War in Afghanistan disappears from campaign discourse
By Brian Montopoli
August 17, 2012
Two American troops were killed by an Afghan Local Police officer on Friday in the latest attack by a member of Afghan security forces on their supposed American and NATO allies. At least 39 coalition forces have now been killed in such "green-on-blue" attacks, among them 23 Americans
.
Meanwhile, the Afghan government appears to be rife with corruption and incompetence.
One of the latest distressing revelations involves the Afghan finance minister, Omar Zakhilwal, who has had hundreds of thousands of dollars deposited into his bank account - often in cash - while holding positions allowing him to influence winners and losers in the Afghan economy.
In March - after a shooting rampage by a U.S. soldier who allegedly killed 16 Afghan civilians and the burning of Korans on a U.S. military base that prompted violent protests - the Obama administration said it was sticking to its timetable for the U.S. and NATO to hand security control of the country over to the Afghans by the end of 2014.
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Friday, August 17, 2012
Cross-country run to help vets
Cross-country run to help vets, families of fallen nears finish line
By C.J. LIN
Stars and Stripes
Published: August 17, 2012
Albie Masland admits that he'd be lying if he said “Forrest Gump” didn't inspire him to run across the U.S.
But it was the thought of the challenges that military veterans face upon returning from war and readjusting to civilian life that finally got the 29-year-old from Carlisle, Pa. pounding nearly 2,900 miles of pavement for charity.
With two days and 30 miles left to go as of Thursday, Masland was nearing the end of his 154-day cross-country run — dubbed “Operation Amerithon” — for the Travis Manion Foundation, which helps veterans and the families of those killed in combat. The charity is named for a 26-year-old Marine who was killed by sniper fire in Iraq in April 2007.
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By C.J. LIN
Stars and Stripes
Published: August 17, 2012
Albie Masland admits that he'd be lying if he said “Forrest Gump” didn't inspire him to run across the U.S.
But it was the thought of the challenges that military veterans face upon returning from war and readjusting to civilian life that finally got the 29-year-old from Carlisle, Pa. pounding nearly 2,900 miles of pavement for charity.
With two days and 30 miles left to go as of Thursday, Masland was nearing the end of his 154-day cross-country run — dubbed “Operation Amerithon” — for the Travis Manion Foundation, which helps veterans and the families of those killed in combat. The charity is named for a 26-year-old Marine who was killed by sniper fire in Iraq in April 2007.
read more here
Helping female veterans with nowhere to turn
Helping female veterans with nowhere to turn
By Alanna Durkin
Medill News Service
Posted : Friday Aug 17, 2012
In August 2005, Army Lt. Jas Boothe had one thing on her mind: getting herself - and the son she was raising on her own - ready for her deployment to Iraq.
But a phone call and a doctor’s visit a few weeks later changed everything. Boothe, who was 28 at the time, learned her home had been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Soon after that, she was diagnosed with cancer in her head, neck and throat.
“So, now there is no deployment, there is no home and now I’m facing losing my military career, which is how I take care of my child,” she said in a recent interview.
She began to research housing options. The Veterans Affairs Department referred her to social services, where she was told she qualified for welfare and food stamps.
“There were a ton of services, housing facilities for men, but someone had forgotten about the women,” she said. “Our sacrifice was not equated to that of the males’ sacrifice, and that was shown in the level of services that we didn’t have.”
After 30 radiation treatments and two surgeries, the military cleared Boothe for duty. Now a captain in the Army National Guard, she was able to stay in the military, afford a home and support her son. But her experience taught her that there were likely other women veterans with nowhere to turn.
read more here
By Alanna Durkin
Medill News Service
Posted : Friday Aug 17, 2012
In August 2005, Army Lt. Jas Boothe had one thing on her mind: getting herself - and the son she was raising on her own - ready for her deployment to Iraq.
But a phone call and a doctor’s visit a few weeks later changed everything. Boothe, who was 28 at the time, learned her home had been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Soon after that, she was diagnosed with cancer in her head, neck and throat.
“So, now there is no deployment, there is no home and now I’m facing losing my military career, which is how I take care of my child,” she said in a recent interview.
She began to research housing options. The Veterans Affairs Department referred her to social services, where she was told she qualified for welfare and food stamps.
“There were a ton of services, housing facilities for men, but someone had forgotten about the women,” she said. “Our sacrifice was not equated to that of the males’ sacrifice, and that was shown in the level of services that we didn’t have.”
After 30 radiation treatments and two surgeries, the military cleared Boothe for duty. Now a captain in the Army National Guard, she was able to stay in the military, afford a home and support her son. But her experience taught her that there were likely other women veterans with nowhere to turn.
read more here
Donations Pour In Granting Oklahoma Vietnam Vet's Dying Wish
Donations Pour In Granting Oklahoma Vietnam Vet's Dying Wish And More
Posted: Aug 10, 2012
By Steve Shaw,
News 9
BRIDGEPORT, Oklahoma - A dying Vietnam veteran from Bridgeport will see his final wish come true.
Dennis Hall, 63, has terminal cancer and probably only months to live. He has never been to the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., and wants to go before he dies.
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Deceased WW2 veteran helps Vietnam vet get new home
Deceased WW2 veteran helps Vietnam vet get new home
Posted: Aug 17, 2012
By MYFOXATLANTA STAFF
ATLANTA
This week Habitat for Humanity is building a special home in Ackworth. Victor Alvarado, who will be the new owner of the home, is a disabled veteran. The home couldn't have happened without the generosity of the volunteers as well as a special person who donated the land.
Piece by piece, dozens of volunteers are putting up a home for Victor and Myriam Alvarado. The project is fulfilling the dreams of not one, but two veterans' families.
Col. Ashley Ivey served for 31 years. He was shot down during World War II, and after he retired he wanted to donate land to help build a home for a disabled vet. Unfortunately Col. Ivey died this year, but his family and the folks from Habitat for Humanity worked together to make his wish a reality.
"It's hard to stand here and not cry, because I know he'd be so thrilled," said Ivey's niece, Beth Hoeve.
Alvarado was injured stateside while serving in the US Air Force during Vietnam. He heard from his church that Habitat for Humanity wanted to build a home for a disabled vet, and he couldn't believe when he was chosen.
read more here
Posted: Aug 17, 2012
By MYFOXATLANTA STAFF
ATLANTA
This week Habitat for Humanity is building a special home in Ackworth. Victor Alvarado, who will be the new owner of the home, is a disabled veteran. The home couldn't have happened without the generosity of the volunteers as well as a special person who donated the land.
Piece by piece, dozens of volunteers are putting up a home for Victor and Myriam Alvarado. The project is fulfilling the dreams of not one, but two veterans' families.
Col. Ashley Ivey served for 31 years. He was shot down during World War II, and after he retired he wanted to donate land to help build a home for a disabled vet. Unfortunately Col. Ivey died this year, but his family and the folks from Habitat for Humanity worked together to make his wish a reality.
"It's hard to stand here and not cry, because I know he'd be so thrilled," said Ivey's niece, Beth Hoeve.
Alvarado was injured stateside while serving in the US Air Force during Vietnam. He heard from his church that Habitat for Humanity wanted to build a home for a disabled vet, and he couldn't believe when he was chosen.
read more here
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