Center for war-related brain injuries faces budget cut (of 50%)

[Barrett808]

Center for war-related brain injuries faces budget cut
By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY

Congress appears ready to slash funding for the research and treatment of brain injuries caused by bomb blasts, an injury that military scientists describe as a signature wound of the Iraq war.

House and Senate versions of the 2007 Defense appropriation bill contain $7 million for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center — half of what the center received last fiscal year.

Proponents of increased funding say they are shocked to see cuts in the treatment of bomb blast injuries in the midst of a war.

"I find it basically unpardonable that Congress is not going to provide funds to take care of our soldiers and sailors who put their lives on the line for their country," says Martin Foil, a member of the center's board of directors. "It blows my imagination."

(more)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-08-08-brain-center_x.htm

[Atman]

1. I've got half a mind to write a letter!

Sorry.

;)

[saigon68]

5. No problem they can Beg on the Street for Quarters

[me b zola]

21. Then they will pass more laws saying that you can't feed homeless people

It never occurs to them that the homeless are people, and many are vets.

[PA Democrat]

2. 50% funding cut!

How do these bastards sleep at night?

[mom cat]

8. They don't.

Instead they lie awake thinking of every evil thing they can do to make living on earth a living hell.

[PurityOfEssence]

18. They sleep like babies

Don't kid yourself; evil isn't insanity, it's just evil, that's all.

They're probably proud of themselves for reining in spending. Just keep cutting taxes on the rich and drying up the revenue, and Norquist and his cronies will finally be able to drown the government in that proverbial bath tub. Who cares who else drowns in the process; they obviously weren't "quality" people.

It's just pure ugliness to not stand by those injured in the service of the country.

[Monkeyman]

3. Yep I posted this one but it needs to keep being done

Kick

[unhappycamper]

4. I already sent that article to [e-mail] n/t

[Hekate]

15. Can you send it to Lou Dobbs too?

:-(

Hekate

[Joe Chi Minh]

6. It seems particularly cruel, in that many now in a shocking state

have been kept alive only by advanced modern medical methods, whereas they would have died at the time of Vietnam.

Or have I got it wrong? Would the veterans with severe brain injuries just be happy to have survived?

[Oak2004]

13. Most disbled people, including the severely disabled

prefer to be alive. Study after study has refuted the idea that disabled people see emselves as having a lower quality of life. Obviously there are individual exceptions, but then there are unfortunately plenty of people without physical or cognitive disabilities who woul rather be dead, too.

[Joe Chi Minh]

17. Yes, I do realise the point you make, and am glad that that is so.

It's why I used the word, "just" there.

The point I was having difficulty articulating, I think, was that there was a perversity and cruelty about half-doing the job. Keeping them alive, but withdrawing elements of their treatment that would have enhanced the already impaired quality of their natural lives. There are virtually no limits to the capacities of our spiritual nature.

[RamboLiberal]

7. K&R - this is kind of issue Dems need to run on

Repugs - Support the Troops my ass!

[Megahurtz]

9. Cut the funding and send the rest to Isreal!

:sarcasm:

:grr:

[KamaAina]

10. They dared to question the almighty wisdom of the Pentagon...

The center has clashed with the Pentagon in recent months over a program to identify troops who have suffered mild to moderate brain injuries in Iraq from mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs — the most common weapons used by insurgents.

Preliminary research by the center shows that about 10% of all troops in Iraq, and up to 20% of front line infantry troops, suffer concussions during combat tours. Many experience headaches, disturbed sleep, memory loss and behavior issues after coming home, the research shows.

The center urged the Pentagon to screen all troops returning from Iraq in order to treat symptoms and create a database of brain injury victims. Scientists say multiple concussions can cause permanent brain damage.

The Pentagon so far has declined to do the screening and argues that more research is needed.

Or, they could just have their congressional sock puppets cut the center's funding, so that no more research will be possible. :grr:

[Tanuki]

11. Meanwhile, Ted Stevens

managed to divert hundreds of millons of taxpayers' dollars to build a couple of "bridges to nowhere" in Alaska:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102001931.html



No end to the cynicism of the ruling junta: "Honestly, they would have loved to have funded it, but there were just so many priorities," says Jenny Manley, spokeswoman for the Senate Appropriations Committee. "They didn't have any flexibility in such a tight fiscal year."

[kainah]

12. they sometimes still have the ability

to take my breath away with some of their bold callousness.

[Hekate]

14. KnR. This needs to be out there.

I don't even have words for their evilness. I know my congresswoman has been fighting the good fight for veterans' health care -- and everyone's health care -- but she is so outnumbered.

O gods, if we can just take back the House and Senate this November...

Hekate

[w4rma]

16. Democrats should take this and run with it all the way to November and

beyond. Hammer this every time they have the slightest chance.

If this single issue was the entire Democratic campaign it would be a winning one.

[VegasWolf]

19. Bush has proved that the brain is an unnecessary organ. nt

[0007]

20. Touché