President Bush has been in denial about the true cost of fighting the war in Iraq since the invasion. He also is still in denial about the true cost of caring for those who fought the war.

Last week, the president had to release $3.7 billion in emergency money that Congress requested for veterans, including the growing numbers of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said lawmakers had no choice but to insist on emergency action. The VA is struggling to keep up with the needs of war vets who have returned with health problems, particularly psychological disorders and brain injuries. The agency's chronic backlog of requests for benefits claims isn't getting any better, either. In a letter to the president, Sen. Akaka said the VA is about to run out of money and "this could not be allowed to happen."

Americans would be more surprised about having to release "emergency" money to help veterans, if paying for the war wasn't done the same way. The administration has relied on stopgap appropriations and supplements to cover the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan, instead of including them in the regular budget process. President Bush's war has become one painful and extended emergency, with no end in sight.

Shortchanging veterans is nothing new. In 2005, then-VA Secretary Jim Nicholson submitted a health-care budget that fell $1.3 billion short of what was needed. Congress had to scramble to cover that deficit, too. Mr. Nicholson promised to cut the wait time for veterans, but the administration's promises also come with deficits. The backlog of claims is roughly 400,000, about what it was three years ago. Part of the new $3.7 billion infusion will go toward hiring 1,800 more caseworkers to reduce delays.

James Peake, confirmed last month as VA secretary, can make no greater contribution to the nation and veterans than to be forthright about the wars' mounting cost and how the country intends to pay it.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/01/23/a20a_veterans_edit_0123.html