Military Suicides Fuel Worry That Army Is Strained

Wall Street Journal:

The Army's top generals worry that surging tens of thousands more troops into Afghanistan could increase the strain felt by many military personnel after years of repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[zell]

Soldiers and members of the other branches of the military are coming into service because of (1) they do not have jobs and (2) they do not have healthcare. When they come into the military, they have a job and they have healthcare. But, at what cost? Soldiers do not mind defending our country against all hurt, harm or danger. When are we going to stop defending the world????? We are hearing about our troops dying in Afghanistan, but it seems that the NATO troops are not in harms way. When are we going to stop defending the world and let someone else defend the world? When are we going to let the oil companies hire their own troops and let the US of A troops defend America and no one else but America? It is time to bring our troops home and I believe that the suicides will stop.

[j mcdouglas]

The types of people who become soldiers simply won't ever learn.

You fight for America, you kill innocents for corrupt corporations.

That's all you're doing, and eventually it comes home to roost.

And honestly, it should.

American soldiers should feel guilty and dirty about the things they've done.

But you can't help but feel sorry for them... these poor ignorant people.

[edgarcaycedoc]

Perhaps those who do not commit suicide or die by natural causes can pick up their weapons at a later date and shoot up post offices, colleges, and McDonald's. I gave six years to the (two Army and four Air Force) during 'Nam and came away suicidal. There is no reason we cannot utilize their skills to destroy other American lives.

[noweknow]

Why they say suicide when most were murdered?
Who believes propaganda from the Army?

[LemonMeringue]

Just bring them home.

Bush's wars were folly. Obama should end them.

[RagingHawk]

Soldiers volunteer for combat, and war is he//. Our troops deserve more / better mental health care, not just pulling them from harms way. After all, that's what they signed up for.

But we owe it to them to give them the support they need to deal with the stress, and removing those that are having trouble coping with the stress, for their sake and the sake of combat effectiveness.

[edgarcaycedoc]

"Better mental health care" will not offset the fact that if you access that "health care" that you are damaged goods, and your career is ruined. I speak from experience.

[Hoverman]

It's not that easy to turn the mind switch off after the battle, I heard a Vietnam Vet say that suicide have top 100,000 for Vietnam vets since the Vietnam war , this seems to be a big battle in it self. The Army must do more work on this problem.

[rivahcat]

We've been involved in a pointless war for 7+ years, and NOW they "worry" about stress and strain on our troops???????

[Ascoli]

The absurdity of 'worrying NOW' is ..........­........am­azing and outragous.

[acapo]

Maybe they should bring the troops home?

[instagladiator]

Hogwash! More propaganda to win over troop build-ups, nothing more, nothing less.

[mcantwell]

How so?

[24kgold]

Maybe you should go and fight so they can bring a soldier home to be with their family.

[bestealth]

Maybe YOU should go and fight for corporate profits in an illegal war and let a soldier come home.

[ThinkCreeps]

Well well. At least four years after this was old news, someone's kicked the WSJ

[mcantwell]

This article is worth bookmarking. One has to wonder if McShouldNe­verHaveBee­nRehired took into account " the mental health of the nation's military personnel after more than eight years of continuous warfare."

Quote: "Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top American commander in Kabul, wants more than 40,000 new troops, in addition to the 68,000 that will be in Afghanistan by year-end, and has warned that the U.S. faces possible "mission failure" unless it adopts a new strategy and quickly deploys significant reinforcements."

[instagladiator]

For your information "mission failure" was accomplished when you sat back and allowed you government to invade another country without just cause. YOU have to live with that.

[mcantwell]

I see. Do you think you are getting your point across by directing accusations at me personally? You need to point that little finger of yours somewhere else before it get's bitten off.