Officials say too many former military members are in jail because of mental health issues.

December 15, 2009, Austin, Texas (Austin American-Statesman) - In hopes of helping veterans suffering from mental illness and substance abuse, Travis County authorities are looking at creating a special veterans court docket, which would channel those charged with certain crimes into treatment and social services rather than incarceration.

VA budget still not enough, group warns; VA estimated 419,000 Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans patients by the end of September 2010, yet VA had already treated 480,000 OEF/OIF veterans by June 2009.

December 10, 2009 (Army Times) - The biggest veterans budget in history is not big enough, warns the head of Veterans for Common Sense, a group that closely tracks health care issues for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

Where's Obama's Casualty Plan? - VCS Offers Five Point Outline

December 7, 2009, Washington, DC (VCS) - On Veterans Day 2009, President Barack Obama walked through the headstones in Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, DC.  He was deliberating his impending decision to escalate and then terminate the Afghanistan War.

December 5, 2009, Washington, DC (Kansas City Star) - White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage said that Obama “is determined to fulfill America’s responsibility to those who have served and sacrificed on our nation’s behalf. Any decision that the president makes in regard to military action will always ensure that our military and our veterans get the care they deserve and the benefits they earned.”