Tucked into this massive Army report on suicide is an interesting fact: Since 2004, the number of soldiers going AWOL, deserting, and "missing movement" -- that is failing to deploy when they're supposed to -- has gone up a shocking 234 percent.
The Army includes this fact on page 92 of the 350 page document, in a section on misdemeanor crimes -- alongside motor vehicle violations, substance abuse, and other crimes -- which collectively have been rising at the rate of more than 5,000 a year for the last five years.
"Good order and discipline are on the decline," the report says.
Alternatively, one could say that after seven years of war in Iraq and nearly a decade in Afghanistan, American soldiers are increasingly unwilling to risk their lives for unpopular wars with an unclear path to victory.
Follow Aaron Glantz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Aaron_Glantz
Shawn Amoei: Neocon War Plans Undermine Iranians' Quest for Democracy
Bombing Iran would do nothing short of destroy Iran's chances for democracy. Neoconservatives who argue an attack on Iran would do wonders for the Green Movement are pushing an idea that is not just wrong, but dangerous.
Jeremy White: Plan to Cut the Defense Budget by $150 Billion Over Five Years
Returning the defense budget to pre-9/11 levels will force us to prioritize future threats and explicitly define the strategic purpose of each branch of the armed forces.
Robert Greenwald: 1,200 Crosses Say No to Afghanistan War
The movement to rethink the Afghanistan War is picking up steam. The Aug. 8 demonstration in Santa Barbara is just one example of the growing discontent and the creative actions by local activists to express it.
