JackDog wrote:
Many with mental illness?? WTF man. Where are you getting this bullshit?
It's not bullshit Jack. It's very real....
http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/2006/02/o ... -from.html
http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/2006/04/ ... -iraq.html
http://www.capveterans.com/americans_wh ... /id70.html
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Once all the soldiers that have had extended duty start returning, the number will jump way up. Perhaps you were insulted by the word "mental illness" and the stigma it carries?
Call it what you will, but it can be worse that any physical illness.
The article says that over 75% of the soldiers in Iraq have shot at the enemy. That's a staggering number compared to wars of the past.
48% say they were responsible for deaths of the enemy. That's a huge number of soldiers that will have to deal with the fact that they took a life.
People that accidentally kill someone else in a car accident sometimes need mental therapy for the rest of their lives to deal with what happened.
Nobody ever accused soldiers of being "pitiful". They are human beings like the rest of us. As far as trying to help and "fix the problem", I voted for Obama, who promises to do everything he can to give our returning vets everything they need. He also vowed to get them out of combat as soon as posible and to me, getting our men and women safely home is the best possible way to help them. I also assist with an organization we have at my compnay called "Operation Homefront" that assists returning Vets in every way possible. We all held a HUGE American flag at a Braves game during the national anthem and raised a lot of awareness that day. We also had a fundraising at Atlanta speedway.
Jack...me and you are NEVER going to agree on the concept of war and the military. We have views that are at opposite ends of the spectrum. I try and understand yours and I hope you try and understand mine. Please know that I respect your opinions, but that doesn't mean I always agree with them.[/url]
