Montel Williams wants to make sure that amid the talk of crisis in Iraq no one forgets his campaign to get fast support to veterans awaiting medical care.
Williams has been pushing his case with the Twitter hashtag #vasurge in recent weeks. He returned to Fox News Channel's
"Your World with Neil Cavuto" on Monday to continue pressing the cause.
Williams, who served two decades in the Marines and Navy before becoming a TV talk show host, says he talks to current military members who worry they won't be taken care of after they have risked their lives fighting.
Williams first appeared on Cavuto's show in late May as the Veterans Administration scandal was escalating. Secret waiting lists have been uncovered at multiple VA hospitals, which kept some veterans waiting weeks and months to see doctors, though official waiting lists showed no veterans were waiting longer than 14 days.
Williams said he supports the United States' sending 100 Marines and Army troops to protect the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, but said he equally supports the government's treating them when they need future medical care.
"I want the Marine that steps on that beach to know when he gets shot, somebody's going to take care of him," Williams said.
But Williams said many veterans and current soldiers tell him they are angry at Congress and President Barack Obama for not moving more quickly to solve the VA crisis.
"They feel not appreciated, they feel lied to," Williams said.
"We want to go protect someone else's democracy on the backs of American soldiers and children, and deny them treatment when they come home," Williams said. "What democracy is this?"
Williams is irritated that the House has yet to pass a Senate bill that would add doctors and nurses and build new VA hospitals. The House version of the bill would cost much less, but doesn't include adding staff or hospitals.
"Does it take them a minute today to write the check for the planes that got to fly over Iraq and drop the bombs tomorrow? Everybody can write that check," Williams said.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.