Despite repeated public controversies
over the inability of thousands of Gulf War veterans to get even consultations
or examinations by the VA soon after the first part of the wars began 23 years
ago, little progress was made, causing the large VA backlogs today.
Some congressional officials, like
former Connecticut U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, have indeed worked constantly
to help these unhealthy veterans, but their efforts never succeeded in creating
an effective overall military-health system for seriously harmed war veterans.
"Chairman Binns' letter is an important
effort to try to highlight yet one more area where VA is badly broken," said Anthony Hardie, a member of the board of directors for
Veterans for Common Sense.
He continued: "The VA has failed veterans of the 1991 Gulf War in so many ways, including the lies and manipulation Binns writes about in his letter. As a (Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses) member from 2006 to 2013, I experienced much of what he writes about firsthand - VA staff members' lies and obfuscation. While it hurt the committee and its efforts, who it really hurts is ill Gulf War veterans counting on this committee and VA to make a difference in their health and lives."
In part because of their own busyness with the VA scandal, spokespersons for the President, VA leaders, and Congress said they did not yet have the time to respond to Binns' allegations. Last week, they were all supplied via emails from this reporter with Binns' critical letter, dated June 3. Those contacts were reawakened Monday without results.
(Article changed on June 10, 2014 at 10:19)
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