On this 4th of July - Support Our Troops

On this Fourth of July, please remember and honor our service men and women who are away from their families and friends back home.

"Dear IAVA Members and Supporters --

This Fourth of July, we're celebrating a remarkable example of real patriotism. Please take a minute to read this story of a group of IAVA members whose recent work helped save lives on the ground in Iraq. Then find out what you can do to help.

Late last month, an email came into the general mailbox at IAVA headquarters from an Army Lieutenant in Iraq whose unit was experiencing a shortage of bandages called "QuikClot," that have been crucial in preventing wounded Troops from bleeding to death on the battlefield.

A nine-month old Army order specified that all Soldiers were to be issued the bandages, but apparently someone didn't get the memo, and Troops were dying because of this latest example of military supply problems.

IAVA staff forwarded the email to Mike Zacchea, a Marine Reservist and IAVA member veteran who was wounded in Iraq and treated with those same bandages.

Mike, in turn, contacted Dorine Kenney, a Gold Star Mother whose son Jacob was killed in Iraq in 2003. Dorine now runs the Jacob's Light Foundation, which sends supplies and care packages to Troops in Iraq. Within days, Dorine's group had mailed 200 packets of QuikClot to the Lieutenant in Iraq.

Responding to the ongoing media coverage, more than 100,000 QuikClot bandages have been ordered by the Army, and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) attached an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill providing $20 million for more of these critical bandages.

BUT WE'RE NOT STOPPING THERE: We need all our IAVA members and supporters to get in touch with friends and family serving in Iraq, and find out if they have the QuikClot bandages they need. If not, let us know by writing to info@iava.org, and we'll continue working with the Jacob's Light Foundation to make sure our troops don't have to go without any longer.
Thanks for continuing to really support the troops.

Paul Rieckhoff, Iraq War Veteran
Founder and Executive Director, IAVA.”

Support Our Troops
Give 'em Bandages!
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9/11 - An Attack Against Humanity

I read a very interesting note on meetings between Iran, China, and Russia at misneach blog this evening. I wonder why I haven’t seen this on Fox News? The strategic value of developing closer relationships is clear to see. For anyone who is paying attention.

China's rapid growth is fueling an insatiable appetite for Oil.

Russia is looking for any market to sell its products and services. Is Iran hiring? Have they posted any want ads for a nuclear scientist?

Both China and Russia are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Any UN sponsored sanctions against Iran will likely face a veto from one or both of these nations, based upon their own strategic reasons. What is America to do? The military option is unrealistic.

Today, America is over extended militarily and out of touch diplomatically. I am most saddened by the reckless disregard for diplomacy, civility, and sportsmanship the Bush Administration has displayed since 9/11/01. They have managed to pull defeat and division from the jaws of victory and cohesion in the real “war on terror.” Just look at Afghanistan if you doubt this assertion.

The world mourned with us and for themselves after Sept. 11th. The attack on the World Trade Center was not only an attack upon America. It was an attack against all humanity. Citizens of far too many other countries died on 9/11 in NYC.

The other countries and thousands of families who lost loved ones at “ground zero” are fighting their own personal wars on terror everyday. Their lives have been changed forever. How dare we allow our “public servants” to exploit their sufferings to launch a preemptive war on Iraq, while not bringing Bin Laden to justice?

HOMELAND SECURITY?

"The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."
General Douglas MacArthur.

PRESERVE AMERICA – PAY ATTENTION:
Canadian Leonard Cohen once wrote, "Democracy is coming to the USA." As Americans, it is time for us to help restore representative democracy to our country.

Increasingly expensive political campaigns make modern politicians very dependent upon campaign contributors. The influence of corporate and varied special interest groups have led to a bitter and polarized political climate.

Americans need to pay attention and follow the money if they want to know how decisions are being made by those in power.


PROTECT YOUR STATE – ASK QUESTIONS:
Don’t look now, but the self-proclaimed champions of states' rights in Washington D.C. are seizing political control of many state decisions. They do this while simultaneously cutting taxes and shifting more of the federal government’s historic burden and oversight functions to the state level.

In old-economy industrial states such as Michigan, the results have been disastrous. It is time for citizens of every state to ask hard questions.


DEFEND YOUR COMMUNITY – SPEAK UP:
Americans need to know what is going on in their own backyards. Modern terrors such as crime and punishment, unemployment, ignorance, drug and alcohol abuse, despair, suicide, sexual abuse, toxic waste, cancer, and rampant corruption affect and will continue to impact the quality of life in every community in America.

Politicians prefer simple black and white answers to the cloudy realities real Americans face every day. Why do we allow them to paint our world black and white, and play on our fears of real and fabricated boogiemen? Over 3,000 people died during the tragic events of 9/11/01. Terrorists are real threats, but have our leaders made us safer?

Has the Iraq war made America safer? Where is Bin Laden? Does the U.S. have enough troops in Afghanistan? How many Americans have died from murder in our major cities since September 11th? How many lives have been cut short by preventable diseases? How does the massive national debt impact our security? Does our educational system leave us vulnerable? Does your state and community have enough resources to respond in the event of a major disaster?

Is this Homeland Security?
Americans need to ask their federal, state, and local government officials what the Hell is going on? And demand honest answers. These politicians are employees of the people. We can not afford to let them forget who is boss!

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