To the Point

What Happens to America's Soldiers When the Battles are Over?

Today, President Bush laid the traditional wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery and thanked 25 million veterans of World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam for their service to their country. The President says his latest budget contains the largest increase ever for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Yet many veterans say they aren-t getting the benefits they deserve. On this Veterans' Day, we hear about veterans' concerns from the founder of a Gulf War veterans' organization, journalists who write about issues of interest to military personnel and their families, a national security expert from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and an Army veteran who recently lost his leg in Iraq. Making News: Attacks on US Troops Double in Iraq to Over 30 a Day November has already become one of the deadliest months in Iraq since major combat was declared over. Today, the senior commander, Lt. Gen. Ricardo, said attacks have increased to some 30 a day. Rod Nordland is Baghdad Bureau chief for Newsweek magazine. Reporter-s Notebook: Achieving Social Change through Soap Operas AIDS is ravaging parts of the world where even discussing sex is traditionally taboo. Yet even in poverty stricken neighborhoods, there is access to TV. This week in Los Angeles, Population Communications International is hosting the Soap Opera Summit, with writing and production teams from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, South America and the Middle East. Actor David Dennis, who appears in the South African soap opera, Soul City, says entertainment is proving effective in promoting social change.