When is enough enough for soldiers?
My brother has served in the Army since 2002 and is facing his third tour to Iraq in October. He is currently being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms he has exhibited since returning from his second tour in November 2006.
When he is redeployed, he does not know if he will continue to have access to his Zoloft medication or weekly talk therapy currently being used to treat his symptoms. Due to the extended 15-month deployments and his October leave date, he will be in Iraq for two consecutive Christmases.
When is enough enough? This war is being fought on the backs of our working class while the rest of America worries about gas prices and summer movie releases. When will the odds catch up with my brother as they have for so many other service members who return with brain injuries, amputations or worse? What will it take for the American people to demand an end to this destructive war?
While the Democrats and Republicans debate over which lifelong bureaucrat should limp into office to succeed the current underachiever, the American people need to make their voices heard.
Lisa Sevcik, Highlands Ranch
I would say enough is enough when the leaders of the dem party stop having press conferences saying we have lost the war.
that adds a lot of stress to a military persons life knowing that the people back home dont care.
I am sure your brother will continue his treatment and get his medication.
I for one thank him for his service to our country and wish him well.
When is enough enough? This is a retorical question in my opinion. It is assinine! Remember that he volunteered, no one twisted his arm Does any one who thinks along this line that redeployments are wrong remember a little altercation called WWII?
In this small altercation there was no bring the troops home now crap. Men were deployed till the job was over. Some actually in the pacific theatre stayed over 6 years before they got a chance to come home. Being under Gen. MacArthur. He had combat vets stay and help rebuild Japan.
Oh wait these men were part of what is known as the Greatest Generation. They understand sacrifice and hardships. Something baby boomers do not. Having things handed to them.
Your brother may be suffering but he is doing this country a service and should be treated with respect. Its a military families reponsibility to make sure he gets support and moral. Would it be out of the question for you to run down and have his prescript refilled and then send it to him. Oh wait that means you may have to put out a little.
If sacrificing yourself is a little to hard then maybe you should take a day and help your brother fill out a few forms and send to the phamicutical company explaining the situation. They are not heartless as portrayed. Programs are available to ensure people get prescripts that need them.
Lisa,
I am so sorry this is happening to your brother. The only bright side I see is at least he has been receiving treatment for PTSD, rather than years of self medication far too many VN, Korean and WWII vets I knew have done.
Joe it is OUR, your and my responsibility to see to it our government is doing right by their veterans and active duty military members. Family members should not be having to apply band aids, buy body armor, prescriptions and send welding equipment out to soldiers so they have half a shot at making it back alive.
If you believe it is important maybe you should do a little more than apply a yello magnet to the back of your SUV and join in the sacrifice too many families are already making to the meatgrinder we call iraq.
Posted by marge on June 16, 2007 07:22 AMpaco said without a hint of literacy:
"that (sic) adds a lot of stress to a military persons life knowing that the people back home dont (sic) care."
He attacks Lisa, who's brother is serving in his place (I'm guessing paco is pretty young based on his inability to write complete sentences) because somehow he's translated her opposition to the war in Iraq as "not caring" about the troops.
Could a person come to a more backwards conclusion if they tried?
Perhaps paco is not serving because he doesn't even qualify as "low hanging fruit".
Posted by Charles B on June 16, 2007 07:23 AMPaco and Joe - please stop watching Faux Nooze and sign up.
Thank you for your letter, Lisa. Yes, the soldiers in Iraq are not part of the Elite Ruling Class. If this occupation was so important to our "freedoms," then we'd see the Bush twins and Romney's FIVE straping young sons serving alongside your brave brother.
God Speed to you and your dear family.
Posted by Winston Smith on June 16, 2007 07:49 AMWhere is the "blood and treasure" of St. Elway, Mastermind (draft-dodger), and Pat Bowlen (Canadian)? These 3-Amigos were jumping around like a bunch of monkeys, when Boy-George was selling his war in '04'. After their cheering, in the dark of night, they packed their kids off to college and the NFL.
Bowlen was cheering because of his foreign corporate welfare gift. Only the US Congress and president, can make foreign trade agreements. Bowlen's stadium deal is a violation of federal and he his cronies should pay restitution for their illegal cash-cow.
Posted by 40acresandmymule on June 16, 2007 08:04 AM"paco said without a hint of literacy"
CB, do you really think that statements like this make you seem clever? This makes me wonder if you actually have an understanding of what the word literacy means, or whether this another instance of the vague, contextual, self-imposed definitions that you use when a word is polysyllabic and you don't have a working comprehension of its meaning. Buy a dictionary, it doesn't cost that much and is a worthwhile investment.
Posted by Responsible on June 16, 2007 08:09 AMANSWER TO ROMNEY QUESTION: When the Vietnam War broke-out, Mitt broke for his Mormon mission. In a Bush-Klan like fashion, Mitt's daddy (member of Nixon's cabinet) got him this sweetheart deal. So much for separation of church and state.
Mitt owes the black community nationally, and apology for those that lost their "blood and treasure" in Vietnam. In his stead, 55% of the "soldier draftees" killed in Vietnam (in-country) were black, while we only comprised 12% of the nation's entire population. Furthermore, during WWII, Elijah Muhammad south a "Mitt" religious draft deferment and he was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison. 18 years later, his son, Wallace D. Muhammad, sought a Mitt package, and you guessed it, Wallace D. awas sentenced to 3 years in prison too. Elijah was Muhammad Ali's religious advisor, well you get the racist pix.
If the Mittster is elected, will he pay fiancial restiution to the Muhammad clan? Do Mitt owe us 3 years in prison? Not very "fair and balanced".
Posted by 40acresandmymule on June 16, 2007 08:19 AMPaco- I'll tell you, as a combat veteran of our military misadventure in southeast Asia that any soldier paying more attention to news on the "home front" is automatically letting down their fellow soldiers, and asking for trouble. He or she better be paying attention to their situational awareness, his or her flanks, 6 o'clock and overhead.Don't believe me sign up yourself specify MOS 11B30 and volunteer for a tour walking patrol in some lovely spot like Fallujah then tell me what affects your morale.
Posted by patrick on June 16, 2007 08:29 AMjoe & paco:
I remember when I joined in 1968 and went to vietnam I bought into the pro war rally. I was led to beleive the war was just and needed to be fought. Because someone volunteers to serve their country does not give our government the right to send our troops into arms way with out just cause. Afganistan was Iraq was not. It is so easy to sit back thousands of miles from a war and make judgements for war unless you've been there. You two also I bet had the the gall to critize John kerry for his service and defended W for his cowardlly defection. I would say unless you have served in a combat zone you keep your opions to yourself. I've been in Lisa's brothers shoes and it is not something that I would wish on anyone even COWARDS LIKE BUSH AND YOU TWO. He is just seeing the begining. Wait until we end up having to pull out and he see's that it was all for nothing like vietnam. Oh by the way the guy that cut and run in vietnam was your beloved repug Nixon.
Lisa...
Tell your brother "THANK YOU" for all he does. American Citizens care.
Make a new bumper sticker that says "support our troops coming home" then give them to everyone who really cares for them.
Posted by Sharon B. on June 16, 2007 11:13 AMThe problem is Bush has done too good of a job keeping the US terrorist attack-free. His reward: 29% approval rating. Surely his approval rating and popularity would be a lot higher if terrorist slaughtered a few thousand more people in New York and more often. Looking at raw numbers, Bush’s rating steadily declined over time from the weeks following 9/11 and the economic recovery thereafter, more time passed without car bombs going off at Sharon B’s favorite Strarbuck’s, more people turned against him. After all what kind of moronic president would want to fight enemies overseas when you could do it right here on 16th Street. I say bring the troops home and dissolve the military, I’d trust Sharon and Lisa will protect us from now on, they know better.
Posted by Uno on June 16, 2007 12:41 PM"When is enough enough" is never a rhetorical question. The bias and prejudice (common sense) displayed in this forum is evidence.
Deicide Corner: Now our President says that God gives him the word: Send infidels off to their blazing reward! So now the Euphrates is running with blood, And our born-again Prez says We kill for the Lord.
40 acres - so am I correct in asking WHY don't those FIVE (5) (COUNT 'EM - FIVE!) strapping, muscular, healthy Romney boys, who are in their 20's & 30's - ENLIST IN THE INFANTRY?
Why isn't a one of them in the US military?
Posted by Winston Smith on June 16, 2007 01:38 PMOuch! That hurts.
Posted by Dei Your God on June 16, 2007 02:54 PM"The problem is Bush has done too good of a job keeping the US terrorist attack-free. " Uno
OK, how does one correlate the statement to the fact Bush didn't bother to end his vacation so that he could rally his forces to handle the terrorist threat identified in the August 6, 2001 presidential daily briefing entitled "Bin Laden determined to strike in US. "
Yeah, he's done a heckuva job keeping the US terrorist attack-free.
Posted by Todd on June 16, 2007 03:06 PMHey Larrymc,
Tell you what. I did serve and proudly at that. I do not wear my purple heart on my sleave and beg for handouts unlike some .. perhaps you. DO not ever question my salad bowl you bastard.
I volunteered to serve. I wasn't draged kicking and screaming into the service it was by choioce. I am DAMN PROUD of my time in the Corps.
As to what I said I stand by it. Instead of bitching and moaning about how the system works, perhaps she needs to get the prescripts filled and sent to her brother. There are many many programs and means to aid those in the militery.
Posted by Joe on June 16, 2007 09:59 PMTodd, after 9/11 yes he did, he learned from it. Apparently you and your liberal cronies didn’t.
Posted by Uno on June 16, 2007 11:06 PMin this day and age why would anyone go or send their children to a war half way across the globe while our own country is being invaded from our southern border on a daily basis? And the American taxpayer is subsidizing the invasion!
Posted by [Ben] "Patton" on June 17, 2007 06:43 AMFirst of all Joe if you had served in Nam you would know how that war was fought and lost and would also see the hand writing on the wall and see were this one is going. You also would have learned how to spell MILITARY.
Posted by larrymc on June 17, 2007 09:27 AMJoe the ex-jarhead has got to qualify as the perfect example of the irony deficiency anemia that afflicts most wingnuts. He says he doesn't wear his purple heart on his sleave(sic), but it's the first thing he mentions.
He might have learned to spell military and sleeve and I've never heard of a salad bowl. I've heard ones ribbons called fruit salad, but never a salad bowl.
He demands rather brusquely that no one diminish his service then in the next breath demeans every draftee including most of those who fought WWII including my Father, Korea and a majority of us in Vietnam by implying that we had to be draged(sic) to do our duty. Joe you should have stayed in you sound like perfect lifer material.
The war was started because of WMD's. The sight of our troops marching into Iraq and easily liberating the people and watching the statue of Saddam come down made me think wow we do have a great Military. We accomplished the mission,eventually caught Saddam and his murderous sons. Justice was served.
Now we have a difficult situation.Iraqi's killing each other because they are different types of Muslims.We are also fighting Iran who is right in there stirring the pot and providing weapons to kill our troops to insurgents.
We cannot win this war now. It is a losing situation. The good Iraqi's who want democracy in their country are out numbered or scared of all the violence that is an everyday thing.
You have two Muslim factions fighting each other , the Sunni's and the Shiites. I may be wrong but The Koran does not teach Democracy. It teaches living by thr rules of the Koran. So we are fighting a losing battle if the end result is to have Iraq become a Democracy.
I think it is now time to get out. We are in a no win situation. We can't fight the insurgents,Al Queda,Suicide bombers,Sunni's ,Shiite's,Iran,The Taliban,and any other of the many terrorist cells trying to kill as many American's as they can.
At first it was a noble idea.Now we are in a no win situation and do not have enough troops. We are sending and resending troops over there and it is sad to watch the body count everyday on the news. We are losing too many military personel.We are sending them on a suicide mission.
It is time to stop the war and bring our military home. They don't have the personel or the strength to fight all the factions over there.
It's time.
Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on June 17, 2007 01:10 PM40acres, maybe the draft is a good idea, but I think all the Republican kids would "out" themselves to avoid going.
Or shoot themselves in the foot, or adopt 6 kids, or.....well you get my drift?
Posted by Sharon B. on June 17, 2007 03:08 PMSharon
How about sending all the millions of illegals ..that are here enjoing all the benefits of America. If the want and demand ..respect.... all the social and medical benefits for themselves and their children why not help out ...our troops..maybe we can get the job done ,.and our soldiers can come home sooner. They're sitting back enjoing our freedom also. 12-30 million..yea I think we have enough able body men and women..18 and over. If they made it thru the border and rough terrain..theyre tough enough to fight in Iraq. Men and women..wanna be a SM 13 gang banger.. go fight for the country you want to get amnestry from. No just wanting to get everything on a silver platter.
Sharon
How about sending all the millions of illegals ..that are here enjoing all the benefits of America. If the want and demand ..respect.... all the social and medical benefits for themselves and their children why not help out ...our troops..maybe we can get the job done ,.and our soldiers can come home sooner. They're sitting back enjoing our freedom also. 12-30 million..yea I think we have enough able body men and women..18 and over. If they made it thru the border and rough terrain..theyre tough enough to fight in Iraq. Men and women..wanna be a SM 13 gang banger.. go fight for the country you want to get amnestry from. No just wanting to get everything on a silver platter.
Yeah Sharon B. - like Dick & Lynn who so CONvieniently had their little mary 10 months after Dick's...uh ....what ....... 4th deferment ran out?
God bless you and your dear brother and family, Lisa.
Thank you for writing your letter.
(PS - The first thing I learned in high-school English was is if my "speech did not provoke discussion then it is an 'F'.")
You get an "A" for taking the time out of your day to share your thoughts.
I will pray for you and your brother.
Which probably means nothing in these troubled times.
God Speed.
Posted by Winston Smith on June 18, 2007 06:41 PM40 acres - "Myth: A disproportionate number of blacks were killed in the Vietnam War.
86% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasians, 12.5% were black, 1.2% were other races. (CACF and Westmoreland)
Sociologists Charles C. Moskos and John Sibley Butler, in their recently published book "All That We Can Be," said they analyzed the claim that blacks were used like cannon fodder during Vietnam "and can report definitely that this charge is untrue. Black fatalities amounted to 12 percent of all Americans killed in Southeast Asia - a figure proportional to the number of blacks in the U.S. population at the time and slightly lower than the proportion of blacks in the Army at the close of the war." [All That We Can Be]"
You can view other myths about Viet Nam at http://www.vhfcn.org/stat.html
Posted by on June 19, 2007 10:23 AM