a new report highlighted on BBC new this morning points to the fact that soldiers returning from active service in iraq and afghanistant may suffer brain damage due to being regularly exposed to loud detonations. and what do you bet that despite being covered by the news this subject doesn't just get sidelined and those soldiers diagnosed with brain damage are treated like all other soldiers proved unfit for service, that is to say 'thrown on the scrap heap'. for once a soldier is no longer fit for duty, that is fit to kill or be killed, the armed services only want to get rid of what has become an embarrassment. watch this space!
War will always hurt the parties directly involved. The governments know this, but consider the offer of hurt/dead soldiers is small compared to what the government gain. It a very active consideration that so many hurt and dead soldiers is worth winning a war.
I dont think its that bad judeth, they're going to screen injured soldiers for it now, which is a good thing. Though, the truth is there is no such thing as a safe war, if people sign up to the army, they must be ready to die.
I can tell you from experience that coming back you will suffer and experience difficulties adjusting to friends - family etc... I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. It's a strange thing and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. During battle you don't have the time to reflect or think about things. It comes natural due to intense training, it felt like everything was in slow motion during conflicts and engagements. If you think twice you might wake up in the arms of Jesus. You never really had time to second guess anything. Mistakes do happen. It's war. . and innocent people get killed! Then when you get home I think it hits you all at once. You have time to think. Or at least it did or was for me. War is a terrible thing. I can tell you this much. Iraq has been fighting wars for thousands of years. It will never change. I'm sorry but it won't. Bush even though I served under his Father has caused serious problems for us. Our objective was to track him down and kill Bin Laden. It's as if he is never talked about that much! WOW! Did we ever take the wrong path. Our soldiers are doing their job! I love them all. Their my brothers and sisters. I don't support what Bush is doing. Sadem was a horrible person I agree to that. But at least he didn't allow Terrorist in his country. He would hang them torture them. Now that we hit Iraq most of the terrorist have plunged into Iraq to fight to blend in. We need a new president. One that is willing to make a serious change for our future. Mrs. Clinton would and could do this. It's about time that we made a change for the better. I'm a man and I don't have a problem with a women, or black being a president as long as the job gets done! We need peace. We need to take care of our own. Medical !!!! The poor , the hungry what about them ? SFOD 1992-1996
Great comment dragonflies. Hope you are getting better now. Do you think that a massive "after care" for the soldiers that comes home would help?
For me it would have been great to have an "after care" program . Of course we didn't though. I do feel that having this will guide our soldiers back to a positive transition. If you have a family member coming home from the war the best thing I could suggest is show them all the love in the world. Give them space if that's what their asking. Don't force things on them. In fact most don't want a parade welcome. We just want and or wanted to come home to be with our wives or kids (family) no parties not on the date of arrival of coming home. Believe me I know . Or maybe it was just me but I've talked to others . Even they felt the same as I did. For me I have had Post Traumatic Stress since 1996 . For most of us we carry a heavy heart. It's not like the movies! Most will never discuss the specifics. Or at least I never will. I think we feel guilty. I think we feel unforgiven. Remember inoccent people are killed in wars. SFOD 1992-1996
What? You dont have any after care at all? That is shocking, I had expected that the government at list provided some kind of service to make sure the transition back to normal life would go smooth. Nothing, thats outrageous. The government know very well what kind of problems ex-soldiers can get. And that innocent people killed are not for the foot soldiers to take the blame for. The military calculate and accept that so and so many civilians will die when they give their orders.