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Vet Suicides, PTSD, and Election 08': DOES AMERICA CARE? »

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The government deploys American soldiers to Iraq and Afganistan and when they develop PTSD, they prevent them from receiving care. Do Americans truly support their troops or is it just lip-service and popular rhetoric? Are the presidential candidates honestly addressing this? Take a look and see.

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Spadecaller

Welcome to my profile. About me: I'm an artist of several kinds; from bull to painting. I don't spare too many words. Most ...

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Comments: 206

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Spadecaller
Dec. 13, 2007, 7:42 a.m.
"Dear Congressman Filner,
1.5 million people have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost one-third of them will have a serious mental health problem -- like depression, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. That's why I'm supporting IAVA and Drowning Pool's "This is For the Soldiers" campaign to make sure the mental health needs of our troops are a top priority.
We know you're a strong supporter of the troops. You co-sponsored the crucial Lane Evans bill, which would get veterans the counseling and support they need. But without your leadership, this bill will continue to just sit in committee.
We hope you'll join us and bring this bill before the committee. With your help, we can get this bill moving and get troops the care they deserve."
http://thisisforthesoldiers.org/
Is this too much to ask people to do? To sign a petition to help get veterans the care they deserve? If it is, why?
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Natureboy
Dec. 13, 2007, 9:02 a.m.
We should indeed be pushing for better mental health care for returning troops.
At the same time, we should be pushing for 100% elimination of the problem, by demanding that our government cease these imperialist adventures now and forever and limit the military to protecting our land and borders, as they should.
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Spadecaller
Dec. 13, 2007, 10 a.m.
Yes the best way to support our troops is to bring them home.
In addition, if we allow our government to push aside all the veterans traumatized by this war, our nation will suffer even more.
By ignoring this problem, our goverment will foster the domestic terrorism caused by outraged victims of PTSD.
How often do your read or hear about how a veteran who blows up and kills others and then themselves?
So with all this talk about supporting our troops; where is it when it counts the most?
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jumpmaster
Dec. 13, 2007, 10:17 a.m.
Bring the troops home and put them to work making floral arrangements and nurturing kittens.
Wait a minute. That's not what soldiers are supposed to do.
Better yet, retrain all military recruiters so that they absolutely, positively disclose to military enlistment candidates that they are in a military recruiting office and the job they are applying for involves doing military type stuff.
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natashas
Dec. 13, 2007, 10:18 a.m.
I signed the petition, thanks Spadecaller!
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Francisca
Dec. 13, 2007, 10:40 a.m.
Favorited and top-rated. This man is so eloquent: we can't stay insensible to the message! Thanks for the video Spade
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Shadowolf
Dec. 13, 2007, 10:45 a.m.
For generations this nation made a solemn promise to those who served "You serve your country now;when you are through your country will serve you." Politicians in thrall to the corporations and K-Street have orders to privatize anything that might make a profit...they failed on frontal assaults like social security, so they started nickel and diming programs like the VA...leading to the current disaster...
...and yes Spade; I signed!!!
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getreal1
Dec. 13, 2007, 11:04 a.m.
Your Petition won't take my name. What did they do block it? I Just tried again, the petition is gone. There is a different deal there now.
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Spadecaller
Dec. 13, 2007, 11:22 a.m.
I found this site to be functioning correctly; is anyone else experience problems?
http://thisisforthesoldiers.org/
(You need Adobe flash player installed properly in order to view and operate this page.)
ML2007Comment has been removed: Retracted by user
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panzerv
Dec. 13, 2007, 12:54 p.m.
Food for thought..."Zietgeist-the Movie" on youtube. Peace
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bubba2
Dec. 13, 2007, 12:59 p.m.
I have posted probably HUNDREDS of stories of the last several months of the LACK of decent help or health care or disability that veterans have dealt with since returning home from Iraq or Afghanistan.
Vietnam veterans are not excluded from this - some have had to wait and fight for YEARS to get the disability and health care that they deserved from the beginning. In addition to the rise in suicides among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, many Vietnam veterans have committed suicide.
The nominated VA secretary - soon to be confirmed by a weenie congress - will be no better judging from that man's history in both government and the corporate world.
It is our Federal Government that has broken the promises to the people that have served this country by joining the military. Health care, disability, education, jobs -- the Bush administration has royally screwed way too many veterans on ALL of those promises.
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hyperbola
Dec. 13, 2007, 2:22 p.m.
This is just one more indication of how america has lost its way. There was a time when americans believed in the common good and that they should contribute to that common good. This is no longer true.
Why should americans expect that the troops will be treated according to the common good when nothing else in america is treated according to the common good?
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baddad59Comment has been removed: Retracted by user
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Spadecaller
Dec. 13, 2007, 6:22 p.m.
Here is "The Soldiers Code":
"I am an American Soldier, a protector of the greatest nation on Earth, sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
I will treat others with dignity and respect and expect others to do the same.
I will honor my Country, the Army, my unit and my fellow soldiers by living the Army values.
No matter what situation I am in, I will never do anything for pleasure, profit, or personal safety which will disgrace my uniform, my unit or my country.
Lastly, I am proud of my country and it's flag. I want to look back and say that I am proud to have served my Country as a soldier."
How is this code of honor being interpreted today by our politicians, our govenrment, and corporate America?
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Spadecaller
Dec. 13, 2007, 6:47 p.m.
"sworn to uphold the Constitution"
Does that sound like "Your job is to follow orders" no matter what they are?
That was the doctrine of the Third Reich; wasn't it?
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bonaroo
Dec. 13, 2007, 7:01 p.m.
I know a few vets who have turned what they learned in the service into lucrative professions. However, they were lucky enough to have done their service when the U.S. wasn't at war, and didn't have to deal with the horrible effects that this article alludes to. A lot more of these men and women will come home and suffer for the rest of there lives with the realities of war despite the best of care and support. Its heartbreaking really. At this crucial juncture we as citizens should make sure that those who chose to uphold there end of the deal are taken care of, despite wether you think the war was right or wrong.
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Amazing1
Dec. 13, 2007, 7:11 p.m.
And then there is a friend of mine whose son came back from Iraq with PTSD, or so we suspect. Something certainly not right about the boy. Now, he has received orders to go back. And he's just not in shape to do it. Are they hoping to kill off some of their obligations or what. His mother is just beside herself. And the boy is too addlepated to think straight.
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bubba2
Dec. 13, 2007, 7:22 p.m.
Uphold the Constitution, and not do anything to disgrace their uniform, their unit, or their country.
Too sad that the Bush administration and the rest of the politicians in Washington don't know how to follow that ...
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Spadecaller
Dec. 13, 2007, 7:42 p.m.
Many vets return unwilling to see anyone about their problems. Unless they are Baker Acted (court ordered) to a hospital for evaluation, they will not go. Many of these cases end tragically. The Veterans Administration has refused to address these cases; in fact, they will not even acknowledge that they exist.
Review the hearings currently being held in Congress and you can check out my facts.
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Spadecaller
Dec. 13, 2007, 7:51 p.m.
This is not just incompetence, it is blatant disregard for the welfare of our soldiers. These are the same people telling everyone else, "Support Our Troops."
It's infuriating. How many of the flag waving neocons have posted their remarks and have offered their support on this thread? But there are a couple of people who thought it justified to sink this story.
Their partisanship loyalty and hate for centrists and liberals is obviously of greater importance.
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bubba2
Dec. 13, 2007, 8:03 p.m.
I just posted this story - a very good, relevant commentary on our government's so-called 'care' of our soldiers and veterans --
http://donoevil.propeller.com/story/2007/12/13/...
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Lurch
Dec. 13, 2007, 8:20 p.m.
He mentioned that 50% of those vets who committed suicide had sought help for PTSD. He claimed that either the medical care providers were unproperly trained or the soldiers were misdiagnosed.
One more possibility. What if some PTSD cannot be cured or treated?
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Lurch
Dec. 13, 2007, 8:28 p.m.
I disagree with the `messenger`. We the people failed our troops, not when they came home, but when they left.
We failed when we let a lying puppet of the war profiteers send our troops to an unnecessary and illegal war for personal and political profit.