State vets home in bad shape, audit shows
Matthew Yi, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau
Friday, April 25, 2008
(04-25) 04:00 PDT Sacramento --
- The state veterans home in Yountville, the nation's oldest veterans home, suffers from chronic staff shortages and a lack of proper oversight for timely maintenance of medical equipment, according to a report released Thursday by the state auditor.
The report was ordered by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee in August after state Sen. Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, requested an investigation. The senator said her office had received about 100 pages of letters complaining about the level of care at the 124-year-old state facility that includes a hospital and houses about 1,100 residents.
Complaints ranged from dirty floors and under-inflated wheelchair tires to an allegation by one resident that he had to lie in bed two hours waiting for a nurse to come clean him up.
The 67-page report concluded the home has had difficulty filling health care positions in recent years and some nurses have had to work substantial amounts of overtime to meet the residents' needs.
go here for more
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/25/BAE510BBAS.DTL
Friday, April 25, 2008
Iraqi payroll filled with dead, missing soldiers
Iraqi payroll filled with dead, missing soldiers
U.S. audit also finds discrepancies in how troops are counted
updated 12:01 a.m. ET, Fri., April. 25, 2008
WASHINGTON - Iraq's government has kept thousands of dead, injured or absent policemen and soldiers on the payroll as a way to compensate or care for their families, an audit found.
The practice is just one example of why there are no reliable numbers on how many Iraqi forces are on the job at any given time, says the report being made public Friday by Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.
"There are continuing uncertainties about the true number ... who are present for duty at any one time,'' Bowen said of Iraqi policemen, soldiers, border guards and other forces.
Bowen said another part of the problem is that Iraqi ministries lack automated accounting systems needed to keep good data.
"I would not call it a damning report. I would say it's reflective of the difficulty of assessing troop strength ... and, more importantly, capabilities,'' Bowen said in an interview Thursday.
Bowen had been asked to assess last month's Defense Department report on Iraq, one in a series of quarterly documents required by Congress to measure progress toward military and political security there.
The $20 billion U.S. program to train Iraqis to provide their own security is key to when U.S. troops levels can be reduced in Iraq. And the problem of assessing the Iraqi forces is not new.
go here for more
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24302718/
What is really, really wrong about all of this is, it’s our money and we are not taking care of our own dead soldier’s families, living soldier’s families or the wounded we have. This is what is wrong with this. What else is wrong with this is we still don’t know how many Iraqis are really serving in their own military fighting for their own country. This is what else is wrong with all of this! We don’t know how closer we are to turning over Iraq to the Iraqi people. Plus there is Al-Sadr who just called for all out war against the “occupiers” or in other words, our troops.
U.S. audit also finds discrepancies in how troops are counted
updated 12:01 a.m. ET, Fri., April. 25, 2008
WASHINGTON - Iraq's government has kept thousands of dead, injured or absent policemen and soldiers on the payroll as a way to compensate or care for their families, an audit found.
The practice is just one example of why there are no reliable numbers on how many Iraqi forces are on the job at any given time, says the report being made public Friday by Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.
"There are continuing uncertainties about the true number ... who are present for duty at any one time,'' Bowen said of Iraqi policemen, soldiers, border guards and other forces.
Bowen said another part of the problem is that Iraqi ministries lack automated accounting systems needed to keep good data.
"I would not call it a damning report. I would say it's reflective of the difficulty of assessing troop strength ... and, more importantly, capabilities,'' Bowen said in an interview Thursday.
Bowen had been asked to assess last month's Defense Department report on Iraq, one in a series of quarterly documents required by Congress to measure progress toward military and political security there.
The $20 billion U.S. program to train Iraqis to provide their own security is key to when U.S. troops levels can be reduced in Iraq. And the problem of assessing the Iraqi forces is not new.
go here for more
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24302718/
What is really, really wrong about all of this is, it’s our money and we are not taking care of our own dead soldier’s families, living soldier’s families or the wounded we have. This is what is wrong with this. What else is wrong with this is we still don’t know how many Iraqis are really serving in their own military fighting for their own country. This is what else is wrong with all of this! We don’t know how closer we are to turning over Iraq to the Iraqi people. Plus there is Al-Sadr who just called for all out war against the “occupiers” or in other words, our troops.
Pentagon halts "feeding" of information to TV talking heads
Pentagon halts feeding of information to retired officers while issue is reviewed
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, April 26, 2008
ARLINGTON, Va. - The Defense Department has temporarily stopped feeding information to retired military officers pending a review of the issue, said Robert Hastings, principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for public affairs.
The New York Times first reported on Sunday that the Defense Department was giving information to retired officers serving as pundits for various media organizations in order to garner favorable media coverage.
Some of these retired officers saw their access to key decision-makers as possible business opportunities for the defense contractors they represent, according to the newspaper. The story also alleged that the officers who did not repeat the Bush administration's official line were denied further access to information.
Hastings said he is concerned about allegations that the Defense Department's relationship with the retired military analysts was improper.
"Following the allegations, the story that is printed in the New York Times, I directed my staff to halt, to suspend the activities that may be ongoing with retired military analysts to give me time to review the situation," Hastings said in an interview with Stripes on Friday.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54330
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, April 26, 2008
ARLINGTON, Va. - The Defense Department has temporarily stopped feeding information to retired military officers pending a review of the issue, said Robert Hastings, principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for public affairs.
The New York Times first reported on Sunday that the Defense Department was giving information to retired officers serving as pundits for various media organizations in order to garner favorable media coverage.
Some of these retired officers saw their access to key decision-makers as possible business opportunities for the defense contractors they represent, according to the newspaper. The story also alleged that the officers who did not repeat the Bush administration's official line were denied further access to information.
Hastings said he is concerned about allegations that the Defense Department's relationship with the retired military analysts was improper.
"Following the allegations, the story that is printed in the New York Times, I directed my staff to halt, to suspend the activities that may be ongoing with retired military analysts to give me time to review the situation," Hastings said in an interview with Stripes on Friday.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54330
Fort Bragg Soldiers Living in Hell worse than Walter Reed
Bragg Barracks Living Conditions (+)
by: jimstaro
Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 16:25:27 PM EDT
Most of my readers also follow me on Military Spouses For Change. This video was posted there and I'm sure when you watch it you will be just as sickened as I am. It's over on the right side of the blog. You need to watch it. The father of Sgt. Frawley made the video and it shows conditions worse than what we house criminals in. We were so angered with the conditions at Walter Reed and I'm sure you were like me thinking that Walter Reed was the worst conditions, but you would be wrong like I was. There is no excuse for this. What's wrong with the brass that they would allow any of our soldiers living like this? What is wrong with the media not reporting on the conditions of the bases our soldiers and Marines have to live with? Over and over again, it takes a family member to report on what the government should be doing! Time to make some serious changes and it begins here and now with you! Especially if you happen to be one of my Republican friends and still think that your elected are the ones who are supporting the troops. They need to hear from you! They don't support the troops but you do! You are interested in all of this enough to come in this blog everyday. I know you care. Hold them accountable. If you are one of my Democratic pals, get on the phone and make some calls too. Both sides need to be flooding the media and demand they pay attention to what is going on and do something about it.
by: jimstaro
Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 16:25:27 PM EDT
This video is appalling. Soldiers should never have to live like this, no one should. PLEASE contact your Congressman in response to this article and video.Read the comments for instructions on how to do that, or contact DonQuixote for technical help. - promoted by Bridgetta)
Another rising case of the Mis-Treatment of the Military Troops returning from the Theaters of Afganistan and Iraq.
The following was printed in the Fayetteville Observer, in Fayetteville North Carolina, home to Ft Bragg Army Base.
YouTube video raises concerns about Bragg barracks
jimstaro :: Bragg Barracks Living Conditions
The video was produced by a Father of a returning Afgan Soldier, and he isn't Happy. Don't blame him At All, how about You!
The video was made by Edward Frawley, the father of a sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division who returned from Afghanistan on April 13 and is among the soldiers now living in the barracks.
Most of my readers also follow me on Military Spouses For Change. This video was posted there and I'm sure when you watch it you will be just as sickened as I am. It's over on the right side of the blog. You need to watch it. The father of Sgt. Frawley made the video and it shows conditions worse than what we house criminals in. We were so angered with the conditions at Walter Reed and I'm sure you were like me thinking that Walter Reed was the worst conditions, but you would be wrong like I was. There is no excuse for this. What's wrong with the brass that they would allow any of our soldiers living like this? What is wrong with the media not reporting on the conditions of the bases our soldiers and Marines have to live with? Over and over again, it takes a family member to report on what the government should be doing! Time to make some serious changes and it begins here and now with you! Especially if you happen to be one of my Republican friends and still think that your elected are the ones who are supporting the troops. They need to hear from you! They don't support the troops but you do! You are interested in all of this enough to come in this blog everyday. I know you care. Hold them accountable. If you are one of my Democratic pals, get on the phone and make some calls too. Both sides need to be flooding the media and demand they pay attention to what is going on and do something about it.
New US Embassy in Iraq has no housing for all its workers
New US Embassy in Iraq has no housing for all its workers
By BRADLEY BROOKS, Associated Press Writer
Fri Apr 25, 2:07 PM ET
BAGHDAD - The new U.S. Embassy complex does not have enough fortified living quarters for hundreds of diplomats and other workers, who must remain temporarily in trailers without special rooftop protection against mortars and rockets, government officials have told The Associated Press.
Sorting out the housing crunch and funding could further delay moving all personnel into the compound until next year and exposes shortcomings in the planning for America's more than $700 million diplomatic hub in Iraq.
The issue of "hardened" housing in the U.S.-protected Green Zone has gained renewed prominence since Shiite militias resumed steady attacks on the enclave in late March as part of backlash to an Iraqi-led crackdown.
More than a dozen people have been killed in the Green Zone in the latest waves of attacks, including a U.S. civilian government worker whose housing trailer was hit.
At one point — during the heaviest barrages early this month — the State Department ordered all its Baghdad employees to wear body armor and other protective gear while outside buildings in the Green Zone, which also contains the British Embassy, key Iraqi government offices and other international compounds.
click post title for more
By BRADLEY BROOKS, Associated Press Writer
Fri Apr 25, 2:07 PM ET
BAGHDAD - The new U.S. Embassy complex does not have enough fortified living quarters for hundreds of diplomats and other workers, who must remain temporarily in trailers without special rooftop protection against mortars and rockets, government officials have told The Associated Press.
Sorting out the housing crunch and funding could further delay moving all personnel into the compound until next year and exposes shortcomings in the planning for America's more than $700 million diplomatic hub in Iraq.
The issue of "hardened" housing in the U.S.-protected Green Zone has gained renewed prominence since Shiite militias resumed steady attacks on the enclave in late March as part of backlash to an Iraqi-led crackdown.
More than a dozen people have been killed in the Green Zone in the latest waves of attacks, including a U.S. civilian government worker whose housing trailer was hit.
At one point — during the heaviest barrages early this month — the State Department ordered all its Baghdad employees to wear body armor and other protective gear while outside buildings in the Green Zone, which also contains the British Embassy, key Iraqi government offices and other international compounds.
click post title for more
Harley Davidson and DAV team up to help out
DAV help available Saturday at dealership
The Hawk Eye
Military veterans can receive free counseling and assistance with their government benefits Saturday at Heartland Harley-Davidson.
A fully equipped Disabled American Veterans service office will be at the dealership, 155 S. Roosevelt Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions as part of a $1 million grant from Harley-Davidson.
Harley's Heroes allows trained DAV personnel to provide benefits counseling to veterans who suffer from service-related injuries but may never have filed a claim for benefits or have found it difficult to work with the Veterans Administration.
Veterans seeking help should bring their claim number, Social Security number and any other pertinent documentation so the DAV representative can offer help.
http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/VA-advice-042408
The Hawk Eye
Military veterans can receive free counseling and assistance with their government benefits Saturday at Heartland Harley-Davidson.
A fully equipped Disabled American Veterans service office will be at the dealership, 155 S. Roosevelt Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions as part of a $1 million grant from Harley-Davidson.
Harley's Heroes allows trained DAV personnel to provide benefits counseling to veterans who suffer from service-related injuries but may never have filed a claim for benefits or have found it difficult to work with the Veterans Administration.
Veterans seeking help should bring their claim number, Social Security number and any other pertinent documentation so the DAV representative can offer help.
http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/VA-advice-042408
Veterans Wait 4 Years for VA Claim Appeal
Alabama State Veterans Director Says Veterans Wait 4 Years for VA Claim Appeal
Jane McCardle
Wiregrass Aviator
Apr 24, 2008
April 22, 2008 - Enterprise, AL -- Area veterans took advantage of an opportunity to ask questions about the benefits claims process from a state Veterans Affairs officer during a recent meeting.
Richardo (Rick) F. Randle, director of Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs, was the guest speaker at the April 19 meeting of the Lower Alabama Veterans Alliance Saturday at Ryan’s in Enterprise.
Randle told the filled-to- capacity crowd of LAVA members and guests that staffing is a critical issue with the department, and until more resources become available, staffing will remain a problem.
“We are doing the best we can with the resources available to us,” said Randle.
“Since 2006, the number of claims has grown 15 percent. The amount of time it takes to make decisions on disability claims is two to three year. On an average, it takes four years to get an appeals decision.”
go here for more
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/ArticleID/9914
In other words, up to 4 years with no income for wounded veterans who cannot work,,,,,up to 4 years of being told they are not worth having their wounds taken care of no matter what happened to them serving this country!
Jane McCardle
Wiregrass Aviator
Apr 24, 2008
April 22, 2008 - Enterprise, AL -- Area veterans took advantage of an opportunity to ask questions about the benefits claims process from a state Veterans Affairs officer during a recent meeting.
Richardo (Rick) F. Randle, director of Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs, was the guest speaker at the April 19 meeting of the Lower Alabama Veterans Alliance Saturday at Ryan’s in Enterprise.
Randle told the filled-to- capacity crowd of LAVA members and guests that staffing is a critical issue with the department, and until more resources become available, staffing will remain a problem.
“We are doing the best we can with the resources available to us,” said Randle.
“Since 2006, the number of claims has grown 15 percent. The amount of time it takes to make decisions on disability claims is two to three year. On an average, it takes four years to get an appeals decision.”
go here for more
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/ArticleID/9914
In other words, up to 4 years with no income for wounded veterans who cannot work,,,,,up to 4 years of being told they are not worth having their wounds taken care of no matter what happened to them serving this country!
No Evidence that Psychiatric Drugs Work for PTSD
No Evidence that Psychiatric Drugs Work for PTSD
Thursday, April 24, 2008
by: David Gutierrez Key concepts: PTSD, psychiatric drugs and Institute of Medicine
NaturalNews) There is no evidence that drug treatments or the majority of non-drug treatments work on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a major review of the medical literature on the topic.
A committee of the Institute of Medicine reviewed the literature on PTSD treatments upon the request of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Initially, the committee identified 2,771 studies, but eventually reviewed only 90 of these. The trials reviewed included randomized controlled trials, controlled psychotherapy trials and placebo-controlled pharmacotherapy trials.
Of the 90 studies, exposure therapy was the only treatment that was supported by evidence of its effectiveness. All other tested treatments had insufficient evidence to support them.
"These therapies may or may not be effective - we just don't know in the absence of good data," said committee chair Alfred O. Berg.
go here for more
http://www.naturalnews.com/023100.html
Well now this just pisssed me off! "We just don't know" is unacceptable! When the hell will they know? It's not like they haven't studied the hell out of this since Vietnam or that psychology is any kind of new science. You'd think they would know exactly what was working by now but they don't make money if they find what works and end the suffering of millions of people. They can't get funded if they know exactly how to treat it effectively. There is no cure for PTSD but there are ways to lessen the eating away of lives. They do know that as soon as treatment begins, PTSD stops getting worse, no matter what the treatment is. Talk therapy, medications and all the other treatments work but they know it's not a one size fits all. If one treatment doesn't work then move on and offer another kind. If one on one talk therapy doesn't work, then use group therapy or the other way around. They need to stop wasting time studying what has already been studied for over 30 years AND COME UP WITH SOME NEW IDEAS!PTSD is as old as humans are!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
by: David Gutierrez Key concepts: PTSD, psychiatric drugs and Institute of Medicine
NaturalNews) There is no evidence that drug treatments or the majority of non-drug treatments work on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a major review of the medical literature on the topic.
A committee of the Institute of Medicine reviewed the literature on PTSD treatments upon the request of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Initially, the committee identified 2,771 studies, but eventually reviewed only 90 of these. The trials reviewed included randomized controlled trials, controlled psychotherapy trials and placebo-controlled pharmacotherapy trials.
Of the 90 studies, exposure therapy was the only treatment that was supported by evidence of its effectiveness. All other tested treatments had insufficient evidence to support them.
"These therapies may or may not be effective - we just don't know in the absence of good data," said committee chair Alfred O. Berg.
go here for more
http://www.naturalnews.com/023100.html
Well now this just pisssed me off! "We just don't know" is unacceptable! When the hell will they know? It's not like they haven't studied the hell out of this since Vietnam or that psychology is any kind of new science. You'd think they would know exactly what was working by now but they don't make money if they find what works and end the suffering of millions of people. They can't get funded if they know exactly how to treat it effectively. There is no cure for PTSD but there are ways to lessen the eating away of lives. They do know that as soon as treatment begins, PTSD stops getting worse, no matter what the treatment is. Talk therapy, medications and all the other treatments work but they know it's not a one size fits all. If one treatment doesn't work then move on and offer another kind. If one on one talk therapy doesn't work, then use group therapy or the other way around. They need to stop wasting time studying what has already been studied for over 30 years AND COME UP WITH SOME NEW IDEAS!PTSD is as old as humans are!
PTSD visits up at Fort Drum
PTSD visits up at Fort Drum
Behavioral health visits among soldiers on Fort Drum are up by over 250 percent. The reason -- multiple combat tours as well as public awareness. Our Amy Ohler has more on a health summit where military and civilian health care providers, as well as state and local politicians came together to discuss the area's services.
Friday, April 25, 2008
PTSD visits up at Fort Drum
Updated: 04/24/2008 06:34 AM
By: Amy Ohler
FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- As soldiers continue to deploy, the rate of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder increases. Currently, about 200 10th Mountain Division soldiers are being treated by the behavioral health department on Fort Drum.
"Some folks come back stronger. Certainly there's a resilient population, a strong population and you know the data saying 'oh well if there's 30 percent coming back with some sort of mental health concern, that means 70 percent are not' so I would say a lot of them are coming back. I would say stronger, stronger marriages," said Todd Benham, Chief of Behavioral Health Department.
But those who don't come back stronger need adequate care. It's a topic that was discussed Wednesday among area health care providers and politicians.
"I think in the public mind, it often too much focuses on there's an engagement. There's a war. It's over and the problems dissipate. We need to build a system because Fort Drum is located here a system that has that capacity for the longer period of time rather than just time to the particular engagement that is in the forefront of minds," said Dennis Whalen, NYS Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.
So is the area keeping up with the soldiers' needs?
"Yeah I think we're keeping up with the services adequately. Waiting lists have been reduced in the last year specifically because of an increased attention to staffing and increased capacity in our mental health clinics and inpatient units," said Roger Ambrose, Director of Community Services for Jefferson County.
But some say more still needs to be done, such as attracting additional providers to the area. It's something that will continually need to be assessed as the area continues to change.
Secretary Whalen said he thinks the Doctors Across New York Program that was enacted in the budget will help attract doctors to the North Country. He says also in the budget they decided to start to move dollars from the inpatient side to outpatient service, which will help to provide preventive care.
http://news10now.com/content/top_stories/114750/ptsd-
visits-up-at-fort-drum/Default.aspx
Southeast Missouri State University to sponser PTSD event
PTSD Event
Day to Day Management of Post Traumatic Stress
The program is designed to raise awareness of the symptoms, treatment, and management of traumatic stress.
VFW Hall
1049 N. Kingshighway
Cape Girardeau, MO
6:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 24th
The program will feature and introduction to PTSD through a DVD presentation and followed by a panel of helping and resource professionals as well as those struggling with PTSD.
The event is sponsored by Southeast Missouri State University College of Health and Human Services;southeast Missouri State University Department of Social Work; Southeast Missouri State University Center for Health and Counseling; and Cape Girardeau Community Caring Council.
http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=8216575&nav=menu51_2
Day to Day Management of Post Traumatic Stress
The program is designed to raise awareness of the symptoms, treatment, and management of traumatic stress.
VFW Hall
1049 N. Kingshighway
Cape Girardeau, MO
6:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 24th
The program will feature and introduction to PTSD through a DVD presentation and followed by a panel of helping and resource professionals as well as those struggling with PTSD.
The event is sponsored by Southeast Missouri State University College of Health and Human Services;southeast Missouri State University Department of Social Work; Southeast Missouri State University Center for Health and Counseling; and Cape Girardeau Community Caring Council.
http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=8216575&nav=menu51_2
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