U.S. Army Stressed After Nearly a Decade of War

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

Army Report: Crime, Prescription Drug Use Makes Soldiers 'More Dangerous Than the Enemy'

After nine years of war, the U.S. Army is showing signs of stress because of repeated deployments and inadequate support for soldiers when they return, according to a blunt internal report released today. It blasts the Army's leadership for failing to recognize the problem.

The figures in recent years are staggering.

The number of soldiers committing suicide has increased since 2004, surpassing civilian rates in 2008. Use of prescription drugs has tripled in the past five years; prescription amphetamines use has doubled between 2006 and 2009. One third of soldiers take at least one prescription drug and 14 percent of soldiers are on some form of powerful painkiller.

Crime is rising every year as well. Each year has seen an increase of 5,000 misdemeanors over the previous year, meaning soldiers are expected to commit around 55,000 such crimes in 2010. Sexual offenses have tripled since 2003. Domestic abuse is up 177 percent in the past six years.

Non-combat deaths among the force have increased steadily since 2001 to the point where the report says that in 2009 more soldiers died as a result of accidents and "high risk behavior" than at war.

"Simply stated, we are often more dangerous to ourselves than the enemy," the report says.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/army-stressed-decade-war/story?id=11277253

[Roland99]

1. U.S. population stressed after decades of corporate oppression

[bemildred]

2. Gee, who could have predicted this? nt

[Hydra]

3. We're not built for perpetual, meaningless war

Even the soulless ones that get off on it need a break from the constant state of high alertness and low sleep.

We'll have to see how long they can keep this up. Maybe they'll build robots to do it. Only 1 step away from drones.

[lib2DaBone]

4. There is zero public will to carry on these wars.... $436 Million a day to wage these wars...

.. The media talks glowingly of how wonderful Patreus is doing in Afghanistan.

We hear that there is less than 100 Al Queida left in Afghansitan.. yet WE ARE STILL THERE. Surging.. sending more troops.

I can't figure it out.. it's insane.

[harun]

16. If the public will determined policy it might mean something. The 100 or so people

our gov't does represent want us there and we will stay there, forever.

[Ernesto]

5. HELL.... I was stressed after one tour in Vietnam....

My nephew called me over the holidays a few years ago. He was proud to tell me that he had decided to join the Marine Corps..... I went bat-shit crazy on the kid! Thank the stars that he reconsidered and is still in one piece.

[saigon68]

6. Idiots being killed for NOTHING

[underpants]

8. read this-from the 350 page report

At 24 years of age, a Soldier, on average, has moved from home, family and friends and has resided in two other states; has traveled the world (deployed); been promoted four times; bought a car and wrecked it; married and had children; has had relationship and financial problems; seen death; is responsible for dozens of Soldiers; maintains millions of dollars worth of equipment; and gets paid less than $40,000 a year.

http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e1/HPRRSP/HP-RR-SPReport2010_v00.pdf

[Lightning Count]

7. Ya think? nt

[BootinUp]

9. very bad. nt

[villager]

10. Good thing that's all being "changed!"

Oh, wait...

[BootinUp]

11. I will say this

You most definitely will see more out of this Congress/Administration then the previous ones as far as taking care of vets. That my freind is indisputable.

[villager]

12. Oh, they're being "taken care of," all right...

... in the "still being used for fodder in endless wars" sense.

[BootinUp]

13. I would suggest you ask

them, if they are better now with more resources than before.

[villager]

14. I would suggest you ask

them, if they still want to be sent on multiple tours of duties to the same fronts, with the same general excuses used as before.

[area51]

34. +1 (n/t)

[defendandprotect]

38. +1000%

[saigon68]

23. They are still Dead--------- their Mothers wear a GOLD STAR

their children are orphans

AND THEIR SPOUSES ARE WIDOWERS OR WIDOWS

Dying to prop up some drug lords and Industrial Criminals

[w8liftinglady]

40. As the mom of a three-time vet...i'm still waiting

My neurologist is also very active in PTSD research and TBI through the VA....very little funding provided.His friend,an epidemiologist,is one of the few who has stuck his neck out for the Gulf war 1 vets...they are still being screwed royally.i have worked in three separate hospitals since 1991-each with vets who were denied benefits for documented syndromes/illnesses.yes,the dems are better....but there is a LONG way to go.As long as we have guys suffering and people unwilling to acknowledge the effect it is having on our troops,I will continue to protest vigorously.

[saigon68]

42. As someone who does Veteran's Services I agree totally

Fought this battle for 30 years now. Its late in the day for my generation. The new one is being shit upon worse, in my opinion.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

41. So, are enlistments down? Is there a shortage of recruits?

Given how awful the situation is that's what a reasonable person would assume.

[saigon68]

24. Dying for corporate profits

[No Elephants]

25. Why are you complaining? He said he'd do this--and he never deviates from his platform.

:sarcasm:

[Prometheus Bound]

15. Imagine the stress on the people whose countries they attacked.

[No Elephants]

26. Brown folk who don't speak English? Who cares?

[young_at_heart]

17. This says it all

"Simply stated, we are often more dangerous to ourselves than the enemy," the report says.

[No Elephants]

28. With apologies to Clinton, That all depends on what your definition of "enemy" is.

If it's actual members of Al Q'aeeda and/or Taliban, the report may be correct on that point.

If it's the Iraqi, Afghani and Pakistani children and adults who are not actual members of Al Q'aeeda and/or Taliban, but who have nonetheless been killed, maimed or otherwise injured, displaced, rendered homeless, bankrupted, etc., "the enemy" may beg to differ with that statement from the report.

[Ross K]

18. No shit!

K&R

[defendandprotect]

19. Our Treasury is BANKRUPTED ... bring the troops home from these fake wars -- !!

[AnneD]

20. Unfortunantly...

this seems to be the extent of our jobs programs these days. Our military was broken when they started these endless tours and all volunteer forces. The average American and Congressman is detached from this war. There is no sense of personal sacrifice. Taxes have not been raised to pay for this war, citizens have not been drafted. How much difference the discussion of this war would be if these sacrifices were made. People would be getting off their butts and away from their keyboards and take to the streets.

[defendandprotect]

31. The people who gave us these wars were ruthless . .. sickly ruthless with the "enemy" and

sickly ruthless with our own soldiers and vets!!

This is another war that Congress has no strings on except to finance --

Some Democrats tried recently to get some "specifics" re an ending but didn't work --

and trying to stop it -- numbers are growing --

I'm thinking it might be a good time to get back in town with a large poster . . .

Can one person reignite a town's protest against these wars?

Don't know if I have the nerve to do it --

Next Tuesday night -- there is another music night in town when there are large crowds --

if I can get just one other person to do it -- maybe I'll try!!!

[Solly Mack]

21. K&R

Amazing

[western mass]

22. military-industrial corporate CEOs also stressed

...trying to find a way to spend all of the cash they've made in war profits.

[No Elephants]

27. Hey, stress killed Ken Lay!

Or someone.

[superconnected]

30. Remember there is no body. They creamated it quickly so they say.

[defendandprotect]

32. Look how stressed Tony Hayward got just looking at the spill -- !!

[superconnected]

29. I like the article but they should mention how Iraq is stressed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Iraq_War

CIVILIAN DEATHS IN IRAQ:

All sources have links in the above wikipedia link.

Source
Iraq Family Health Survey 151,000 violent deaths. June 2006
Lancet survey 601,027 violent deaths June 2006
Opinion Research Business survey 1,033,000 violent deaths August 2007
Associated Press 110,600 violent deaths April 2009
Iraq Body Count 95,888


http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/
American deaths since war began (3/19/03): Total 4413 Combat 3491




If you take the lowest estimate of civilian deaths and highest US soldier deaths even adding non-combat deaths, it's: 95888:4413, or 27.7 Iraqis killed for every US soldier killed - even when nearly 1000 of the US soldiers died in non-combat deaths.

And in the wost estimate - 1,033,000:4413, 295.9 Iraqis are killed for each US soldier killed - including US soldier non-combat deaths.

I don't know anybody who is worth the lives of 27.7 people or 295.9 people or any median in between. So even though I like this article and its info, I'd like to see articles on the Iraqis' stress now.

[defendandprotect]

33. We've been bombing Iraq now for 20 years . . . ?? Or is it even longer . .. ???

I've lost track!!

But more than 1 million Muslims dead -- that's for sure --

What state could America's karma possibly be in??

Who will cry for us now?

[IBEWVET]

35. Bring them home now!

It took me years to get over one tour in the sixties, let alone repeat ones.
Please bring our soldiers home. the end result will not be worth their lives.

[JonLP24]

36. These are the things

people should be talking about when advocating for support of these wars. It is not just that they might die out there, they will likely come back with a host of mental issues, divorce, and general problems adjusting back to civilian life. Not to mention the long hours and long days you spend waiting to come home.

[burnsei sensei]

37. The Society of the Absurd implodes.

I wish we could make the people who have profitted most from these wars regret them most.

[daleo]

39. U.S. taxpayer stressed after nearly a decade of war

Chinese bond purchasers, may be getting tired too.

[pinboy3niner]

43. I couldn't care less about the U.S. taxpayer...

...who has not had to pay anything for wars funded by debt.

The only ones paying at the moment are the troops and their families, with their blood and with their tears. And many of them will never stop paying...

[saigon68]

44. You are right the 2 Trillion $$$$$

Has all been borrowed