Another resignation

[Lanya]

 March 1, 2008
Embattled Veterans Official Resigns Post
by Aaron Glantz

Another high-ranking George W. Bush administration official has resigned. The Department of Veterans Affairs Undersecretary for Benefits Daniel Cooper quit Thursday amid mounting criticism over a backlog of disability claims for injured veterans that runs six months long and an appearance he made in a fundraising video for an evangelical Christian organization where he said Bible study was more important than doing his job.

 Cooper has been under fire for using his office to proselytize for evangelical Christianity ever since he appeared in a 2004 fundraising video for Christian Embassy, which carries out missionary work among the Washington elite as part of the Campus Crusade for Christ.

In the video, Cooper says of his Bible study, "It's not really about carving out time, it really is a matter of saying what is important. And since that's more important than doing the job ? the job's going to be there, whether I'm there or not."

Cooper's declaration inflamed veterans who saw the number of veterans waiting for the Veterans Administration (VA) to decide their disability claims balloon to 400,000 on his watch, with the average veteran waiting six months for a decision from the government.

"He was clearly a fundamentalist Christian first and essentially a government paid missionary for his particular world view of the gospel of Jesus Christ," said Mike Weinstein, who runs the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. "The fact that he's gone obviously is good."

Spokespersons for the Department of Veterans Affairs refused to grant an interview for this story.

In a statement, Bush's Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake praised Cooper, saying, "Dan Cooper's leadership, management savvy and personable touch were indispensable in guiding VA benefits programs into the Internet era and adapting the department to the needs of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan."

Most veterans groups disagree.

"Cooper was in charge of and responsible for massive injustice for hundreds of thousands of veterans who slipped through the cracks waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for disability benefits," said Paul Sullivan, executive director of the group Veterans for Common Sense.

"He was fully aware that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were putting a burden on VA in 2004 and he did nothing," Sullivan added. "In 2005, he was told again. He did nothing. In 2006, he was told again. He did nothing. In 2007, when the Walter Reed scandal broke, all Cooper could do was say that he would make some marginal changes."

Cooper's resignation ? for "personal reasons" ? comes two on the heels of President Bush's signing two months ago of the Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act, which has numerous provisions designed to lessen the bureaucracy that wounded veterans face when they return home from Iraq or Afghanistan. Veterans' advocates say they hope Daniel Cooper's resignation will lead to serious changes in the way the VA does its job.

But Matt Cary, the president of Veterans and Military Families for Progress, says the Bush administration has been slow to implement key reforms.

"I'm concerned that agencies that are this large and have been institutionalized for a long time will have difficulty in streamlining this and moving it quick enough to alleviate the needs of veterans and their families," Cary told IPS.

More than 263,000 veterans have received treatment from the VA after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Close to 250,000 have filed disability claims. A new book released this week co-authored by Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz estimates that 700,000 U.S. war veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan will eventually file for disability.

"They need to have this income," Cary said. "If it's a disabled veteran, then the spouse needs to stay home and take care of that veteran and the faster that they can move this process along, the easier it will be for that spouse to be able to go to work and provide additional income for their family."

Pentagon studies show about 20 percent of returning veterans (320,000 people) suffer from physical brain damage called traumatic brain injury. Government studies also show that as many 50 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (800,000 people) suffer from the psychological injury post-traumatic stress disorder.

Daniel Cooper's resignation is effective Apr. 1. Under federal law, a search commission will be put together to present recommendations for Cooper's successor to the secretary to propose to the president for appointment. The VA's undersecretary for benefits is subject to Senate confirmation and serves at the pleasure of the president.

(Inter Press Service)
http://www.antiwar.com/glantz/?articleid=12447

[Stray Pooch]

where he said Bible study was more important than doing his job.

Of course it is.  But that is no excuse for not DOING your job.  It's more important than eating, too.  God expects us to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, but that means including it in all aspects of our life.  If this man is refusing to work overtime and insisting on balancing his spiritual needs with his temporal ones, I support him completely.  If he is taking time that should be dedicated to his job and doing church work, that's another story.

Cooper has been under fire for using his office to proselytize for evangelical Christianity ever since he appeared in a 2004 fundraising video for Christian Embassy, which carries out missionary work among the Washington elite as part of the Campus Crusade for Christ.

Unless he is doing that on "company" time, or directly identifying his job with the message (if there is a specific prohibition against it like there is for soldiers) I see no problem with this.  The problem with slanted articles like this is a lack of full perspective.  If the man is just practicing his religion openly, more power to him.  He's done nothing wrong.

Cooper's declaration inflamed veterans who saw the number of veterans waiting for the Veterans Administration (VA) to decide their disability claims balloon to 400,000 on his watch, with the average veteran waiting six months for a decision from the government.

One would expect that during a protracted war.  The VA and related bureaucracies have never been particularly efficient - partially because of the restrictions on accountability successfully put in place by unions.  You can't get rid of inefficient workers in the government.  During time of war when more actual injuries are occurring, there is obviously going to be a long backlog.

"He was clearly a fundamentalist Christian first

Why is that a problem? 

. . .and essentially a government paid missionary for his particular world view of the gospel of Jesus Christ," said Mike Weinstein, who runs the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. "The fact that he's gone obviously is good."

Again, unless he is using government time that claim is nonsense.  The "obvious" nature of his resignation begsd the question.

Most veterans groups disagree.

Begs the question.  Let's see the support:

. . . Paul Sullivan, executive director of the group Veterans for Common Sense.
 . . . Veterans' advocates say . . .
 . . . Matt Cary, the president of Veterans and Military Families for Progress

Hmmm.  I wonder where the VFW, American Legion and other well-known veteran's groups are?  And Veterans' advocates could mean pretty much anybody.  I wonder what would happen if I bothered to Google these groups.  I'm betting these are antiwar liberal groups.  So no agenda there, huh?

More than 263,000 veterans have received treatment from the VA after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Close to 250,000 have filed disability claims.

So let's see, 250,000 claims for disability.  How many of these were completed (given that an average time of six months is cited above and at least SOME must have been completed in the several years cited)?  Well, let's estimate.  250,000 claims submitted, 400,000 claims on the rolls, apparently a total of NEGATIVE 150,000 have been completed in the last six years or so.

Wait a hold-it.  250,000 claims from both wars and 400,000 of them incomplete?  Damn, that must be some of that NEW math. 

A new book released this week co-authored by Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz estimates that 700,000 U.S. war veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan will eventually file for disability.

Hmm.  Title of book, OTHER co-author and other pertinent info missing?  Wonder what that means?  Ya know, once again, a little investigative googling might uncover some interesting stuff.  But hey, let's not question the credibility of poor journalism.  I mean after all, it works well for Dan Rather, CBS and the New York Times.  I'm guessing that of those 700,000 over 1,000,000 will be incomplete.

"They need to have this income," Cary said. "If it's a disabled veteran, then the spouse needs to stay home and take care of that veteran and the faster that they can move this process along, the easier it will be for that spouse to be able to go to work and provide additional income for their family."

Wow.  That's interesting.  Disabled veterans can't work.  Kinda makes that ten point preference for disabled veterans in government hiring moot, doesn't it?  I remember finding out when I retired that I was disabled.  I was told by my retirement counselor, without apparent reason, to make sure I filed for disability.  When I mentioned I wasn't disabled, I was told to look carefully at my medical records. Surely SOMETHING in there would indicate at least a partial disability.  I told the man that I had received a few minor injuries in my career and might have a slight hearing loss.  He told me to bring my medical records to him and he would find something.  I declined.  I told him I wasn't faking an injury.  He carefully told me that he wasn't asking me to fake anything.  He just wanted to protect my rights.   I said "thanks but no tahnks."  He told me I was a fool.  Sucks not being able to work, especially since I have been for the past decade since retirement.   Let's just say this war story seems like just that.  No doubt some folks are in this position.  I'll bet more are just as disabled as I am.

Pentagon studies show about 20 percent of returning veterans (320,000 people) suffer from physical brain damage called traumatic brain injury. Government studies also show that as many 50 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (800,000 people) suffer from the psychological injury post-traumatic stress disorder.

Oh, the humanity.  Wonder where these studies are?  Wonder how these figures stand up to WW II, Korea and Vietnam.   Wonder if anything in this article is actual journalism?

http://www.antiwar.com/glantz/?articleid=12447

Can't question the agenda here.  Can't question the credibility.  If you do that, you get accused of questioning anything that doesn't agree with you.  Damn.  Wish I was as credible as this source is.

[BT]

Let's play thump the thumper.

Weinstein doesn't like chaplains either.

[Stray Pooch]

Let's play thump the thumper.

Weinstein doesn't like chaplains either.

How can the leader of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation be against chaplains?  It's an organization that suports religious freedom isn't it?  Wait a minute . . .

[Lanya]

The story originates with Inter Press Service, which is a not very familiar to me.
I don't know its slant. I hope it's not just NewsMax with a different slant.