New York Times Special Report: 121 Veterans Of Iraq And Afghanistan Charged With Killing Upon Returning Home

New York Times:

Late one night in the summer of 2005, Matthew Sepi, a 20-year-old Iraq combat veteran, headed out to a 7-Eleven in the seedy Las Vegas neighborhood where he had settled after leaving the Army.

This particular 7-Eleven sits in the shadow of the Stratosphere casino-hotel in a section of town called the Naked City. By day, the area, littered with malt liquor cans, looks depressed but not menacing. By night, it becomes, in the words of a local homicide detective, "like Falluja."

Mr. Sepi did not like to venture outside too late. But, plagued by nightmares about an Iraqi civilian killed by his unit, he often needed alcohol to fall asleep. And so it was that night, when, seized by a gut feeling of lurking danger, he slid a trench coat over his slight frame -- and tucked an assault rifle inside it.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[GrouchoMarxist]

Damn. This is the beginning of the aftermath. We're going to be living with and dealing with this for a long, long time.

[Alvin4NY]

Very sick and sad. We put weapons in their hands and tell them to kill in a war that never should have happened.

[YEShavesome]

KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!

[Coyote2]

And we want another 100 years of this, Mr. McCain?

[Witchitalineman]

This is disturbing. I hope Bush and his cronies take full responsbility.

[YEShavesome]

Makes me sooooo proud!

[woundedduck]

The Bush Admin will continue to sweep the needs and concerns of both Iraq War vets, and the effects of combat, under carpet because it doesn't help them sell the war. The negligence Bush has shown towards his "honorable warriors" is criminal, unconscionable, and should bring nothing but derision from the military and their families.

[beekeeper]

No shit Sherlock. It does not take a rocket scientist to know that the repeated deployment and exposure to trauma again and again will HARM these soldiers. There is not nearly enough PTSD mental health support therapist and groups to help our armed forces.

I think we should traumatize BUSH for harming as many humans as that prick has.