Miliatary Mental Health

Add this to the list of ways we are failing to support our troops:

Report finds mental care for GIs lacking

By Renee Nadeau
Sunday, June 17, 2007

The Pentagon on Friday released its latest report on mental health care of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing to light disturbing statistics and shortfalls.

“Our troops give our country their brave service,” Sen. John Kerry said in a statement. “And we owe them the very best care when they come home, including healing the wounds of war, even those that might not be visible.”

The Mental Health Task Force Report found that 38 percent of returning troops show signs of combat stress. Adding to the problem is the stigma attached to mental health care among military members, which discourages many from seeking help. Other findings include the lack of accessible care and resources in the military system.

Magnetic yellow ribbons are not real support, and this is a sign of the hypocrisy by those who, like Bush, claim to support the troops, but do little to actually support them.

Taliban Gaining Ground

Add this to the list of examples for why George W Bush is a failure and why we should not have invaded Iraq:

Taliban step up attacks in southern Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan: Taliban militants overran a district in southern Afghanistan and were pushing for control of another critical area, prompting clashes with NATO and Afghan forces that have left more than 100 people dead over three days, officials said Tuesday.

Hundreds of Taliban fighters raided police posts near the strategic town of Chora in Uruzgan Province on Saturday, forcing NATO, backed by fighter jets, to respond.

Fighting was continuing Tuesday, and some officials reported that there had been dozens of civilian casualties.

The spike in violence has led to a mounting number of civilian casualties, which are sapping support for foreign troops and the government of President Hamid Karzai.

Middle East Update

How are things going in the Middle East?

U.S. April death toll in Iraq passes 100

By Kim Gamel, Associated Press Writer | April 30, 2007

BAGHDAD --Five U.S. military personnel were killed over the weekend in Iraq, including three by a roadside bomb in Baghdad, the military said Monday, pushing the American death toll past 100 in the deadliest month so far this year.

Iraq reconstruction 'not working

Six out of eight Iraqi reconstruction projects hailed as successes by the US government are in fact failures, a US federal investigation has found.

The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (Sigir) examined works including a hospital, a barracks and Baghdad international airport.

Blaming ongoing unrest and spiralling corruption they said most were falling apart within as little as six months.

Faulty plumbing and wiring and looting have reportedly worsened the situation.

Corruption amongst Iraqi officials is cited as one of the main causes for the chaos.

According to the report $5bn is lost annually to the fraud and abuse which "afflicts virtually every Iraqi ministry", particularly the oil, interior and defence ministries.

Anti-US rallies follow deadly raid in Afghanistan

Civilians killed in attack on militants

By Rahim Faiez, Associated Press | April 30, 2007

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A US-led raid yesterday on a suspected militant cell killed as many as six Afghans, including a woman and a teenage girl, and spawned protests by hundreds of angry Afghans chanting "Death to Bush!"

The United States said four militants were among the dead, but it was the civilian deaths that infuriated the protesters, who carried five bodies to a main highway and blocked traffic with felled trees during the demonstration. The bodies of the women were entirely covered by sheets, while the men's faces were revealed.

"Their operation was based on incorrect reports, and they carried out a cruel attack on these houses," resident Akhtar Mohammad said at the protest. "We are not the enemy, we are not Al Qaeda. Why are they attacking us?"