You know, we sign up and there's a simple deal understood here between us and society. We'll go fight. We'll go get shot at, blown up, stabbed, run over, beaten, whatever. We'll go to God forsaken lands far off from our families and friends, where at least 1 out of 3 of the people hate our guts no matter what and we'll keep the watch. We'll do the dirty job.US veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are suing the government, claiming inadequate care is leading to an increase in suicides.
A San Francisco court will hear the class action lawsuit against the Department of Veteran Affairs.
The veterans say the department has been unable to deal with the growing incidence of depression and suicides.
But government lawyers argue the department has been devoting more resources to mental health.
In court papers the two non-profit groups representing the veterans write "that failure to provide care is manifesting itself in an epidemic of suicides".
"The bottom line is that we're not taking care of the veterans and we need to change that," says lead lawyer, Gordon Erspamer
Raft of complaints
An average of 18 war veterans kill themselves each day - five of them under Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) care - according to a December e-mail between top department officials that has been filed as part of the federal lawsuit.
What I would like to see from the VA is that they actually treat patients with respect
Bob Handy,
Veterans United for Truth
The Rand Corporation has recently released a study that shows some 300,000 US troops - about 20% of those deployed - are suffering from depression, or post traumatic stress disorder, after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"We find that the VA has simply not devoted enough resources. They don't have enough psychiatrists," said Mr Erspamer.
In 2006 suicide rates were reported to be the highest in 26 years, at 99 confirmed suicides.
The two organisations involved in the legal action are asking US District Court Judge Samuel Conti, a World War II army veteran, to order the VA to overhaul its system drastically.
"What I would like to see from the VA is that they actually treat patients with respect," says Bob Handy, the head of Veterans United for Truth, one of the bodies suing the agency.
Mr Handy formed the group after hearing a raft of complaints from veterans about their treatment, when he was a member of the Veterans Caucus of the state Democratic Party.
More professionals
Government lawyers say the VA has been making mental health and suicide prevention a top priority.
In court filings, the VA states that for 2008, $3.8b will be spent on mental health.
Also, more than 3,700 new mental health professionals have been hired in the past two-and-a-half years, bringing the total to just under 17,000.
The VA's lawyers have filed papers arguing that the courts have no jurisdiction to tell the VA how to operate, and no business wading into the everyday management of a network that includes 153 medical centres nationwide.
The case will be heard without a jury and is expected to last about two weeks.
Plaintiffs are hoping the judge will order broad changes in the administration of veterans' benefits, or perhaps even appoint an outside administrator to oversee changes.
In return, when we come back you help us come down off of that and give us a solid shot at a decent life. We're not asking tax exemption for life like some gave their troops. We're not asking to run the government like some have. Just that the injuries sustain in body, heart and mind be given the care they need to heal. Just that we can have a space to get a decent life.
We do we get?
Walter Reed. Benefits cuts. Extended tours. Run arounds on standard paperwork. Delays that would make a Soviet Bureaucrat blush with shame. Discharges on "Preexisting condaintions." Lies. Theft. Incompetence and behavior that in some places would get you charged as an accessory to manslaughter or even murder.
The assholes in the White House, the Capital Building and the VA owe us. The Government owes us. Pay the fuck up. Or bring us the fuck home and stop the bullshit.
