Johnathan L. Abbinett

 

“Vets Best Pick: John & Elizabeth Edwards”

 

 
     
 
     
 

As my regular readers know, I spend the vast majority of my time working as a Veteran’s Advocate and Activist monitoring Intelligence and Strategic Military policy and how we need to care for our Wounded Warriors (and our Military Families) when they come home – and I’m not partisan about my opinions and embrace the “Band of Brothers and Sisters and Families” made up of Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans (all of which we hold in common our sacred oath to the U.S. Constitution).

 

I’m strongly, and steadfastly, endorsing John & Elizabeth Edwards to be our President and First Lady of the United States of America, based on issue facts – and here’s why:

 

War, Peace & Prosperity:  John Edwards knows there is no such thing as a good war and the distinct differences between a Just War and an Unjust War as postulated by our Founders.  There must be a clear and present danger to America based on an objective N.I.E. (National Intelligence Estimate) that has not been politically prostituted for profit – never again will an N.I.E. be “cherry picked” and subjectively spun with misinformation to the Congress and the American people as Bush and Cheney did to preemptively invade Iraq.  Secondly, all political and diplomatic avenues of resolution must be exhausted, and an estimate of what a war will cost and a victory will provide must be reasoned – in short, it must be a war worth fighting.  Finally, we then only go to war as a last resort – but, do so with the overwhelming force needed to win quickly, force the diplomats and politicians back to the negotiating table, re-establish the peace and restore prosperity to all involved.  Make no mistake – John fully understands that we must hunt down, capture or kill every Al Qaeda Terrorist in Afghanistan (and elsewhere) – that’s a Just War cause, but, if and when America ever has to go into another war under an Edwards Administration we will do so, but, America foreign policy will return to our Founder’s wisdom of talking to all nations, including our enemies to engage in vigorous diplomacy and only, as an absolute last resort enter Just Wars.

 

Iraq: John demonstrated integrity, humility and candor by being the only candidate that has admitted he made a big mistake by voting to give Bush the authority to invade Iraq and Edwards sincerely regrets that error – I want a President that learns from their mistakes and is not afraid to take full responsibility and speak honestly and candidly to the American people.  Edwards also has the best plan to quickly end combat operations, declare victory for our troops and responsibly re-deploy them out of Iraq in a timely manner – that is exactly what needs to happen!  This will force the Iraqi’s to stand up and take on the destiny of their country (while providing the necessary time for the transfer of operational missions in a responsible manner).  We can not risk bankrupting America by occupying Iraq.  Our troops have completed all of their missions, they’ve disposed of a dictator, provided the best training for the Iraqi’s military and police, and more than an adequate window of time for political reconciliation for Iraq – it’s time our troops come home to a hero’s welcome!  We can not “cut & run” and shouldn’t – but, it is time to cut the umbilical cord on Iraq!  The 911 Terrorists still have not been brought to justice – and John Edwards is committed to completing that just and important mission.

 

Disabled Vets & Military Families:  John & Elizabeth fully understand the needs of our Disabled Veterans & Military Families – no other candidate has invested the time and effort to understand the challenges we face.  From ensuring our military service members get a thorough physical and psychological assessment, a fair disability rating, and leave the military with a complete set of service records to ensure a seamless transition into the Veterans Administration Healthcare System – to providing full, mandatory, perpetual funding for the V.A. – to ensuring care is provided to our Disabled Veterans returning to rural homesteads by providing funding and authorization for them to get their care on a contract basis through civilian healthcare providers (and V.A. paying the bills in full) – to  expanding the Vet Center program into “Super Vet Centers” (and shifting the oversight for this critical program to the local area VA psychiatric leaders) in order to meet the needs of the many PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) Disabled Vets as well as expanding staff for the important Family Counseling services needed to help cope with the long, challenging transition of our Wounded Warriors back into civilian society – John and Elizabeth believe in fulfilling the sacred contract America to care for those who have borne the battle, and their spouses and children and ending the national shame of America’s 200,000 Homeless Veterans and how our Disabled Vets have been short-changed, decade after decade, over 75 years.

Elizabeth will make the needs of our Military Families her #1 issue as First Lady!

 

Healthcare:  Likewise, John & Elizabeth Edwards believe every American, regardless of income, should have equal access to the quality and quantity of healthcare they and their families need.  No one should struggle through life without having annual physical exams (to include dental and optical care) and a personal healthcare plan that common folks can understand to adjust their diet, exercise, life-style to prevent illness and maintain heath – and all follow-up specialty care for their particular healthcare needs.  This is as it should be for everyone.  No mother great with child should have to do without the pre-natal care to ensure her pregnancy and birth is healthy, no child should have to suffer silently in school because they don’t have the glasses they need to see a teacher’s notes on a blackboard.  None of our elderly should have to decide between paying their bills, or, not buying groceries, in order to pay for prescription drugs – or, cutting their medications in half and skipping taking their medications, because they simply can not afford the full dosages doctors deem appropriate.  John Edwards knows that we can not negotiate power away from the monster insurance, healthcare and pharmaceutical corporations – we, the people led by a compassionate and passionate President must demand that a fair system be provided to all Americans – and that can happen if we all fight the good fight!

 

John knows there are many good leaders who take their responsibility as strong corporate citizens seriously – and he will call them to rise to the challenge of doing the right thing!  America can create a new eclectic model by doing what we always do – take the best of the best ideas from the V.A. and other countries that are using the very best modalities to provide healthcare research & development, education, illness and disease prevention, and comprehensive care for all Americans in a care and cost conscious approach – we can do this, we should do this, we must do this – and Edwards will make it happen!

 

With respectful regard to Bill & Hillary Clinton, who gave us some of their best years and made America greater – though they tried, they did not solve our healthcare crises, benefit parity was not achieved for our Reserve and Guard, the V.A. did not get fully funded and our Homeless Veteran’s population continued to grow as more and more Americans slipped into poverty and despair.  I do respect the Clinton’s, but there’s a time to move on and to affect real, enduring change – even the best leaders, like coaches, must be changed from time to time.

 

2008: Imagine with me dear readers what can be with John & Elizabeth Edwards in the White House as our next President and 1st Lady – a young, dynamic couple that know what it is to work out of poverty, suffer the loss of a child, fight disease and persevere! 

 

Now, try to imagine another even younger couple, Barack and Michelle Obama serving as our next Vice-President and 2nd Lady? 

 

The Edwards & Obama’s could easily get re-elected to a second term and who could doubt Obama’s experience and readiness after serving two terms as our Vice-President?  No one!  Democrats could hold the high ground of the White House for 16 years if we work together! 

 

Next, imagine Bill Richardson as our next Secretary of State – a really good man that has got loads of international experience in negotiations and conflict resolution.  Imagine our General Wes Clark as the next Secretary of Defense, (absolutely one of the most brilliant military minds America has ever produced), returning the Department of Defense back around to our Founders Just War roots as peace-makers and peace-keepers!  Imagine Joe Biden, or Dick Durbin as our next Senate Majority Leader with a strong Democratic majority ensuring that the purposes of the people and policies of our President our legislated responsibly in a timely and efficient manner through the U.S. Congress? 

 

Imagine the possibilities?  Saturday, January 19th, 2007 is the day that Nevadans, like you and me will get a chance to not just cast a vote (like we might) for our favorite on some game show, but, actually make history as never before – this time around let’s all of us do our most serious, objective, critical, long-term thinking and caucus for the candidate we honestly believe to be the best for ourselves, our communities and our country – for the Veteran’s (especially our Disabled Vets) and Military Families, clearly, in my heart and mind that is John & Elizabeth Edwards!

 

I invite you, no, I implore all of you, to do your civic duty – make this important decision about which candidate you support, and start volunteering over this next week to help in making phone calls, talking to your family, friends and walking & talking throughout your neighborhood precincts so we have the most successful caucus possible and make Nevada shine – it’s just the right thing to do!

 

  
     
 

Johnathan L. Abbinett is a U.S. Army, 22 year, Honorably Discharged, Combat Disabled Veteran that served on Active Duty, in the Individual Ready Reserves, the National Guard, Army Reserves and the Active Guard / Reserve (every component of the U. S. Army).  He was first trained as a Heavy Weapons / Anti-Tank Gunner and served with the First Cavalry Division (“The First Team”), Task Force Garry Owen, during the Spring Offensive of 1972 in the (former) Republic of Vietnam.  He used his G.I. Bill education to double-major in World Religions & Philosophy with minor emphasis on Interpersonal and Mass Communications.  He re-entered military service in the National Guard briefly and was quickly recruited to transfer to the Army Reserves.  He was selected, as a Junior NCO, to serve his staff time at the ARCOM (Army Reserve Command) level in the DCST/DCSOI (Deputy Chief of Staff offices for Training and Operations, Intelligence and Security) where he assisted in conducting analysis and inspection of units preparedness – and he competed on the USAR Marksmanship Team.

Later in his military career he re-trained and became a Combat Trauma Medical NCO and served as an Ambulance Platoon Sergeant (and Company Training and Operations NCO), then was selected to serve with the elite USAR 26th Infantry (Pathfinder/Airborne) Platoon a SOCOM (Special Operations Command) unit as their Platoon Medic.  During this time he competed and won the coveted NCO of the Year Award.

 

Johnathan was called back to voluntary duty, for another 3 year stint, to serve in the 82nd Division as a Medical Detachment Field First Sergeant during the first Persian Gulf War (Operations Desert Shield / Storm and Provide Comfort).

 

He then returned to the Army Reserve as a Medical Group Operations NCO until he was selected to serve as a Medical Observer/Controller (OC) for the 75th Division (Training).

The wear and tear of soldiering, old wounds and a training accident ended his military career short of the 30 year goal he had set for himself – he left the Army in 1998.  That’s when he began his battle for benefits from the Veteran’ Administration and learned of the dreaded Veteran’s Benefit Administration (VBA) and the imbedded bureaucracy of the C & P (Claims & Processing) administrative obstacle course (which many of our Disabled Veterans have loathing labeled “Crimes in Progress”).

 

It took nearly three years, the loss of his marriage, the exhausting of all his savings and assets, becoming disenfranchised from his daughter, becoming a Homeless Vet – and a premature heart-attack (caused by the V.A. mismanaging his case erroneously prescribing two deadly contradicted medications simultaneously) that resulted in an emergency quadruple heart by-pass operation (thankfully performed by local civilian doctors) before his V.A. claim and rating was finally approved.  Upon rehabilitating (at home on his own), Johnathan became politically active in Nevada helping Disabled and Homeless Veterans and in founding the Nevada Democratic Veterans & Military Families Corps Caucus, first at the Clark County, then, at the Nevada State level.  His column, “A Veteran’s Voice” is a regular monthly feature in “The Nevada Military Veteran’s Reporter” (a specialty newspaper that goes out, state-wide, to all V.A. Clinics, National Veteran’s Organizations and local public libraries) – and he also writes on-line regularly at www.vegascommunityonline.com – he can be reached at jlabbinett@cox.net for further commentary on Military matters and especially V.A. and Disabled Vets Issues.

      Copyright © Johnathan Abbinett and used with permission.

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