LIVE: Iraq and Afghanistan Vets BREAK SILENCE on TRUMP WAR
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Political leaders are accused of treating military conflicts with a 'creepy smile' and a lack of solemnity, reminiscent of past failures in Iraq.
- ❖The Department of Defense issued a press release identifying a fallen soldier as a 'believed to be casualty,' causing distress and uncertainty for families.
- ❖President Trump's remarks on military deaths—'likely be more before it ends. That's the way it is.'—are criticized as unemotional and dismissive.
- ❖The Major Richard Star Act, which would prevent medically retired veterans from losing retirement pay due to disability compensation, is blocked by a single senator despite overwhelming bipartisan support.
- ❖The VA is reportedly being quietly dismantled, with job cuts and policy changes made without consulting veteran organizations or the research community.
- ❖The practice of 'payfors' on Capitol Hill is criticized for pitting different groups of veterans against each other to fund benefits.
- ❖The VA home loan program, a vital tool for intergenerational wealth creation for veterans, is at risk of being undermined by increased fees for active-duty members without disability ratings.
Insights
1Casual Approach to War and Lack of Congressional Oversight
The host and guest criticize the current administration for engaging in military actions without seeking congressional authorization or making a public case for war. They highlight a video of Kevin Hass, Director of the National Economic Council, smiling while discussing military success in Iran and Venezuela, framing it as 'killing and attacking and subjugating our economic opponents for a greater American future.' This is likened to historical imperialistic rhetoric and contrasted with the solemnity of past administrations entering conflict.
Kevin Hassett's smiling demeanor while discussing military action (), host's comparison to 'Reich' (), and criticism of no congressional oversight or AUMF (, ).
2Insensitive Handling of Military Casualties
The Department of Defense is criticized for its insensitive and legally questionable method of informing the public about service member deaths. A specific press release is cited which identified a fallen Army Reserve soldier as a 'believed to be casualty,' causing immense distress and uncertainty for the family and unit. This is contrasted with the legal requirement for the military to inform the public of losses 'as fast as possible' and with careful wording.
DoD press release stating 'DOW identifies an army believed to be casualty' (), host's personal experience writing press releases for casualties (), and the legal requirement for prompt, careful notification ().
3Presidential Indifference to Service Member Deaths
President Trump's public remarks on military casualties are condemned for their lack of empathy and dismissive tone. His statement, 'Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That's the way it is,' delivered while reading from a teleprompter and then riffing, is seen as a profound failure of leadership and a 'whoopsie' attitude towards human life, deeply offending veterans who carry the burden of loss.
Trump's quote: 'Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That's the way it is.' (), and the host's emotional response, contrasting it with the burden felt by those who served (, ).
4Legislative Obstruction of Veteran Benefits: The Major Richard Star Act
The Major Richard Star Act, a bill with overwhelming bipartisan support, is repeatedly blocked from a full Senate vote by a single senator (Ron Johnson). This act aims to correct 'concurrent receipt,' which forces medically retired veterans to choose between their retirement pay and VA disability compensation, effectively robbing them of their earned retirement. The bill would provide an average of $500-$1000 extra per month to 50,000 severely injured veterans, a 'drop in the bucket' for the government but life-saving for families.
Explanation of 'concurrent receipt' and the purpose of the Major Richard Star Act (), the impact on 50,000 veterans (), and Senator Ron Johnson blocking unanimous consent for a vote (, ).
5Dismantling of the VA and Exclusion of Veteran Voices
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is accused of quietly undertaking reforms and policy changes without consulting veteran service organizations, the research community, or even Congress. This exclusion leads to harmful policies, such as a recently rescinded rule that would have negatively impacted veteran benefits. The guest emphasizes that while VA reform is needed, it must be done transparently and with veteran input, as the VA provides superior, culturally competent care compared to the private sector.
VA making rule changes without consulting veteran organizations (, ), the VA's superior care for women veterans (), and Chairman Lutrell's inability to get answers from the VA ().
Lessons
- Engage politically in upcoming elections to advocate for leaders who demonstrate seriousness and empathy regarding military service and veteran welfare.
- Support veteran service organizations like Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA.org) to amplify veteran voices and push for legislative change.
- Contact your elected officials, particularly senators, to demand a vote on the Major Richard Star Act and ensure medically retired veterans receive their full earned benefits.
- Advocate for transparency and inclusivity in VA reforms, ensuring veteran organizations and research communities are consulted before policy changes are implemented.
- Educate yourself and others on the long-term impacts of war on veterans, including physical injuries, mental health challenges like PTSD, and the financial struggles faced by military families.
Notable Moments
Host Fred Wellman's emotional recounting of writing casualty press releases and the enduring burden of leadership decisions that lead to loss.
This personal anecdote underscores the profound human cost of war and the deep disconnect with leaders who appear to treat it lightly, highlighting the moral injury experienced by those who served.
Dr. Kiyan Hunter's explanation of how the VA identified her unique cancers due to her service record (flying aircraft, jet fuel exposure), which civilian providers would have missed.
This illustrates the critical, specialized care the VA provides that the private sector often cannot, reinforcing why its preservation and proper functioning are vital for veterans' health.
Quotes
"What they're describing is killing and attacking and subjugating our economic opponents for a greater American future. Okay, if you put that in German, you might sound familiar. And the word Reich means kingdom or empire."
"This is just copy paste of the same stuff we've been hearing for 23 years."
"Even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives, we pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen. And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That's the way it is."
"It doesn't matter what you call it, right? It doesn't matter if you call it a war or don't call it a war. The families of those dead soldiers, it was a war."
"We can't spare the money to take care of the people that were injured when they missed that damn drone."
"We're pitting groups of veterans against each other. And that's also wrong."
Q&A
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