News Analysis: February 18, 2009
The buildup of US forces in Afghanistan is afoot. Something tells us that the problems aren’t limited to Afghanistan — considering the safe haven Pakistan just carved out on its northwestern frontier for the Taliban.
Neither the Taliban nor al Qaeda maintains an air force and yet the chief of staff of the US Air Force is seeking many more F-22 than the 183 already approved by Congress. At $150 million a pop, how many of our injured troops and recovering veterans could we help instead of buying even one more F-22? Will this be sold to us as jobs program, when what is needed is better care for our war-weary troops and help for their deployment-strained families? Perhaps other, deeply costly weapons systems that aren’t useful in current wars can be pared back?
The Iraq war continues for our troops, who continue deploying constantly to the sectarian violence pitting Iraqi against Iraqi. This is true for our National Guard forces as well, who are long past being called “weekend warriors” now that they’re suffering as hard, if not hard, under the strains of war.
Military suicide rate soars to a 30-year high. That is not acceptable — we owe our troops the care they need to be made whole again, not a cold shoulder. Suicide in the military is a serious problem that demands a solution. The nation should be troubled by the statistics. About 100,000 veterans or relatives of veterans have called a VA suicide prevention hotline launched less than two years ago.
The Army reconsiders its plans for a drawdown in Europe…What parts of the previous administration’s War on Terror will be renewed in the current administration?
Is there a $125 billion fraud hidden in the sands of Iraq? A probe is examining whether some senior US military officers diverted funds meant for the reconstruction.