 32,223 Seriously Wounded in Iraq

TROOPS IN IRAQ

Troops in Iraq - No U.S. troops remain in Iraq. The last 13,000 U.S/ troops were withdrawn in December 2011.

U.S. Troop Casualties

4,487 US troops

98% male

91% non-officers

82% active duty

11% National Guard

74% Caucasian

9% African-American

11% Latino

19% killed by non-hostile causes

54% of US casualties were under 25 years old

72% were from the US Army

Non-U.S. Troop Casualties - Total 316, with 179 from the UK

US Troops Wounded - 32,223, 20% of which are serious brain or spinal injuries. (Total excludes psychological injuries.)

US Troops with Serious Mental Health Problems - 30% of US troops develop serious mental health problems within 3 to 4 months of returning home

US Military Helicopters Downed in Iraq - 75 total, at least 36 by enemy fire

The VALUE of the Iraq War was being tracked by The Brookings Institute. It stopped tracking in February 2012 (click here).

The Iraq Index is a statistical compilation of economic, public opinion, and security data. This resource will provide updated information on various criteria, including crime, telephone and water service, troop fatalities, unemployment, Iraqi security forces, oil production, and coalition troop strength....

From the "Iraq Index" Monthly Oil Revenue from Exports

From the "Iraq Index" Revenues from Iraq Oil Exports 

Iraqi Physicians Before 2003 Invasion - 34,000

Iraqi Physicians Who Have Left Iraq Since 2005 Invasion - 12,000

Iraqi Refugees in Syria & Jordan - 2.1 million to 2.25 million

Does Jordan ever get any relief from the wars of it's neighbors?

U.S. SPENDING IN IRAQ

Spent & Approved War-Spending - About $1 trillion of US taxpayers' funds spent or approved for spending through 2011.

Lost & Unaccounted for in Iraq - $9 billion of US taxpayers' money and $549.7 milion in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors. Also, per ABC News, 190,000 guns, including 110,000 AK-47 rifles.

Lost and Reported Stolen - $6.6 billion of U.S. taxpayers' money earmarked for Iraq reconstruction, reported on June 14, 2011 by Special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction Stuart Bowen who called it "the largest theft of funds in national history." (Source - CBS News) Last known holder of the $6.6 billion lost: the U.S. government.

Missing - $1 billion in tractor trailers, tank recovery vehicles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and other equipment and services provided to the Iraqi security forces. (Per CBS News on Dec 6, 2007.)

Mismanaged & Wasted in Iraq - $10 billion, per Feb 2007 Congressional hearings

Halliburton Overcharges Classified by the Pentagon as Unreasonable and Unsupported - $1.4 billion

Amount paid to KBR, a former Halliburton division, to supply U.S. military in Iraq with food, fuel, housing and other items - $20 billion

Portion of the $20 billion paid to KBR that Pentagon auditors deem "questionable or supportable" - $3.2 billion

U.S. Annual Air-Conditioning Cost in Iraq and Afghanistan - $20.2 billion (Source - NPR, June 25, 2011)

When are Republicans finally going to vote in increase taxes  on Wall Street ENOUGH to pay for the Corporate Welfare they provided?