CNN reporting (yet again) on the story that just won’t quit. And rightfully so!
This time the Department of Veterans Affairs is taking notice of the health concerns caused by the Balad, Iraq “burn pit”:
The Department of Veterans Affairs says it will study the effects of toxic emissions from burning trash at military installations in Iraq and Afghanistan on veterans, even after the Department of Defense has concluded no long-term effects exist.
[...]
Shinseki said the Department of Veterans Affairs will study the problem as part of an effort to analyze effects of troops’ exposures in general and suggested it might even seek a parallel independent study.
“We are currently evaluating the need for an independent assessment by nongovernmental scientific experts to help us understand the health effects of various combat exposures,” Shinseki wrote.
Sources familiar with the plan said the VA is finalizing a deal with the government’s Institute of Medicine to conduct the study. The IOM did a similar investigation of Gulf War Syndrome and other effects from the first Iraq war.
The emissions, from what are known as burn pits, have been a concern for troops, especially those who served at Balad Air Force Base in Iraq. Many soldiers who went through Balad became used to “Iraqi crud,” as they dubbed the symptom of excessive coughing and black phlegm.
Soldiers complained of respiratory problems and skin infections, and in some cases believed they developed leukemia and tumors from the exposure.
The pits at Balad were at one point open and burning everything from plastics and food to medical waste, sometimes with jet fuel used as an accelerant. In later years, incinerators were installed at Balad, but other bases in Iraq and Afghanistan still use the pits without incinerators to burn garbage.
The military said last year that smoke from the Balad pit exposed troops to toxic emissions, including low levels of cancer-causing dioxins. However, its tests indicated there is no long-term danger, officials said.
The military says the “Iraqi crud” is not harmeful. The soldiers say otherwise. I have a feeling the VA will have the final word on it.
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But surprise! The military supports every commander in chief equally. Why? Because it’s our duty. Anyone who claims otherwise is an unpatriotic wing-nutty windbag.
Over in the world of the politically insane, a video is floating around their sad excuse for blogs.
I present to you exhibit #1 of a video splice showing ex-President Bush speaking to a group of Marines with a video of President Obama addressing a different group of Marines.
And if you read the analysis by Mudville, it’s easy to see they’re correct. Obama’s group of Marines are OBVIOUSLY standing at attention which means one thing… you don’t f**cking move. Period. Bush’s group of Marines were allowed full liberty of their emotions which is evident in the way their commander announced Bush’s arrival to the stage.
Not a fair comparison. Not a valid argumenet. DE-BUNKED!
“Oh, the names are really bad. I don’t even want to mention it, because there are names floating around and they’re bad,” Mrs. Obama said. “I think, Frank was one of them. Frank! Moose was another one of them. Moose. I said, well, what if the dog isn’t a moose?”
But I think an interesting point is made by concerned animal lovers that the general environment of “Obama-mania” will have a negative impact on the breeding of Portuguese Water Dogs to keep up with new demands for the pups. The choice could mean a spike in the dogs’ popularity – and that could mean a rise in shady breeders and fickle owners who don’t understand the dogs and eventually abandon them, owners of Portuguese water dogs say.
