America will be living with the human costs of the Iraq war for a long time.
As many as 300,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or serious depression, according to a Rand Corp. report released last week — and the costs could reach $6.2 billion in the next two years alone. About 1 in 5 vets of the war report symptoms of traumatic brain injury.
The study, titled “Invisible Wounds of War,†warned of “long-term, cascading consequences†for the country, including higher rates of veteran suicide, divorce, drug use and unemployment.
At the same time, the study found that major gaps in mental health care for vets remain: Only 53 percent of vets with PTSD sought professional help in the past year, and half of those who did get help received “minimally adequate†care.
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And just think, every one of these people will be able to obtain a machine gun legally.
5 year tours…it’s bound to happen. At least they’ll be coming back to become law enforcement, feel safe already.
Thanks guvmunt.
These are our NEXT generation of neglected and homeless. Surely Iraq will help pay the costs with their massive oil reserves…. yeah, right!
Sad isn’t it Sam.
The troop abuse must end. These multiple rotations are cruel, and show a lack of national conscience.
And, character.
Imagine if just one years cost of the war would have been spent on developing alternative fuels, or on technology to grow more food at a lower cost…
Oil importing nations should ban together and announce a superfund for developing alternative energy, just to send OPEC a strong message, and serve notice we don’t intend to take their abuse forever.
You must think they are right there with the News Media mental problems?
Wonder what the number of ‘WE Blog’ participants face mental problems. I suspect it is rather high from the sometimes aggressive/combative personalities exhibited. :(
PTSD statistics in children and teens reveal that up to more than 40% have endured at least one traumatic event, resulting in the development of PTSD in up to 15% of girls and 6% of boys. On average, 3%-6% of high school students in the United States and as many as 30%-60% of children who have survived specific disasters have PTSD. Up to 100% of children who have seen a parent killed or endured sexual assault or abuse tend to develop PTSD, and more than one-third of youths who are exposed to community violence will suffer from the disorder.
medicine.net
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Since it is a phenomena related to anxiety, there are many events that can trigger it. Of course the reaction to the event(s) is widely varied, some times the cause is never known.
Some occupations have higher occurrence of PTSD than others. (firemen, police, EMT’s, Doctors, Nurses, etc.)
There is a problem in tying military service PTSD in Iraq with whole life PTSD as there is no known methodology in doing so.
Seeing your puppy ran over at the age of five might not appear until another trigger event occurs.
Since soldiers are not screened for PTSD prior to entry into military service, there is no way to determine what the actual trigger mechanism is.
Of course, not all PTSD has traumatic consequences. Which is why that the name of disorder may be somewhat of an oxymoron. While some memories may bring back memories of trauma, most minds can deal with the event and categorize it.
Those minds that get overwhelmed by evens and are susceptible to internalizing anxieties rather than releasing stress are most susceptible.
The big strong silent type may make for a good warrior initially, but may prove them inadequately prepared for mental events that go past their horizon of known events.
The percentages of the study indicate exposure without category and etiology. I remain suspicious of Rand’s conclusions.
The only time course (longitudinal) study I know of on PTSD was done on the survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing. The general findings were that among the folks who had PTSD as a result of the bombing experience, the default – what the untreated diagnosis turned into – for men was alcoholism and for women it was depression.
This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology some time back.
Oh, the DSM classifies PTSD as an anxiety disorder.
“Wonder what the number of ‘WE Blog’ participants face mental problems. I suspect it is rather high from the sometimes aggressive/combative personalities exhibited.”
My theory is that the mode of interaction creates this, more than poster personalities. This would be an interesting study, though, wouldn’t it?
It is a truly sad situation and those young soldiers each have an affect on someone(s) else. There is an affect on parents, spouses, children, neighbors, coworkers — the affects don’t end with the injured soldiers.
I read in yesterday’s newspaper a tiny blip about both the Army and Marine Corps sharply raising the number of recruits with felony convictions they are admitting to the services.
Said the crimes involved were burgalaries, other thefts, drug offenses, sex crimes, manslaughter, vehicular homicide, aggravated assault, robbery convictions including incidents involving weapons.
So not only are these soldiers being sent into war zones they are expected to live with convicted felons. Even if they get a moment to relax, sleep they are among potentially dangerous people.
All to keep bush’s war of choice going onandonandonandonandon…
Phantom
Posted April 23, 2008 at 7:03 am | Permalink
Oil importing nations should ban together and announce a superfund for developing alternative energy, just to send OPEC a strong message, and serve notice we don’t intend to take their abuse forever.
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Damn fine idea Phantom. I suggest letters to senate and congress persons. Damn fine idea.
“My theory is that the mode of interaction creates this, more than poster personalities.”
Mr. S.E.Davis,
Very perceptive. Now maybe I’m just saying that simply because your comment reinforces just what I was thinking the other day after, believe it or not :roll: , I reacted overly aggressively, out of my character I hope, to a ‘put-down’ by someone on the other side of my political philosophy. As I have done on more than one occasion unfortunately. And then at a later time, intentionally, out of both a desire to help and curiosity, jumped in to try and help that same person with a question posed that brought a completely different, and much more pleasant, response from them.
This is all pretty sophomoric I suppose but…sometimes we forget.
PS: I still feel that person I referred too badly misunderstands politics, the economy, society and social responsibility….so there!!!
Boxlock,
I was making my comment on the basis of my experience of meeting people in person, whom I’ve first “met” here. In real life they usually seem much different than what I assumed they would be like. This doesn’t hold true in every single case, but most of the time, it does.
I heard Bill Richardson on CNBC advocating an ‘Apolo like’ energy effort with leadership from the President and congress to get alternative energy.
The idea is catching on. Wonder if he reads WEblog?
Phantom
Posted April 23, 2008 at 9:07 am | Permalink
I’ll back you in a intellectual property suit
I thing a concerted developed nations ‘apolo’ type program might be taking the idea a step further, and might lead to quicker results. Maybe even a good natured competition, with cooperation, and info sharing.
Alright, the Libertarian in me is bristling. I can’t support the government financing this. I can support the government helping to organize it though.
So, international competition. Reward private companies that develop renewable clean energy products from a global fund. Finance the fund through private contributions.
Let’s see if the GW alarmists are for real. Instead of the Ponzi Carbon Credit scam, direct the Carbon Credit funds into this fund. Allow private citizens and corporations to donate.
Yeah, sounds plausible. Very doable.
Are Phantom and Sol reading the same topic header everyone else is reading? :D
Enerygy, war, consequences of war. It’s all related. Go to the source, Grasshopper!
…….
The first problem I have with this is that they lump PTSD and Depression together.
Depression is much more serious and by lumping the two numbers together it is rather deceptive.
Second, If I am not mistaken, they are getting these numbers from the Post Deployment Surveys that all Service members fill out several times upon completion of a tour in Iraq or Afghanistan.
When you are filling out those forms, you check the TBI box if you were involved in ANY type of explosion regardless of how much injury you actually took.
It is done as a precaution so that you are on record as being in an explosion just in case you do have problems.
So the numbers of those with TBI (for real) I have questions about if they are based on the survey.
Same goes with PTSD. You are encouraged to fill out the survey as having this if you were involved in ANY type of Traumatic experience.
Once again, this is just in case you do need medical help for depression you are on record and can get it much easier.
That is probably why only about 50% of those who said they have it actually sought medical help. Because the others didn’t need medical help.
Sure, the numbers are there. Those who interpret those numbers should do a better job at being objective with them.
There is a grain of truth to them, but the way we are given the numbers here is purely political.
“There is a grain of truth to them, but the way we are given the numbers here is purely political.”
How is a concern for the health of returning combat veterans a “political” issue?
WS Clark,
“How is a concern for the health of returning combat veterans a “political” issue?”
It’s not. Any other questions?
Sol-Phantom: Most American oil comsumed comes from America, Canada, Mexico and Venezeula, only the last being a member of OPEC. What is driving up the prices are specualtors and the dwindling international reputation of the US greenback. There is no shortage repeat, no shortage of oil. The major producers are keepng it in the ground because to-morrow it’s worth more! India and China have been huge users for years so we can’t blame them either. Just look at the Chicago grain exhange, market specualtors are now doing the same thing, bidding up futures when there is no shortage of food or grains worldwide. Look what they did with minerals resources other than oil, like potash, copper, nickle, alumininum and gold. And don’t blame China, because their consumption is not in ADDITION to western consumption, it is INSTEAD of American/European manufacuring/consumption. Senator HST stopped similar crap in WW2 when specualtors scammed huge bucks claiming free market needs and practices. They’re doing it again guys. Whatever happened to wage and price controls?
Political Mama,
KANSAS just passed a law bringing us in line with the federal law on owning a machine gun.
Most of those servicemen you are talking about were already able to buy a machine gununder federal law in the many other states they all live in.
I must have missed where anyone of them did something wrong with a machine gun.
Do you have any EVIDENCE to offer us here or only your irrational and emotional rhetoric?
“It’s not. Any other questions?”
Then why the statement?
“There is a grain of truth to them, but the way we are given the numbers here is purely political.”
Are you arguing that the numbers are wrong or that the numbers are meaningless or what?
“Nathaniel” –
I dunno if it’s PTSD or Depression or what. But your thing about guns, your thing about attack dogs, your thing about God and willingness to set yourself up as the judge of another Christian’s Christianity add up to an individual who has some issues.
You have had supporters post on this forum that you’re no crazier now than you were before you went to the Sand Box. I’ll never know for sure.
But please check it out. Alread 300,000 other vets are considered at risk from PTSD after Iraqi War service. You’ll blend into the crowd if you seek help and will be readily recognized as not mentally affected by your service if you’re not.
WS Clark,
My argument was pretty clearly laid out. Did you read it?
I made several points. Even used “first” and “second”
Gave some examples. Even had a conclusion.
“Did you read it?”
Yes, and now I am asking why you think there is a political angle to the issue.
Sursum, agree. But, we still need alternative energy sources.
I think all the commodities are taking their cue from the oil game plan and getting their piece of the pie. Commodities used to climb because of strong growth, now they just climb. They need to pass a law that you have to take delivery of the commodity at least a percentage of the time to be a trader in that commodity. Would cut out the profiteering specualators and the crazy inflation of price they cause.
Deja vu all over again.
How do the numbers compare with similar demographics of people who aren’t veterans? Without that information, the statistics don’t mean anything.
What would that other information tell us about the Veterans’ situations?? Can you say more about that, Robert??
…people who aren’t veterans, like Iraqi citizens who can’t venture to the market or attend a funeral without body parts raining down on them. Yea, put it in perspective!
The Agenda Behind the Hoax: What the Iraq War is About
Paul Craig Roberts
Counterpunch
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Bush Regime has quagmired America into a sixth year of war in Afghanistan and Iraq with no end in sight. The cost of these wars of aggression is horrendous. Official US combat casualties stand at 4,538 dead. Officially, 29,780 US troops have been wounded in Iraq. Experts have argued that these numbers are understatements. Regardless, these numbers are only the tip of the iceberg.
On April 17, 2008, AP News reported that a new study released by the RAND Corporation concludes that “some 300,000 U.S. troops are suffering from major depression or post traumatic stress from serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and 320,000 received brain injuries.”
On April 21, 2008, OpEdNews reported that an internal email from Gen. Michael J. Kussman, undersecretary for health at the Veterans Administration, to Ira Katz, head of mental health at the VA, confirms a McClatchy Newspaper report that 126 veterans per week commit suicide. To the extent that the suicides are attributable to the war, more than 500 deaths should be added to the reported combat fatalities each month.
Turning to Iraqi deaths, expert studies support as many as 1.2 million dead Iraqis, almost entirely civilians. Another 2 million Iraqis have fled their country, and there are 2 million displaced Iraqis within Iraq.
Afghan casualties are unknown.
Both Afghanistan and Iraq have suffered unconscionable civilian deaths and damage to housing, infrastructure and environment. Iraq is afflicted with depleted uranium and open sewers.
Then there are the economic costs to the US. Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz estimates the full cost of the invasion and attempted occupation of Iraq to be between $3 trillion and $5 trillion. The dollar price of oil and gasoline have tripled, and the dollar has lost value against other currencies, declining dramatically even against the lowly Thai baht. Before Bush launched his wars of aggression, one US dollar was worth 45 baht. Today the dollar is only worth 30 baht.
The US cannot afford these costs. Prior to his resignation last month, US Comptroller General David Walker reported that the accumulated unfunded liabilities of the US government total $53 trillion dollars. The US government cannot cover these liabilities. The Bush Regime even has to borrow the money from foreigners to pay for its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is no more certain way to bankrupt the country and dethrone the dollar as world reserve currency.
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[...] WE Blog | The Wichita Eagle Editorial Department Blog wrote an interesting post today on Study: 300,000 vets face mental problemsHere’s a quick excerptStudy: 300,000 vets face mental problems PostedJust now America will be living with the human costs of the Iraq war for a long time. As many as 300,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or serious depression, according to a Rand Corp. report released last week — and the costs could reach $6.2 billion in the next two years alone. About 1 in 5 vets of the war report symptoms of traumatic brain injury. The study, titled “Invisible Wounds of [...]