U.S. soldier suicides the highest on record

Friday 30th May, 05:36 AM JST

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RedMeatKoolAid at 01:05 PM JST - 30th May

You are pilloried by journalists and newscasters. They consider you to be little more than man-child, forgetting that you are entrusted with defending their right to freedom of speech. You are likened to Nazis by one of the most influential senators from the very political party whose president led the nation in defeating Nazism and fascism 60 years ago. You are attacked and spat on when on university campuses.You are attacked and beaten on the nation's highways and on trains in the nation's capital by your fellow citizens, who protest just about any military endeavor that might further American aims. The same people insist that they object to your propensity for unnecessary and unjust violence. Major newspapers like the New York Times openly disclose anti-terrorism efforts, your buddies die as a result. And when your efforts in Iraq begin to succeed the national media cuts coverage of the war by 92 percent. I imagine the temptation to end it all would overwhelm at times.
SuperLib at 02:51 PM JST - 30th May

Who can blame them? Go to war on lies, risk their lives for the profit of a few super-rich, get thrown in the sewer when they get home (if!), and ALL for nothing! Sad state of affairs, all around, but no one should be surprised by it.

Read the article again, smith, and ask yourself if there are any facts supporting you claim or if your statement is just an emotional outburst. Read it calmly, think about it, then post your thoughts.
adaydream at 03:04 PM JST - 30th May

Who can blame them? Go to war on lies, risk their lives for the profit of a few super-rich,

This part of smithinjapan's statement is true.
SuperLib at 03:06 PM JST - 30th May

This part of smithinjapan's statement is true.

Actually, no, it's not. It's an unsubstantiated claim based entirely on emotion.
rtrhead1 at 03:46 PM JST - 30th May

Really, adaydream? Are you sure about that? I'm actuve duty, and I know for sure that they don't kick you out for seeking psychiatric care. I do, however, know that there are many individuals around me that get care, and don't get kicked out. What it sounds like, without trying to be condenscending (sp), is that he is told by people who don't know what they are talking about, crap that is told to them by others who have no idea what is going on, things that they have heard through the "friend of a friend" about these things. I hear it everyday, if it isn't about this, it's just other assorted misinformation. I'm not saying they would have done it intentionally, but it does happen. It's called rumors and gossip.
rtrhead1 at 03:48 PM JST - 30th May

Or, through the ineptitude of military doctors (I know, that just doesn't happen...), they decided, in their infinite wisdom, that there was nothing wrong, and wouldn't give him the referral. I don't mean to sound like I don't believe what anyone has to say, I just like to look at all the facts and kind of play the devil's advocate.
Altria at 03:52 PM JST - 30th May

It's tragic that so many are dying, and terrible that the army are giving them the tools to do it.
SezWho2 at 05:15 PM JST - 30th May

adaydream,

A draft is the only way for a democracy to defend itself. It is the best and final check against unnecessary war.
SezWho2 at 05:21 PM JST - 30th May

The army appears to have studied this problem and found there is no relationship between increased conflict and suicides. Then Colonel Ritchie says that what does contribute (to the suicides presumably) are:

...the long time and multiple deployments away from home, the exposure to really terrifying and horrifying things, the easy availability of loaded weapons, and, of course, its very, very busy right now...

I'm not sure in what way this does not describe conflict.

From a common-sense point of view--yes, I know, not always the best indicator--it is a little reminiscent of the tobacco industry not finding any links between smoking and cancer or chemical companies not finding any significant relationship between buried waste and sickness at Love Canal.
super delegate at 05:28 PM JST - 30th May

"A draft is the only way for a democracy to defend itself. It is the best and final check against unnecessary war."

Very amusing. I think I can guess the economic corollary: “From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need”

People like you (and zadaydream) undoubtedly thought you were scaring some sense into Americans (and getting John Kerry elected) by telling them only three and a half years ago that "BushCo" was going to reinstate the draft.

Make up your mind.
SezWho2 at 05:48 PM JST - 30th May

super_delegate,

If you can find my posts from three and a half years ago, you'll find that I was saying the same thing then. I think you've guessed wrong about the economic corollary, though. But that would be the problem: you're guessing and you're having a dialogue with yourself and not with anything that I have to say.

If you'd like to try again and come up with a comment about the draft or about the problem of suicides, I'll certainly try to give you satisfaction. Do people like you do that?
adaydream at 01:35 AM JST - 31st May

rtrhead1 - I'm very sure about my post.

I served active duty myself. I just visited my son in Panama City last month. I'm very correct in my post.

I'm glad that you have taken up the call to serve your country, but just because you're on active duty, doesn't mean you know everything going on.

So you are telling me that my son is a liar? Hmmmm...Really?
Eulji_Mundeok at 01:14 PM JST - 31st May

Civilian, active duty, in uniform or not, if you're peddling this "epidemic of suicides in the military" story, you're peddling BS.

And since it's been proven by Senator John Kerry that the American soldier represents the segment of the population that didn't even do their homework in high school and got "stuk in Irak", I'm not so sure that JT readers should take seriously the postings of those here claiming to have served in the US military.

But enough of our fuzzy suicide statistics- let's talk about reinstating the draft!
乙支文德
SezWho2 at 09:15 PM JST - 31st May

And this would be BS because...?
rtrhead1 at 11:16 PM JST - 1st June

Did I say liar? No. Exagerrating? Possibly. Or, he ran across one of the doctors there who don't know jack, and don't want to deal with it, and would rather tell him that they will kick him out. I'm not saying I know everything, however, knowing what the doctors are constantly harping on us, and continually telling us, is that you don't get kicked out for simply asking for help. Without knowing exactly what is going on with him, and judging from your post, you had implied, well, flat out said that if he went to sickcall, he would get kicked out. I'm saying that isn't how they deal with things. Perhaps if you have something that is very serious and after treatment they can't help him, they may kick him out. But, I am telling you, without intending to bash on anyone, that he is misinformed. You don't get kicked out for asking for help. Things have changed a bit since the days of when doctors looked at psychiatric care as a sign of weakness.