Record number of military suicides


The military is facing an epidemic of suicides. In the year that ended Sept. 30, 2009, 160 active duty soldiers took their own lives — a record for the Army. And this past June, another record was set — 32 military suicides in just one month. War is a meat grinder for service members and their families. It grinds people up without mercy, killing them and inflicting the worst kinds of wounds imaginable, physical and psychological. But after nearly a decade, neither war has been won and there is no prospect of winning.
Trillions of dollars are being squandered. George W. (“Mission Accomplished”) Bush took the unprecedented step of cutting taxes while waging the wars. We’re getting the worst of all worlds in Afghanistan: We’re not winning, and we’re not cutting our tragic losses. A tiny, tiny portion of the population is doing the fighting, and those troops are sent into the war zone for tour after tour, as if they’re attached to a nightmarish yo-yo. What we have in Afghanistan is a war that most Americans believe is not worth fighting — and certainly not worth raising taxes to pay for. It’s time to bring the curtain down for good on these tragic, farcical wars. The fantasy of democracy blossoming at the point of a gun in Iraq and spreading blithely throughout the Middle East has been obliterated. And it’s hard to believe that anyone buys the notion that the U.S. can install a successful society in the medieval madness of Afghanistan.
For those who haven’t noticed, we have a nation that needs rebuilding here at home. Thanks again, W, for your disastrous legacy.

Comments

ladyj said…
How many countries have tried to tame Afghanistan and not succeeded? Now the Taliban has told the locals that it will kill anyone who it finds or sees, protecting anyone other than Taliban. This tells me that they care about no one and nothing, but their own and their agenda. Truly a waste of lives on our part; of monies; of time and of energy. It is a lost cause. A no win situation on all fronts. Pakistan doesn't care. Turkey will soon be an non ally. Why continue this farce?
Anonymous said…
You are consistent. It's all Geroge Bush's fault! You don't have a clue.
ladyj said…
Okay Anon, why don't you come out of the closet and give us a clue. You seem to have all the answers, but have given none...now you have the forum to do so...be my guest.
Jim said…
I tried to give a bunch of clues on his other posting but they were deleted. Appears it is better for posters to just say u don't have a clue it is all someones fault and go wah wah wah. liberal progress.
Fam Guy said…
It wasn't a 'bunch of clues' from Jim, it was several long winded rants saying how the Repubs weren't responsible for the economic mess (even though they controlled policy from 2000-2008) cuz the Dems have 'been in charge' since 2006. Total bullshit, and I don't have to provide a forum for the 'economically challenged' out there.
Jim said…
I never said it wasn't the repubs fault. I spoke of how Nixon took us off the gold standard. He is a rep. Reagan tripled the national dept. He is a rep. Bush did a lot of damage. He is also a rep. I then spoke of carter, clinton and yes the pelosi years and the damage they have done. Once again u reply how those that speak against the dems feel nothing is the reps fault and go wah wah wah. U prove it with every repsonse. U say u do not have to provide a forum yet that is what ur blogs are...a forum.
Fam Guy said…
My blog is a forum if I choose to make it a forum. You can be deleted at any time. It is, plain and simple, a chance for me to blow off steam, so I don't have to bother the people in my life with political BS. I have no problem acknowledging that Dems are also damaging the counry, but compared to what Bush did to us, they aren't in the same league.
ladyj said…
ooooo.....I didn't see this. I must check out these old ones more often. My goodness, FG! That last entry of yours is kinda like saying you're gonna take your bat and ball and go home since you didn't get your way. Not nice.

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