2022-08-03 13:09:43

Senate Votes to Help Vets Poisoned by Military “Burn Pits.” Why No Help for Sick Iraqis & Afghans?

The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday night overwhelmingly to expand healthcare and disability benefits to some 3.5 million former U.S. service members poisoned by toxic substances from waste burning pits on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. The PACT Act, which now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law, is the biggest expansion of health benefits to veterans in over 30 years but provides no aid to civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. They continue to bear the brunt of the health and economic impacts of the toxic burn pits. “The campaign for veteran healthcare could have been a joint struggle that included Iraqi [and Afghan] people,” says Purdue University professor Kali Rubaii, who is just back from Fallujah, Iraq, where she was speaking with residents about the impact of the burn pits. She explains how the profit-driven U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan fueled the massive scale of burn pits in the region. We also speak with the Quincy Institute’s Kelley Vlahos, who discusses the congressional lead-up to the bill, which she says put “veterans in the crosshairs.”

Democracy Now! produces a daily, global, independent news hour hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González. Our reporting includes breaking daily news headlines and in-depth interviews with people on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues. 

On DN!, you’ll hear a diversity of voices speaking for themselves, providing a unique and sometimes provocative perspective on global events.

Missed an episode?  Check out DN on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change. 

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV, AppleTV, Roku, Sling, and online at freespeech.org.

#democracynow 3.5 million former Afghan Fallujah Iraq Iraqi Kali Rubaii Kelley Vlahos pact act poisoned President Biden Quincy Institute toxic substances U.S. Occupation U.S. Service Members

Politics

Democracy Now! | Power-Held Prejudice: A Deeper Look into Authority and Animosity

Democracy Now! | Power-Held Prejudice: A Deeper Look into Authority and Animosity

The David Pakman Show

The David Pakman Show | Tommy Tuberville Stumbles on IVF Decision

The David Pakman Show | Tommy Tuberville Stumbles on IVF Decision

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | Children in are Dying of Malnutrition and U.S. Only Calls for a Six-Week Cease-Fire

Democracy Now! | Children in are Dying of Malnutrition and U.S. Only Calls for a Six-Week Cease-Fire

The Stephanie Miller Show

The Stephanie Miller Show | Don't Underestimate Women This Election Year

The Stephanie Miller Show | Don't Underestimate Women This Election Year

Related

This Week In White Supremacy- Presented by 1HoodMedia

This Week In White Supremacy | Concerns Surrounding the 2024 Election and Controversial Legislation in Florida

This Week In White Supremacy | Concerns Surrounding the 2024 Election and Controversial Legislation in Florida

The David Pakman Show

David Pakman | GOP Oversight Committee Investigates Payments Made To Joe Biden From Hunter Biden

David Pakman | GOP Oversight Committee Investigates Payments Made To Joe Biden From Hunter Biden

Indian Country Today

Indian Country Today | Changing The Planet and The Willow Oil Project Protest

Indian Country Today | Changing The Planet and The Willow Oil Project Protest

The David Pakman Show

The David Pakman Show | Is It Time For President Biden To Throw In The Towel?

The David Pakman Show | Is It Time For President Biden To Throw In The Towel?

Proud Partners