Blog Post

IAVA Daily News Brief 7.28.11
Posted by Caitlin Kenney on July 28 2011

Here are some of today's top stories and happenings at IAVA. Prefer to receive real-time updates about major stories and legislation that IAVA is tracking? Follow us on Twitter @IAVAPressRoom or subscribe at www.IAVA.org/DailyNewsBrief.

MUST READ

1) Cost of Treating Veterans Will Rise Long Past Wars 

After Tuesday’s meeting between the White House and veteran service organizations failed to clarify how a potential U.S. default would impact veterans’ VA payments, IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff testified Wednesday before a Senate Veterans’ Affairs panel investigating the long-term costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rieckhoff told the committee that “veterans are concerned and scared” about the fate of disability, survivor, and GI Bill benefits, and that Washington’s silence on the issue has only made the situation worse. Click here to watch his testimony.

2) Special ops chief warns of al-Qaida 2.0

Navy SEAL Adm. Eric T. Olson, the top commander of U.S. special operations forces, said Wednesday that the death of Osama bin Laden has destroyed the traditional al Qaeda network, but that a new ‘al Qaeda 2.0’ has emerged as the next threat.

3) Attack on Afghan government compound kills 17

Three suicide bombers attacked a government compound in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing at least 17 people and wounding dozens. The attacks occurred in the Uruzgan province and targeted the governor’s house, the police headquarters, and the office of a private security company. Each attacker detonated a car full of explosives.

AFGHANISTAN

• In an effort to win the war in Afghanistan, top U.S. commanders have designed new rules of engagement to minimize civilian casualties. 

• A DEA investigation has found new evidence linking international drug rings to the Taliban in Afghanistan.

IRAQ

• On Wednesday the Foreign Minister of Iraq said that his country will need U.S. experts to continue training security forces beyond the December 31st deadline. 

• Senior officials in Iraq are reporting that as American influence in the country wanes, Turkey and Iran are “taking advantage of what the U.S. has sacrificed for in Iraq.” 

• On Thursday a suicide bomber blew himself up in Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit, killing 12 and wounding 34 at a bank where local policemen were collecting their paychecks.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

• Thousands of soldiers are waiting to find out whether they will be returned to active duty or discharged, depending on the results of the Pentagon’s Disability Evaluation System.

• Bob Dole celebrated his 88th birthday on Friday with family, friends and a group of wounded warriors he befriended last year at Walter Reed, where he spent 10 months recovering from a series of illnesses. 

INSIDE WASHINGTON

• With Democrats and Republicans unable to compromise on whether to cut programs or raise taxes, the Pentagon’s budget is on the chopping block as Congress hones in on curtailing discretionary spending.

• Investigators from the VA have discovered that the majority of small businesses which claim to be owned by veterans or disabled veterans fail to meet eligibility requirements. 

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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