Democratic Leaders List Military and Veterans Care Priorities

From AP:

Military: Urge the White House to convene a summit to discuss the U.S. future in Iraq. The objective is to make 2006 a significant transition year and press the Iraqi government to more quickly assume responsibility for the country's security. Conduct hearings on missteps on the war. One demand, that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld resign, was fulfilled on Wednesday.

Intelligence and foreign affairs: Increase attention to terrorist threats in Africa and Southeast Asia. Open direct talks with North Korea and Iran. More oversight of terrorism and government surveillance.

Homeland security: Enact Sept. 11 commission recommendations, including stronger oversight of intelligence agencies and privacy-civil liberties issues. Declassify intelligence agencies' budgets. Put a radio system in place by next year to let emergency responders from different agencies talk to each other. Boost security for rail and mass transit systems and chemical and nuclear plants.

Veterans' affairs: Increase oversight with detailed budget accounting. More money for veterans' health care, including additional mental health counseling for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Rumsfeld Resigns

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld resigns today as the Democrats win the House and Senate. From Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America executive director:

"This is welcome news for our troops and veterans who have been paying the price for Secretary Rumsfeld's failures," said Paul Rieckhoff, an Iraq War veteran and the executive director of IAVA. "The replacement of Donald Rumsfeld is one step down the very long road to correct the mistakes made in Iraq over the past three years."

For more information, please visit www.iava.org.

A significant day, with a wide range of emotion attached to it.

Diane Rehm Show: On Younger Veterans Issues

Give a listen to today's Diane Rehm Show for an important program:

Younger Veterans
Diane and her guests talk about how this era's veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan differ from past generations of veterans, and how the country can better meet their needs, from health care to employment to military benefits.

Guests
William A. Boettcher, past national commander of AMVETS and co-chair of the National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans

Rick Maze, Times News Service staff writer

Patrick Campbell, sergeant in the D.C. National Guard who served as a combat medic in Iraq

Shoshana Johnson, retired specialist from the U.S. Army and America's first black female prisoner of war (Iraq, 2003)

Lonnie Moore, president of the board of directors for the Wounded Warrior Project. He is medically retired as an Army captain.

Election Day

I haven't done any official endorsing of candidates, although I'm rooting for Fightin' Dems John Laesch [IL-14], Eric Massa [NY-29], and Don Auman [IL-16].

They ran some pretty incredible campaigns. Now it's up to us...

Vote!