Reply #1: I am right there with you.These coward pieces of right-wing shit.My 127th ltte... [View All]

[w8liftinglady]

As the Nation focuses on its' crumbling economy,the War in
Iraq and Afghanistan goes on,virtually forgotten.The death
count is up to 3960 troops in Iraq,766 troop deaths in
Afghanistan.39,298 troops wounded in Iraq were unable to
return to service,as were 7,552 troops in Afghanistan.As the
Republican candidates stump for more war,let's review how
our grateful nation has thanked those who gave all for our
freedom:

-Members of the 10th Mountain Division,out of Ft.Drum,New
York,have served a total of 40 months in Iraq thanks to
multiple deployments and "stop-loss".With each
deployment,the soldiers become 5 times more likely to be
killed,and 4 times more likely to be wounded.The exposure to
high-intensity combat,combined with extended tours and little
time between deployments has left these soldiers at risk for
PTSD.Despite this,mental health resources and post-
deployment resources have been horribly lacking.Combine
this with a recent memo leaked in which the Army instructed
the Department of Veterans Affairs last March to stop helping
soldiers there with their disability claims.At first, the Army
surgeon general, Eric B. Schoomaker, denied that the Army
had told Veterans Affairs to do so. But after National Public
Radio reported on a memorandum from the March meeting in
Buffalo in which a colonel was quoted as directing Veterans
Affairs to discontinue counseling, the surgeon general
apologized for his denial and said it was based on
a "miscommunication".

-Although the Veterans for America began reporting on the
high suicide rate of Iraq war veterans in 2004,little attention
is paid to this fact even today.Recent Army figures indicate
that 2,100 soldiers attempted suicide in 2007.This number
doesn't begin to incorporate the number of soldiers who are
committing slow suicide via substance abuse and risk-taking
behaviors that define PTSD.

-Reservists in the Army and Marine Corps have paid a
particularly heavy price.Their multiple deployments have left
heavy financial burdens on their families,increasing the risk
for PTSD,suicide,and divorce.When a Reservist is deployed
for 180 days or more,the family is entitled to all military
benefits,such as housing allotment,military ID card and health
care.However,should the Reservist serve 179 days,they are
not entitles to these benefits.If a soldier is activated 22
months,specifically 730 days,the soldier is entitled to the full
GI bill.There have been several instances where orders have
been written for 729 days,thus eliminating these benefits.The
Minnesota National Guard is currently in litigation over this
very thing.71,000 Reservists and Guard members are
currently deployed in a War Zone.

How many Daily Light readers have sacrificed for this war?
What have you or your family done without?How many of
your family members are serving in a war zone?How many of
you have sons or daughters who COULD be serving?Do you
support this war?Choose what you will sacrifice,which of your
children or grandchildren you will send.Your leaders have
chosen to treat its' defenders like toy soldiers,easily cast
away when their use becomes "boring".Support our troops-
elect a leader who will end this insanity and treat our troops
with the respect their valor deserves.