Greg Mitchell: The (Unsurprising) Psychic Toll of the War in Iraq

[babylonsister]

The (Unsurprising) Psychic Toll of the War in Iraq
By Greg Mitchell - May 19, 2009, 10:39AM


By this point, we should not be surprised to realize that the media, after a brief flurry of coverage, quickly dropped the story of John Russell, the Army sergeant being treated for mental issues, who gunned down five colleagues at a stress clinic in Baghdad earlier this month. That's why I was startled to see that Bob Herbert highlighted this episode in his New York Times column today, under the title, "War's Psychic Toll." It was the first mention I'd seen in quite a few days.

The slaughter of five comrades by a "stressed out" U.S. soldier is a true tragedy -- but should not have come as a shock. It's also richly symbolic, with added "poignancy," as Herbert puts it. That's why the story should be fully explored.

Some of us have warned about this kind of thing happening for years, with many in the media ignoring the effects of the war on our soldiers and veterans, or paying attention for just a short while and then moving along. Of course, there are exceptions, such as Salon's Mark Benjamin and Bob Herbert. The latter mirrored my view today when he wrote that he "couldn't have been less surprised" when he learned of the fratricide in Baghdad.

Herbert also observes: "The psychic toll of this foolish and apparently endless war has been profound since day one. And that nation's willful denial of that toll has been just as profound."

more...

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/05/19/the_unsurprising_psychic_toll_of_the_war_in_iraq/?ref=fpblg

[gblady]

1. thanks for the article.....

as a recent grad of mental health counseling...this is a huge issue
that will demand much attention as our vets come home. I was
fortunate to get great training in PTSD counseling during my practicum.

[Karenina]

2. . .