Will A. Gunn, former defense attorney for Guantanamo detainees, sworn in as General Counsel for the VA.

by Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org

Will A. Gunn has been sworn in as General Counsel (#1 attorney) for the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA).

Gunn has an impressive military bio as a JAG Officer.  But, it's his last assignment that garners our attention.  In his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Gunn stated:

"... and in my last military assignment I was asked to serve as the first Chief Defense Counsel in the Office of Military Commissions with the responsibility of establishing a defense function and providing effective representation for Guantanamo detainees brought before military commissions."

Two VA Watchdog dot Org readers had thoughts on this.

From reader #1:

"Well, maybe this means we'll be able to get the same courtesies and treatment the terrorists did at Gitmo? There's a step up."

Reader #2 opined:

"Not a big career change - if you can defend killing people quickly through intentional action, you can defend killing people through intentional inaction.

"That is no joke ... a terrorist who maims a service-member has a right to an attorney and access to a federal judge from the second he is captured, while the now-veteran he maimed is denied an attorney, has limited due process rights, and no right to access any judge for years.

"Maybe this new guy IS the right one -- if he is as 'concerned' about the 'human rights' of veterans as he is of terrorists, he should be rewriting the Code of Federal Regulations right now. Perhaps you should ask when to expect the legislation from VA that establishes a veterans legal rights as no less than a convicted murderer or a terrorist."

A second piece of baggage Gunn brings to the VA is his failed leadership as chief executive of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, D.C.  The article in The Washington Post started this way:

The leader of a prominent Washington area youth organization resigned as the group struggles with a multimillion-dollar deficit and seeks to redevelop four of its properties.

So, what exactly is Gunn's job at the VA?  To protect the VA from veterans!  To fight the VA's fights in the Courts ... ask the Blue Water Navy veterans ... ask Veterans for Common Sense about their lawsuit ... ask the families who have sued for malpractice.

Will A. Gunn has an opportunity to help change all of that.  Will he?

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TOPICS: veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs, VA General Counsel, Will A. Gunn, Guantanamo, Gitmo, detainees