Ed Whitfield: “While the DAV is certainly supportive of the principle of ensuring that there is just compensation for any damages or…”

“While the DAV is certainly supportive of the principle of ensuring that there is just compensation for any damages or injuries received by a veteran or his or her family as a result of the war in the Persian Gulf, we are very concerned about the precedent established here. In recent history, veterans have always been cared for by the VA (previously Veterans' Administration, currently the Department of Veterans Affairs) with respect to the injuries received in services to their country. And that is true. That is the obligation of VA. That is the obligation of this Congress to provide adequate funding to take care of them. And then he goes on to say, 'However, the Iraqi claims legislation establishes a procedure whereby veterans could be compensated directly from the assets of the `foreign enemy' government.…”