Troops' 1-month breaks blocked

[dubyaD40web]

Source: USA Today

Troops' 1-month breaks blocked

WASHINGTON — U.S. commanders in Iraq are rejecting a recommendation by Army mental health experts that troops receive a one-month break for every three months in a combat zone, despite unprecedented levels of continuous fighting and worsening risks of mental stress.

Instead, commanders are trying to give troops two to three days inside heavily fortified bases after about eight days in the field, said Brig. Gen. Joseph Anderson, chief aide to the ground forces commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno.

"We would never get the job done of securing (of Baghdad) if we went out for three months and came back" for one, Anderson said.

U.S. forces in Iraq spend more time in combat without a break than those who fought in Vietnam or World War II, according to Army psychologists who studied troops in Iraq.


Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-06-18-troops-rest_N.htm

[johnnie]

1. ""We would never get the job done of securing (of Baghdad)..."

Got news for ya, it isn't going to happen anyway. I can't believe they are still thinking that they can "secure" that area. Bring the troops home.

[gratuitous]

2. Recipe for breaking the military

Yep, we're not leaving out any steps, and all the ingredients are there. And when these thousands of men and women come back (that is, the ones who come back without a flag-draped casket), there are going to be a certain percentage who can't readjust to a life where everyone's not trying to kill them. And we'll have a new generation of visible homeless and invisible mentally ill folks all trying to cope with a wound that doesn't show and that doesn't respond to the usual forms of treatment.

Then we'll cut the funding and the sources of treatment, and blame the victims for their own injuries.

[Lerkfish]

3. I get this sick feeling the govt's intent is to keep using soldiers until they die on the field

thus saving them residual VA benefit costs.

everything they've done points to this, in my mind.

[Lars39]

4. I've had that sick feeling since well before the invasion.

Ever since I read the PNAC. :(

[Karenina]

6. Thirding that notion.

"Fungible." "Dumb animals to be used..."

[DrDan]

9. that's ridiculous

They are not making their enlistment quotas . . . they cannot release them for a month - that would take a replacement . . . couple of days they can handle internally

[Lerkfish]

16. it IS ridiculous, which is not a denial.

something can be ridiculous and still true, as this administration has proven endlessly.

[conspirator]

5. They are acting just like the filthy corporations. Extra hours and the minimum holiday possible to

keep you barely sane.

[soothsayer]

7. Jeezus, the lucky ones who make it out of there alive are going to

be ruined for life.

[opihimoimoi]

8. Expendable cannon fodder.....Tragic....needless stress on the troops....

[LynnTheDem]

10. "more time in combat than during Vietnam or WWII"...

for a stupid lying politician's pack of stupid lies.

[Dhalgren]

11. If these troopers could only organize. They have much more power than they think.

They have no back-up. If they sit down, there is no one to come and make them do anything. They need to practice the phrase, "Sir. No sir!" I suspect that there is some of that already going on, and the "brass" have no way of countering it...

[bemildred]

12. "Support the Troops!"

:puke::puke:

[IndianaGreen]

19. Defunding the war is to support the troops

Funding the war is to condemn the troops to endless war.

[Tempest]

13. Two to three days in a base being shelled by mortars

Boy, that's really going to help the soldier's state of mind.

[Ganja Ninja]

14. Calling all college Republicans!

How can you let this go on? Don't you feel guilty? Isn't it time you called 1(800)GO ARMY and sign up for the war you support so those who have sacrificed already can get a break? Go ahead, phone lines are open now.

[Judi Lynn]

18. This guy needs to go. He has shown he can kick the bejesus outta women protesters.

You'll remember his face from the Republican National Convention in New York.



Found a small video clip of this Republican hero:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6436759426447442104&q=Republican+kicks+protester&total=5&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

[babydollhead]

15. we need to fight for our troops freedom n/t

[MadMaddie]

17. Yes we do...