Issue of the Day

From 5.11.09

Fragging!!

Another Deja-Vu 'Nam Hits the Present Occupations!!!

U.S. service member kills 4 fellow troops in Iraq - GI in custody after killing 5 at Iraq ‘stress clinic’
Contrary to earlier reports, military says soldier did not kill self after attack



With a Report from McClatchy on the shooting

From 5.12.09

Baghdad killings reflect U.S. Army stress crisis

The tragedy at Camp Liberty, near Baghdad, where an American soldier shot and killed five U.S. personnel and wounded three others, has been at least six years in the making.......

This, video below, accompanies the above report from UPI and really shows that though the citizens of this country like to cheer on Wars of Choice they still haven't a clue as to how War affects those sent and those living in occupations. As well as traumatic experiences they themselves may live and how that affects them and others. The video is also at site page.



Also From 5.12.09

Father of Soldier in Iraq 'Fratricide' Case Speaks, Reveals Key Details

Referring to the treatment of his son at the stress clinic where the shootings took place, Russell said, “They don’t do the best job of taking care of the soldiers, both in the service and when they get out of the service, we know that. They use them.” He added: “They broke him. He thought his life was over.”

He also confirmed a report that his son was disarmed and sent away from the stress clinic after a “rhubarb” with others there, only to take a gun from a minder and return for the deadly shootout.

The father, of Grayson County, Texas, told KTEN TV, in the raw video posted at the station’s web site, that after the “rhubarb” they put Sgt. Russell “in a vehicle with a guy with a gun, and, well -- they'd trained him to kill -- and he took a gun” and returned to the clinic..........

Watch the Video

Some may find these books very helpful, others should find to be useful in the educational quality of understanding and research, and not only for combat veterans but civilian suffers of:

I Can Still Hear Their Cries, Even In My Sleep: A Journey Into PTSD

Veterans's PTSD Handbook: How to File and Collect on Claims for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle against America's Veterans

Vets Under Siege: How America Deceives and Dishonors Those Who Fight Our Battles

After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families

Life After Deployment: Military families share reunion stories and advice

Moving A Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops

"The Eliminationists:"

"""For most of my life, even into the 1990s, it was fairly easy to distinguish eliminationists from mainstream conservatives. Conservatives were people who welcomed the advances of science and education, were generally civil in their dealings with political opponents, shunned conspiracism and outrageous paranoia, and were not constantly sounding the alarm about the impending end of civilization. Religious beliefs always played a role in traditional conservatism, but the old consensus held by both liberals and conservatives--that religious freedom meant the freedom of every citizen to choose their creed without coercion--still held sway for the most part.

That began to change, though, in the mid-1990s. And by the first few years of the 21st century, the differences between the mainstream Right and its fanatical fringe became thin indeed.


Dave Neiwert,The Eliminationists: How Hate Talk Radicalized the American Right (Paperback)"""

A Short List of Reading

That some may find very helpful, others should find to be useful in the educational quality of understanding and research, and not only for combat veterans but civilian suffers of:

I Can Still Hear Their Cries, Even In My Sleep: A Journey Into PTSD

Veterans's PTSD Handbook: How to File and Collect on Claims for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle against America's Veterans

Vets Under Siege: How America Deceives and Dishonors Those Who Fight Our Battles

After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families

Life After Deployment: Military families share reunion stories and advice

Moving A Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops

Jimmy Carter: Peace in the Holy Land

"We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work"

In this urgent, balanced, and passionate book, Nobel Peace Laureate and former President Jimmy Carter argues that the present moment is a unique time for achieving peace in the Middle East -- and he offers a bold and comprehensive plan to do just that.

President Carter has been a student of the biblical Holy Land all his life. For the last three decades, as president of the United States and as founder of The Carter Center, he has studied the complex and interrelated issues of the region's conflicts and has been actively involved in reconciling them. He knows the leaders of all factions in the region who will need to play key roles, and he sees encouraging signs among them.

Carter describes the history of previous peace efforts and why they fell short. He argues persuasively that the road to a peace agreement is now open and that it has broad international and regional support. Most of all, since there will be no progress without courageous and sustained U.S. leadership, he says the time for progress is now. President Barack Obama is committed to a personal effort to exert that leadership, starting early in his administration.

This is President Carter's call for action, and he lays out a practical and doable path to peace.

OEF/OIF Suicide Toll and Reading Materials

I want to point you to a friends website PTSD Combat: Winning the War Within if you hadn't know about Ilona's work and research, or if you've visited but not in awhile.


And point you to her recent post OEF/OIF Veteran Suicide Toll: Nearly 15% of Overall U.S. Military Casualties Result from Suicide


I'm only going to give you a small snippet of her post, visit and read the rest, for there are a number of link backs giving one an open window in the problems that war and occupation theaters inflict on those who serve in them, as well as the people of the occupied and destroyed countries.

Back in February, the Marines released their military branch's updated suicide statistics. They revealed the number of Afghanistan and Iraq combat troops and veterans who took their own lives in 2007 had doubled over the previous year.

Earlier this month, the Army reported its own current soldier suicide data, reflecting another year of record increases. And just last week, the VA chimed in with their latest OEF/OIF veterans suicide figures -- also another record-breaker -- for its Afghanistan and Iraq veteran clients.

Gregg Zoroya of USA Today:

Visit above link to Ilona's site, there's much more than just this well researched post, much more, and the results of War, PTSD, TBI, the Maimed Physically and Mentally, must be placed up front and at the top of the list as War should be the Absolute Last Resort for any Democracy of the People to Lead by Example not by Destructive Policies creating hatreds and enemies!


Below you will find a list of great books, there are others, that should be read, understood, and referanced as to what needs to be done to help those who've been placed in these Hell's on Earth!!


First Ilona's terrific referance booklet of great information:


Moving A Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops


And a few more to add to the personal libraries and public libraries as well:


I Can Still Hear Their Cries, Even In My Sleep: A Journey Into PTSD



Veterans's PTSD Handbook: How to File and Collect on Claims for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder



After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families



War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation's Veterans from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder



Back from t Front: Combat Trauma, Love, and the Family



Heart of War: Soldiers' Voices From the Front Lines in Iraq



Blood Brothers: Among the Soldiers of Ward 57


As I said above, there are others in the bookstores and online book sources. To stop repeating the mistakes of destructive conflicts one, the majority that don't serve in them, must understand what conflicts do to their brothers and sisters, the few who do serve, and the damage done to any countries National Security, for the Innocents can and do become the Targets of the Blowback and Retaliation from Failed Policies!!!

Add On:

How the VA Abandons Our Vets

Sgt. Juan Jimenez had one of the most dangerous jobs in Iraq, ushering top Administration officials through the war-torn streets of Baghdad. He returned home with two Purple Hearts and shrapnel lodged in his right arm. Today he is gravely ill.

What Jimenez didn't realize is that before he could receive benefits for his wounds, he'd have to prove that those wounds came from war. Three and a half years later, the sergeant is still making his case. The Department of Veterans Affairs isn't convinced. And it won't give him his benefits until it is.
SNIP