I will agree with you that they are understaffed. Unfortunatley they are overstaffed with paper pushers. I think the stories may be different from state to state.

Just curious - the guy with the shrapnel in the brain. Is this something that you know first hand or someone close to you? If it is something from the media, well I don't put a lot of stock in the media these days.

As for Brits thread. This guy sounds like a coward looking for a way out. What easier way then to make the statements that he did. The press would eat it up and anti-war groups will use it as fodder. In the end he was not forced to join the military. If he wasn't a coward he would have stayed in the states and fought his case - instead he ran away. If the Canadians want to give this guy a pass - more power to them. It is their right to do so. I just don't think that just one judge (with obvious biases) should be able to make the decision decision.

Just my humble opinion.

Lisa