The man responsible for thousands of U.S. deaths, the destruction of his home country and much of the economic collapse of the past ten years is finally dead.  Many newly discharged soldiers signed up to “get” the man who caused so much damage, but reports over the years stated that the U.S. had at least a handful of opportunities to kill or capture Osama bin Laden but failed to do so.

President Obama reportedly gave the CIA directions immediately upon taking office that he wanted the terrorist found, then captured or killed.  The administration played the raid extremely close to the chest, not informing any other world leader of the pending raid and even keeping it secret in the U.S. beyond a tight knit group of key advisors.

The final raid unfolded on May Day with top advisors gathering in anticipation of the raid to review the final plan. Rather than hiding in a remote cave,  Bin Laden apparently resided in luxury in a heavily guarded mansion in Abbottabad, Pakistan.  U.S. Special Forces quietly surrounded the estate and waited for orders to strike.  Reports indicate that their mission was to kill, not capture, the leader.  The Navy Seals stormed the compound and engaged in a 40-minute battle that left the founder of Al Quaida and his son, two couriers and a woman dead, according to various international media.  Another woman was injured, but no U.S. casualties were reported. A downed helicopter was destroyed by U.S. Troops for “security reasons.”  

Around 3:50 Eastern Time the president was informed that they thought they had finally gotten Bin Laden.  By 7 p.m., the president was told that it was a high probability that the dead man was, indeed, the terrorist leader.  Just before 11 p.m. the president announced with certainty that bin Laden was found and killed in the raid.  Crowds almost immediately gathered on the White House green to sing, wave flags and commune during an emotional celebration.

The administration found the leader by tracking a trusted courier to his home.  The mansion was highly unusual with no internet or phone, but with high walls topped by barbed wire fencing.  As the CIA and president became more confident that this luxury hideaway was, indeed, bin Laden’s residence, plans were put into place to go inside.  The go ahead happened on April 29.

In a weird twist, the raid was live-tweeted by a nearby resident who saw the whole event but didn’t realize its implications.  Twitter soon became the major source of news of the event for people around the world according to a mashable poll.  Those who wanted more detailed news and to participate in the discussion quickly moved to Facebook where Osama bin Laden is Dead garnered 150,000 “like”s within hours.  Crowds quickly gathered at Ground Zero and Times Square in New York City and in Washington D.C. to celebrate in a scene that was reminiscent of that at the end of World War II.  Participants spontaneously broke out in song, cheers and flag waving in what may be the only real victory lap possible for a War on Terror that leaders say may last decades longer.

In an eerie twist of fate, bin Laden’s death was announced on the same day of the year as the death of Adolph Hitler, May 1.  The body was buried at sea to keep within Islamic tradition of a quick burial and because, officials said, finding a country that would take the body would have been “difficult.”

(Via the Time, Guardian, Yahoo, Mashable, CNN, BBC and the National Journal)

There is a small but steady crowd in the local bar on Sunday nights.  About twenty people sat in clusters of no more than four.  All of a sudden the bartender says, “Osama Bin Laden is dead,” and grabs a remote turning on the news.  The bar and the music fell silent and the voice of Brian Williams filled the room.  When he said, “Osama Bin Laden has been killed,” the crowd erupted into a cheer.  After the President’s speech, the TVs go back to sports and music videos, but the conversation doesn’t.
 
After a long intelligence operation, the United States had actionable intelligence on the location of Osama Bin Laden at a mansion in Abbottabad, Pakistan.  While no official statement has been made about who actually took down the terrorist leader, the media has spread speculation that it was an operation conducted by the Joint Services Operation Command (JSOC).  Other news outlets report that Navy SEALS played a role as well, which doesn’t discount the JSOC as it is typically comprised of the best of all branches of the military, SEALS included.
 
The President said that the operation stemmed from a tip they received last August about the location of Bin Laden.  After months of observation and verification, the President gave the order to carry out the operation last week.  The team descended upon the mansion in Pakistan where Bin Laden was hiding out with members of his family.  While there is no clear indication that the team was prepared to take Bin Laden alive, the terrorist leader took no chances.  There was a firefight that lasted about 40 minutes during which three men were killed – reportedly protecting Bin Laden – and one woman was killed and two injured – who were reportedly being used as human shields.  Ultimately, Osama Bin Laden was brought down by a bullet in his head, according to a congressional source reported via CNN.
 
In the moments before President Obama’s speech, Andrea Mitchell on NBC speculated on how this was a great political win for the 2012 Obama campaign.  In the moments after the speech the clientele of the local bar in Pittsburgh began to accuse the President of “wasting no time in taking credit for this.”  Then the bartender said that he heard that the rules of engagement “over there [Author’s note: I assume he means Iraq or Afghanistan although he never specified] are that somebody has to kill like two soldiers before their allowed to fire back and then if the guy throws down his weapon or whatever, and they shoot him anyway they are war criminals.”  While I admit I cannot quote the current ROE in Afghanistan, I am certain the bartender is wrong. 
 
The reaction to the death of Bin Laden is arguably mixed.  Crowds formed at the White House, Ground Zero, and outside of George W. Bush’s home in Texas to show support for the move.  Others, talk about how this changes nothing and speculate about the next global boogeyman and what this means to the troops still stationed overseas.  And from certain points of view, they are both right, in spirit if not in fact.  Bin Laden was a bad guy and the world is certainly better off without him.  However, his death does not mean that the larger problem of terrorism is any less of a threat.  It is all in how one chooses to look at it.  Yet, just because one chooses to take a moment to share in the national catharsis does not mean that those other challenges are forgotten.  I, for one, am going to take a moment to enjoy the victory.

Albeit gradual at first, the plan’s implementation is starting almost immediately.  On Sunday, March 8, 2009, the U.S. military announced that 12,000 troops would be exiting Iraq in September 2009, leaving the majority of troops to exit at a later time.  Currently, there are 135,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.  

With the certain homecoming surge of the U.S. Military, VA mortgages are likely to see a dramatic increase at the same time. The VA Home Loans Guaranty Program started in 1944 in order to provide returning war veterans with financing for homes — the original thought behind the Program being that when soldiers are away at war, they miss socioeconomic opportunities that can help establish enough credit to buy a home.  Today’s VA Loans accomplish the original objectives and are available to most military personnel whether they fulfill their service required for eligibility during war or peacetime.  Of course, veterans’ mortgages will help returning Iraq War veterans in terms of homeownership. 

Considering the current economy, some U.S. Troops may be in for a shock upon their return from war.  Many were deployed during the real estate boom.  Since 2003 when the war in Iraq began, the U.S. economy has taken a dive, and mortgage interest rates dropped to historic lows at last quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009. Troops may be coming home to the best time in decades to use their VA Loan entitlements. 

Existing homeowners may decide now is an opportune time to refinance with a VA Loan. Others may want to purchase a home, using the VA Home Loan Program.  Either way, zero down, 100% refinancing, no private mortgage insurance and no prepayment penalties, make the VA mortgage program one of the most flexible our there. Those with military affiliation who are interested home refinance or purchase should explore the advantages of the VA Loan Program.

As unbelievable as it may seem, there are returning troops that may not know about the VA Home Loan Program.  A recent VA report on military home loans revealed that of the nearly 24 million U.S. military affiliated, less than 10% had used their VA loan entitlements.  Of the U.S. veterans asked, 20% had no idea that they even had VA Loan entitlements.

Historically, every major U.S. war and conflict has resulted in an increased number of veterans who qualify for VA Loan entitlements.  The Iraq War should have similar results.  Troops returning from the war in Iraq should contact a VA Mortgage Specialist to find out about their VA Loan entitlements and to refinance or purchase a home.

Some of the issues that Obama has tackled are:

• Benefits Disparities – The United States has a large population of aging veterans. In light of this troubling reality, Obama has tried to make things better in this area by displaying efforts to uncover the reasons for this disparity and correct it. Because of his commitment and dedication to improve things, VA has increased the number of claims reviewers in the Chicago office, providing for a faster processing of claims. The VA has also increased training to ensure more accurate and consistent decisions are made on these claims. Obama has worked with Senator Durbin to require the VA to provide veterans in six states, including Illinois, with notification of their rights to appeal any benefit decisions. Because of these appeals, Illinois veterans are starting to see larger benefit checks. GO OBAMA!
• Greater Funding for Veterans Health Care - As early as February 2005, Obama warned of a shortfall in the VA budget. Four months later, the VA reported that in fact it had more than a $1 billion shortfall. Obama cosponsored a bill that led to a $1.5 billion increase in veterans’ medical care. During the debate on the Fiscal Year 2007 budget, Obama created actions that would have provided additional funding increases for veterans.  In January 2007, Senator Obama reintroduced the Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act to improve the VA’s planning process to avoid budget shortfalls in the future. The bill requires the VA and the Department of Defense to work together and share data so that we know precisely how many troops will be returning home and entering the VA system. Obama and Biden will improve the quality of health care for veterans, rebuild the VA’s broken benefits system, and combat homelessness among veterans. They will:

1. Ensure a Seamless Transition: Obama and Biden demand that the military and the VA coordinate to provide a flawless transition from active duty to civilian life.
2. Fully Fund VA Medical Care: Fully fund the VA so it has all the resources it needs to serve the veterans who need it, when they need it. Obama promises to create an excellent VA Planning Division to avoid future budget shortfalls.
3. Fix the Benefits Bureaucracy: Obama plans to hire additional claims workers, and improve training and accountability so that VA benefit decisions are rated fairly and consistently. Transform the paper benefit claims process to an electronic one to reduce errors and improve timeliness.

• Homeless Veterans - Every year, 400,000 veterans across the country, spend some time living on the streets. Obama has been a leader in fighting homelessness among veterans. He considers this an important issue that needs to be brought to the attention of political officials and important changes need to be made to help homeless veterans.  He authored the Sheltering All Veterans Everywhere Act (SAVE Act) to strengthen and expand federal homeless veteran programs that serve over 100,000 homeless veterans annually. During the debate on the Fiscal Year 2007 budget, Obama passed an amendment to increase funding for homeless veterans programs by $40 million. These funds would benefit programs that provide food, clothing, mental health and substance abuse counseling, and employment and housing assistance to homeless veterans.   Working with Senators Akaka and Craig, Obama passed legislation in December 2006 to provide comprehensive services and affordable housing options to veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Housing and Urban Development and nonprofit organizations. This legislation was signed into law and is modeled on parts of the SAVE Act and the Homes for Heroes Act, action that Obama had previously authored.
• Food for Recovering Soldiers – Senator Obama introduced an amendment that became law providing food services to wounded veterans receiving physical therapy or rehabilitation services at military hospitals. Previously, service members receiving physical therapy or rehabilitation services in a medical hospital for more than 90 days were required to pay for their meals.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - Obama fought a VA proposal that would have required a reexamination of all Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) cases in which full benefits were granted. He and Senator Durbin passed an amendment that became law preventing the VA from conducting a review of cases, without first providing Congress with a complete report regarding the implementation of such review. In November 2005, the VA announced that it was abandoning its planned review.   Obama passed an amendment to ensure that all service members returning from Iraq are properly screened for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). TBI is being called the signature injury of the Iraq war. The blast from improvised explosive devices can jar the brain, causing bruising or permanent damage. Concussions can have huge health effects including slowed thinking, headaches, memory loss, sleep disturbance, attention and concentration deficits, and irritability. Obama and Biden will improve mental health treatment for troops and veterans suffering from combat-related psychological injuries. They will:

1.     Improve Mental Health Treatment: Recruit more health professionals, improve screening, offer more support to families and make PTSD benefits claims fairer.

2.     Improve Care for Traumatic Brain Injury: Establish standards of care for Traumatic Brain Injury, the signature injury of the Iraq war.

3.     Expand Vet Centers: Expand and strengthen Vet Centers to provide more counseling for vets and their families.

• Easing the Transition to the VA – Obama passed an amendment that became law requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to report to Congress on the delayed development of an electronic medical records system compatible with the VA’s electronic medical records system. DOD’s delay in developing such a system has created obstacles for service members transitioning into the VA health care system. Part of the Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act, which Obama reintroduced in January 2007, would help veterans transition from the DOD health system to the VA system by extending the window in which new veterans can get mental health care from two years to five years. The Lane Evans bill also would improve transition services for members of the National Guard and Reserves.

Plans For 2009

We have seen as Senator of Illinois Obama has gone above and beyond to help our Veterans.  As President Barack Obama and future Vice President Joe Biden plan to create a 21st Century Department of Veterans’ Affairs that provides the care and benefits our nation’s veterans deserve. They have begun to create a department for VA that will:

1. Allow All Veterans Back into the VA: Reverse the 2003 ban on enrolling modest-income veterans, which has denied care to a million veterans.
2. Strengthen VA Care: Make the VA a leader of national health care reform so that veterans get the best care possible. Improve care for polytrauma vision impairment, prosthetics, spinal cord injury, aging, and women’s health.
3. Combat Homelessness among Our Nation’s Veterans: Establish a national “zero tolerance” policy for veterans falling into homelessness by expanding proven programs and launching innovative services to prevent veterans from falling into homelessness.
4. Fight Employment Discrimination: Crack down on employers who commit job discrimination against guardsmen and reservists.

Obama realizes that Veterans play an important role in the United States of America.  They fought for our freedom, they risk and many gave their lives so we can live in a land of liberty and their love for our country is far above the norm.  Obama realizes this and this is why he continues to fight for the rights of Veterans.  I am not a fortuneteller but I definitely see a bright future for our veteran heroes.

 Obama has been visiting countries, veteran’s hospitals, talking to friends and families of military soldiers.  He has also been viewing the financial destruction that this war has put on our country. 

 Our country is in serious debt because of the outrageous cost of the war, prices have gone up, people are buying less, and people are losing jobs left and right.

 There are no winners in this war.  Our soldiers are coming home to a country in a serious recession.  How are they going to get a good job when they leave the military if people are losing jobs left and right?  How are they going to support themselves and their families?

Obama realizes all these serious issues and this is why he has been a fierce critic of the war in Iraq.  Obama has not changed his view since he began campaigning.  His views have remained the same.  He believes this war has done nothing good for the country.   He believes our soldiers need to come home and this war has to end.

The majority of the country agrees and supports Obama view on war.  Almost everyone agrees that this war has not only brought pain and despair to the soldiers and their families, but it has hurt the entire nation.  The nations capital needs to wake up and do something immediately because are nation is going down hill.  We are borrowing money from other countries to support this war

 Obama had said in one of his speeches, ”Let me be clear: I will let no one question my love of this country.” He loves our country; he just does not love what this war is doing to the country and to our soldiers.  No one is winning this war.  This country is not benefiting from this war in any way, shape or form.

 Statistics show that veterans favor McCain over Obama 56 to 34 percent, according to a nationwide Gallup poll.  Therefore, Obama had been trying to explain his deep love for our country and the brave soldiers who risk their lives each day to protect this country.  He is trying to make Veterans see the war from the whole picture.   

 In an effort to bridge the gap and make veterans understand and agree with his view, he has been trying to explain the importance of unity. The country needs to bond together and make the appropriate decisions that will improve and help the country as a whole not just to benefit a few.

 Obama has also been quoted saying, ”You all served together, fought together, and bled together under the same proud flag. You did not serve a red America or a blue America — you served the United States of America.”

 Our country needs to work together to make the right decision that will help this country rise above all once again.

 Obama’s also has quoted, ”I have never suggested or never will that Sen. McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition,” Obama said. “I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America‘s national interest. Now, it is time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same.”

 The GOP criticized Obama, a member of the veteran’s services committee, for voting against $120 billion for the war last year and for exaggerating his role in extending health benefits for wounded veterans.

Mike Musgrove, a 58-year-old Vietnam War veteran from Nevada, praised Obama for promising to make sure veterans receive adequate health care.

”He hasn’t been a senator all that long so he doesn’t have a long track record on veterans issues, we need to give him a chance.

 As a former naval aviator and longtime VFW member, McCain had a natural affinity with the audience. Most of the seniors at the convention were closer in age to McCain, who will turn 72 later this month, than to Obama, who just turned 47.

 Obama has said, the Iraqis to take responsibility for their political future and for the U.S. to ”finish” the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He blamed the Bush administration for failing to head off the military conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Obama has many good ideas to help this country.  If we give him a chance to become leader of this nation, you will see that he will help this country function well, and the strength, reputation and financial wealth will rise above all.