The Truth About Veteran Suicides

[SariesNightly]

Eighteen American war veterans kill themselves every day. One thousand former soldiers receiving care from the Department of Veterans Affairs attempt suicide every month (http://warcomeshome.org/node/260). More veterans are committing suicide (http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5goRExHRq_e9fV4CTqb_KQOIAITsQ) than are dying in combat overseas.

These are statistics that most Americans don't know, because the Bush administration has refused to tell them. Since the start of the Iraq War, the government has tried to present it as a war without casualties.

In fact, they never would have come to light were it not for a class action lawsuit (http://www.veteransptsdclassaction.org/) brought by Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth on behalf of the 1.7 million Americans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The two groups allege the Department of Veterans Affairs has systematically denied mental health care and disability benefits to veterans returning from the conflict zones.

The case, officially known as Veterans for Common Sense vs. Peake, went to trial last month at a Federal Courthouse in San Francisco. The two sides are still filing briefs until May 19 and waiting for a ruling from Judge Samuel Conti, but the case is already having an impact.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig9/glantz1.html

[Selatius]

1. 18 a day = 6570 per year. Imagine how many there would be in a 10 year war. nt

[alstephenson]

2. K & R for our soldiers.

[Happyhippychick]

3. More have killed themselves than have died in Iraq.

Sobering, isn't it?

[crickets]

4. Yes. That's the line that really jumped out and grabbed me. K&R -nt

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. Yes, but keep in mind

That (18/day) number is ALL war veterns - including WW-2, Korea, Vietnam, etc. not just Iraq. Although I would not be surprised if was well above average.

[G_j]

6. a sad K&R....