Study: Thousands of veterans return with mental illness

Another cost of war no one thinks about...the mental health of our troops. Mental illness is real. They've seen things most of us will never imagine...of couse they are haunted.

KILEY OUT!

Lt Gen Kiley is out as the surgeon general of the Army. And of course he's requesting retirement. He should be kicked out on his ass. I take issue with CNN saying he is the latest casualty. He's no such thing. Casualty makes one think of victim. He's no victim.

And let me say its not just the Iraq War veterans who are treated bad. Its military servicemembers period.

Walter Reed rebuked in death of Carson GI Army arrogance, bad equipment cited at hearing

Article about a Fort Carson, CO soldier who died at Walter Reed.

Failed equipment, staff negligence and command arrogance plagued a wounded Fort Carson soldier's unsuccessful fight for life at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, a congressman said at a hearing this week.

Here is the DOD news release of his death:

The Department of Defense announced today that Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, 29, of Kingman, Ariz., died of wounds on June 18, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C. Latham was participating in a raid at a suspected arms market in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on May 19 when he was hit with shrapnel. Latham was evacuated back to the United States where he died of his wounds.

Latham was assigned to Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.

GOP REP., VA KNEW OF REED PROBLEMS

From the Free Market News Network

Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young (R-Fla.), who previously chaired the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, was aware of many problems at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and chose not to pursue more aggressive oversight, according to Raw Story.Young alleges that he knew of the accidental death of Army Staff Sgt. William T. Latham at Walter Reed in 2003 and his statement contradicts the cause of death reported by the Pentagon. Young chose not to pursue more oversight because he did not want to "give the Army a black eye" and did not want to embarrass soldiers and their families. Paul Sullivan, a former VA project manager, told the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee that Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson shelved a program to fix bureaucratic problems between the VA and Defense Department soon after Nicholson took office, according to The Associated Press. Sullivan's testimony opens a window into the neglect, delays and poor coordination that went unnoticed.

`Cost of war' too much for Walter Reed, vet says

Double leg amputee MAJ Tammy Duckworth speaks about the war and the commission to discover everything the government should already know.

"I am exactly the kind of patient that is taxing the military medical system and will drain the VA resources," she said. "If that is the cost of the war, then the American people should be told that is the cost of the war."

No one wants to do anything but say "support the troops" and believe in this global war on terror. Which I hope evreyone knows isn't about this one country. It is an ongoing thing that will never end so I dont get this 'stay until we win' thing.

Once you're not 100%, the military doesnt spend too much time worrying about you.

Bush calls Walter Reed conditions 'unacceptable'

This is an article just full of people spouting bull. It makes me angry. The President says the treatment of our veterans is unacceptable. Schumner of NY says it is a disgrace (he's never been to Walter Reed in the four years the war has happened).

"We have let some soldiers down," said Peter Geren, the undersecretary of the Army.

No, you let them all down because those who haven't had to experience Walter Reed have had their faith in the hospital destroyed. And those who work, and work their asses off, have to endure this.

And this commission? What are they going to discover that they haven't already? Give me a break.

The silence that fueled Walter Reed and Abu Ghraib

Gregg Bloche, a law professor at Georgetown, hit the nail right on the head. Its the military culture that allows horrible things to occur. Be quiet, don't rock the boat, act like everything is ok. To complain is weakness and treacherous. Its why so many great people leave the military; they hate this culture and can't thrive or even survive in it.

Everyone is always surprised when something happens. You're not surprised, you're just a flunky with no spine.