View in browser  ||  Unsubscribe

11 June 2024

Reuters | US, Saudi Arabia close to finalizing draft security treaty, WSJ reports

The Biden administration is close to finalizing a treaty with Saudi Arabia that would commit the U.S. to help defend the Gulf nation as part of a deal aimed at encouraging diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Israel, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing U.S. and Saudi officials.

‌

Washington Post | Gaza pier repaired, U.S. ready to resume aid mission, Pentagon says

U.S. troops and their Israeli counterparts reattached a floating pier to Gaza’s coastline Friday, as the United States prepares to resume a humanitarian operation bedeviled by setbacks thus far.

‌

NBC | U.S. lifts ban on controversial Ukrainian military unit using American weapons

The United States has lifted its ban on the use of American weapons by a high-profile and controversial Ukrainian military unit.

‌

TIME | The U.S. Should Dismantle Its Gaza Aid Pier

Amid intense criticism for his Israel-Gaza approach, President Joe Biden announced earlier this year the construction of a pier to deliver desperately-needed aid to the Strip amid Israel’s ongoing bombardment. But the $230 million pier, which should be re-anchored this week after it broke apart on May 28, has proven to be a hapless operation. It could soon turn disastrous.

‌

Associated Press | UN Security Council adopts a cease-fire resolution aimed at ending Israel-Hamas war in Gaza

The U.N. Security Council on Monday overwhelmingly approved its first resolution endorsing a cease-fire plan aimed at ending the eight-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

‌

Military Times | Mother blames VA in Navy vet’s death: ‘Look at what they’ve done’

“The VA wants to dress up the issue of suicide with words, but does not want to address the issue of suicide with action, like talking to the grieving family of a veteran who took his life,” said Locklear, who was a 12-year VA employee until September 2023.”

‌

CNN | Frontline VA health jobs cut despite officials saying they’d largely be protected

US Department of Veterans Affairs officials have eliminated frontline jobs for staffers who provide care to veterans, even though agency leaders previously declared such positions would largely be protected from cuts, according to a CNN review of documents and interviews with more than 20 VA employees and job applicants.

The American Conservative | Flaws Present at the Creation

Americans have been exhorting Europeans to do more for NATO since 1949. The need is more pressing than ever.

‌

Foreign Policy | Americans Don’t Want a Wartime President

If Biden can avoid the temptation to be a warrior defending allies abroad, he might have a better chance at winning his battles at home.

‌

The American Conservative | How to Force Europe to Do Its Fair Share for NATO

Though it has resisted, events have dragged the transatlantic community toward the idea of European countries taking a larger share of the responsibility for security on their continent.

Last week was the sixth anniversary of the VA MISSION Act, the most important policy win for veterans’ health care in a generation. The MISSION Act was a response to the infamous Phoenix VA Wait Time scandal of 2014, and passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress and expanded the health care options of millions by creating the Veterans Community Care Program, which empowers veterans to use their VA benefits either at VA-run facilities or at private, “community care” providers when the travel distance or wait time for a VA appointment is too high.

‌

CVA’s Executive Director, Russ Duerstine, authored an op-ed for Real Clear Health: On MISSION Act’s Anniversary, VA and Congress Still Undermine Veterans’ Health

“With Memorial Day last week and June being PTSD Awareness Month, veterans around the country are feeling the weight of war and its repercussions. I’ve spent time recently thinking about what we as veterans sacrifice for this country – our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing – and how our country and its institutions honor those sacrifices.”

‌

CVA continues to advocate for expanding veterans’ health care choice while also calling attention to the ongoing threats to these care options from a VA that seeks to limit veterans’ access to alternatives.

‌

This week, CVA is also out in the media discussing escalations abroad. Senior Adviser Jason Beardsley joined MSNBC’s Way Too Early to provide an in-depth analysis of the current state of the Ukrainian conflict and discuss the latest developments and the impact of U.S. escalation with Russia. You can watch the full interview here. He also appeared on The Hill’s Rising to weigh in on the U.S. ongoing support for Ukraine, including the latest $225 million military aid package. See Jason’s interview here.

Did someone forward this to you?

Hit the button below to sign up.