Blog post

IAVA Daily Brief 04.28.09
Posted by Michelle McCarthy on April 28

Here are some of today's top stories and happenings at IAVA.

MUST READS

(1) Pakistan begins new offensive against Taliban

Pakistan's military backed by fighter jets and helicopter gunships initiated an offensive early Tuesday against Taliban fighters in an effort to clear some 500 Taliban militants from the Buner region just 60 miles northwest of the country's capital Islamabad. Amnesty International estimated Tuesday that nearly 33,000 people fled the region over the past two days to escape the showdown between the military and the Taliban.

(2) 'Classified' Photo Op Turns Into White House, DoD Blunder

The White House and Department of Defense came under intense criticism Monday from state and local officials in New York after the military dispatched two F16s and a Boeing 747 to fly low over Manhattan past the Statue of Liberty for a "classified" photo opportunity. The flyover caused New Yorkers in some of the tallest buildings in Manhattan's financial district to evacuate in fear of another 9/11-style terrorist attack. An Obama administration official said the mission was "classified" by the military and that the FAA, which controls much of the airspace over Manhattan, did what the military asked. "The mission was to send [the aircraft] up to get a picture of it flying around the Statue of Liberty," this person said. "They said they needed to update their photo files." Louis Caldera, a former Secretary of the Army who runs the White House Military Office, took the blame. "While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, it's clear that the mission created confusion and disruption," Caldera said. "I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused." Watch video of the incident here.

AFGHANISTAN

In an interview Monday, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari said his intelligence agencies believe al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden may be dead but cautioned he had no hard proof. Zardari also said that American officials had told him they do not know where bin Laden is. However, U.S. officials were quick to refute the charge insisting the terrorist leader is most likely hiding in the mountains along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. "We continue to believe that bin Laden is alive," said the U.S. official, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to discuss the matter on the record.

IRAQ

A day after U.S. military officials said American troops might remain in Mosul and parts of Baghdad past an upcoming July 30th withdrawal deadline, Iraq's Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari, insisted Monday the U.S. must stick to the agreed upon deadline. "The general position of the Iraq Defense Ministry is to keep the timings in the withdrawal pact that American troops withdraw from Iraqi cities and not enter the cities unless they get Iraqi approval," al-Askari said.

Meanwhile, some 3,200 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers enroute to Iraq are scheduled to run the two biggest prison camps - Camp Cropper and Camp Bucca- based in heavily Sunni regions. As part of the largest combat mobilization of the Wisconsin Guard in more than 60 years, the soldiers recently completed training at Camp McGregor in New Mexico to learn about riot shields, pepper spray and other weapons to control unruly detainees.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

The Associated Press reports today that since the Pentagon ended an 18-year ban on media coverage of fallen soldiers returning to the U.S., most families have allowed reporters and photographers to witness the solemn ceremonies at Dover Air Force Base that mark the arrival of flag-draped transfer cases. The Pentagon came under intense criticism for lifting the ban; critics argued military families needed privacy and peace activists might exploit the images. So far, 19 families have been asked whether they wanted media coverage of their loved one’s return and 14 have said yes.

Video game developers Atomic Games and Konami Digital Entertainment are reportedly considering shelving a controversial video game in their product pipleine which combines documentary footage of U.S. troops battling militants in Fallujah, Iraq. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., orginially came up with the idea for a historically accurate video game based on their experiences fighting in Fallujah in November 2004. However, "Six Days in Fallujah" - which was slated for release next year on Xbox, Playstation and Windows consoles - has drawn widespread criticism from civilians, especially from family members who lost loved ones in Fallujah. Tracy Miller of Gold Star Families Speak Out, who lost her son Cpl. Nicholas L. “Nick” Ziolkowski to sniperfire in Fallujah in November 2004, criticized the game developers saying, “This is not a game. His life wasn’t a game, and the fact that he died wasn’t a game. I think [the game] trivializes it." Atomic Games and Konami both declined to comment.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

A bill pending before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee could potentially prohibit the VA from submitting veterans' names to the National Instant Criminal Background Check database unless a judicial authority finds the individuals to be a danger to themselves or others. The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act (S 669) is aimed at protecting the gun rights of some veterans after rumors spread that the VA might begin providing the Justice Department with names of veterans who seek help for PTSD or other mental health issues. IAVA's Chief Legislative Counsel Patrick Campbell said that IAVA supports the legislation "in the hopes it will quell any fears veterans might have about seeking treatment for mental health injuries.”

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

THE SENATE

FUTURE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

April 29, 2009 - SVAC will hold a hearing on pending benefits legislation. The legislation to be considered will cover a number of subject areas: C&P, VR&E, insurance, USERRA, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, automotive and adaptive equipment grants, outreach (both from the Department as well as all three administrations), cemetery construction, and burial allowances and related benefits. 9:30 a.m.; 562 Dirksen (Ballenger)
April 29, 2009 - The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on Wounded Warrior issues. Roger Dimsdale, Executive Director, VA/DoD Collaboration, Office of Policy and Planning, will testify for VA. 2:30 p.m.; Location: TBD (Prudhomme)
May 7, 2009 - Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, hearing on the VA Fiscal Year 2010 Budget. Secretary Shinseki will be invited to testify. 2:30 p.m.; Location: TBD (Lukas)May 21, 2009 SVAC will mark-up pending legislation. 9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell (Ballenger)

THE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES

FUTURE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

April 30, 2009 - House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health hearing: Charting the VA’s Progress on Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Our Veterans: Discussion of Funding, Mental Health Strategies Plan, and the Uniform Mental Health Services Handbook 10:00 a.m.; 334 Cannon
May 13, 2009 - House Appropriations, Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, will hold a hearing on the VA Fiscal Year 2010 Budget. Secretary Shinseki will be invited to testify. 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Location TBD (Lukas) [date changed from April 28, 2009]

IAVA IN THE NEWS

Media Outlet: Marine Corps Times

Title: Bill Aims to Protect Vets’ Gun Rights

Date: Monday, April 27th

Representative: Patrick Campbell