By Atiba Madyun
When President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America he inherited a global economic crisis and two wars. Yet, one of the most important policy issues that the president will have to address is -- the return of our military veterans.
During his campaign, President Obama spoke of his opposition to the war in Iraq, and the importance of reallocating resources to Afghanistan. Managing those resources will be difficult, but developing a plan to support hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women will be just as difficult.
Since 2001, America has sent more than 1.5 million troops into Afghanistan and Iraq. The daily process of carrying out military operations, staying alive, staying connected to loved ones, is stressful both to the troops and to their families. Over the past six years, thousands of military veterans have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. Sadly, 4,000 have returned in coffins, and tens of thousands returned with injuries and scars (mental and physical) that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Their return in the midst of high unemployment, foreclosures, and instability in financial markets will factor greatly into their re-entry to civilian life.
When President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America he inherited a global economic crisis and two wars. Yet, one of the most important policy issues that the president will have to address is -- the return of our military veterans.
During his campaign, President Obama spoke of his opposition to the war in Iraq, and the importance of reallocating resources to Afghanistan. Managing those resources will be difficult, but developing a plan to support hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women will be just as difficult.
Since 2001, America has sent more than 1.5 million troops into Afghanistan and Iraq. The daily process of carrying out military operations, staying alive, staying connected to loved ones, is stressful both to the troops and to their families. Over the past six years, thousands of military veterans have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. Sadly, 4,000 have returned in coffins, and tens of thousands returned with injuries and scars (mental and physical) that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Their return in the midst of high unemployment, foreclosures, and instability in financial markets will factor greatly into their re-entry to civilian life.
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