Linda, if your logic were to be applied across the board, there wouldn't 
be any vets who could  go back to civilian lives and get on with them.  
Remember that we have been in wars since this country was founded and 
there is nothing new about the traumas of war (well except for our 
capacity to quickly kill each other).  If you think our brutality in 
Iraq is uniquely horrible, may I refer you to any history of the Spanish 
Inquisition or the Roman Empire?  Violence, alas, is nothing new.

Having said that I do agree  with you that we don't need to be in Iraq 
because we need to spend our money where it's better put to use, and I 
think we have done very little good by invading Iraq.

Kat

Linda Walker wrote:
> Many of the soldiers being deployed are at Schofield next to where I 
> live. I feel like I live on a military base here.  We rent units to 
> soldiers and to private contractors who are also serving there. I have 
> been dealing with their problems as they come home. I am sure I have 
> talked to more of them than most American civilians. I have often 
> talked to them about whether or not they are going to re enlist and 
> other things. Believe me when I say these young men and women are 
> coming back very distraught and destroyed and they cannot seek any 
> psychological counseling without it negatively impacting their service 
> record.
>
> At 01:42 PM 10/29/2007, you wrote:
>> Linda, I think your politics are showing.  I don't believe this fellow=
>>  was a veteran of any current conflict.  The article referred to a 
>> 'brie=
>> f army stint'.  I do believe the Guardian was trying to capitalize on=
>>  his military service and subliminally link his military service to his=
>>  crime without having to outright establish the connection--but that's=
>>  typical of yellow journalism, both liberal and conservative.  PTSD may=
>>  tear a mind down, but it doesn't turn whole groups of vets into 
>> cold-he=
>> arted brutes.  How many vets do you know?  How many have you talked to=
>>  about their experiences--or are you just repeating what you've been 
>> tol=
>> d by the proponents of a particular political agenda?
>> =20
>> War is brutal to soldier and civilian alike, but you can't make 
>> sweeping=
>>  generalizations about post-bellum behavior.  If your prediction were=
>>  based in fact, we would have never recovered from the second World 
>> War.=
>>   My father, who served in two conflicts, Korea and Vietnam, would have=
>>  taken out his war-generated angst on his family, right?  A retired US=
>>  Marine Lieutenant Colonel, he is the kindest, most gentle man I've 
>> ever=
>>  known. =20
>> =20
>> War is supposed to be brutal, violent.  It is such an admission of 
>> failu=
>> re and is testimony to the true nature of humankind.  The military is=
>>  a blunt instrument--a hammer, where everything is a nail.  But nobody=
>>  wants war less than the best soldier.
>> =20
>> Three years is harsh?  In most US states this would be conspiracy to 
>> man=


>> slaughter and would have received 10-15 with parole at 7.  I highly 
>> doub=
>> t that castigation from his neighbors is going to enhance his 
>> contrition.
>> =20
>> Kyle Cleveland
>>

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