And the rate of post traumatic stress disorder is higher than Vietnam. Studies show record numbers of suicides. There are more than 20,000 catastrophic injuries. The psychological and physical toll is not only on the soldiers but on their families. Millions of people have been affected adversely by this war. Communities where there are lots of Reservists who thought they would work on weekends but have been away for years and have lost their families, are devastated.
for voters to bring about change by linking the war abroad with what's happening at home?
2006-11-27 02:31:46 · 13 answers · asked by Reba K 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
VeteransAgainsttheWar.com
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/10/14/wirq114.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/10/14/ixnewstop.html
Author Anthony Arnow, "Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal from Iraq:
www.appealforredress.com
2006-11-27 11:54:56 · update #1
there are more Iraq vets now than ever before in history.
there are more Iraq vets with blue eyes than ever before.
Statistics are for liars!
Stop the war now! cut our losses! rehabilitate the people who are damaged by war.
Stop war at all costs! Start reaping the savings!
2006-11-27 12:10:43 · answer #1 · answered by jake cigar™ is retired 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because "war is hell", as so many have aptly put it.
Some people seem able to compartmentalize their brains such that what they do on the battlefield for the sake of the mission or their comrades is just that--and they are able to leave it behind for the most part when they are done. But others, with no disrespect to them, cannot withstand the cognitive or emotional strain of what they have to do to survive.
Still others are able to cope with the idea of combat operations, but when the reality hits, they find that it's much more than they can handle.
Either way, the VA system is staggering under the weight of the needs of those from past wars and the new influx of patients from this one, and sometimes, depending on the state, people who are in crisis don't get seen quickly enough to get them stabilized. Or, because they don't want to be stigmatized as crazy or weak, they don't tell anyone they are suffering, until it's too late.
2006-11-27 10:41:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You really need to recheck your numbers. In fact you need a reality check.
BTW - exactly where did you get your numbers from? Sounds like the suicide rates is something that was simply made up and the 'catastrophic injuries' comment is nothing but misleading spin.
FYI - not every injury is catastrophic' - even if the soldier is awarded the Purple Heart.
And can you name one of these 'devastated' communities?
2006-11-27 10:41:26 · answer #3 · answered by MikeGolf 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because Post Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that is easy to fake and once you have a VA doctor convinced you suffer from it you'll never have to work another honest day for the rest of your life and get 80% disability at tax payer's expense.
PTSD is the biggest scam going on in this country. All you need to do is the following:
Claim to be a war vet.
Claim you have bad dreams
Cannot hold a job.
Bam! You're in!
2006-11-27 12:27:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm no fan of this war but your stats are off.. Vietnam War was worse...War time is sad for anyone ... but as far as PTSD the Vietnam war was worse...all the 18 and so young men that got drafted, never expecting to see a war and then receiving a draft card in the mail
2006-11-27 10:35:04 · answer #5 · answered by katjha2005 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps because of
1) all the lies being told by the news media, and
2) the fact that our government has made rules that prevent us from applying enough pressure to soldiers in training to make them mentally tough enough to handle the stress of combat.
2006-11-27 10:39:57 · answer #6 · answered by Dave_Stark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Intersting figure... I think maybe because in this war, the motivation for the war itself was not very legitimate. Clearly, we touched the middle easterners' nerve by invading Iraq, despite the whole world protested not to.
Everything happens for the reason. If we started the war because we wanted to do good, then I believe it would have been better.
but I believe, this war is based on Bush's personal hatred toward Saddam and the Iraqis (remember, he admitted on the media that he hates Saddam because he tried to kill his father), and from this startinig point, the nature of the war has become more brutal, and this caused the figure you are suggesting.
This is what I think.
2006-11-27 10:39:01 · answer #7 · answered by davegesprek 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Where are you getting your stats? If this info is true, it is very sad indeed!
I do think you need to keep things in perspective though...of those who committed suicide, there is a certain percentage who may have done it anyway even if they had not (very honorably) volunteered to serve in our military.
Unfortunately, throughout time, war has been a necessary tool to overt evil...we can all pray for those who lead our country and for those who serve in our military! I am very proud of all of them.
2006-11-27 10:40:10 · answer #8 · answered by Buff 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would like to know, where are you getting your information?
I have a lot of contact with Veterans from the Iraq war and have never heard of any of those studies you wrote about, nor do I know of one single suicide victim. Please post the name of a study so we can check it out.
2006-11-27 10:37:50 · answer #9 · answered by dakota29575 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Did they document after other wars how many suicides there were?
I'd like to see those statistics before commenting.
2006-11-27 11:21:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋