In an excellent letter to the editor of the New York Times, Sen. John Edwards calls the paper to task for failing to report on the real human impact of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He takes issue with writer Lawrence Downes for not detailing the real number of casualties. And he rebukes the media overall for declining to report the prolonged effects of the war, despite increased violence and the hundreds of thousands of vets seeking VA care:

The complete number of nonfatal casualties in Iraq is 60,645. Most assume the wounded number includes all, but it does not. It leaves out another 8,273 injured and 23,052 who became ill and required medical air transport from the war zone. The Department of Defense releases two reports: one with the weekly numbers of those wounded and killed, and then another monthly report with the complete numbers. After five years, it is time for respected news organizations to use the complete number.

The public needs this information so that we can better prepare for the care of all of our veterans from this war and others. The struggle for them and their families your article addressed is happening all across this country. Nearly 300,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have already sought care from the V.A.