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Two years ago, Pentagon chief Donnie Rumsfeld said, “I think we ought to put together a team to see that the [military] services take care of their troops after they’re wounded, and when they return home and are discharged.”
Golly… what a concept. You get injured in war, you get help back home. Yes, I’m for that. Aren’t you? Why this took so long to start, I don’t know.
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Bear in mind that Rummy was talking about a special effort for severely wounded troops – these with amputations, brain trauma, and such. So, the brass set up MSIC, the Military Severely Injured Center. Headquartered just outside Washington, MSIC’s goal was both clear and proper: “Seamless support as long as it may take to ensure that injured service members and families achieve the highest level of functioning and quality of life.”
The center placed “counselor advocates” in 19 hospital across the country to work with the wounded vets on everything from financial needs to family problems, offering 24/7 support. Way to go – that’s what I call really supporting our troops!
But wait… what the blankety-blank is this? The Pentagon has just shut down MSIC! In January, dozens of these skilled special advocates were abruptly shown the door. Even in the few hospitals where the advocates were not laid off, they’re being reassigned and are not allowed to work with the severely wounded.
The Pentagon says that MSIC was a duplication of efforts, thus expendable. But, as the head of a troop support group says: “I’m just livid about this. [MSIC] did a fabulous job for these families… who are hanging by a thread… No other organization helped service members and their families like they did.”
This is Jim Hightower saying… Ironically, this despicable cut-back came only days before George W’s state-of-the-union speech, where he called on Americans to support our troops. We do George! Why don’t you?
Sources:
“Sources say case workers for wounded laid off,” www.armytimes.com, January 20, 2007.
“Military Severely Injured Center Pamphlet,” Department of Defense.