From @nedhamson1 in 28 minutes ago:
Purple Heart Army veteran self-deports after nearly 50 years in the US | LAist https://laist.com/news/purple-heart-army-veteran-self-deports-after-nearly-50-years-in-the-us?utm_source=threads&utm_medium=social&utm_content=&utm_campaign=LAist
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Me:
A green-card holder, Park self-deported to #SouthKorea. His removal order was the result of charges related to drug possession & failure to appear in court from over 15yrs ago — offenses, he said (tragically, like many thousands of combat #vets, esp Viet Nam era) stemmed from yrs of untreated #PTSD.
“More pets being put down due to rising vet bills.” The ugly side of private equity #Capitalism. #Vets
#Trump's VA cut a program that's saving vets' homes. Even #Republicans have questions
from #NPR #NationalPublicRadio [#USA]
June 19, 20255:00 AM ET
By Chris Arnold, Quil Lawrence
"Henry was hoping to get help from the VA Servicing Purchase program, or VASP. In just the past year, according to the #VA, it has helped more than 33,000 #veterans and servicemembers who got behind on their loans by giving them a new, low-interest-rate mortgage.
But last month, out of fear of the potential cost, the VA abruptly did away with this safety net. It was the latest development in a VA #mortgage saga that has whiplashed veterans between various enacted and cancelled programs and left thousands in fear of losing their homes. There are about 80,000 #vets in the U.S. behind on their mortgages and heading toward #foreclosure, according to data from ICE Mortgage Technology."
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/19/nx-s1-5400980/va-loans-veterans-mortgage-relief-republicans
#NoCutsToVeteransBenefits #US #USPolitics #politics
#news #press
"Is this real life?" Ex-#GOP lawmaker stunned by Trump's order against #vets
Doctors at VA medical ctrs can now refuse to treat unmarried vets & #Democrats under new Trump executive order.
What the hell...???? https://www.rawstory.com/is-this-real-life-walsh/
H/t @Ann1944
"President Donald Trump has prompted conflicting feelings among veterans, some of whom strongly disagree with his decision to bypass California Gov. Gavin Newsom and deploy the National Guard and Marines to quell Los Angeles’ immigration-related protests against federal raids in the city.
A long-time strong voter base for Trump, some veterans have, much like Newsom, voiced their grievances regarding Trump’s use of the military on this occasion. These concerns come amid protests over recent cuts to the Department of Veteran Affairs and several of its programs, including one that provides mortgage assistance."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/veterans-condemn-trumps-misuse-military-194042840.html
From @jamescdownie on June 11:
For Trump's parade, "The Army recently asked the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Northern Virginia if it would provide 25 veterans to sit in the official reviewing stand. The group said no." https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/us/politics/los-angeles-military-parade-trump.html
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Me:
Y'all rock, Viet Nam Vets of Northern Virginia!
From @chuckmodi1 on Dead 13 minutes ago:
NOW: After 50-60 veterans are arrested at the Capitol, about 30 veterans wait outside to provide jail support as they wait sit for their possible release tonite.
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Me
#NoKings #Vets #LosAngelesProtests #CaliforniaNationalGuard #NationalGuardDeployments
#vets #veterans #protest #NoKingsDay
"WASHINGTON — Some veterans will lead a group of protesters this Saturday in response to the Army's President Donald Trump’s multimillion-dollar parade celebrating the Army in D.C.
The organizers, Refuse Fascism, held a news conference outside the White House Thursday to detail why the group would be protesting.
(. . .)
Organizers say the protest will begin with a rally on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Logan Circle in Northwest, D.C. Protesters will then march to the White House where they will hold a second rally at Lafayette Square."
"Joe Plenzler, of the Unite for Veterans Coalition, told WTOP that if you are waiting for a hero to come save us, you’re doing the wrong thing." wtop.com/dc/2025/06/i... #Vets #VA WADC Protest Trump Hegseth Noem Bondi Gorka Homan Musk + #coup #frauds #law
‘I’m really horrified’: 100-ye...
"SAN RAFAEL (06-06) – Veterans, their families and others rallied across the nation on June 6 to honor the 81st Anniversary of D-Day, the largest seaborn invasion in history when Allied troops stormed the beaches in France to begin the overthrow of Fascists in Nazi Germany.
Marin Veterans for Democracy rallied in solidarity with Unite for Veterans, Unite for America Rally and 50501 who also demonstrated during this National Day of Action in drawing attention to the Trump administration’s desire to eviscerate the VA (Veterans Administration) and its vital health care system. This along with the elimination of jobs held by veterans and family members and many thousands of others in the federal workforce. The VA could lose as many as 38,000 workers who serves 9 million vets who rely on the services under the already implemented DOGE plan."
"LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - A protest in Lawton took place on June 6, at Elmer Thomas Park in Lawton.
The protest, 'Veterans Against Fascism,' was done in recognition of the 81st anniversary of D-Day.
Organizers encouraged people to come out to peacefully protest in the defense of democracy and to resist rising fascism in the United States.
The protest also hosted voter registration, speeches, and music while also encouraging people to bring canned and boxed goods as part of a food drive."
https://www.kswo.com/2025/06/07/veterans-against-fascism-rally-held-elmer-thomas-park-lawton/
I notice that one of the first moves of Trump's ongoing slow-motion coup was he purged a bunch of generals, admirals, and JAG officers from the military, because as Hegseth put it, they were potential ‘roadblocks’ to Trump orders.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/hegseth-fired-military-lawyers-were-230924720.html
This is a red flag in my estimation because of a book I read a long time ago. It's called *Coup d'État: A Practical Handbook*, by Edward N. Luttwak.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204262.Coup_d_tat
Trump's strategy stinks of preplanning for a traditional military coup. He's "preparing the terrain," so to speak. It bodes ill, IMHO.
Luttwak also makes a point of showing that the aspiring coupster needs the military on his side. He takes this to mean he needs the officer corps on his side. I'm not so sure about that. I'd have thought it would be the enlisted ranks, but I'll get to that in a minute.
Luttwak says the generals have too much of a stake in the status quo and too much to lose if they fail, so forget the generals; recruit the colonels. Luttwak says the colonels are far more likely to be dissatisfied with the status quo. He cites a number of reasons. They all sound valid to me, but what do I know?.
My own observation is limited to what I read in the media, but I do note a similarity of cases. When civil war breaks out, especially when it's in response to a coup, but also just in general, the country's military usually splits.
As a non-veteran, I'm loath to speculate what the American military would do in such a case, but I'm hopeful that we don't have to find out. Either way, I'm not speculating. There's no point. It's out of my lane. What do veterans think will happen?
Unite with #Veterans "5,549 watching now Started streaming 22 minutes ago" www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3lF... #HandsOff #ArmedServices #Army #Navy #Marines #Airforce #Vets #VA #health #med #housing food aid employment #ImpeachTrump #ImpeachVance #DitchDOGe #coup #frauds #law liability #natsec
RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:kdixr3q4qe4boepqfs6m42io/post/3lqxejn5bf22u
LIVE: Veterans PROTEST Trump O...
"As the Trump administration prepared to cancel contracts at the Department of Veteran Affairs this year, officials turned to a software engineer with no health care or government experience to guide them.
The engineer, working for the Department of Government Efficiency, quickly built an artificial intelligence tool to identify which services from private companies were not essential. He labeled those contracts 'MUNCHABLE.'
The code, using outdated and inexpensive AI models, produced results with glaring mistakes. For instance, it hallucinated the size of contracts, frequently misreading them and inflating their value. It concluded more than a thousand were each worth $34 million, when in fact some were for as little as $35,000.
The DOGE AI tool flagged more than 2,000 contracts for 'munching.' It’s unclear how many have been or are on track to be canceled — the Trump administration’s decisions on VA contracts have largely been a black box. The VA uses contractors for many reasons, including to support hospitals, research and other services aimed at caring for ailing veterans."
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-doge-veterans-affairs-ai-contracts-health-care
Sahil Lavingia "quickly built an artificial intelligence tool to identify which services from private companies were not essential. He labeled those contracts “MUNCHABLE.”" www.propublica.org/article/trum... #Vets #Veterans #VA #health #data contracts #security DOGe #coup #frauds #law
RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yw6wbtma6fynxiafh5v7j5sf/post/3lqs42dwwe22d
DOGE Developed Error-Prone AI ...
Health tip
Rabbits are masters at hiding illness. Here’s what to look out for!
• Not eating or pooping
• Sitting hunched up
• Runny nose or eyes
• Lethargy or hiding more than usual
Tip: If in doubt—call a rabbit-savvy vet ASAP.
Let's talk about soldiers. You'll be better at this than me. I never served. I failed the physical in 1968. So what do I know?
I'd like to hear your opinions as regards Trump threatening to order troops to suppress demonstrations by force. If Trump orders soldiers to shoot demonstrators, even "in the legs" as he once suggested, would they do it?
The rank and file in all the services are overwhelmingly working class. I'd like to believe they wouldn't gun down their families, friends, and neighbors just because they'd been ordered to. Would they, or would they turn their guns around? What if they simply refused to fire on civilians, didn't turn their guns on their officers, but just sat down? Either way, what would the noncoms do?
Inquiring minds want to know.