News Analysis: June 19, 2009
Alcohol abuse in the military has ballooned into a massive problem since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, with the rate of soldiers enrolling in treatment programs nearly doubling in that last six years. Military officials acknowledge the stress of repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan has only grown since the wars began — producing fallout from alcohol and drug abuse to a horrific rate of suicide. It will be important, on the way to helping our troops and their families, to end the stigma against seeking help.
In the years since the wars began, traumatic brain injuries have reached critical levels as well. TBI is a “critical problem begging for new insight and new therapies.”
A new court in South Florida to help our troubled and traumatically injured veterans stay clear of the penitentiary.
Operation Relax. Trying to do whatever it takes to ease the epic stress our troops shoulder every day. The stresses are shared by their families back home — where staying busy helps take the edge off of the daily, grueling pressures.
Just how into their jobs are the members of the new Iraqi security forces? Meanwhile, Iran seems to be heading towards a boiling point. North Korea’s nuclear saber-rattling has Defense officials vowing to protect Hawaii from long-range rocket attacks. And al Qaeda’s grip on Somalia appears to be tightening with the latest deadly strike, this time taking out a government minister and dozens of others.
The Defense Department neither wants nor needs the extra $369 million for more fighter jets — particularly as it wages irregular wars against enemies that have no air force at all — but Congress is resistant. Couldn’t that money be better used improving the health and welfare of our troops, their families and communities?
A new initiative to help our legions of homeless veterans.