Imagine being in the military and having to fight for....what was it again, our freedoms, Iraq's democracy....what am I there for?
Cognitive dissonance and disillusion. Makasey not being willing to say waterboarding is torture. WTF?
The few, the proud....dammit, I'm sure many wish they'd never signed up.
My psychologist friend sent me an article he'd written after interviewing a soldier who was in Iraq from fall '06 to fall '07. The guy said one of his coping strategies was to be alert in his environment "without getting paranoid." The next sentence was that his worst fear was about getting blown up. Hmmmm
Posted by Sharon at January 31, 2008 01:14 PMIt takes a special breed of irresponsibility and failure to drive up suicide rates. A special breed of irresponsibility and failure from above. Like from the very top of above. Like from the ostensible Commander-in-Chief.
As I sit here in downtown OKC about a block from the bombing memorial, I can't help but wonder how many Tim McVeighs are being created in W's Excellent Adventure. Or how many have already been created....
Posted by bartcopfan at January 31, 2008 01:26 PMThe goal of "independent" studies like this is to create bipartisan consensus for the upcoming needless expansion (and refitting, of course) of our already bloated military establishment.
A terrorist attack is not an invasion by an organized military---which is what our uniformed military supposedly exist for. Of course, they really exist for imperial attacks and operations abroad.
But now we're told we need substantially to expand the ground troops in order to "respond" to the next big "attack" on the "Homeland".
Be afraid! More soldiers, NOW! You can never spend enough for faux-"defense"!
Posted by euzoius at January 31, 2008 01:39 PM"Can we stop the inane games and the puerile posturing and address the fact that this lunatic is endangering our nation?" was this lifted from an eriposte anti-Obama column? just joking.
Posted by T22 at January 31, 2008 01:42 PMDon't forget this one:
Army officials in upstate New York instructed representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs not to help disabled soldiers at Fort Drum Army base with their military disability paperwork last year. That paperwork can be crucial because it helps determine whether soldiers will get annual disability payments and health care after they're discharged.
Apparently, the Army doesn't want to strain their budget...
Posted by iamcoyote at January 31, 2008 01:56 PMWinter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan (http://www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier)
Thur March 13 to Sun March 16, 2008
National Labor College, 10000 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD
Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan will feature testimony from U.S. veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who will tell the hard truth about what is really happening, day in and day out, in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Successful actions at eight Canadian consulates nationwide
(http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/562/1/)
Vigils and delegations visited eight Canadian consulates across the US January 25, 2008 to ask that the US war resiters be allowed to stay in Canda. Veterans, community organizers and others gathered in DC, NYC, SF,Seattle, LA, Dallas, Philadelphia & Minneapolis to support the troops who have refused to fight.
Both organizations accept any level of involvement and support.
Make a donation. Write a letter. Sign a petition. Attend a demonstration.
It's important to act.
Then we have this crap from: STATEMENT OF GERALD M. CROSS, MD, FAAFP PRINCIPAL DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR HEALTH
BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 17, 2008
Section 107 would provide for title I of this bill to be enacted in tribute to Justin Bailey, an OIF veteran who died while under VA treatment for PTSD and a substance use disorder.VA does not support enactment of this title.
It's full of pilot programs and studies that should be or not be extended or expanded. Does that really help the Veteran that is in immediate need?
Prior to the pilot program's expiration, the Secretary would be required to conduct a study of its effectiveness and, based on that study, recommend whether the program should be extended or expanded. If the Secretary determines it should be extended or expanded, H.R. 4231 would authorize the Secretary to take such action.
On, Title II. Mental Health Accessibility Enhancements, he says:
Mr. Chairman, all of these services are already available to OEF/ OIF veterans, including those who served in the National Guard or the Reserves. No demonstrated need exists for the pilot program or these additional authorities, which are duplicative of currently existing authorities. It is also unclear to us how the peer outreach services to be provided under section 201 relate to the peer outreach program that would be established by section 104.
On, Title III. Research:
With the exception of the extension of the Special Committee, VA does not support the provisions in title III.
There's more.
Nothing to help the Justin Bailey's.
"Impeachment is off the table."
Tell me something Nancy, just what would you cosider an impeachable offense???? We have been had again!
Posted by Judith at January 31, 2008 03:40 PMSeven of Six, tonight on NBC we heard the case of a young soldier, who was diagnoised with a cancerous growth by a military doctor, but was inducted into the Marines anyway, without telling him to seek medical attention or that the growth was cancerious, as noted on his medical records. He just died. Cause? The growth the military doctor failed to inform him about.
Of course, we could sue the doctor, but because he was a military doctor, a suit would go nowhere.
In other words, his family has no recourse. He was discharged from the military and his family had to pay for his funeral, and his son will receive no benefits.
I guess getting him to Iraq was more important than telling him to seek help for cancer.
George Walker Bush, I wish you nothing but the worst in your miserable fucking life.
Posted by Judith at January 31, 2008 04:14 PM"Bush is destroying our military and destroying our national security!"
But all of you want a destroyed military and lessened national security, right?
"Berkeley council tells Marines to leave..."
From here:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8120433?source=rss
Posted by Bagley at January 31, 2008 04:19 PMEveryone in a democracy is a leader.
Why do we always blame leadership for problems that arise from the sphere of the citizenry?
We are a country of cowards and liars, many are too afraid to leave their house without some Xanax. We're corrupt from the bottom to the top, not from the top to the bottom. It's the common man and woman that influence our leadership and give them their authority, not the other way around. There is no accountability on any level. We are desynthesized to crime and violence to the point that we need it.
We knowingly buy over priced houses with bad loans, give money to McDonald's for destroying our life and making us fat, smoke cigarettes even though we know it'll kill us, eating Little Debbie's sitting there on your couch surfing the internet with all your transactions monitored, your phone line tapped, not sure if your health care policy will cover you if you get sick, can't trust your neighbor, your car spits out fumes that strangle your children's throat, divorce rate is so high we can't even stay together after we say 'I do', and you think our leaders are going to take us seriously?
P-l-e-a-s-e!!! Get a clue, it all starts with you... US. WE are responsible, and there is no quick fix. The damage WE have ALL done will take generations to repair, IF we repair it, EVER.
Posted by James Peek at January 31, 2008 06:06 PM"Nothing to help the Justin Bailey's." Nobody wants to jeoprodize their next promotion.
Turkana,
I must disagree w/ "Now, let's be clear about something: anyone who makes it through basic training is pretty damn tough" SEAL training is tough. Basic training, boot camp? Pretty easy stuff, really.
Posted by Chief at January 31, 2008 07:08 PMI disagree with James Peek. This is NOT a democracy. It is at best a republic. Republics are the governing of the few over the many. At worst, a forming dictatorship.
Posted by Zits1 at January 31, 2008 11:03 PMChief, Glad to hear from you! Everything good? family healthy? Still going back and forth between Tahiti and Oregon?
Posted by Seven of Six at February 1, 2008 05:49 AM