Thursday, June 28, 2012

Over 404 killed in Iraq this month as violence continues today

Violence continues today in Iraq with Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) reports 3 Taji car bombings have left at least two people dead and another fifteen injured.  AP notes those numbers increased to 5 dead and eighteen injured.  In addition, AFP notes a Baghdad car bombing has claimed 8 lives and left thirty injured, a Baquba bombing claimed 2 lives and left four people injured and a Ramadi car bombing left five people injured.  Reuters adds, "A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed one and wounded five in Abu Dsheer, a Shi’ite area in southern Baghdad, police said."  In addition, KUNA reports, "In Diyala Governorate southewest of Baghdad, unknown armed men killed four security elements at a checkpoint in Baqubah city."


Meanwhile it's hilarious to watch what is said to be an independent and professional media.  They must really get off on being called whores.  You sort of picture them all needing a lot of talking -- and dirty talk at that -- during sex.  How else to explain their nonsense of 'nearly 200' or 'almost 200' have died in Iraq so far this month as they all take turns placing their tongue on the scrotum of Nouri al-Maliki (on the unwashed scrotum of Nouri al-Maliki? Serena can probably clear that up).  Why in this world or any other would you ever use government figures when you know the government lies?  Because you're a really cheap whore?

Probably so.

But in the real world, over 404 people have died from violence in Iraq this month. Screen snap from Iraq Body Count this morning.

ibc


Please note, their count of 404 is through yesterday.

It's so strange to think back to a time when the press couldn't shut up about Iraq Body Count.  They wanted to take down the Lancet study, for example?  They cited the Iraq Body Count.  Now all this time later, it's still around but the press pretends not to notice.

The following community sites -- plus The Diane Rehm Show, Adam Kokesh, The World Can't Wait, CSPAN, Reporters Without Borders  and Antiwar.com -- updated last night and this morning:





In the US, Senator Patty Murray is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  Her office issued the following yesterday:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Contact: Murray Press Office
  (202) 224-2834

VETERANS: Spouse of Severely Wounded Veteran Testifies on VA’s Fertility Treatment
As veterans return home with catastrophic IED injuries, Murray bill reverses VA ban on critical fertility treatment; would help veterans and their spouses have children
Watch the testimony HERE.
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Wednesday, June 27, 2012, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, chaired a hearing to examine health and benefits legislation pending before the Committee. At the hearing, Tracy Keil, the spouse of a severely wounded OIF veteran discussed her family’s experience with VA’s fertility services. Veterans who have severe reproductive and urinary tract injuries and spinal cord injuries (SCI) often need highly specialized treatments and procedures like in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive. However, under current law, IVF is expressly excluded from fertility services that are provided by the VA to veterans or their spouses. This is a significant barrier for veterans with SCI and genital and urinary tract injuries and as a result they have to seek care in the private sector. Senator Murray’s Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2012 , which she introduced last week, would expand fertility treatment and care options for seriously wounded veterans, their spouses, and surrogates. More about the bill HERE.
Many of these veterans dream of one day starting a family. But with the injuries they’ve sustained on the battlefield that may not be possible without some extra help,” Senator Murray said during her opening statement. “While the Department of Defense and Tricare are now able to provide advanced fertility treatment to injured servicemembers, today VA can only provide limited treatment. VA’s services do not even begin to meet the needs of our most seriously injured veterans or their families. My bill will help make real the dream of starting a family by authorizing VA to provide advanced fertility treatment to severely wounded veterans.”
In addition, Senator Murray discussed her new servicemembers and veterans mental health legislation, the Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012, S. 3340. Vets First and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) testified regarding their support of the legislation, which would improve oversight and accountability of mental health services in DOD and VA, expand services for family members, and make other improvements. Six other Senators also appeared at the hearing in support of their legislation, including Senators Ayotte, Boxer, Franken, Heller, Wyden, and Portman.
Senator Murray’s opening statement:
“Welcome to today’s hearing to examine health and benefits legislation before this Committee.
“Like our hearing two weeks ago on economic opportunity and transition legislation, today’s agenda is ambitious and reflects important work by the members on both sides of the aisle.
“Briefly I will highlight two bills.
“The Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012 is sweeping legislation that improves how VA provides mental health care. I think it is fitting that we are here considering this legislation on National PTSD Awareness Day.
“Over the past year, this Committee has repeatedly examined the alarming rate of suicide and the mental health crisis in our military and veterans populations.
“We know our servicemembers and veterans have faced unprecedented challenges: multiple deployments; difficulty finding a job here at home; and isolation in their communities.
“Some have faced tough times reintegrating into family life, with loved ones trying to relate but not knowing how.
“These are the challenges our servicemembers and veterans know all too well.
“But even as they turn to us for help, we’re losing the battle. Time and time again, we’ve lost servicemembers and veterans to suicide.
“We are losing more servicemembers to suicide than we are to combat. Every 80 minutes a veteran takes his own life. On average this year, we have lost a servicemember to suicide once every day.
“But while the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have taken important steps towards addressing this crisis, we know more must be done.
“We know that any solution depends upon reducing wait times and improving access to mental health care; ensuring proper diagnosis; and achieving true coordination of care and information between the Departments.
“The Mental Health ACCESS Act would expand eligibility for VA mental health services to family members of veterans.
“It would require VA to offer peer support services at all medical centers and create opportunities to train more veterans to provide peer services.
“This bill will require VA to establish accurate and reliable measures for mental health services.
“This Committee has held multiple hearings on VA mental health care, and we heard repeatedly about the incredibly long wait times to get into care.
“It’s often only on the brink of crisis that a veteran seeks care. If they are told “sorry, we are too busy to help you,” we have lost the opportunity to help, and that is not acceptable.
“Without accurate measures, VA does not know the unmet needs. Without a credible staffing model, VA cannot deploy its personnel and resources effectively.
“The other bill I would like to mention today is S. 3313. The Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvement Act of 2012 builds upon previous laws to improve VA services for women veterans and veterans with families.
“My bill will create a child care pilot program for veterans seeking readjustment counseling at Vet Centers; and increase outreach to women veterans.
“We know that as more of our men and women return from Afghanistan, VA will be called upon to provide care for our most severely wounded veterans.
“After suffering life changing injuries on the battlefield, these veterans now face a future forever changed.
“Between 2003 and 2011, we know that more than 600 servicemembers experienced blast injuries that caused trauma to their reproductive or urinary tracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even more have experienced other injuries, such as spinal cord injuries.
“Many of these veterans dream of one day starting a family. But with the injuries they’ve sustained on the battlefield that may not be possible without some extra help.
“While the Department of Defense and Tricare are now able to provide advanced fertility treatment to injured servicemembers, today VA can only provide limited treatment. VA’s services do not even begin to meet the needs of our most seriously injured veterans or their families.
“My bill will help make real the dream of starting a family by authorizing VA to provide advanced fertility treatment to severely wounded veterans.
“By authorizing these treatments, we will bring VA services in line with what DOD and Tricare already provide. It’s the right thing to do and it’s what our veterans deserve.
“I look forward to hearing from our witnesses, and thank you all for joining us this morning.”


###
Kathryn Robertson
Specialty Media Coordinator
Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
448 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
202-224-2834


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