Blog Post

IAVA Daily News Brief 07.24.12
Posted by Gretchen Andersen on July 24 2012

Here are some of today's top stories and happenings that IAVA is tracking. Prefer to receive real-time updates about major stories and legislation that IAVA is tracking? Follow us on Twitter @IAVAPressRoom and click here to get the News Brief delivered to your inbox every morning.

MUST READS

1.) FACT CHECK: Disability Claims Still Growing at VA

The AP fact checks President Obama’s speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Obama highlights that the VA is hiring and that staff workers at the VA have received about a one million claims. The article states he “glosses over just how much those problems have grown during his time in office.” While the VA processed 1 million claims in 2011, 1.3 million new claims came in.  Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will address the VFW today. 

2.) Obama Honors Colorado Victims With Military Ties

The AP reports President Obama met with families of the servicemembers who were killed in the Aurora theater shooting last week and honored them while on the campaign trail yesterday. "We stand with you as one united American family,” Obama said in a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The four service members killed are: Jonathan Blunk, a 26-year-old Navy veteran; Jesse Childress, a 29-year-old Air Force cyber systems operator; John Larimer, a 27-year-old-sailor; and Rebecca Wingo, a 32-year-old Air Force veteran.

3.) First of 8 Trials Start For Soldiers in Hazing Death

The AP reports the trial for Sgt. Adam Holcomb begins today. Holcomb faces a number of charges, including negligent homicide, for the alleged hazing of Danny Chen for his Chinese ethnicity. Prosecutors claim that the hazing led to Chen’s suicide last year in Afghanistan. According to the article, court documents detail that Chen was kicked, dragged from his tent and had sandbags tied to his arms.

AFGHANISTAN

• An American electrical engineer is one of three people who were killed today after assailants attacked a car in the northern Parwan province. A Taliban spokesperson has claimed responsibility.
• Click through TIME Lightbox to look at photos of Sadaf Rahimi, the female boxer originally selected to represent Afghanistan at the Olympic Games.

IRAQ

• An offensive by Al Qaeda insurgents across Iraq on Monday left 100 people dead. Iraqi leaders are worried about the movements of Al Qaeda along the Iraq-Syria border. 

MILITARY AFFAIRS

• President Obama said Monday the Department of Defense will launch a website this week that will allow Americans to see awardees of military honors.
• A U.S. drone strike killed nine suspected insurgents in northwest Pakistan yesterday, officials say.
• Petty Officer 3rd Class John Larimer, 27, was one of the victims in the theater shooting last week in Aurora, Colorado. The Larimer family and community is reeling from their loss. 

THE NEW GREATEST GENERATION

• The New York Times At War blog argues that our nation is much safer when it is supporting veterans with jobs, health care, education and community.
• Watch servicemembers unwind as they lip sync to Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

• President Obama ordered all flags to be at half mast this week until sunset on Wednesday honoring the victims of the Colorado theater shooting. 
• Sally Ride, the first woman to fly in space, died Monday after a long battle with cancer. 

A wide-range of views, positions, and publications are represented in these articles. These views, positions and publications are not endorsed by nor do they necessarily represent the views of IAVA.

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