News Analysis: December 9, 2008
Another day, more news of deployments for our nation’s citizen-Soldiers, who are paying an unduly heavy share of the price of current administration deployment policies. More and more Guard forces will have to deal with mental health problems in their ranks.
A consensus is growing to shift a substantial number of Marines from Western Iraq to Afghanistan, likely in the spring, to focus on the genuine fight against those who plotted the 9/11 attacks. The Taliban vow to respond to the move. A ’surge’ in Afghanistan is not the answer, said Gen. David McKiernan. This comes as reports that the Marine Corps left troops in Iraq vulnerable by failing to respond to request from commanders for blast-resistant vehicles. Meanwhile, the training of new officers in the Marine Corps is lagging.
Support for President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the VA: retired Gen. Eric Shinseki. “A general for the war at home.” He has a real challenge ahead of him. Our wounded troops should never doubt that they have support for “as long as it takes.“
The wrestlers of the UFC fight to raise money for traumatic brain injury research. Wednesday is the deadline for sending Red Cross holiday mail to troops and their families. The cost of war is too often silent suffering for our troops and their families. Help for military families in Alabama. A NY street is renamed for a soldier who suffered from PTSD.
“While You Were Away,” a book for children whose parents are deployed.