Veterans For Common Sense

Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) was formed in August 2002 as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization by war veterans who believe that we, the people of the United States of America, are most secure when our country is free, strong, and responsibly engaged with the world. Our mission, based on the pragmatic ideals of the American patriot Thomas Paine, is to raise the unique and powerful voices of veterans so that our military, veterans, freedom, and national security are protected and enhanced, for ourselves and for future generations.

"We owe a debt to all who served and when we repay that debt to those bravest Americans among us, then we are investing in our future."
~ Barack Obama, August 3, 2009

What's New

VCS Adds "VCS on TV" News Clips to Web Site

Television News Coverage of VCS Advocacy

VCS now posts links to television news broadcasts featuring Veterans for Common Sense and our highly successful advocacy efforts on issues you care about.

Disabled Iraq War Veteran with Service Dog Beaten by McDonalds Employee

October 30, 2009, Brooklyn, New York (Courthouse News Service) - A disabled Army captain who was wounded in Iraq claims McDonald's employees beat him with garbage can lids after he brought his service dog to the restaurant. Luis Montalvan says the attack came as he was photographing the restaurant after he repeatedly complained about the treatment he received there.

Deployment at All Costs: Military Arrests Mom, Sends Child to Protective Serivces

Soldier mom refuses deployment to care for baby

November 16, 2009, Savannah, Georgia (Associated Press) – An Army cook and single mom may face criminal charges after she skipped her deployment flight to Afghanistan because, she said, no one was available to care for her infant son while she was overseas.

Fort Hood Fallout: Camp Lejeune Whistle-Blower Fired

A psychiatrist who tried to prevent Fort Hood-style violence among Marines about to "lose it" instead loses his job

November 16, 2009 (Salon) - Last April, two Marines at Camp Lejeune predicted to a psychiatrist that some Marine back from war was going to "lose it." Concerned, the psychiatrist asked what that meant. One of the Marines responded, "One of these guys is liable to come back with a loaded weapon and open fire."

New York Times Profiles VA and Secretary Shinseki

No Longer a Soldier, Shinseki Has a New Mission

November 11, 2009 (New York Times) - It was a sad homecoming of sorts. On Tuesday, Eric Shinseki, the secretary of veterans affairs, returned to Fort Hood, Tex., where he was a division commander in the mid-1990s, to pay tribute to two veterans affairs employees who died in the shootings there last week.

Main Menu

VCS in the News: DoD Must Fix Improper Personality Disorder Discharges

Written by David Goldstein

Wednesday, 21 October 2009 09:15

Senators Seek Review of Military's PD Discharges

October 20, 2009 (McClatchy Newspapers) - In the Senate, Barack Obama fought for better mental-health care for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Now that he's president, some of his former colleagues want him to pick up the gauntlet once more and make sure troops are getting the benefits they deserve.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 October 2009 09:20 )

Oct. 19 Update: VCS Fights for Improved PTSD Benefits

Written by VCS

Sunday, 18 October 2009 17:01

October 19, 2009 - Your weekly update features news about VA's proposed rules for processing PTSD disability claims, news about VA budget reform, news about our on-going FOIA campaign, plus news about an outrageous vote by 30 Senators who put corporate profits over the lives of rape victims working as contractors in the Iraq War. Thank you for your support, and please forward this message to your friends.

Last Updated ( Monday, 19 October 2009 13:04 )

VCS Lawsuit Attorney Fighting for MKULTRA Veterans

Written by Gordon Erspamer

Sunday, 18 October 2009 16:45

Op-Ed: MKULTRA Legacy - The Stain of Dishonor and the Prerequisites for Redemption

October 18, 2009 (TruthOut) - Despite the passage of four decades, America and its military have never come to grips with its own ghastly programs of using soldiers as guinea pigs to test chemical or biological weapons such as LSD, sarin, nerve gases, plague, mescaline, anthrax and hundreds of others. At the same time, they also conducted mind-control experiments, as soldiers and others were administered drugs, and septal implants were inserted in the sinus cavities a la "The Manchurian Candidate."

Last Updated ( Monday, 19 October 2009 09:27 )

Undermining FOIA - White House Orders Congress to Conceal Torture Photos

Written by Jason Leopold

Sunday, 18 October 2009 06:03

Obama Administration Attempts to Scuttle ACLU - VCS FOIA Lawsuit

October 17, 2009 (TruthOut) - The Obama administration will likely drop its Supreme Court petition challenging the release of photographs showing US soldiers abusing prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan now that lawmakers are set to pass legislation authorizing the government to continue to keep the images under wraps.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 18 October 2009 06:17 )

VCS Submits Comments to VA on New PTSD Rules

Written by VCS

Wednesday, 14 October 2009 12:10

On January 26, 2009, Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) wrote the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and requested new regulations, based on new scientific findings, to streamline the processing of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claims. On August 24, 2009, VA published proposed new regulations in the Federal Register. On October 14, 2009, VCS sent our comments to VA. The official comment period ends on October 23, 2009.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 October 2009 09:20 )

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