What You Get For Your Money$

[Rico]

Nobody likes to even consider this side of the issue.... Not when their is a candidate to rally round... Someone gonna show us a whole new way?

But when you go to bed at night here is the reality of the situation.


Military suicides on pace for record


By AP Wire Services
9/5/2008

WASHINGTON (AP) — Soldier suicides this year could surpass the record rate of last year, Army officials said Thursday, urging military leaders at all levels to redouble prevention efforts for a force strained by two wars.

As of the end of August, there were 62 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers and Guard and Reserve troops called to active duty, officials said. Another 31 deaths appear to be suicides but are being investigated.

If all are confirmed, that means that the number for 2008 could eclipse the 115 of last year — and the rate per 100,000 could surpass that of the civilian population, Col. Eddie Stephens, deputy director of human resources policy, said at a Pentagon news conference.

"Army leaders are fully aware that repeated deployments have led to increased distress and anxiety for both soldiers and their families," Army Secretary Pete Geren said.

"The Army is committed to ensuring that all soldiers and their families receive the behavioral health care they need," he said in a statement distributed at the press conference on National Suicide Prevention Week starting Sunday.

To try to stem the continually growing number of suicides, the Army already has been increasing
the number of staff psychiatrists and other mental health staff as well as chaplains and bolstering programs both at home and at the battlefronts, said Brig. Gen. Rhonda L. Cornum, an assistant Army surgeon general.

As officials have said before, Cornum said the main factors in soldier suicides continues to be problems with their personal relationships, legal and financial issues, work problems and the repeated deployments and longer tour lengths prompted by an Afghan war entering its eighth year and Iraq campaign in its sixth.

Of the confirmed deaths so far this year, three soldiers were in the Army Reserves and four in the Army National Guard.

If the overall numbers continue through December as they have been, Stephens said, they would eclipse the 115 of 2007, 102 in 2006, 87 in 2005 and 67 in 2004.

The rate per 100,000 soldiers also has been rising and could be surpassed. It was 18.1 per 100,000 last year — the highest since the Army started keeping record in 1980.

That compared to a rate of 17.5 in 2006 and 9.8 in 2002 — the first full year after the start of the war in Afghanistan.


And guys..... we are on the road to victory... don'tcha know. Hell Iraq or someone may cut us a check soon to help cover all this..

In the meantime.... Year #8..... Year #6....depends on whether you are in Afghanistan or Iraq
kinda like the Beatles tune #9... #9...


Top Bush advisers seek hold on troops


By LOLITA C. BALDOR AND ROBERT BURNS Associated Press
9/5/2008

The president has been urged to maintain 15 combat brigades in Iraq, sources say.


WASHINGTON — President Bush's top defense advisers have recommended he maintain 15 combat brigades in Iraq until the end of the year, contrary to expectations that the improved security in Iraq would allow for quicker cuts, The Associated Press has learned.

Military leaders told the AP that the closely held plan would send a small Marine contingent to Afghanistan in November to replace one of two Marine units expected to head home then.

If Bush follows the recommendations, he would delay any additional buildup in Afghanistan until early next year, when another brigade would be deployed there instead of to Iraq.

That move would cut the number of brigades in Iraq to 14 in February.

The plan is aimed at taking advantage of security gains in Iraq to bolster the military effort in Afghanistan, where violence is on the rise. Several senior military and defense officials described the recommendations on condition of anonymity because the plan has not been made public.

They also acknowledged the plan is a compromise since Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, argued to maintain
the current force levels in Iraq — about 146,000 troops, including 15 combat brigades and thousands of support forces — through June.

Bush is weighing the recommendations; in the past, he has largely accepted the military's advice. If he adopts them, it would be left to the next president to execute further troop reductions in Iraq and a greater buildup in Afghanistan. Bush's term ends in January.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has advocated pulling all U.S. combat forces out of Iraqi within 16 months of taking office. GOP nominee John McCain has said he would rely on the advice of U.S. military commanders to determine the timing and pace of troop reductions. Both have said more troops are needed in Afghanistan.


Have a nice day
[}:)]

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by Rico

Nobody likes to even consider this side of the issue.... Not when their is a candidate to rally round... Someone gonna show us a whole new way?

But when you go to bed at night here is the reality of the situation.


Military suicides on pace for record


By AP Wire Services
9/5/2008

WASHINGTON (AP) — Soldier suicides this year could surpass the record rate of last year, Army officials said Thursday, urging military leaders at all levels to redouble prevention efforts for a force strained by two wars.

As of the end of August, there were 62 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers and Guard and Reserve troops called to active duty, officials said. Another 31 deaths appear to be suicides but are being investigated.

If all are confirmed, that means that the number for 2008 could eclipse the 115 of last year — and the rate per 100,000 could surpass that of the civilian population, Col. Eddie Stephens, deputy director of human resources policy, said at a Pentagon news conference.

"Army leaders are fully aware that repeated deployments have led to increased distress and anxiety for both soldiers and their families," Army Secretary Pete Geren said.

"The Army is committed to ensuring that all soldiers and their families receive the behavioral health care they need," he said in a statement distributed at the press conference on National Suicide Prevention Week starting Sunday.

To try to stem the continually growing number of suicides, the Army already has been increasing
the number of staff psychiatrists and other mental health staff as well as chaplains and bolstering programs both at home and at the battlefronts, said Brig. Gen. Rhonda L. Cornum, an assistant Army surgeon general.

As officials have said before, Cornum said the main factors in soldier suicides continues to be problems with their personal relationships, legal and financial issues, work problems and the repeated deployments and longer tour lengths prompted by an Afghan war entering its eighth year and Iraq campaign in its sixth.

Of the confirmed deaths so far this year, three soldiers were in the Army Reserves and four in the Army National Guard.

If the overall numbers continue through December as they have been, Stephens said, they would eclipse the 115 of 2007, 102 in 2006, 87 in 2005 and 67 in 2004.

The rate per 100,000 soldiers also has been rising and could be surpassed. It was 18.1 per 100,000 last year — the highest since the Army started keeping record in 1980.

That compared to a rate of 17.5 in 2006 and 9.8 in 2002 — the first full year after the start of the war in Afghanistan.


And guys..... we are on the road to victory... don'tcha know. Hell Iraq or someone may cut us a check soon to help cover all this..

In the meantime.... Year #8..... Year #6....depends on whether you are in Afghanistan or Iraq
kinda like the Beatles tune #9... #9...


Top Bush advisers seek hold on troops


By LOLITA C. BALDOR AND ROBERT BURNS Associated Press
9/5/2008

The president has been urged to maintain 15 combat brigades in Iraq, sources say.


WASHINGTON — President Bush's top defense advisers have recommended he maintain 15 combat brigades in Iraq until the end of the year, contrary to expectations that the improved security in Iraq would allow for quicker cuts, The Associated Press has learned.

Military leaders told the AP that the closely held plan would send a small Marine contingent to Afghanistan in November to replace one of two Marine units expected to head home then.

If Bush follows the recommendations, he would delay any additional buildup in Afghanistan until early next year, when another brigade would be deployed there instead of to Iraq.

That move would cut the number of brigades in Iraq to 14 in February.

The plan is aimed at taking advantage of security gains in Iraq to bolster the military effort in Afghanistan, where violence is on the rise. Several senior military and defense officials described the recommendations on condition of anonymity because the plan has not been made public.

They also acknowledged the plan is a compromise since Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, argued to maintain
the current force levels in Iraq — about 146,000 troops, including 15 combat brigades and thousands of support forces — through June.

Bush is weighing the recommendations; in the past, he has largely accepted the military's advice. If he adopts them, it would be left to the next president to execute further troop reductions in Iraq and a greater buildup in Afghanistan. Bush's term ends in January.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has advocated pulling all U.S. combat forces out of Iraqi within 16 months of taking office. GOP nominee John McCain has said he would rely on the advice of U.S. military commanders to determine the timing and pace of troop reductions. Both have said more troops are needed in Afghanistan.


Have a nice day
[}:)]

Why don't you VOLUNTEER to go take one of their places overseas, so they can come home and rest?

[EricP]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear[/i
Why don't you VOLUNTEER to go take one of their places overseas, so they can come home and rest?

They should ALL come home and rest. Then we can be ready in case a war worth fighting comes along or we have to defend ourselves against an enemy who actually ATTACKS US.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by EricP

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear[/i
Why don't you VOLUNTEER to go take one of their places overseas, so they can come home and rest?

They should ALL come home and rest. Then we can be ready in case a war worth fighting comes along or we have to defend ourselves against an enemy who actually ATTACKS US.

You fight the war you've got; not the one you'd rather fight.

Ever BEEN in a fight?  A real one.

Did you get to actually pick the fight?

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by EricP

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear[/i
Why don't you VOLUNTEER to go take one of their places overseas, so they can come home and rest?

They should ALL come home and rest. Then we can be ready in case a war worth fighting comes along or we have to defend ourselves against an enemy who actually ATTACKS US.

You fight the war you've got; not the one you'd rather fight.

Ever BEEN in a fight?  A real one.

Did you get to actually pick the fight?

In this case, no; George Bush picked it for us.