Blog post

IAVA Daily Brief 09.18.09
Posted by Terrell Frazier on September 18

Here are some of today's top stories and happenings at IAVA.  Prefer to receive real-time updates about major stories and legislation that IAVA is tracking?  Follow us on Twitter @IAVAPressRoom.

MUST READS

1) Obama awards posthumous Medal of Honor to Afghanistan Veteran

President Barack Obama awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously Thursday to Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti at a private White House ceremony this afternoon.  The ceremony marked the President's first award of the nation’s highest military honor, and the sixth Medal of Honor awarded to an Iraq or Afghanistan veteran since September 11, 2001.  Monti’s parents Paul and Janet accepted the honor on his behalf. Watch the ceremony here.

2) Afghan Blast Raises New Doubts among European Leaders

A powerful suicide bomb that killed six Italian soldiers here on Thursday prompted Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy to declare that his nation had begun planning to “bring our young men home as soon as possible.” Senior elected officials in Germany and Britain have also expressed weariness with the mission as violence has increased and casualties have mounted. Italy currently has 3,100 troops in Afghanistan. 

3) From Combat to the Classroom

As more veterans return to school, drawn by a new GI Bill that offers more generous benefits than its predecessor, colleges and universities across the nation are launching efforts to ease the daunting social, psychological and logistical transition from combat to classroom.

AFGHANISTAN

Amid allegations of massive voter fraud the Obama administration now fears that the Afghan election may not produce a clear winner until next spring, which officials said could throw President Obama’s policies into flux by leaving Afghanistan without a credible leader for months. Such a long delay could deepen Mr. Obama’s troubles in Afghanistan, at a time of increased violence there and mounting skepticism in Washington about whether the United States should deploy more troops to try to stabilize the country.

IRAQ

Recently, CNN challenged iReporters to interview Iraq and Afghanistan veterans about his or her concerns. Four veterans under 35 share their biggest concerns and the challenges of returning to civilian life.

American Marines shot and wounded an Iraqi man in the former flashpoint city of Fallujah believing he was throwing a grenade at them, the U.S. military said Thursday — but local police and witnesses said the object was only the man’s slipper.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

Republican lawmakers turned up the pressure Thursday for more details on the war in Afghanistan, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates said “everybody should take a deep breath” and let the administration devise strategy at its own pace. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged that President Obama be allowed to take his time and the administration be allowed to develop a strategy at its own pace. Sen. Dick Lugar, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, complained that the administration declined invitations to speak at committee hearings this week about Afghanistan.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

An overhaul of the veterans disability compensation system remains stifled as lawmakers face conflicting pressure from Congress to make immediate necessary changes while others urge measured reform. On Thursday, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman Dainel Akaka (D-Hawaii) said, “We need to be deliberate as we work to develop solutions that will result in appropriate reform.” In contrast, North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, the ranking Republican on the committee, said the need for reform is too urgent to delay, saying “I am sure that I don’t want veterans 50 years from now to look back and ask why, in the face of overwhelming evidence that this system is outdated, we did nothing.”

Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee unveiled a bipartisan military homeownership bill Thursday with provisions aimed at helping people buy or sell a home in a down market. Committee aides said the bill, a collection of several tax-related initiatives for service members and their families, is on a fast track for consideration by the House of Representatives. It could pass the House in two weeks, aides said.

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

THE SENATE

The Senate is not in Session

SENATE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

There will be no roll call votes on Friday, September 18.

THE HOUSE of  REPRESENTATIVES

The House is not in Session

HOUSE FLOOR ACTIVITY of  INTEREST

No issues today

A wide-range of views, positions, and publications are represented in these articles. These views, positions and publications are not endorsed by nor do they necessarily represent the views of IAVA.