“Can I give a caveat before we start?” Liz Phair
is letting me know that she’s going to do her best to talk about Liz
Phair. It’s also a warning. “I don’t really do favorites,” she explains.
“We’re asking my brain to do something it doesn’t naturally do.” She
delivers the news with a smile palpable through the phone; this is
someone who doesn’t need to apologize but who still feels apologetic for
not being what she describes as a “favorite-ing” person. “It would make
my job a lot easier,” she deadpans. This self-aware, and kind, candor
is what makes Liz Phair such an engaging personality and artist whose
albums are remarkably accessible in their transparency; her 1991 lo-fi
tapes as Girly-Sound and her Matador debut, 1993’s Exile in Guyville,
remain some of indie rock’s most beloved works of bluntness, each
sounding as vivid and knowing as they did nearly 30 years ago.
Meanwhile, in hindsight, her much-panned 2003 self-titled LP now sounds equally influential on today’s younger musicians as her classics.
This month’s comeback,Soberish, her seventh album and first since 2010’s Funstyle, is often as off-kilter and compelling as Exile,but without making any attempts to re-create 1993. Phair reunited with producer Brad Wood, who originally produced Exile and its follow-ups, the just-as-excellent Whip-Smart (1994) and Whitechocolatespaceegg (1998),
but they were mindful not to just make a 2021 Liz Phair album that
sounded like something from her 20s. (Though longtime fans will
appreciate some callbacks from the ’90s, like Henry from “Polyester
Bride” reappearing in “Dosage.”) They also wanted the album to
acknowledge that some youthful feelings and life worries don’t
dissipate. Soberish seems to wrestle with the idea that maybe you don’t outgrow Guyville;
it simply grows up with you. “I was so sure about who was right and who
was wrong when I was young,” Phair explains. “The older I get, the
harder it is to know what part anybody played and where the blame should
be. It’s so much more complex than that to me now. I tried to make the
music more complex to echo that, to kind of bring in the brain of me now
with the sounds and building blocks of me [from] then.”
Meanwhile LOUDWIRE reports that the band Bad Wolves is offering a taste of what they'll sound like with new vocalist DL Laskiewicz. SPIN notes the Wallflowers have a new single a month ahead of the release of their first album in years. NME does a big story on 90s grunge rockers Garbage:
“I’m feeling lucky, punk,” snarls Shirley Manson. This, she says, is because Garbage‘s
upcoming album ‘No Gods No Masters’ is lucky number seven. That’s no
mean feat by any measure, especially for what many would dub ‘a ‘90s
band’, many of whom are either extinct, past it or milking the nostalgia
circuit. Garbage, though, have remained on form throughout the 21st
Century, and are about to drop what might be their most vital record
yet.
“I like the numerology of the number seven, and that it represents rebirth,” Manson tells NME. “It feels poetic and beautiful”.
It’s more than fitting for a band who seem to have found a new purpose
nearly 30 years into their career. From the huge-selling,
boundary-pushing self-titled 1995 debut, Garbage have always thrived on
confrontation. With ‘No Gods No Masters’ dealing in racism, sexism,
misogyny, climate change and the general shitstorm that surrounds us –
with a lot of religious motifs thrown in for good measure – this could
perhaps be their first explicitly political record. Manson, however,
sees it as more of a universal “reckoning”, for the world and for
herself.
“I’m a woman in middle age figuring out where I go from here,” the
54-year-old says. “You can’t do that until you figure out where you
actually are. Lyrically, this album is me taking pause to investigate
the bigger scheme I find myself in, how it works and whether it’s
working.
“I don’t think having an opinion about something makes it political.
You’re not being political by having an opinion about how badly you
think human beings are being treated by those in power; that’s just
common sense. We didn’t set out with an agenda or anything like that.”
Take opening track ‘The Men Who Rule The World’, a glam, almost cyber-punk retelling of Noah’s Arc that depicts “the women who crowd the courtrooms are all accused of being whores” and “the people are fleeced, all the fucking time”.
“I’m astounded that the same old ideas are wheeled out day in, day out,
by governments all over the planet, based on a world that existed
150-200 years ago,” says Manson.
At the onset of what became the tangled COVID era, practically everyone found themselves wrestling with serious existential questions. But Garbage singer Shirley Manson,
at a wisdom-seeking 54, wound up grappling with a lot more than most.
Figuratively, she began questioning either herself and society in
general – as demonstrated on her band’s probing new No Gods No Masters treatise, their seventh overall — and in reality, through the cavalcade of music celebrities she’s been interviewing on The Jump, her new podcast, now in its second 12-episode season.
And she’s learned a lot about herself in the process.
Just pinning her peers down on the one crucial song that changed
their careers, she says, has given her “a whole new appreciation of
journalism, of music journalism, and just people who listen for a
living,” she tells SPIN. “It’s just been life-changing, you know?”
The singer’s quizzical period began with “No Horses,” a standalone
single that her band released to coincide with the 2017 publication of
its coffee table book, This Is the Noise That Keeps Me Awake.
The metaphorical question came to her while driving through the
countryside of her native Scotland, and seeing pastures full of idle
workhorses; “What happens to noble animals that are no longer useful to
humans?” she wondered. Extinction, like so many hundreds of other
earlier species that got in the way of progress? That initial rumination
has grown to monumental proportions on No Gods, which expands
on Manson’s longtime sneaking suspicion that humanity has selfishly,
stupidly doomed itself to extinction, as well.
The first issues the album tackles are Trump-era misogyny and a
political desire to win at any cost. In the opening “The Men Who Rule
the World,” a clattering synth-guitar mashup from bandmates Butch Vig,
Steve Marker, and Duke Erikson that Manson makes even darker with
hissed lyrics both explicit (“The men who rule the world have made a
fucking mess/ The history of power, the worship of success”) and
obliquely vague (the repeated blaming of a nameless ‘Violator’). Who or
what is this said ominous presence?
Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Turkey's persecution of the Kurds
continues, Iraq wants to go nuclear, an alleged killer walks out of
Iraqi custody, and much more.
Not the frustration in this Tweet by Kamal Chomani:
No one asks the KRG & the KDP to stop the Turkish war on the Kurds of #Turkey & the PKK on mountains, we know neither can do. What we all want from the KDP & the KRG is so simple: DON’T be Turkish proxies in this war, don’t legitimize Turkish war on Kurds, & don’t ally w/ Turkey.
Kurds
are frustrated -- with the Turkish government's aggression, with the
weak responses from their officials and much more. The issue has gotten
very little attention from the mass media Even a webinar on the
subject that took place yesterday drew little attention (it will be posted here at the Washington Kuridsh Institute's YOUTUBE page but is not up yet). Here's the press release for the event:
Turkey is sliding deeper into authoritarianism, with President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan escalating state repression of the Kurds and all real and
perceived forms of opposition within the country. Outside of the
country’s borders, he utilizes a large vast network to intimidate,
threaten, and silence exiled Kurds, and continues to intensify Turkish
military aggression in the Middle East and beyond, with the Kurdish
people as his primary target. The Turkish military periodically attacks
the Kurdish regions of Iraq and Syria and is now openly working to
expand its zones of occupation in each of these countries, bringing war
and mass displacement to areas that were once among the most stable in
the region, ethnically cleansing these regions in an attempt to minimize
or eliminate Kurdish presence and exacerbating an ongoing refugee
crisis. Against a backdrop of war and existential threats from all
sides, the Kurds, who played a leading role in eliminating the so-called
caliphate of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization in
cooperation with the US-led global coalition, enjoy relative autonomy in
both Iraq and Syria.
The US and others have benefited greatly from the resistance of the
Kurds against ISIS and the stability of their autonomous areas in Iraq
and Syria and, while the Turkish state responds to the hard-won
achievements of the Kurdish people with increased hostility,
international reaction to these unprovoked attacks remains muted. As
Erdogan continues to threaten and attack these regions, the US will
eventually need to address this destabilizing Turkish military
aggression. The Biden Administration knows the Kurds well, and has
demonstrated a willingness to break with the foreign policy of its
predecessors, but has yet to decisively respond to Erdogan’s
belligerence or, more broadly, clarify its vision for the Middle East.
Our distinguished speakers will discuss the regional and global
consequences and policy ramifications of the Turkish state’s war on the
Kurds, the emerging Kurdish dynamic in the Middle East, and possible
policy approaches for Washington.
As
noted here before (many times over the years), I know Peter Galbraith.
If the video goes up in the next 24 hours, we'll note it and probably
emphasize Ptere's remarks.
Since 2012 Erdogan publicly states he wants to restore territories of the Ottoman empire. Turkey accused Kurds of separatism and changing borders, but Turkey is doing so, not Kurds! #WKI
For years, the Turkish state has targeted the Kurdish people in three parts of Kurdistan and occupied Kurdistan through military operations. The attacks and occupation strategy of the Turkish state are now a national concern for all Kurds and all parts of Kurdistan. #WKI
Another fire in the forests caused by Turkish airstrike
Meanwhile, Turkish companies continue cutting down trees in the #Kurdistan Region and sending it to Turkey.
When not destroying forests, the Turkish government threatens in other ways. ANHA notes:
The
Turkish occupation state continues to practice water war against
northern and eastern Syria by cutting off waters of the Euphrates River
for several months, which portends a humanitarian and environmental
catastrophe.
Turkey
began blocking the Euphrates River since January 27, by pumping a
quantity of no more than 200 cubic meters per second of water into
Syrian territory, which is much less than the amount agreed upon between
the Syrian and Turkish government in 1987.
The
agreement stipulates that Turkey must allow the flow of water in a
quantity of no less than 500 cubic meters per second into Syrian
territory, while Iraq receives about 60 percent of this amount.
The
Turkish breach of the agreement led to a significant decline in the
river level inside Syrian territory, which led to repercussions on
agriculture and electricity.
[. . .]
The
Turkish water war is not new. It has been using it against Iraq and the
Kurds for years, as the Iraqis suffer as a result of Turkish policies.
The
Iraqis’ crisis worsened after their northern neighbor Turkey began
operating the Ilisu Dam in 2018, which it built in 2006 in the village
of Ilisu in Northern (Bakur) Kurdistan, with a height of 140 meters and a
length of 1800 meters. This caused great harm to Iraq and to the Kurds
who live on their lands in early Kurdistan.
The
dam project has sparked international outrage for several reasons, the
most important of which is the low level of water flowing into Syria,
Iran and Iraq, as well as the impact of more than 50,000 residents of
the areas surrounding the dam area in Bakur Kurdistan, especially in
Elisu and other surrounding villages that will be completely submerged
under the waters of the dam. Turkey justified the construction of the
dam as it would provide electric power and job opportunities.
Since
2017, water shortages in Iraq have led to measures such as banning rice
cultivation and prompting farmers to abandon their lands, and Basra has
seen months of protests over the lack of potable water.
Beri
said about this: "What is new about the issue of water war is that
Turkey in the past used to cut off water or reduce the flow of water
through certain dams in the past, but in the current form, Turkey is on
the issue of the Euphrates water war in particular, as it is said to
"catch two birds with one stone.” First, it fills the dams it has built
in Northern Kurdistan, and thus also destroys large and comprehensive
archaeological areas in order to obliterate the heritage of the Kurds
there and in order to hide everything that is a Kurdish trace. The other
point is to cut off the water from North and East Syria and West
Kurdistan.
The Kurdistan Region is in northern Iraq. The pandemic takes place in all areas of Iraq. The World Health Organization notes:
Iraq COVID-19 caseload: The total number of COVID-19 cases in
April 2021 were 214,275 with 1,142 associated deaths, making April the
month with the highest caseload and associated fatalities throughout the
pandemic. Meanwhile, the cumulative number of cases since the onset of
the pandemic in Iraq were 1,065,199 with 15,465 associated deaths as of
the end of April 2021.
COVID-19 second wave spike: The number of cases constituting the
second wave continued to climb, with high incidence and positivity rates
in all governorates and doubling in more than 2/3rd of the
governorates, reaching the peak during EPI week 16 (19-25 April 2021).
An urgent need remains to scale up preparedness and response activities
with all efforts to speed up the vaccination campaign, including
counteracting anti-vaccination rhetoric through trustworthy key
messaging, enhancing vaccination preparedness, and implementation of the
campaign in IDPs and refugee camps.
COVID-19 Taskforce: The regular Health Cluster COVID-19 Task
Force meeting was held on 15th April 2021 with full participation of
MoH, UN agencies, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)
Working Group and partner agencies. One of the points discussed was the
integration of COVID-19 Vaccination pillar into the workplan, making a
total of nine pillars. The MoH summarized the main pillars and
activities of the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP),
including the implementation process. The NDVP clearly included IDPs and
Refugees as part of the Government’s priority groups for vaccination
and collaboration with the Ministry of Migration and Displacement (MoMD)
is ongoing to allocate vaccines for them.
Returning
to the topic of violence, a militia leader who was detained for the
murder of two activists has been released according to Jane Arraf:
#Iraq militia leader Qasim Muslih arrives in Karbala to rapturous welcome by paramilitary fighters - the city where he was accused of ordering assassinations of two activists. Militia pressure on judiciary seems to have led to his being cleared. Is this how Iraq ends?
Iraq has released the commander of the Popular Mobilisation Forces
militia (PMF), also known as Al-Hashd Al-Sha’abi, Qassim Musleh, news TV
channel Al-Arabiya reported.
The leader was arrested on May 26 by troops from the country’s Ministry of Interior over extremism charges.
Earlier on Tuesday, there were conflicting reports about the release of
Musleh. Sources close to the PMF said the country “released Musleh due
to lack of evidence.”
If he has been released with charges denied, it's another slap in the face of the protesters
The day after the arrest of Mr Musleh, armed militia members took to
Baghdad's streets, gathering near the office of the prime minister and
at an entrance to the Green Zone, risking a dangerous escalation of force.
Security forces and the elite Counter-Terrorism Service were deployed
to protect the government and diplomatic missions in Baghdad.
The
October Movement began protesting in the fall of 2019. They endured
threats, violence and even murder. A number of activists have been
assassinated. Journalists who cover the protests have also been
threatened. These threats come from factions of the government
including the militias. To date, there has been no one convicted for
the murder of an activist. Sura Ali (RUDAW) reports:
The head of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council reiterated the legal
right to peaceful demonstrations and called on the courts and
investigative bodies to follow up on the killing of activists in a
meeting with protest representatives, the council said on Tuesday.
"The requests and observations of the demonstrators' representatives
were listened to, and the investigative bodies must resolve the cases of
the killing of protesters and the attacks they were subjected to, and
direct all federal appeals courts to follow up on those cases," Judge
Faiq Zaidan said in a statement.
The meeting comes the day after the mother of activist Ihab al-Wazni,
assassinated last month, gave Zaidan 12 days to reveal the identity of
Wazni’s killers and put them on trial.
In a press conference on Monday, Samira al-Wazni demanded "disclosure of
her son's killers in a public trial, to serve as an example to those
who do not sanctify the blood of Iraqis.”
"I give the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Mr. Faiq Zaidan, and
the judge of the terrorism court 12 days to reveal the perpetrators and
bring them to a public trial…. if not, may god, the country and the
people forgive me for what I will do in the coming days,” she said from
Karbala.
There's nother big issue out of Iraq in
the news cycle and I honestly don't want to touch it. The stupidity
involved is just so great and so potentially costly.
I don't support nuclear energy -- one of the main reasons I never fell for the con that was Andrew Yang.
But I don't get how anyone -- even those who support nuclear energy -- could see this as good news.
There
have been how many suicide bombers in Iraq in the last 18 years? Do we
think that -- because there were so many -- no more potential ones
exist?
Why would you build a nuclear plant in Iraq?
And
Bully Boy Bush used what lie to justify the Iraq War -- I know, it's a
long list of lies. But I'm referring to the one that the late
Ambassador Joe Wilson noted was not true -- that Saddam Hussein had
sought yellow-cake uranium from Africa. So now let's just put enriched
uranium in Iraq?
When the government can't protect themselves, let alone the people?
It makes no sense.
We're going to wind down by noting two segments from BREAKING POINT.
BREAKING
POINT is Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti's new show -- their old show
has been infested with some refugee from The Hair Club For Men.
The Eagles have added six new dates to their Hotel California tour, which is finally kicking off later this summer after several delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The mega-platinum L.A. band’s tour will now launch on Sunday, August 22, at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Following a second show at the venue on August 24, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will move on to Boston, for two shows at TD Garden on August 27 and 28. Then, they will head to Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C. for performances on August 31 and September 1.
When this first leg of the tour is up, the Eagles will travel to Denver, CO, Dallas TX, Phoenix, AZ, St. Paul, MN, Los Angeles and San Francisco as previously announced. L.A. shows will take place at the Forum on October 15, 16 and 19. The band will play their final show in San Francisco on Saturday, October 23.
This will be a tour without Glenn Frey who passed away at the start of 2016. If this were Simon & Garfunkel and one was dead, I'd be like, "You can't do a Simon & Garfunkle tour without one of them." But the Eagles has had many members over the years. Don Felder was fired from the band about 20 years ago and he won't be part of the tour. Deacon Frey, Glenn's son, will be part of it as will Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmidt and Joe Walsh. Don Henley and Glenn were the two most prominent faces of the group.
I'm glad that the band is touring. We need more touring and to be able to go out and about again. I wish they'd have brought in Jackson Browne. Though never a member of the band, he did co-write (with Glenn) their big hit "Take It Easy." He was going to do a tour last year but then COVID (and I believe he himself caught COVID). They could have brought him on to sing Glenn's songs and also given him a spot in the middle of the show to perform some of his best loved songs like "Tender Is The Night," "The Pretender," "Ready Or Not," "Lives In The Balance," "That Girl Could Sing," "In The Shape of a Heart," "Somebody's Baby," "Doctor, My Eyes," "Rock Me On The Water," etc.
Tuesday, June 8, 2021. We take a look at burn pits, Turkey's attacks on the Kurds and much more.
Starting in the US with 10 TAMPA BAY.
At
the age of 21, Andrew Brewer was deployed to Iraq. While serving
there, he was exposed to burn pits. He went from a healthy 21-year-old
in 2009 to a man who got winded just carrying his newborn son around the
house. This year, he got COVID 19. He is one of 20,000 veterans in
Florida who had contracted COVID 19. 10 TAMPA BAY notes a bill in
Congress that would:
* Bill streamlines VA review process for veterans with respiratory illness or cancer
* Removes requirement of proof a veteran was exposed to toxins while serving
* It would give as many as 3.5 million veterans health care
That
would be the bill that Senators Marco Rubio and Kirsten Gillibrand
introduced in March. Here's the press release from Rubio's office:
Mar262021
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act.
U.S. Representatives Raul Ruiz, M.D (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
will introduce the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
This bill would provide presumptive U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
benefits to servicemembers who have deployed and have illnesses due to
exposure to burn pits and other toxins. Approximately 3.5 million
veterans have been exposed to burn pits that spewed toxic fumes and
carcinogens into the air.
Rubio, Gillibrand, and Ruiz also announced an April 13, 2021 press conference outside
of the U.S. Capitol that will feature veterans who have suffered from
toxic exposure, survivors of veterans who have passed due to toxic
exposure, veterans advocate Jon Stewart, 9/11 activist John Feal, Burn
Pits 360, the IAVA, American Legion, and several other veterans groups.
“Our war fighters had a job to do, and they did it honorably and without hesitation," Rubio said.
"We will never be able to repay them and their families for their
sacrifice, but we can -- and we must -- take care of them now. This
historic and long overdue legislation will cut through the red tape to
ensure veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins while defending
our nation will receive the care they need and deserve. No more excuses.
No more delays. It is time to act.”
“More than three million
service members could have been exposed to toxic burn pits, yet the VA
continues to deny them care by placing the burden of proof on veterans
suffering from rare cancers, lung diseases, and respiratory illnesses,” Gillibrand said.
“Congress cannot sit by as the VA ignores its duty. The bottom line is
that our veterans served our country, they are sick and they need health
care—period. The Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn
Pits and Other Toxins Act will finally establish a presumptive service
connection for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins and
streamline the process for obtaining vital VA benefits. I am proud to
cosponsor this bipartisan legislation with Senator Rubio, and I thank
Congressman Ruiz for his leadership in the House. I urge my colleagues
on both sides of the aisle to support this bill and to apply common
sense and common decency to a broken process.”
“Our veterans
cannot wait. Service members are returning home from the battlefield
only to become delayed casualties of war, dying years later from lung
diseases, cancers, and autoimmune diseases caused by their exposure to
toxic military burn pits,” Ruiz said. “The VA and DoD cannot
continue to neglect this self-inflicted wound on our veterans. That’s
why I co-authored the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to
Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act with Senator Gillibrand to get our
veterans the care they need right now.”
“Our veterans are heroes
and deserve to be treated as such, yet the VA and DoD continue to deny
their earned care,” Fitzpatrick said.
“Our bipartisan Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn
Pits and Other Toxins Act will establish a presumptive service
connection for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins and
streamline the process for obtaining vital VA benefits. I am proud to
join Rep. Ruiz and Senator Gillibrand and a broad national coalition of
VSOs to ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve. No veteran
should die waiting for care.”
“This legislation includes
presumption and actually fixes this urgent and immoral issue. Anything
else just delays and denies the treatment and benefits our warriors
need,” said veterans advocate Jon Stewart.
"If we can
spend money on training ordinary men & woman to go into combat and
do extraordinary things keeping us safe 24/7, then we should be able to
spend money when these Heroes come home missing body parts, have a
mental illness or are poisoned by the toxic aftermath from Burn Pits. We
are fighting two fronts. Passing vital legislation, and changing the
culture on how these men & woman are taken care of after they come
home,” said 9/11 Responder & Advocate John Feal.
“Our
families are calling on Congress to pass the Warfighter Presumption
Bill. Your constituents, veterans and their families should not have to
return from war to face the injustice of the denial of compensation and
health care benefits--we will not settle for less than presumption.
Together with veteran owned businesses, veteran organizations, Veteran
Public Figures, police and firefighter unions and the rest of America we
will mobilize a national movement to pass this legislation. We are not
fulfilling our moral obligation to protect and serve these service men
and women that bore the burden of America’s defense. We must take action
to chip away at the complex web of barriers, erected by entrenched
political and bureaucratic interests, which deprive a class of injured
veterans of healthcare and benefits. It’s time we recognize these
injuries as a true cost of war,” said Rosie Torres, Executive Director of Burn Pits 360
“This
legislation regarding Burn Pit exposure is required to fulfill our
sacred obligation to the men and women who faithfully served,” said
David Shulkin M.D., ninth secretary of the U.S. Department of Veteran
Affairs.
“For
IAVA members, the data is clear: 86% of members have been exposed to
burn pits or other toxic exposures, and 88% either have or may already
have symptoms from that exposure. It is past time that veterans exposed
to these deadly toxins receive the benefits that they deserve. We thank
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Raul Ruiz for their
important leadership to ensure that veterans exposed to burn pits and
other toxic exposures will be able to get a presumption of illness for
that exposure,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).
“We
look forward to Congress reintroducing and passing the Presumptive
Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act.
Congress must act now to ensure that veterans exposed to toxic exposures
receive the care that they need and rightfully deserve. We thank
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Raul
Ruiz for their leadership on this issue and look forward to working with
them to get this critical legislation passed by Congress and signed by
the President,” said National Commander James W. Bill Oxford, American Legion.
“As
Vietnam veterans, we know firsthand the toll of toxic exposure on our
health and the high costs associated with our toxic wounds. Times is of
the essence, and we call for swift passage of this crucial legislation
with the hopes that our younger veterans will not face the decades-long
fight for healthcare and benefits that continues to plague Vietnam
veterans,” said VVA National President John Rowan.
“To do
justice to Vietnam and 1991 Gulf War veterans suffering from the
effects of Agent Orange and Gulf War Illness, Congress had to legislate
presumptions. It is past time to create a similar presumption for the
sick veterans of our Nation’s more recent wars and military operations
in countries having toxic environments created by burn pits or other
conditions — natural or man-made,” said Peter Sullivan of SGT Sullivan Circle.
“Many
of our veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries are
suffering from the toxic exposures from burn pits. It took the Vietnam
Veterans years to fight for their benefits from exposure to Agent Orange
and other toxic herbicides. In fact, we are still fighting for those
who served in Guam, Panama, Thailand, and Okinawa. Vietnam veterans
pushed not only for these benefits from their personal exposures to
toxins, but for those suffering from PTSD as well. Let us not forget
these young warriors, who are also suffering from the toxins released
from the Burn Pits and in some cases radiation poisoning. No one wants
to see these men and women wait decades for their earned and deserved
benefits. Action is needed ASAP. Members from our organization, Military
Veterans Advocacy will leave no service member or veteran behind. When
these brave heroes raised their hands in an oath to defend this nation
at all costs including their lives, our country promised to care for
then when they returned. This country needs to be made accountable in
keeping that promise. This is part of the pricetag of war,” said Susie
Belanger, Legislative Director, Military Veterans Advocacy, Inc.
“We
applaud Sen. Gillibrand, Sen. Rubio, Rep. Ruiz, and Rep. Fitzpatrick
for their commitment to servicemembers and veterans who have been dying
and suffering from the devastating illnesses as a result of their
exposure to toxic emissions from burn pits. This legislation does for
victims of toxic exposures and burn pits what the Agent Orange Act did
for veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. This
presumption of exposure and service connection is long overdue for
veterans who were exposed to toxic emissions,” said National Veterans Legal Services Program Executive Director Bart Stichman.
"Too
often, veterans have been alone in dealing with the consequences of
service to their country. This is now an opportunity to stand with them,
to honor their commitment, and together confront the challenges they
are facing from exposure to burn pits and other toxins during their
military service,” said COL Sam Whitehurst, Vice President, Programs
& Services, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services.
“For
many veterans with toxic exposures, there has been -- for them -- a
clear timeline connecting their toxic exposures during their military
deployments to the debilitating health outcomes that followed them home.
Far too many veterans who were exposed to open burn pits and a
veritable toxic soup have developed terrible respiratory conditions,
Parkinson's and other diseases, and cancers, including the brain cancer
that has taken so many of their lives. This critically important
legislation will provide the missing link to help these veterans.
Indeed, this is the only current, major toxic exposure legislation to
actually name presumptive conditions for VA disability claims rather
than lay out a bureaucratic process that relies on trusting VA to do the
right thing -- the same VA that currently denies Gulf War and Burn
Pits-related claims at 80 percent denial rates. In this year of the
30th anniversary of the beginning of the Gulf War (Operation Desert
Storm), we are deeply grateful to Senator Gillibrand and the many
powerful cosponsors for ensuring this legislation will help so many
veterans who served, including Gulf War, other pre-9/11, and post-9/11
veterans alike,” said Anthony Hardie, National Chair & Director Veterans for Common Sense.
“At
VoteVets, we believe caring for our men and women in uniform — both
during and after their service — is a national security priority, and it
is essential to keep our sacred promise to those who’ve fought for our
freedoms. Veterans and military families are suffering severe health
consequences as a direct result of toxic exposure to burn pits. We're
grateful to Senator Gillibrand and her colleagues for their leadership
on this critical issue. Our heroes deserve the comprehensive solution
this bill will provide,” said Mary Kaszynski, Director of Government Relations for VoteVets.
“The
Stronghold Freedom Foundation is grateful for Senator Gillibrand’s
proposed Presumptive Benefits for War Fighter Exposed to Burn Pits and
Other Toxins Act. Upon passage, this legislation will provide some
respite for Karshi-Khanabad Airbase (K2) veterans denied the care and
benefits earned through their service and will greatly benefit many
more. The Stronghold Freedom Foundation will continue to advocate for
full recognition by the government and agencies which placed K2 veterans
in harm’s way and will continue working with legislators, the DoD, and
VA to obtain complete recognition, preventative care, screening, and
registry for all K2 veterans,” said The Stronghold Freedom Foundation.
During
military operations in the Global War on Terror and the Gulf War, the
military employed open-air burn pits in order to burn garbage, medical
waste, plastics, and other waste from military installations. According
to estimates, at least 230 pits were utilized in Iraq and Afghanistan,
and many others were used across the world. The largest of these burn
pits were located at Balad Air Base, Iraq, and during its operation, was
comprised of 10-acres of burning trash, 24-hours a day, 365 days a
year.
It has long been established that burning waste and
garbage has significant negative impacts on the environment and human
health--which is why using burn pits on American soil is against the law
and exposure to other toxic substances is highly regulated. However,
the military exposed millions of our men and women in uniform to
carcinogenic toxic fumes released by burn pits that were used throughout
the Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. It is estimated that
more than 3.5 million military personnel could have been exposed to
burn pits and the VA’s Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry
website shows that nearly 235,00 veterans and service members have
completed and submitted a questionnaire to self-report medical
information about burn pit exposure.
Furthermore, the exposure
of our service members to dangerous chemicals and environments has not
been limited to burn pits. Shortly after 9/11, the U.S. military
established Camp Stronghold at the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, known as
K2, a former Soviet base in Uzbekistan that had held chemical weapons
enriched with Uranium. Thousands of veterans were exposed to these
dangerous toxins at this base, and many now suffer from rare cancers and
other ailments.
Veterans are now sick and dying from lung
diseases, cancers, and respiratory illnesses after living among this
toxic cocktail of dust, smoke and debris while serving our country
overseas. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs continues to deny
many veterans access to the VA with the excuse that there isn’t enough
science to prove their ailments are service-connected.
Under
current law, a veteran who has an illness or disability must establish a
direct service connection in order to be eligible for VA benefits.
Direct service connections means that evidence establishes that a
particular injury or disease resulting in a disability was incurred
while in service in the Armed Forces. For veterans exposed to burn pits,
this means they would need to provide medical evidence of a current
disease or disability, provide personal or other evidence of in-service
physical presence near a specific burn pit or exposure to specific
toxins or substance and provide evidence of a link between the
disability or illness and exposure. Upon completion of these steps, the
VA determines if there is enough evidence to provide a medical exam and
continue with the disability compensation claim. Therefore, it is
currently the veteran’s responsibility to provide their illness or
disability is directly connected to burn pit exposure.
The Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act would
remove the “burden of proof” from the veteran to provide enough
evidence to establish a direct service connection between their health
condition and exposure. Rather, the veteran would only need to submit
documentation that they received a campaign medal associated with the
Global War on Terror or the Gulf War and they suffer from a qualifying
health condition. Campaign medals are awarded to members of the armed
forces who deploy for military operations in a designated combat zone or
geographical theater.
Presumptive conditions include a wide
range of cancers and respiratory illnesses, including: asthma, that was
diagnosed after service, head cancer of any type, neck cancer of any
type, respiratory cancer of any type, gastrointestinal cancer of any
type, reproductive cancer of any type, lymphoma cancer of any type,
lymphomatic cancer of any type, kidney cancer, brain cancer, melanoma,
chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, constrictive
bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis, emphysema, granulomatous
disease, interstitial lung disease, pleuritis, pulmonary fibrosis,
sarcoidosis.
The following organizations support the bill:
Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America,
The American Legion, Burn Pits 360, Vote Vets, Military Veterans
Advocacy, Stronghold Freedom Foundation, Dixon Center, Veterans for
Common Sense, Sergeant Sullivan Circle, National Veterans Legal Services
Program, Warriors Project, Grunt Style, Feal Good Foundation.
We'd
gladly include Gillibran's press release as well; however, her office
is down this morning (I'm told it tries to load and load but never
does). Gillibrand has been working on veterans issues for some time --
and female veterans know this probably better than anyone when she
attempted to bring accountability to so-called military justice with
regards to assaults and rape but was stabbed in the back by Democratic
colleagues (chief among them, then-Senator Claire McCaskill).
She
has also been working on the burnpit issue for some time. That's sad
because Congress has been 'addressing' this since Bully Boy Bush
occupied the White House. And we've got a press release from Gillibrand
to copy and paste in thanks to a friend. And I'm told it's a long one
which is fine, this is a serious topic that deserves far more attention
than it ever gets.
April 13, 2021
Senators Kirsten Gillibrand And Marco
Rubio, Representatives Raul Ruiz And Brian Fitzpatrick, Jon Stewart,
John Feal, And Veterans Advocates Call On Congress To Pass Landmark
Legislation To Help Veterans With Diseases Linked To Burn Pits And Other
Toxic Exposures Obtain Benefits From Va
Gillibrand And Rubio, Ruiz And Fitzpatrick
Recently Introduced The Bicameral, Bipartisan Presumptive Benefits For
War Fighters Exposed To Burn Pits And Other Toxins Act; An Estimated 3.5
Million Veterans Could Have Been Exposed To Burn Pits That Spewed Toxic
Fumes And Carcinogens Into The Air; Years Later, Sick Veterans
Suffering From Diseases Linked To Burn Pit Exposure Have Been Burdened
By Denials From The VA For Veterans’ Benefits; The Landmark Bill Would
Establish A Service Connection For S
Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marco Rubio
(R-FL), U.S. Representatives Raul Ruiz, M.D, (D-CA) and Brian
Fitzpatrick (R-PA), alongside Jon Stewart, 9/11 activist John Feal,
members of BurnPits 360, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
(IAVA), and numerous veterans advocates stood together to call for
landmark bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act. The
bill would streamline the process for veterans to obtain benefits from
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for illness due to
exposure to burn pit and other toxic exposures. Approximately 3.5 million veterans have been exposed to burn pits that spewed toxic fumes and carcinogens into the air.
The Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act would
remove the “burden of proof” from the veteran to provide enough
evidence to establish a direct service connection between their health
condition and exposure. Rather, the veteran would only need to submit
documentation that they received a campaign medal associated with the
Global War on Terror or the Gulf War and they suffer from a qualifying
health condition. Campaign medals are awarded to members of the armed
forces who deploy for military operations in a designated combat zone or
geographical theater.
“The stories we heard today are proof that the system is failing
veterans and their families. Veterans who are sick with illnesses due to
exposure to toxic chemicals while serving this country do not have time
to spare,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “The connection
between exposure to burn pits and the devastating health effects of
respiratory illnesses and rare cancers is clear. No one should have to
spend years jumping through hoops, doing research, and paying for
doctors and biopsies to prove to the VA that their illness is
service-related. And no one who is grieving a spouse lost to these
diseases should have to fight the VA to get the benefits their family is
owed. This is more than a health care crisis, it’s a moral outrage. The
Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act
will finally establish a presumptive service connection for veterans
exposed to burn pits and other toxins and streamline the process for
obtaining vital VA benefits. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the
aisle to support this bill and to apply common sense and common decency
to a broken process.”
“Our war fighters had a job to do, and they did it honorably and without hesitation," said U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.
"We will never be able to repay them and their families for their
sacrifice, but we can -- and we must -- take care of them now. This
historic and long overdue legislation will cut through the red tape to
ensure veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins while defending
our nation will receive the care they need and deserve. No more excuses.
No more delays. It is time to act.”
“Our veterans cannot wait. Service members are returning home from
the battlefield only to become delayed casualties of war, dying years
later from lung diseases, cancers, and autoimmune diseases caused by
their exposure to toxic military burn pits,” said Congressman Raul Ruiz M.D. “The VA and DoD cannot continue to neglect this self-inflicted wound on our veterans. That’s why I co-authored the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act with Senator Gillibrand to get our veterans the care they need right now.”
“Our veterans are heroes and deserve to be treated as such, yet
the VA and DoD continue to deny their earned care. Our bipartisan Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act
will establish a presumptive service connection for veterans exposed to
burn pits and other toxins and streamline the process for obtaining
vital VA benefits,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. “I am
proud to join Rep. Ruiz and Senator Gillibrand and a broad national
coalition of VSOs to ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve.
No veteran should die waiting for care.”
“This legislation includes presumption and actually fixes this
urgent and immoral issue. Anything else just delays and denies the
treatment and benefits our warriors need,” said veterans advocate Jon Stewart.
"If we can spend money on training ordinary men & woman to go
into combat and do extraordinary things keeping us safe 24/7, then we
should be able to spend money when these Heroes come home missing body
parts, have a mental illness or are poisoned by the toxic aftermath from
Burn Pits. We are fighting two fronts. Passing vital legislation, and
changing the culture on how these men & woman are taken care of
after they come home,” said 9/11 Responder & Advocate John Feal.
“We are excited and hopeful for today’s event. It’s been
over 10 years of building on the issue and sustained momentum for the
veteran community and the families affected by toxic exposure. We will
not negotiate with ourselves and will not settle for anything less than
presumption. Our hope is that the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters
Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act will pass.” – Le Roy Torres, Co-Founder of Burn Pits 360
“Our work has centered on service members with shortness of breath
following deployment. Over 100 service members have had lung biopsies
showing deployment related toxic lung injury including bronchiolitis.
They leave military service due to exercise limitation but usually fail
to receive disability benefits.” - Dr. Robert Miller, Professor of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical Center
“This legislation regarding Burn Pit exposure is required to
fulfill our sacred obligation to the men and women who faithfully served,” said David Shulkin M.D., ninth secretary of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
“For IAVA members, the data is clear: 86% of members have been
exposed to burn pits or other toxic exposures, and 88% either have or
may already have symptoms from that exposure. It is past time that
veterans exposed to these deadly toxins receive the benefits that they
deserve,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). “We
thank Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Raul Ruiz for their
important leadership to ensure that veterans exposed to burn pits and
other toxic exposures will be able to get a presumption of illness for
that exposure.”
“The VFW’s top legislative priority is comprehensive toxic exposure reform. The Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act
is a great step in taking care of the millions of men and women exposed
to toxic hazards during their service overseas. The VFW is thankful
Senators Gillibrand and Rubio have highlighted this issue and we are
looking forward to the day new toxic exposure legislation is signed into
law.” - Pat Murray, Director of VFW’s National Legislative Service
"Veteran Warriors supports this legislation as it is a step
forward to give those affected by toxic exposures during military
service more access to benefits and services that they have earned.
Veteran's should not have to jump through hoops to get medical care for
specific conditions when it has been proven that these conditions are
linked to toxic exposure. While this legislation is not an end-all
be-all resolution, it is a step in the right direction to providing much
needed care to those exposed." - Holly Ferrell, Executive Director of Veteran Warriors, Inc.
“We look forward to Congress reintroducing and passing the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act.
Congress must act now to ensure that veterans exposed to toxic
exposures receive the care that they need and rightfully deserve. We
thank Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Marco Rubio, Representative
Raul Ruiz for their leadership on this issue and look forward to working
with them to get this critical legislation passed by Congress and
signed by the President.” – National Commander James W. Bill Oxford, American Legion
“As Vietnam veterans, we know firsthand the toll of toxic exposure
on our health and the high costs associated with our toxic wounds.
Times is of the essence, and we call for swift passage of this crucial
legislation with the hopes that our younger veterans will not face the
decades-long fight for healthcare and benefits that continues to plague
Vietnam veterans,” said VVA National President John Rowan.
“To do justice to Vietnam and 1991 Gulf War veterans suffering
from the effects of Agent Orange and Gulf War Illness, Congress had to
legislate presumptions. It is past time to create a similar presumption
for the sick veterans of our Nation’s more recent wars and military
operations in countries having toxic environments created by burn pits
or other conditions — natural or man-made.” - Peter Sullivan of SGT Sullivan Circle
“Many of our veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and other
countries are suffering from the toxic exposures from burn pits. It took
the Vietnam Veterans years to fight for their benefits from exposure to
Agent Orange and other toxic herbicides. In fact, we are still fighting
for those who served in Guam, Panama, Thailand, and Okinawa. Vietnam
veterans pushed not only for these benefits from their personal
exposures to toxins, but for those suffering from PTSD as well. Let us
not forget these young warriors, who are also suffering from the toxins
released from the Burn Pits and in some cases radiation poisoning. No
one wants to see these men and women wait decades for their earned and
deserved benefits. Action is needed ASAP. Members from our organization,
Military Veterans Advocacy will leave no service member or veteran
behind. When these brave heroes raised their hands in an oath to defend
this nation at all costs including their lives, our country promised to
care for then when they returned. This country needs to be made
accountable in keeping that promise. This is part of the price tag of
war.” - Susie Belanger, Legislative Director, Military Veterans Advocacy, Inc.
“We applaud Sen. Gillibrand, Sen. Rubio, Rep. Ruiz, and Rep.
Fitzpatrick for their commitment to service members and veterans who
have been dying and suffering from the devastating illnesses as a result
of their exposure to toxic emissions from burn pits,” said National Veterans Legal Services Program Executive Director Bart Stichman.“This
legislation does for victims of toxic exposures and burn pits what the
Agent Orange Act did for veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange in
Vietnam. This presumption of exposure and service connection is long
overdue for veterans who were exposed to toxic emissions.”
"Too often, veterans have been alone in dealing with the
consequences of service to their country. This is now an opportunity to
stand with them, to honor their commitment, and together confront the
challenges they are facing from exposure to burn pits and other toxins
during their military service." - COL Sam Whitehurst, Vice President, Programs & Services, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services
“For many veterans with toxic exposures, there has been -- for
them -- a clear timeline connecting their toxic exposures during their
military deployments to the debilitating health outcomes that followed
them home. Far too many veterans who were exposed to open burn pits and a
veritable toxic soup have developed terrible respiratory conditions,
Parkinson's and other diseases, and cancers, including the brain cancer
that has taken so many of their lives. This critically important
legislation will provide the missing link to help these veterans.
Indeed, this is the only current, major toxic exposure legislation to
actually name presumptive conditions for VA disability claims rather
than lay out a bureaucratic process that relies on trusting VA to do the
right thing -- the same VA that currently denies Gulf War and Burn
Pits-related claims at 80 percent denial rates. In this year of the
30th anniversary of the beginning of the Gulf War (Operation Desert
Storm), we are deeply grateful to Senator Gillibrand and the many
powerful cosponsors for ensuring this legislation will help so many
veterans who served, including Gulf War, other pre-9/11, and post-9/11
veterans alike.” - Anthony Hardie, National Chair & Director Veterans for Common Sense
“At VoteVets, we believe caring for our men and women in uniform —
both during and after their service — is a national security priority,
and it is essential to keep our sacred promise to those who’ve fought
for our freedoms. Veterans and military families are suffering severe
health consequences as a direct result of toxic exposure to burn pits.
We're grateful to Senator Gillibrand and her colleagues for their
leadership on this critical issue. Our heroes deserve the comprehensive
solution this bill will provide." - Mary Kaszynski, Director of Government Relations for VoteVets
“The Stronghold Freedom Foundation is grateful for Senator
Gillibrand’s proposed Presumptive Benefits for War Fighter Exposed to
Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act. Upon passage, this legislation will
provide some respite for Karshi-Khanabad Airbase (K2) veterans denied
the care and benefits earned through their service and will greatly
benefit many more. The Stronghold Freedom Foundation will continue to
advocate for full recognition by the government and agencies which
placed K2 veterans in harm’s way and will continue working with
legislators, the DoD, and VA to obtain complete recognition,
preventative care, screening, and registry for all K2 veterans.” – The Stronghold Freedom Foundation
“Blinded Veterans Association sincerely thanks Congressman Ruiz,
Congressman Fitzpatrick, Senator Gillibrand, and Senator Rubio for their
dedication to our service members and veterans by ensuring they receive
the compensation for toxic exposure related diseases they deserve,” said BVA National Service Director, Veterans Benefits & Policy James Vale. “Toxic
exposure related illnesses need to be provided for just as any physical
or mental injuries are with proper healthcare and compensation
benefits. Our service members and veterans battling severe illnesses
need the support of Congress and the VA immediately to correct
injustices created by the barriers to care for military toxic
exposures.”
Several veterans advocates shared their stories of the challenges
that they and their family members have faced when trying to receive
benefits from the VA:
Army Captain Le Roy Torres was deployed to Balad, Iraq from
2007-2008 and served the State of Texas as a State Trooper for 14 years.
He suffers from complications from illnesses caused by toxic burn pit
exposure during his deployment. After experiencing delay, denial of
benefits, and ineffective treatment from his physicians for his
illnesses, Le Roy alongside his wife, Rosie, founded Burn Pits 360. The
organization works to ensure that no other service member or Veteran
suffers delay, denial of benefits, and ineffective treatment for toxic
fume exposure from physicians.
As the surviving spouse of Ret. Gunnery Sergeant Joseph Cancelino USMC, who served as a Marine for 20 years, Gina Cancelino has
been fighting to receive VA disability benefits for herself and two
children. Joseph was deployed to Iraq from March 2003-August 2003. His
barracks were located across from a burn pit and barrels of burning
human waste. While serving his final year in the Marines, he joined the
NYPD and served as a PO until his promotion to Sergeant. In January 2017
he was diagnosed with stage 3c metastatic testicular cancer, which at
the time of diagnosis had travelled to his pelvis, abdomen, and lungs.
The cancer then progressed to his brain. While receiving treatment, it
was discovered that there was a secondary thyroid cancer as well.
Despite several rounds and types of chemotherapy, radiation, lymph node
resection, brain resection, immunotherapy, palliative chemotherapy, and a
trial treatment that he was only the fourth patient to receive, Joseph
passed away in July 2019. His surviving spouse, Gina, can no longer add
Joseph's name to the DoD burn pit registry since he has passed away. The
VA has denied her benefits until she proves that her husband's cancer
was a direct service connection to burn pits and toxic exposure while
serving in Iraq.
Veteran Mark Jackson was active duty in the Army from 1997
through 2005. He was deployed to Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in
Uzbekistan from July 2003 to April 2004, where uranium, chemical weapon
debris, and chemical ponds were present, and black goo oozed from the
ground. While deployed, Jackson’s health quickly deteriorated and, as
his health worsened when he returned home, he sought help from the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In 2008, the VA granted only 10%
disability for service related to his thyroid disorder and denied the
rest of his claims. Since then, he has advocated for care from the VA
for other service members suffering from diseases related to toxic
exposure.
Veteran Cindy Aman served as Military Police in Iraq, Qatar
and Kuwait. Upon returning home, began work as civilian police, but
started having shortness of breath despite being very fit. When she
sought help from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), some
caseworkers thought she had lung disease, but the head of pathology
didn’t agree. She reached out to Senator Coons (who she now works for)
and he helped get the VA to pay for a lung biopsy. When her biopsy
showed metals in her lungs and brown gunk she had to leave the police
force. After two years, Aman eventually received some benefits from the
VA. She is now an advocate for the family of veteran Jason Howard who is
on hospice with glioblastoma — the same brain cancer that Beau Biden
had.
Background:
During military operations in the Global War on Terror and the Gulf
War, the military employed open-air burn pits in order to burn garbage,
medical waste, plastics, and other waste from military installations.
According to estimates, at least 230 pits were utilized in Iraq and
Afghanistan, and many others were used across the world. The largest of
these burn pits were located at Balad Air Base, Iraq, and during its
operation, consisted of 10-acres of burning trash, 24-hours a day, 365
days a year.
It has long been established that burning waste and garbage has
significant negative impacts on the environment and human health — which
is why using burn pits on American soil is against the law and exposure
to other toxic substances is highly regulated. However, the military
exposed millions of our men and women in uniform to carcinogenic toxic
fumes released by burn pits that were used throughout the Middle East,
North Africa, and Southwest Asia. It is estimated that more than 3.5
million military personnel could have been exposed to burn pits and the
VA’s Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry website shows that
nearly 235,00 veterans and service members have completed and submitted a
questionnaire to self-report medical information about burn pit
exposure.
Furthermore, the exposure of our service members to dangerous
chemicals and environments has not been limited to burn pits. Shortly
after 9/11, the U.S. military established Camp Stronghold at the
Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, known as K2, a former Soviet base in
Uzbekistan that had held chemical weapons enriched with Uranium.
Thousands of veterans were exposed to these dangerous toxins at this
base, and many now suffer from rare cancers and other ailments.
Veterans are now sick and dying from lung diseases, cancers, and
respiratory illnesses after living among this toxic cocktail of dust,
smoke and debris while serving our country overseas. However, the
Department of Veterans Affairs continues to deny many veterans access to
the VA with the excuse that there isn’t enough science to prove their
ailments are service-connected.
Under current law, a veteran who has an illness or disability must
establish a direct service connection in order to be eligible for VA
benefits. Direct service connections means that evidence establishes
that a particular injury or disease resulting in a disability was
incurred while in service in the Armed Forces. For veterans exposed to
burn pits, this means they would need to provide medical evidence of a
current disease or disability, provide personal or other evidence of
in-service physical presence near a specific burn pit or exposure to
specific toxins or substance and provide evidence of a link between the
disability or illness and exposure. Upon completion of these steps, the
VA determines if there is enough evidence to provide a medical exam and
continue with the disability compensation claim. Therefore, it is
currently the veteran’s responsibility to provide their illness or
disability is directly connected to burn pit exposure.
The Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act
would cover a wide range of cancers and respiratory illnesses as
presumptive conditions, including: asthma, that was diagnosed after
service, head cancer of any type, neck cancer of any type, respiratory
cancer of any type, gastrointestinal cancer of any type, reproductive
cancer of any type, lymphoma cancer of any type, lymphoma cancer of any
type, kidney cancer, brain cancer, melanoma, chronic bronchitis, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, constrictive bronchiolitis or
obliterative bronchiolitis, emphysema, granulomatous disease,
interstitial lung disease, pleuritis, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis.
The following organizations support the bill: IAVA, The American
Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wounded
Warrior Project, Reserve Officers Association, Military Order of the
Purple Heart, Burn Pits 360, Green Beret Foundation, Go2 Foundation for
Lung Cancer, Dixon Center, National Veterans Legal Services Program
(NVLSP), Military Veterans Advocacy, Veterans for Common Sense, Sgt.
Sullivan Circle, Vote Vets, Stronghold Freedom Foundation, Grunt Style,
Cease Fire Campaign, Veteran Warriors Inc.,National Association County Veterans Service Officers,Feal Good Foundation, Blinded Veterans Association.
Stewart, Feal and Gillibrand previously worked together to make the 9/11 Health and Compensation Funds permanent.
Before COVID restrictions
in March 2020 eliminated such positions, I had the privilege of serving
for a few years as a volunteer at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center.
In my role, I got to meet and talk to veterans and their family
members. During these conversations, it was quite apparent that many of
the Vietnam veterans were still dealing with the medical and emotional
consequences of their tours to 'Nam and their exposure to Agent
Orange.
Recently I watched the
feature “The Cost of War” on the PBS NewsHour. This piece is about the
current legislation before Congress that seeks to compensate veterans
for illnesses that they possibly (some argue persuasively, “probably”)
suffered from inhaling toxins from burn pits that they had been exposed
to in Iraq, Afghanistan and Dessert Storm.
As
I watched, I saw a parallel to the sad story of how long it took the VA
to recognize and admit that Agent Orange was responsible for and would
finally “cover” the health consequences and deaths caused by this toxic
herbicide. I would urge readers to support congressional approval of
these long-overdue measures so that something truly significant is
passed before Veteran's Day, 2021!
Tens of thousands of U.S. veterans who served in
Afghanistan and Iraq are sick, and have had to fight to get their
illnesses recognized as linked to their service.
It is a critical step to qualify for medical and disability benefits. Congress is considering legislation to change all that.
That story now from producer Dan Sagalyn and our John Yang.
He said: "I can't get up. The only time this headache is manageable is if I'm laying flat on my back."
Jennifer Howard:
And so it was a trip to the urgent care, and then to the
E.R. They came back and said: "There's a mass in his brain and we think
it is cancerous."
John Yang:
Jennifer Howard has to speak for her husband, Jason. At age 44, he's barely conscious.
Jennifer Howard:
I have other types of pizza too, if you get through all of this.
John Yang:
The reason? Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer that usually occurs in much older adults.
Jennifer Howard:
They came in and said: "Life expectancy with this type of tumor is not long. Make the best of your time that you have."
John Yang:
Jason served two tours in Iraq as a Marine. He was always fit and healthy and loved to run marathons.
Jennifer Howard:
When they came back, they talked a bit about how everything was on fire. They burned everything.
John Yang:
Jason took these photos of the thick noxious smoke that
billowed from burn pits on the bases in Iraq where he served in 2003 and
2004.
Man:
Hey, we have a burn pit down here.
John Yang:
In Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military burned all its trash in open air pits.
Man:
I have no idea what they're burning over there.
John Yang:
From plastic water bottles, styrofoam, and batteries, to tires, electronic equipment and paint cans.
Sometimes, jet fuel was used as an accelerant. The smoke permeated the bases where the service members slept, ate and worked.
Man:
Hey, Jason.
Jennifer Howard:
It's your parents.
John Yang:
Jennifer believes burn pits caused her husband's cancer.
And
she says the Department of Veteran Affairs made her jump through hoops
to prove a direct connection between his exposure and his cancer before
granting benefits.
Jennifer Howard:
I talked to that 1-800 VA number to see where our claim
is. They said: "Oh, well, we're finally sending it over so that you can
get scheduled for his evaluation."
And I said: "Are we going to do
it before he dies?" And I said it just like that, and not yell. And I
was told — told to calm down. They wanted me to drive him to the VA for
an in-person exam, which he wasn't like this, but I wouldn't have been
able to put him in a car. So, I had to file an appeal to have an in-home
exam done.
John Yang:
According to data obtained by the "NewsHour," of the 2.5
million veterans who served in the global war on terrorism, almost
43,000 filed a claim for cancer.
They
then play a clip, from 2018, of Joe Biden trotting out his dead son
Beau. Not in the mood. If you really believed that burn pits
contributed to your son's death, Joe, then it's incumbent on you, as
president, to get to work on doing something.
Joe
thinks he can blame his support of the Iraq War on Bully Boy Bush --
apparently he feard Bully Boy would give him a wet willie if he didn't
vote for the Iraq War? -- and that means he doesn't have to make amends
for his support for the Iraq War. Joe needs to grow the hell up. He's
president now. If he believes Beua's cancer is because of burn pits,
it's incumbent upon him to work seriously on this issue and work with
Congress to get legislation passed. Now.
Over the
weekend, Joe's buddy Recept Despot of Turkey attacked a UN refugee camp
in Iraq after publicly threatening that he would do so. (Or 'warning'
as REUTERS chose to word it. Hey, anyone remember when Barack Obama
first got elected president and REUTERS gave the CIA agent cover as a
reporter until we blew the whistle here? Yeah, I remember it too. But
let's try to pretend REUTERS is just an unbiased news outlet.)
The attack was one of Turkey’s deepest into Iraqi territory since it
launched operations Claw-Lightning and Claw-Thunderbolt on April 23 to
root out PKK militants along the Turkish-Iraqi border. Analysts tracking
the ongoing conflict say the latest airstrike underlines Ankara’s drive
to keep the pressure by all available means on Kurdish militants
operating in the region.
“Turkey has the capacity of spotting these terror elements regardless
of their geographical locations, and Turkey also has the capabilities
of eliminating these targets,” Feyzullah Tuna Aygun, an Iraq expert for
the ORSAM Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Ankara, told Al-Monitor.
The ongoing operations come as Erdogan and other high-level officials
in Ankara claim Kurdish militants along Turkey’s southern borders with
Iraq and Syria pose a security threat for Turkey. Since the 1980s,
Ankara has fought an insurgency against PKK militants that has led to
the deaths of more than 40,000 people.
Turkish officials have also repeatedly condemned US support for some
Kurdish-led groups in military campaigns to eradicate the Islamic State
from the region.
Following Saturday’s airstrike, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US
ambassador to the United Nations, said she had warned Ankara officials a
day earlier against waging such attacks near Makhmour.
“Yesterday, I made clear to Turkish officials that any attack
targeting civilians at Makhmour refugee camp would be a violation of
international and humanitarian law,” Thomas-Greenfield tweeted on Saturday. “I’m deeply concerned about violence near the camp today and call on all sides to respect the rights of refugees.”
The
PKK emerged as a response to the Turkish government's targeting of the
Kurds in Turkey. The Turkish government targets northern Iraq and only
northern Iraq because that's where the Kurdistan Regional Government
is. The Turkish government oppresses Kurds and has for years. As their
population continues to increase, the Turkish government grows more
fearful. And oppressed people cannot be oppressed forever. They either
win freedom or you end up with Turkey trying to murder them all like a
century ago when the Turkish government carried out the Armenian
genocide.
A senior Iraqi MP has denounced Turkey's deployment of troops
to the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region where they are pressing ahead
with a military campaign against PKK militants, saying Ankara must end
its occupation of the Iraqi territories.
“What is happening within the borders of the Kurdistan region
represents a dangerous escalation by the Turkish army and the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK),” the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) quoted Chairman of the Security and Defense Committee in the Iraqi Parliament Mohammed Rida Al Haidar as saying.
“The Constitution does not allow the presence of refugees with
affiliation to militant groups on the Iraqi soil,” he said in a
televised statement.
Al Haidar also categorically denied the existence of any agreement
between Baghdad and Ankara regarding the ongoing military offensive in
the Kurdistan region.
“There are only temporary and conditional understandings with
Turkey,” he said, stressing that “Turkey should not exploit the current
situation in Iraq.”
The Kurdistan Region is a “red line”
for the United States, Joe Reeder, former Undersecretary of the Army,
told Kurdistan 24 last week.
Reeder was explaining the importance
that the Biden administration and the US Congress place on America’s
relations with the Kurdish region.
“It is very important that the
countries in that neighborhood understand that anything that threatens
the KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] is a red line for the United
States,” Reeder affirmed.
There are “tens of thousands of
Kurdish-Americans living here in the United States, and you’ve got a
very charismatic and well-spoken leader, Bayan al-Rahman, here in
Washington, DC and, I believe, that Congress” and “the administration
strongly support the Kurds,” Reeder continued, “and the Kurds have
earned that respect for their bravery and for their loyalty.”
That
'red line' is questionable -- going back to when Henry Kissinger was
Secretary of State and plotting to betray the Kurds (see the
Congressional report, The Pike Papers).
