Category Archive

Government forces and their Russian allies recently dislodged U.S.-backed rebels from a strategic town they have held since 2012. The victory is just the latest one in a series of triumphs for Bashar Assad. The northwestern town of Maaret al-Numan sits on the main highway between Damascus and Aleppo. While rebels occupied Maaret al-Numan, they could significantly inhibit the movement …

The last time the comedian/activist Jon Stewart was on Capitol Hill, Congress authorized additional compensation for 9/11 survivors. Will his latest efforts yield the same results? Stewart’s advocacy began with a burn pit public service announcement in September 2019. “You deserve more than the country’s gratitude for your service,” he intoned into the camera. “You deserve full medical benefits to …

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved extended clinical trials for 3,4-Methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine (MDMA) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatments. MDMA, which is also known as Molly or Ecstasy, is a common party drug. Could this treatment, if successful, be available for contractors who were injured in Afghanistan? MDMA is still not legal for medicinal purposes, but the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic …

A year ago, the federal government made some big changes to the Veterans Administration appeals process. For the most part, veterans must navigate this complex system on their own. Fortunately, contractors who were injured in Haiti and elsewhere have a better option. The 2017 Appeals Modernization Act gave disabled veterans three new options when pursuing their claims. Higher-Level Review allows …

One of the oldest freshmen at Yale University is a 25-year veteran with a service animal and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 52-year-old James Hatch sustained a brain injury during a 2009 rescue mission in Afghanistan. The incident left Hatch with permanent PTSD. At one point, Hatch put a gun in his mouth and threatened to take his own life. His …