« Standards | Main | Yuppies on the Bus » After War18 Apr 2008 08:33 am Nothing succeeds like success: "Nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan — 300,000 in all — report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slight more than half have sought treatment, according to a new RAND Corporation study." I say we support the troops by continuing the war indefinitely. Comments (24)
"I say we support the troops by continuing the war indefinitely." Well, you say we should support universal healthcare by attacking universal healthcare policy. So, at least the trust fund scumbag, Matthew Yglesias, is consistent in his tactics. 
Re "I say we support the troops by continuing the war indefinitely" Yes, but we MUST remember to wear our Flag lapel pins while doing it. Because when you're fucking America for the sake of special interests, nothing succeeds like a big ,bold hypocritical display of fake patriotism.
I'm not sure why the media is making a big spectacle out of this, and it probably comes as no surprise to most vets. I'm just hoping everyone doesn't sweep Iraq/A-Stan vets into the dustbin of history like what happened to our Vietnam predecessors. That's why it's best to leave annoying comments like this on non-military themed blogs to prevent such an occassion from occurring. I call it..."outreach"!
So, at least the trust fund scumbag, Matthew Yglesias, is consistent in his tactics. Nothing says "loser with unresolved personal issues" quite like obsessing over someone else's trust fund. Go get your own life. I'm sure whether someone's a "scumbag" can be judged independently of however much money he inherited. Decide whether you're here to influence anyone's opinion on the merits, or whether it's simply to be an annoying jerkoff. Or rather, scumbag.
what Bill said.
Decide whether you're here to influence anyone's opinion on the merits, or whether it's simply to be an annoying jerkoff. Seconded.
Seconded. I call the question and vote "aye".
Well, you say we should support universal healthcare by attacking universal healthcare policy. And your analogy is stupid.
Petey:
McCain says the Rand Corporation is a bunch of wusses and those troops were only depressed because they wanted to keep fighting.
Petey = Charles Gibson
I think Petey's clever (well, not really) tactic is to keep attacking MY personally -- despite the patent idiocy of the remarks -- because that way Matt will be reluctant to just do us all a favor and ban him, out of fear that it will make Matt look unduly defensive or sensitive. (Trust me, Matt, no one would complain, honest.) Either that, or Petey's just mentally imbalanced. Come to think of it, why choose?
MY and the rest of us make upset Petey because we want to end his awesome war and are reluctant to support the even awesomer war with Iran. Its all so awesome when you get to watch the fight from a computer desk 5,000 miles away and pay for the war with a Chinese Credit Card. There are plenty of bridges that have not fallen down yet for these Vets to live under.
The trolls on this blog are probably the pissiest I've ever seen anywhere.
McCain or not, for the vets, the war does go on forever.
I'm not sure why the media is making a big spectacle out of this ... I'm just hoping everyone doesn't sweep Iraq/A-Stan vets into the dustbin of history like what happened to our Vietnam predecessors Perhaps the possibility of avoiding the second part of your statement should answer your question posed in the first part.
That's 20% of military service members who RETURNED from Iraq and Afghanistan. If we would just support the troops by continuing the war indefinitely, the troops would never RETURN home and therefore wouldn't have these problems. Problem Solved!
That's 20% of military service members who RETURNED from Iraq and Afghanistan. If we would just support the troops by continuing the war indefinitely, the troops would never RETURN home and therefore wouldn't have these problems. Problem Solved!
One of my friends at work has a boyfriend in the military who is suffering from PTSD(he served in Iraq and will be redeployed to Afghanistan next year). She says he has panic attacks and bouts of depression. He's seen several of his friends get killed...horrifying scenes and situations that I can't even fathom having to deal with. Some daily situations are difficult for him now that he's home...like going outside in a city setting because of fear of snipers...she says his eyes are always darting about nervously. He also can't go to a movie theater because it freaks him out. Once she was driving and got too close to the car in front of them and this triggered a panic attack...so the effects are very real even after coming back home. Unfortunately, he doesn't try to get treatment/meds because: I don't know the solution but I wish the military would do more to take away the stigma that those suffering from PTSD have, to make it seem alright to get help.
At some point, Petey needs to be sat down for what they used to call a "talking to". Yes, we know that he objects to Matt's opposition to what Petey considers to be universal health care (i.e., an individual mandate) and believes that Matt's opposition stems from Matt's socioeconomic status. Point made. Now, Petey's got to decide whether he has anything else to contribute to the comments threads here.
Which war is that you want to continue indefinitely Matt, the one in Iraq or the one in Afghanistan? If you are in favor of continuing the war effort in the crucial 4th world hub of Afghanistan indefinitely, isn't it hackish of you to suggest that PTSD is a valid reason to abandon the war effort in Iraq, but not a valid reason to abandon the war effort in Afghanistan?
People like Petey are just bitter -- they've spent decades making predictions about sports and politics, and year after year after year they've been proven wrong. So they feel frustrated, and they cling to supporting Hillary Clinton and ranting nonsensically about Marty Peretz and General Electric and elitism. I think it's important that we understand the source of Petey's resentment, because even if we disagree with it, the resentment is real, and it is powerful.
I pointed this out yesterday and Chris Ford weighed in saying, "Big fucking deal" because allegedly 20% of Americans "are depressed". Apparently he can't tell the difference between "depression" and PTSD. Yet he proclaims the troops his heroes. Ranting Ku Klux Klan nutcase. What this means is a lot more Timothy McVeighs in the future for this country.
Comments closed May 02, 2008. |
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Heads in the Sand
By Jennifer Agiesta and Jon Cohen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, April 18, 2008; Page A07
Views of the Iraq war have dipped .... Now, more than six in 10 say that the conflict is not integral to the success of U.S. anti-terrorism efforts. That is the most people to reject what is one of the Bush administration's central contentions and a core part of presumed GOP presidential nominee John McCain's stand on the issue.
....for the first time since President Bush ordered additional troops to Iraq early last year, the number of Americans saying the United States is not making significant progress toward restoring civil order there has risen. Negative views of the war had eased steadily from late 2006 through early March of this year..... 57 percent in the new poll said efforts in Iraq have stalled, up six points.
.... while Bush remains committed to keeping more than 100,000 U.S. troops in Iraq through the rest of his presidency, 56 percent of Americans say the United States should withdraw ..... This has been the majority view since January 2007.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Republicans want desperately to hold on to the Presidency. Criminal proceedings and jail time may actually be at stake, with the difference between freedom and incarceration for many in the balance. Perhaps more importantly untold billions in sweetheart government contracts hinge on the election. So, with the disenchantment with the war at a tipping point what do Republicans need more than anything else? Not now, but maybe in late September or early October? They need a terrorist event on U.S. soil. The event ideally would somehow be tied to an alleged Democratic failure to pass a law or provide funding that would have theoretically stopped it. That would make it a twofer. Of course Democrats can't be expected to stop attacks planned and performed by our own black bag intelligence services.
Posted by steve duncan | April 18, 2008 8:56 AM