With Afghan Surge, Count the Cost In Injuries. Estimate: 13,000 New Cases Of PTSD.
By Susie Madrak Tuesday Dec 01, 2009 4:00pmThe obscene human costs will continue to add up as the war machine rolls on:
Pentagon bean counters see an extra $40 billion in annual costs if President Obama sends 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan, but Michael Blecker sees mainly this:
More than 13,000 new cases of post-traumatic stress disorder. An additional 8,000 or so traumatic brain injuries. More suffering and need coming home in the form of wounded vets than the country can easily handle.
The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have produced more diagnosed cases of PTSD and debilitating injuries per capita than any other war in the nation's history, health care experts say. And veterans who encounter homecoming trouble are becoming homeless more quickly than ever, street counselors say.
It's something most people don't consider when they think of sending more soldiers overseas, said Blecker, head of San Francisco's Swords to Plowshares veterans aid agency. But they should, he said - especially now, as Obama prepares to make a speech to the nation Tuesday.
In his address, the president will announce plans for Afghanistan that are almost sure to involve dispatching tens of thousands of new troops there in the cause of defeating al Qaeda and its terrorist allies.
"We have this theme in this country that we will support our troops, all work as a team, but there are so many cases when they are just released from service and left on their own," Blecker said. "We treat them as second-class citizens, but they are the ones who pay the price."
There are proportionately more vets than ever suffering from PTSD and disability upon coming home because military armor and rescue capabilities are better than ever, experts say. That means fewer soldiers die of serious wounds, and more survive with lost limbs, injured brains and the damaging memories of horror.
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and the war-profiteering section of the american economy see extra billion$ in annual profit.
Git out now,not tomorrow not next week or month, NOW.
ENOUGH killing to prove killing don't solve nothing.
By the President I elected.
NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
If OBAMA watches this recent Documentary made by Canadians perhaps
He Re-thinks Aghanistan
CBC - The Fifth Estate - The Unofficial Story - Pt 1-5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkYlbpS-vVI
After all that "event" is why we are there in the first place!
The age of Empires is over – 3000 years is enough. Empire building no longer works. America tried to step into those shoes after WWII (previously worn by the Germans, English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Romans, Greeks, ….). The shoes are worn out – it’s time to get some Nikes.
If WWII had happened in the early 19th Century, the idea that when you win a war you get the spoils might have played better. In the 20th Century however, there was too much to overcome when we tried to expand our empire after we won. Korea – not worth it. Vietnam – not worth it. Iraq – not worth it. Now Afghanistan in the 21st Century is going to be worth it?
We as a country don’t need to hide behind our borders and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist. Neither should we pretend that the world doesn’t pay attention when we invade other countries for our own profit. They’re paying attention, and if you ask any of them, they will tell us that it’s not worth it. West Point was founded in 1802, but it’s the 21st Century for God’s sake. The Generals have updated their weapons and tactics, but are treating the rest of the world like it’s still the 19th Century. Grow up. Change shoes.
i love america
what country can a person live in that can do the things we do to third world countries and get by with it.
we could invade iran tomorrow and the world would just sit back and watch.
and the oil we could get by taking over iran.
we need to bring back the draft so we can take over iran.
god bless america truly god's chosen country.
we kick butts and the world watchs and says nothing
what other country has that kind of power.
so what if we are bankrupt and morally corrupt and in a steep decline.
we are americans and we deserve that oil all of it in the world.
next maybe we should invade russia and canada I hear they both have tons of oil ie black gold.
it feels good to be an american we can create suffering all over the world and the world sits by and watchs and does nothing.
that is power baby real power super power status.
love it love it love it
signed
just your average american texas style male ego
oh and one pretty lady ego called palin.
that there are more debilitating injuries in these two conflicts than ever before is that battlefield er treatment has significantly improved over the years?
were we fighting these wars 20 years ago, the casualty count would be much higher...which is why i dont like the only the dead being numbered
I bet the people coming back are in rough shape. it needs to stop.
Oh, I get it!
Halliburton is going to contract psychologists...
VOLUNTEERS among the mental health community. But, as one such member, I REFUSE to aid and abet this war by doing so. It's sad that it has come to this.
I fear the numbers mentioned are just scratching the surface.
As we learn more about PTSD and other related mental health injuries we have so far learned we've been missing the right diagnoses or misdiagnosing altogether.
Add to that the obvious stigma of being in the service and having any mental health issue and the numbers must be daunting.
The best thing we can do is fight for more and better treatment in and out of duty for our service members.
We need more money for the VA and specifically more for testing returning service members to help those who need it.
There has to be some way to provide for military who are discharged then realize they have a mental health issue. Currently if you're not injured before being discharged you're on your own. We have to fix that big time.
One only has to talk to these poor suckers, and one knows!
BTW - why was Bush such a reluctant commander in Chief!
He was always listening to the commanders on the ground, not thinking for himself. Pat Buchanan is wrong again.
I'm just guessin' here but . . .
"why was Bush such a reluctant commander in Chief"
Because it is such hard work?
Because it makes him crash his bike?
Makes him choke on pretzels?
Makes him sweat when Jeff Gannon is in the hizzouse?
It's only another TRILLION DOLLARS AND PROBABLY ANOTHER 2-3 THOUSAND LIVES !!! Chump change.... Lugar and Lierwocky will support it..Lindsay Graham-ham-ham too. BUT NOT A CHANCE THEY'LL SUPPORT ANY KIND OF HEALTH CARE REFORM...NOOooo...THAT WOULD ENDANGER THEIR BRIBES....Can't have that happening..What would their bankers say!!!!
Saving or helping the sick or the poor is nowhere near as Xtian as blowing up men, women and children.
So that is why the RW is soooo Xtian and religous!
*scratches head*
I think Gergen is milking the Republican message too - "Obama is weak" "
wethe enemy will crushyouus". Gergen does it with such relish. Does he think it's going to work or something? maybe he should justshut upkeep that kind of analysis to himself from now on..Supporting the troops means supporting the administration that is hurting the troops. Actually supporting THE troops themselves is horribly unpatriotic.
what if we had a war and nobody came. This is purely shamefull. WE the people are supposed to control our government. By god I think its about time we took control of it!
I think we need to flood washington with people. we need to storm the pentagon with so many people that there is nothing left of it when we are done.
WE have to get the war mongers and war profiteers and put an end to their bullshit once and for all.
Answer is trying to organise a national march on Washington, March 20, 2010. That sounds like a good time. Lets see how many millions of people we can put into the streets of washington.
"The obscene human costs will continue to add up as the war machine rolls on"
How can you write such an article without a single mention of the actual victims? One can only assume you don't consider the Afghans human.
and PTSD goes both ways too.
That's what "obscene human costs" means.
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