Iraq Warfare Put U.S. Troops Under Growing Stress-Study

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040916/ts_nm/iraq_usa_stress_dc&cid=564&ncid=1480

<snip>
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Guerrilla warfare in Iraq (news - web sites) is putting U.S. troops under growing mental stress as the military struggles to retain and recruit soldiers, according to a study cited by the Army Reserve commander on Thursday.

<snip>
"Driving that truck is one of the most hazardous damned occupations we have in Iraq," he said. "Truck drivers, frankly, and MPs (military police) are front-line troops these days."


He said the survey suggested that an unusually high percentage of U.S. troops in support roles had been involved in the fighting in Iraq, which has killed more than 1,000 Americans and thousands of Iraqis.

<snip>
"I saw the results of an effort yesterday that surveyed soldiers. And the statistics were astounding in terms of the percentages of soldiers who have served in 'Iraqi Freedom' and say, 'I have seen a fellow soldier seriously wounded,' 'I observed a fellow soldier die,' 'I observed a civilian killed,' 'My location was subjected to mortar or rocket fire."'

[bemildred]

1. Gasp! They called it "Guerrilla warfare"! nt

[not systems]

2. It has been freeped down to 1.65...

for people who "support" the troops the right wingers
sure don't like to hear what they have to say.

[UpInArms]

5. just echoing their feckless leader

Who cares what you think? GWB - Philadelphia 7/1/01

[Az_lefty]

3. I was in Army Trans in Iraq

drove right into the middle of several fire fights. There is on rear area in Iraq for Trans.

[TrogL]

4. Reminds me of a situation here at work

The PHB's decided to do a big nasty thing. The techs said it wouldn't work. The PHB's went ahead anyway. They quickly found out that there were all sorts of problems. They blamed the techs.

I can see soldiers being in the same position. I suspect the brass warned the suits that it was gonna be a quagmire. The suits said go ahead anyway. Now that it's a quagmire, the grunts are taking the heat.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. Remember this story?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,778139,00.html

War game was fixed to ensure American victory, claims general

Julian Borger in Washington
Wednesday August 21, 2002
The Guardian

The biggest war game in US military history, staged this month at a cost of £165m with 13,000 troops, was rigged to ensure that the Americans beat their "Middle Eastern" adversaries, according to one of the main participants.
General Paul Van Riper, a retired marine lieutenant-general, told the Army Times that the sprawling three-week millennium challenge exercises, were "almost entirely scripted to ensure a win".

He protested by quitting his role as commander of enemy forces, and warning that the Pentagon might wrongly conclude that its experimental tactics were working.

When Gen Van Riper agreed to command the forces of an unnamed Middle Eastern state - which bore a strong re semblance to Iraq, but could have been Iran - he thought he would be given a free rein to probe US weaknesses. But when the game began, he was told to deploy his forces to make life easier for US forces.

"We were directed... to move air defences so that the army and marine units could successfully land," he said. "We were simply directed to turn off or move them... So it was scripted to be whatever the control group wanted it to be."

[sr_pacifica]

7. And how about the extended tours of duty

I imagine may be the cause of vehicle accident deaths too. Stressed and fatigued...

[sattahipdeep]

8. ’He’s just sleeping, I kept telling myself’

Wednesday 15th September 2004

by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad

On Sunday, 13 Iraqis were killed and dozens injured in Baghdad when US
helicopters fired on a crowd of unarmed civilians. G2 columnist Ghaith
Abdul-Ahad, who was injured in the attack, describes the scene of
carnage - and reveals just how lucky he was to walk away

http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=3335

[sattahipdeep]

9. Remember this Prime Time Press Conference

April 13, 2004

We will continue taking the greatest care to prevent harm to
innocent civilians; yet we will not permit the spread of chaos
and violence. I have directed our military commanders to make
every preparation to use decisive force, if necessary, to maintain
order and to protect our troops.
....
The nation of Iraq is moving toward self-rule, and Iraqis and
Americans will see evidence in the months to come.
....
On June 30th, when the flag of free Iraq is raised, Iraqi officials
will assume full responsibility for the ministries of government.
....
On that day, the transitional administrative law, including a bill
of rights that is unprecedented in the Arab world, will take full effect.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/04/20040413-20.html

.....
On Sunday, 13 Iraqis were killed and dozens injured in Baghdad when US
helicopters fired on a crowd of unarmed civilians



’He’s just sleeping, I kept telling myself’

Wednesday 15th September 2004
by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad

When I arrived there I saw hundreds of kids and young men heading
towards the smoke. "Run fast, it’s been burning for a long time!"
someone shouted as I grabbed my cameras and started to run.

http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=3335

[sattahipdeep]

10. Hidden Toll of the War In Iraq

Mental Health and the Military

by Stephen L. Robinson
September 14, 2004

The alarming number of suicides earlier this year among U.S. troops serving in
Iraq has raised a red flag about the mental strain on our service men and
women as they face grueling battles and a conflict with no clear end in sight.
These suicides are only the most visible manifestation of the rising mental
health toll from the Iraq war and other U.S. combat operations abroad. Studies
indicate that troops who served in Iraq are suffering from post traumatic stress
disorder and other problems brought on by their experiences on a scale not
seen since Vietnam.

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=186881

[wsswss]

11. Newsflash

Getting shot-at and truck-bombed stresses out US soldiers. You think?

I hope nobody payed too much money to conduct this study...