VoteVets.org recently launched a petition drive to get Congressional hearings into why a manufacturer of helmets who was being sued for shoddy work was awarded a new, huge contract to produce more helmets for troops in Iraq. Since launching the drive, the story came to light about military bureaucrats’ “gross mismanagement” being responsible for hundreds of deaths because they delayed delivery of properly armored MRAP vehicles to troops in Iraq. VoteVets.org subsequently has redoubled its efforts to push Congress to hold hearings into these failures of the government to produce and supply combat grade safety equipment to combat troops. It’s not necessary to be a vet to sign up with VoteVets.org or to sign the petition.

Here’s to Congressional hearings resulting from the petition drive, and more transparency and accountability resulting from the hearings.

Peace.

Deborah Alicen

P.S. In the “small world” department: earlier today I noticed the name of a friend who’s a veteran of Iraq appearing among those on the new MoveOn.org ad urging Democratic super-delegates to vote according to the popular vote at the national Democratic Convention; and in reading through the VoteVets.org website, discovered that another friend’s in-law is on the VoteVets Advisory Board. We all really are closer to everyone else than we are usually aware.