Army Suicides Highest in 26 Years

Is anyone surprised? You can't extend the tour of duty indefinitely, ask people to return again and again, and not think there will be consequences.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of a new military report to be released tomorrow that indicates the suicide rate for Army soldiers is at a 26 year high. According to the report, more than a quarter did so while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The report, obtained by The Associated Press ahead of its scheduled release Thursday, found there were 99 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers during 2006, up from 88 the previous year and the highest since the 102 suicides in 1991 at the time of the Persian Gulf War. [...]

Last year, "Iraq was the most common deployment location for both (suicides) and attempts," the report said. [...]

There also "was limited evidence to support the view that multiple ... deployments are a risk factor for suicide behaviors," it said.

The report also indicates that almost twice as many women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan committed suicide as did women not sent to war.

Again, it's not surprising when you consider a report from last year indicating women were reducing their water intake, and consequently suffering from dehydration. Their reason why? So they would not have to leave their tent during the night to use the restroom. A number of women reported being assaulted by their fellow soldiers while on the way to the latrine.

For a whole host of reasons we need to get out of Iraq.




Note: My only problem with this video is that is shows an image of George W. Bush under the lyric "a brave man once requested me ..." Bush is NOT a brave man.