Category Archives: Veterans for Common Sense News

Editorial Column: Close the Blackwater Loophole

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Team VCS

February 20, 2009 – There are currently more civilian contractors in Iraq than members of the United States Army. The most infamous is the private security force, Xe (The-Firm-Formerly-Known-as-Blackwater). Xe has approximately 1000 military contractors in Iraq who guard U.S. … Continue reading →

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TAPS Helps Families of Suicide Victims

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Team VCS

Advocates offer free peer-to-peer support, crisis line, case assistance February 21, 2009 – After Private Paul Bridges saw his buddies die in Iraq in a Humvee in February 2006, his mental state began going downhill, said his father, Terry Bridges. … Continue reading →

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Chairman Edwards Releases Statement on VA Funding

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Team VCS

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — U.S. Representative Chet Edwards released the following statement in response to criticism of veterans funding in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. “It has been said that it is easier to kick down a … Continue reading →

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Murder Trial of U.s. Soldier Goes to Jury

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Team VCS

February 20, 2009, Vilseck, Germany – A U.S. Army medic accused of involvement in the execution-style killings of four bound and blindfolded Iraqi prisoners ha his fate placed in the hands of a nine-person jury that will decide if he … Continue reading →

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VCS in the News: Poll Finds Low Opinion of Military Medical Care

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Team VCS

May 24, 2008 – A majority of Americans believe that wounded troops don’t receive high quality medical care in military and Veteran’s Administration hospitals, according to a new Harvard School of Public Health poll. Military families share that view, the … Continue reading →

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VA Nurses: One Step Closer to Restored Bargaining Rights

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Team VCS

February 19, 2009 – Katrina Blomdahl, writer-researcher for RNs Working Together, says the organization applauds moves to return bargaining rights to Veterans Affairs nurses. RNs Working Together is a coalition of 10 AFL-CIO unions representing more than 200,000 registered nurses … Continue reading →

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Feb 21, VCS in the News: Toxic Command and Lack of Mental Health Exams Major Factors In Houston Recruiter Suicides

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Team VCS

Veterans rights activist Paul Sullivan said he was deeply disturbed by the report, especially Turner’s finding that less than 60 percent of soldiers who return from deployment to a recruiting assignment have been fully vetted for psychological problems. “The senior … Continue reading →

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Montana Model for Assessing Returning Vets for PTSD and TBI

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Team VCS

February 18, 2009 – Following the suicide two years ago of a recently deployed combat vet, Montana has become a model for accessing and assisting veterans who show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). While … Continue reading →

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VA Won’t Release Records About Spokane Psychiatrist

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Team VCS

February 17, 2009, Spokane, WA – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will not say whether the psychiatrist who attended to two veterans who killed themselves last year was involved in other cases resulting in suicide in 2008. Finding that … Continue reading →

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Former Gitmo Guard Recalls Abuse, Climate of Fear

Posted on February 18, 2009 by Team VCS

February 15, 2009, San Juan, Puerto Rico – Army Pvt. Brandon Neely was scared when he took Guantanamo’s first shackled detainees off a bus. Told to expect vicious terrorists, he grabbed a trembling, elderly detainee and ground his face into … Continue reading →

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