America must ‘honor the contract’ on veterans’ benefits

On Thanksgiving, an article published in The Economist demonstrated its contempt for American veterans, labeling our benefits as “absurdly generous.” The timing of this outlandish statement was tasteless, but the assertion was not isolated.

Instead, the article was another key salvo in an ongoing attack to portray veterans as pariahs leeching off the American taxpayer. We heard similar ham-handed criticism in recent years from The Washington Post, former VA secretaries and so-called veteran leaders who seem content to abandon their ill and injured comrades once the uniform comes off.

When my generation came home from Vietnam to an ungrateful nation, we committed that never again would America forget those who were willing to lay it all down in defense of our liberties.

After Vietnam, we abandoned the draft in favor of relying on brave Americans who willingly forfeit the comforts of civilian life to join our military and protect us. Since 9/11, America has relied on an all-volunteer force to fight our wars and deter our enemies — a dangerous mission that continues today.