VP Debate on Vet Issues
Let’s be honest: we’re living through some extraordinary political times.
A little over a month ago, the Democratic Party looked dead in the water until Nancy Pelosi stepped up and acted like the adult in the room. I’ve been thinking of getting a tattoo of her scalping Joe Biden, but that’s just me (LOL).
Anyway, where I was, oh yes, politics!
The first woman of color is squaring off against a former president in less than four months. Who would’ve thought?
Not me!
So, since we’re all experiencing the most surreal West Wing moment of our lives, let’s just indulge in a little fantasy politics.
In my perfect little world (which is filled with books, and a nearby gym), Governor Tim Walz and Senator JD Vance would square off on a debate centered on veterans issues.
Will this happen? Absolutely not. Why? Because most people don’t really care about veterans’ issues. Look, I get it, there was the PACT Act, the this and that, blah blah blah. That’s all great. But just giving Vets more goodies, while appreciated, ain’t what some of us are looking for, exactly.
I don’t claim to speak for all veterans, but I know a few. My buddies are overwhelming Iraq and Afghan combat veterans with multiple deployments. While we are a vocal part of the veteran group, we are nowhere near monolithic.
I want to underscore the point above (so I will!). I do not claim to speak for all veterans. I’m just a mere Grumpy Combat Veteran trying to make it here in this weird version of modern American society.
Here’s a list of questions this GCV would like the debate moderators to ask on 1 October.
I’ll just list them out.
Senator Vance:
You’re very critical of the Iraq War. What would you say to the Kurds enjoying unprecedented levels of prosperity and peace? The Kurdish Regional Government, while not perfect, has given a voice to our Kurdish allies. Aren’t they worth it?
Do you agree that Senator John McCain isn’t a war hero?
Do you think the Doha Agreement was a mistake?
Nearly a thousand NATO soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. Hasn’t NATO proven to be a worthwhile alliance?
Governor Walz:
In 2007, then-Senator Biden wrote this in his horrible book, “Promises to Keep'“ (LOL). (did he plagiarize this one?)
I looked up and saw a thirteen-year-old girl standing ramrod straight in the middle of the classroom, so brave and so determined. ‘America can’t go,’ she said. ‘I must learn to read. I will be a doctor like my mother.’ I wanted to walk over and hug her “No. No. No, honey,” I said. “America is going to stay.
Question: Did America keep its promise to Afghan girls?
Pakistan still supports the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Pakistani ISI killed 2,000 American soldiers. With that in mind, why is America and Pakistan conducting joint exercises together?
Iranian proxies have attacked American forces nearly 200 times since October 7, 2023. Question: Is the United States at War with Iran? If not, what’s your definition of war?
President Joe Biden blamed the Afghans for failing to win in Afghanistan. Who is to blame for Afghanistan?
Questions for Governor Walz & Senator Vance
How would you address America’s recruiting crisis?
Should women register for the draft?
Gentlemen, I’m a permanently disabled veteran. Last year, I voluntarily admitted myself into a mental health program. Despite my vast amount of paperwork, I will have to wait nearly 3 months to be seen by my first VA mental health professional.
Question: Why?
These are just a few of the questions I would ask as an Iraq & Afghan combat veteran. Let’s play West Wing 2024.
What would you ask?
Please, let’s all be adults.
New Shoulder to Shoulder
We’ve got a new editor so things should be sounding better? (Inshallah). Anyway, we got a new episode out, and my old SEL, Sara Davidson, stepped into the studio to discuss her journey in the United States Air Force.
Great News!
Let’s end on something uplifting, shall we?
We have a totally full class for our first Moral Injury Support Group!
Woohoo!
Thanks to this incredible community — zmaa Andiwalaan—we’re providing 12 service members/veterans a year of free Moral Injury support.
Our friends at Give an Hour and Rebekah Edmondson helped step up to the plate. And we’re so excited and grateful to provide this service to just a few of my personal heroes. These men and women served honorably, and deserve our full support.
Proud of my people!
For those who don’t quite understand the difference between Moral Injury & PTSD, we’ve got ya covered.
Until Next Time
I love your blog! I'm a retired Army intel gal with tours in both IZ and AF. My first husband and father to my first two boys died by suicide in 2007 days before I left for the CIOC and my oldest son and I served together (in different units) in Afghanistan. Your content resonates deeply.
I would ask the VEEPS about their vision for helping unhoused veterans in big cities that are now making it a crime to sleep in public places. This summer, the Supreme Court ruled that these cities can indeed arrest, fine, imprison and punish homeless and unhoused American citizens (including veterans, of course) for sleeping on public property. Right now, this is a fairly sizable problem for California and eight other western states, but as the veterans of our generation (many with moral injuries) age-I expect we will see increasing numbers of them become unhoused as a result of their combat-related moral injuries and resulting mental health concerns. It's already a crime to sleep on private property, and now it can be a crime to sleep on public property. What is the plan to help veterans who find themselves in this situation?
Love your questions... I have a few for both sides:
1) Despite over 20 years of war why has there been no systematic training of service organizations across communities to help understand veterans issues? Not all veterans live close to VAs and schools, hospitals, mental health facilities etc have not been well trained to help veterans and their families. Some of us have been advocating this for years.
2) Why can we not hire veterans in large numbers across our states where veteran populations are large to find and do outreach to other veterans to get them in to service and or enroll them in services. Sure Texas has such a network but it can't reach all of them but it can help us find them.
3) Why can we not hold anyone accountable in the military for their failures in Afghanistan and Iraq? That would help us with moral injury. As well as have Town Halls across our country to listen to our veterans so they feel more a part of communities and cared for.
4) Why can we not form a "Marshall Plan" for helping our veterans and bring together corporate America, federal, state and nonprofits to tackle some of our biggest issues.
I could go on and on because I am just getting warmed up but I will stop now.