Bad decision

Benefits for veterans have been negatively impacted by the Bush Administration. This year alone to the tune of $1.2 billion. More veterans than ever are in need of Veterans Administration medical centers (medical, optical, dental, prosthesis, hearing, mental health), and yet this administration has, and is, closing more of these much-needed facilities and/or forcing staff reductions at various VA medical centers due to budget cuts.

More veterans will be in need of VA medical centers and all the services they offer with the return of soldiers from the war in Iraq as well as the ongoing services needed by existing veterans (World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, etc., etc.

Where does this administration get the unmitigated gall to ask for more "volunteers" for the military and at the same time cut VA medical center availability to already existing veterans?

The U.S. government is not living up to the promises it made to this country's veterans, whether they enlisted or were drafted. The subject budget cuts are unacceptable to this country's veterans.

MICHAEL HARMELIN

Sandpoint