Letter to the Editor

Military support is serious issue

To the editor:The headline confused me: "Veterans need best care possible, and shoddy treatment by the Pentagon is inexcusable." This headline led an op-ed column by our Republican U.S. Sen. Kit Bond. It was certainly worth the read -- for all the wrong reasons. As a Veterans Day tribute it starts out admirably. Then wrong strategy in Iraq? Is Senator Bond sure of that? Hindsight is not always 20/20 when shrouded in revisionism, second-guessing and election politics. Bond is up for re-election in 2010. Now I get it. Much of the rest of the article, after the cheap shots, involves what use to be called Section 8 exemptions. Think Klinger. The personality disorder numbers he quotes are from the entire military, not just those in combat. Most of the how-to tomes on getting discharged early list claiming personality disorder near the top. This is a complicated issue, not shoddy treatment. Does Bond really want to be teamed up with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama in supporting the military? I'd think not. If running for re-election means becoming less of a Republican, color me undecided.

RANDY DUNN, Oak Ridge