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FBN’s Lou Dobbs on the growing number of veterans receiving government health benefits and the long waits they face when filing claims.
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That was the -- over Baghdad ten years ago.
Tonight the start of the Iraq War.
Our cover -- war certainly.
440886.
Of our troops were killed.
Financially it cost one point seven trillion dollars so far.
-- doesn't count they almost half billion dollars in benefits.
Or are war veterans.
There were no commemoration ceremonies in Washington -- provide matter Baghdad today.
But we think it's important to know where we stand when it comes to serving the two point six million men and women.
Who serve us in uniform and not in Iraq and that forever -- And this is frankly I believe the real shock and awe of it today.
The number of our veterans receiving compensation is on the rise.
Two and a half million in 20032.
And a half.
Million.
In 2003.
Now.
3.5.
Million.
Receiving better.
And listen to this according to the -- The average wait time after filing for a disability or health care -- Ten years ago.
It was a hundred and -- the five day.
Now.
200.
And 73.
Day it's.
We're talking about our veterans to whom we -- The greatest obligation.
Citizenship.
For those who protect our land -- our -- our nation.
For veterans filing their first -- the -- time by the way is up to 327.
Days.
I didn't want to put that on board.
This is -- -- in all some 350000.
Claims.
Were pending before the decade.
That before the BA 350000.
A decade ago.
Now.
900.
Thousand.
-- You probably.
Are stunned by these numbers as we work.
What you may be further surprised by.
-- the number of veterans.
Ten years ago there were 26 million.
Veterans in this country.
-- six million.
Now that number has fallen.
221.
And a half -- almost five million your veterans.
The greatest the greatest generation is.
His past.
And where we are doing to the generation.
Of veterans who have served up so so well and sacrificed so much.
Is not something that we could put near the word break.
