U.S. Soldiers Committing Suicide

<<In the past seven months, at least 11 soldiers and three Marines have committed suicide in Iraq, military officials say. That is an annual rate of 17 per 100,000. The Navy also is investigating one possible suicide. And about a dozen other Army deaths are under investigation and could include suicides.>>

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-10-13-army-suicides-usat_x.htm

Is suicide common among troops at war?

The numbers suggest the rate in Iraq is above normal. Last year, the military services reported 8 to 9 suicides per 100,000 people. The Army rate is usually higher, 10 to 13 per 100,000. That mirrors the rate for the same age group in the general population.

I'm not sure if this 8-9 would be for Afghanistan or for troops not in a war zone?

And this is very disturbing:

Most of the suicides have occurred since May 1, after major combat operations were declared ended. Experts say harsh and dangerous living conditions combined with a long deployment can worsen existing depression. And the accessibility of weapons in a war zone can quickly turn a passing thought into action. "It just takes a second to pull it out and put it to your head and pull the trigger," Ritchie said.

I guess this is what you get when a country's "leadership" engages in "elective war." How these b#%$tards can live with themselves is something I'll never understand, never in a million years.


Cher

What a fucking waste of human life this "war on whatever" is.

put this in mind:

What a sad state of affairs.

I think if I were a family member, this would be even more disturbing then a combat death. What hell it must be for them.

It says they sent 478 soldiers home from Iraq for "mental health issues." Also says most of the suicides occured after Bush's May 1st photo opp.

I wonder how many of the suicides were due to guilt and shame. How many soldiers figured out they were lied to - we were all lied to - and felt bad to have been used. How many started to wonder how they would react if another country chose to occupy their home town. How many just didn't want to kill anyone else to support the lies.

It's one thing to leave your family, home and job to serve your country for a noble cause. To suffer through desert heat and little food and water. To live with killing other people. To go through all that without a good reason must be hell.

Then imagine that your reward is a cut in pay and benefits. You have to ask your family to send you basic equipment and supplies, all the wile knowing your wife can barely pay the mortgage. If you get to go home on R&R you have to pay your own way. If you get hurt you have to pay for your own meals in the hospital - even if your only 'meal' drips into your arm.

On top of all that, the people you are supposed to be liberating don't want you there anymore and are increasingly trying to hurt or even kill you. Then realize there is no end in sight to this hell. No one is coming to relieve you. There is no exit strategy, no plan for closure.

I'm not surprised at about a dozen suicides and less than 500 mental health issues. I'm surprised it isn't more. It will be.

A tiny glimmer of 'good' news - it was on the local news tonight. Soldier's suicides stories can't be part of Rove's playbook, but it was on a couple of local news shows tonight.

for "medical reasons". I think I read this on Buzzflash, along with some other numbers of wounded (2,000, I think), etc. Anybody else read this?

ItÕs not like they can take a bus and go home or say fuck this IÕm going home.

When our soldiers would rather DIE than stay somewhere for any longer, we know we have a serious goddamn problem.


Hell I would probably kill myself too.

Maybe they need to a few lessons from Israel when it comes to occupying with an iron fist.

the Bush Junta has forced them to do.

...there are various tactical and psychological advantages that one has as American soldier. Standoff capacity, overwhelming firepower and virtually complete freedom of action to destroy all threats.

When on the defense, patrolling in small groups among a much larger hostile population without armor and the massive firepower acompanying the invasion, the advantage is much reduced. There is no standoff in the initial assualts. The enemy is close enough to look into your eyes before he attacks. He has the initiative. Mines and remote controlled bombs give the enemy a stand off capability as we have moved into his radius of fire. The time and manner of death are no longer of our own choosing.

I wonder if any of these poor guys saw a friend die over there.

feel suicide is their only way out.

Very sad indeed.

Contact Levin today please before any more troops are sent over to the ME
http://levin.senate.gov/contact.htm