The veterans-focused executive order comes as Obama is
visiting Fort Bliss on the two-year anniversary of his announcement at the same
location that ended combat operations in Iraq.

{mosads}“The visit will focus on, I think, that important
anniversary,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said Thursday. “It will
also focus on the fact that the president has always said that part of ending
the war in Iraq responsibly is standing by those who served.”

The presidential campaigns of Obama and Mitt Romney have
both made a concerted effort to reach out to veterans. In a speech at the
American Legion convention Wednesday — which Romney left the Republican
convention on Wednesday to give — Romney criticized Obama for not doing enough
to solve the problems at the VA, including long waits for mental health
patients to get treatment.

“Veterans face unconscionable waits for mental health
treatment,” Romney said. “The problems with the VA are serious, and must be
fixed. We are in danger of another generation of veterans losing their faith in
VA system. On my watch, that will not be allowed to happen.”