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itaintoveryet Donating Member (147 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-03 02:48 PM
Original message
A Veteran speaks out
this is a MUST read and should be sent to any and all people you know that are supporting this administration and their wars.

"I had the unique opportunity to interview five US military servicemen who just got back from Iraq, or in the case of two men, corresponded with their wives so that I could ask questions of these soldiers by mail. When the two I corresponded with came back just last week, I was able to complete the interviews I started several months ago with some new details on how the war is actually going.

I was shocked and angered when I found out how many of the service men hate being in Iraq and want nothing to do with rebuilding and policing the devastated nation. From the conversations I had, many soldiers never wanted to go over to Iraq and fight, and the ones who had were now convinced of the awful crime that had been committed against Iraq and our own troops. I was told very few soldiers now believe in staying in Iraq, or want to stay in the country and serve any more days."

<snip>

see the rest at :

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0310/S00105.htm

hopefully, not a dupe.
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WannaJumpMyScooter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-03 02:56 PM
Response to Original message
1. Welcome, sickandtired. What era vet are you?
We have a lot of very vocal vets here, for all the good it does, because no one in the current MisAdministration cares two shits about Veterans or their issues.

We have not had a vet's pissing contest since the build-up for the "war". Maybe it is time for another one.
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nadinbrzezinski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-03 03:04 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. Lets go for it
I am currently a Navy Wife but also served for ten
yaers in somebody else's country, (as a medic) during
that fun and games that is the war on drugs... yep, not
fun and no games.

That is why what this First Sergeant is writing gets to
me so closely... PTSD is going to be a very real problem
but the Commander in Thief would not care... nor does he care
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nadinbrzezinski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-03 03:01 PM
Response to Original message
2. Well well, I am not surprsied
I have heard some of this from troops returning.

Hence why I say the righties have given to us, in a silver
platter, defense and national security

Oh a human level the NCO does raise a very important point, no
PTSD treatment, he is right some of these guys will take soembody with them. And that is just the begining
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fknobbit Donating Member (479 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-03 03:35 PM
Response to Reply #2
6. The Veterans service organizations are pathetic
Bush just keeps on using them for photo ops. It's high time they stood up and put their collective feet up his a$$. More and more veterans sites are popping up on the INTERNET daily and the consensus is "Out the door in o4".
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WannaJumpMyScooter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-03 03:44 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. I work at a VA hospital part time
Met an active duty Army Colonel, Medical Corps a few months back who was just back from Iraq.
A psychiatrist.

This is a quote. For real. "I am glad I am retiring soon. There are not enough psychiatrists and psychologists in the entire military to deal with the PTSD we are seeing now. God help the VA system in a year or two."
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TacticalPeek Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-03 03:29 PM
Response to Original message
4. Some energetic and certified souls should rustle up a Therapy Brigade.
Doctors Without Rank, or something, as immediate action.

Start now, because this will snowball from here as more troops stand down or separate.

Next, Clark, or the fastest one to the draw, should promulgate a new GI Bill (of Rights, if we can reclaim that from opponents of 'entitlements'). It should spell out minimum veteran and service benefits, payable even at the dread cost of tax cuts for the rich. The cost/benefit of action up front on this is obvious even without a calculator.

And we've seen now that they can sausage out a 'quiet phone' law in one (1) day.

:)
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IkeWarnedUs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-03 03:30 PM
Response to Original message
5. Does anyone know this author?
Who is this author, Jay Shaft?

The organization, Coalition For Free Thought In Media, is a Yahoo group.

That's about all I could find about him with a Google. He has been writing anti war/Bush articles for a while, but the only "info" about him is that he is the editor for the Yahoo group, Coalition For Free Thought In Media.

That doesn't make the interview any less powerful - if it's true. And a lack of professional credentials doesn't make the interview bogus.

But since the subject is anonymous and can't be verified, I want to know more about the author before spreading this around. Especially in the wake of Bush's propaganda letter fiasco.
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TacticalPeek Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-03 03:40 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. Forewarned is forearmed.
A know there are literate soldiers, but they're not much seen.

Still.
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nadinbrzezinski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-14-03 03:47 PM
Response to Reply #5
9. Ike
I live in housing, I hear this from wives and others...

What I am going to shock some people. Bush has lot the
miltiary vote.

Oh and teh veteran organizations are PISSED OFF, but they
ahve not had the haert to truly come out and go against the
grain, as they have traditionally suported repukes.
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