News Analysis: June 16, 2009

Drug abuse problems for our over-deployed, over-stressed troops are soaring. So too are suicides, and the Army has a new approach to help prevent this tragedy from becoming even deeper.

Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury following three tours of duty in the last six years, one veteran still can’t get his benefits. Too many of our brave veterans are now at war with themselves and the world around them — they need our help, now.

Our troops keep deploying, including our Guard members who continue to deploy at a record pace. Many deploy with family. “There’s no letup in the sacrifices of Guard, families” as anyone who has been paying attention knows well.

A new general for Afghanistan. Good luck, Gen. McChrystal. Some new uniforms for our troops would help too, as the camouflage that worked in Iraq does not work in mountainous and muddy Afghanistan.

The top US commander in Iraq is “absolutely committed” to pulling all combat troops from urban areas by the end of the month, as called for in the US-Iraq security agreement.

Inspections of VA clinics show that fewer than half had proper training and guidelines in place for common procedures. This after learning months ago that mistakes and lack of proper protocols may have exposed thousands of vets to HIV and other infectious diseases.

The new paternity leave policy helps our military personnel raise their own families…

Is our military so desperate for more troops to sustain deployment policies to two wars that many who would’ve been barred from serving are now being encouraged to serve? Including neo-Nazis?

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, is looking to spend some of his left over campaign funds to produce a documentary on injured Iraq war veterans. The Federal Election Commission must sign off first.

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