Speaking the Truth David Lord - PVNN     Gen. George Casey, the U.S. commander in Iraq, answers a question during a press conference in Baghdad. There are no guarantees of overall success or quick results in the new U.S.-Iraqi security drive in Baghdad, Gen. Casey said on Monday. (AP/Khalid Mohammed) I add to the general dismay felt by American Citizens at the United States of America's Governmental Iraq policy. I have always wondered at the stated prize (a democratic government and free Iraqi people) from the Bush Presidential group. After all the blood and suffering of our troops, how can a man that represents the so called "free people of America" ignore their voted mandate to stop the war and funding of it by sending more troops? As we spend $250,000 dollars per minute - yes, I said per minute! - it is our own destruction of our free Nation by intentional bankruptcy. As we dig and deepen this slimy money eating pit, we as a Nation (at the direction of President Bush) have no way of climbing out. The new day's light is lost from these great depths we continue to dig. I am just learning of evidence that the new U.S. Government sponsored trade policy giving the U.S. Oil Industry contract rights to develop and repair the oil fields in Iraq. These contract gifts could be the real reason we are there. When the President states that, "we must increase the participation of the private sector bringing Iraq to the independence promised," it may in fact be nothing more than the rich getting richer off the oil. You and I will always know when we lost America to greed. The young bragging Texas oil man had his Daddy's attempted assassin finally hanged, and now all he has left to do is get his oil buddies a piece of the oil action before leaving office. I am a proven Military Patriot of another misguided war, I have bled for my Nation. I will write the truth as I see it even in a time of war. So, never label me left or right. I am neither, I am a Patriot willing to risk speaking the truth for you. DISABLED VETERANS TAX TERMINATION ACT H.R. 303 would eliminate the 10-year phase-in period for retirees with a disability rating of 50%-90% and extend concurrent retirement and disability payments' (CRDP) eligibility to retirees rated less than 50%. H.R. 89 would extend eligibility for combat-related special compensation (CRSC) to chapter 61 (disability) retirees with fewer than 20 years of service. Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Marshall has introduced H.R. 333, a proposal called the "Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act," which is the most comprehensive concurrent receipt legislation ever introduced. Marshall's all-encompassing bill includes the elements of H.R. 303 and H.R. 89, and would also open CRDP to chapter 61 retirees. There have been thousands of men and women wounded and forced out of the military before they ever had a chance to give twenty years of service. This bill would allow those of us that are retired from military service with less than twenty years to collect our small military retirement checks instead of forfeiting them because we receive a check from the V.A. You, as a civilian, have never been denied compensation for a work-related injury, but those that serve you in the military are, and your support for this bill is mandatory if you have any respect for the Veterans that serve you. Remember freedom is never FREE. Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL), the Ranking Democratic Member on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and long-time advocate for veterans disabled by Agent Orange and other toxic exposures, announced that the Department of Defense (Defense) has developed guidelines for a special pay program. "All military retirees who believe they qualify for the benefit should submit an application to their military department," said Evans. If living in the Puerto Vallarta area, you can submit your application to david.lord@yahoo.com In order to qualify for the special pay program, military retirees must have at least 20 years of military service and have a combat-related disability that is either at least 60% disabling or a combat-related disability for which a Purple Heart was awarded and rated at least 10% disabling. The disability rating is determined by either the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or a Military Department. According to the special pay guidlines found on the Department of Defense's website http://www.dod.mil/prhome/crsc.html, "disabilities rated by the VA on the basis of exposure to radiation, mustard gas or lewisite, Agent Orange, and those disabilities associated with Persian Gulf service that are presumed by the VA to be service-connected shall be presumed by the Military Department to be combat-related." David Lord served in Vietnam as combat Marine for 1st Battalion 26th Marines, during which time he was severely wounded. He received the Purple Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation for his actions during the war in Vietnam. In Mexico, David now represents all veterans south of the U.S. border all the way to Panama, before the V.A. and the Board of Veterans Appeals. David Lord provides service to veterans at no fee. Veterans are welcome to drop in and discuss claims/benefits to which they are entitled by law at his office located at Bayside Properties, 160 Francisca Rodriguez, tel.: 223-4424, call him at home 299-5367, on his cell: 044 (322) 205-1323, or email him at mophmx@@yahoo.com or david.lord@yahoo.com.