Letters to the Editor
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Thank you Mark Benjamin
I just wanted to add my kudos to your well written and researched journalism. Keep up the good work. Your efforts are appreciated.
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Truly...
...the quality investigation that goes into some of Salon's ongoing series, such as this one being reported by Mark Benjamin, are proof that a $35 subscription to Salon is the very best money I spend each year.
Where else in the media can a subscriber feel that their contribution really does make as significant a difference?
(I just renewed.)
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Commendation for U.S soldiers conducting a loyal service
It is a great honor to have our American men, and women serve in such a powerful country. In addition, I am a veteran that served in Operation Desert Storm several years ago. However, the ordeals that has taken place, since Iraqi Freedom is very insulting. Approximately two years ago, messages were being published about American troops not receiving proper fighting gear. As a result, their family members had to send supplies, including bullet-proof-vest or other military body armor. Today, the American people are hearing about injuried soldiers going back into Iraq to fight. The worst case is the many fatalities, which are taken place overseas among our proudest military force. As a military veteran, and I truly enjoyed serving for my country;however, the future isn't about to change in Iraq anytime soon. I've been hearing reports, regarding many U.S contractors employed in or around Iraq. Anyone's first impression would be is this war reflected on international business ventures, including a governing method to mass produce crude oil and other natural resources. It appears this war has gotten way out of control, and sending more of our American troops for a police action isn't going to fix the problem. What America needs right now is support from other foreign allies, that will assist the U.S in finding a diplomatic solution for allowing Iraq, to operate as a nation independant from cruel dictartorship and terrorism. It appears putting more fuel on the fire isn't working either; therefore, U.S Congress ought to listen for what the American tax-payer is requesting, that involves the American dollar being spent on more intentive issues other than the war in Iraq.
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I'm with Denfield!
This is such an important story. The gaming of the system is hardly better than Jamie Farr dressing up in drag. Folks in the military know that DODT is a free ticket out if they want it. Of course military docs are sending more bodies--someone's counting.
This system is just flat broken. We have all these parallel health systems, wasting resources--vets, active military, all the rest of it--what a mess! In an integrated system, these guys would have equal access to non-military medical people.
Just another administration mockery of "supporting the troops." Go get 'em, Salon!
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WHAT DOES IT TAKE?
I am privileged to be the only one, so far, to respond to the public affairs officer's comments posted on this article.
In a word: BULLSHIT!
How could it be that Mark Benjamin found the ONLY one of 75 soldiers examined who was found unfit for another deployment in Iraq? And, apparently, what it takes is the fusing of not one, not two, not three...but FOUR vertabrae to be medically excused from further combat action!
Kudos to Benjamin, the brave military members who agreed to be interviewed for the Salon article, and Senator Patty Murray for acting so quickly on trying to resolve the problem not only at that base but others.
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Master Sergeant Jenkins Stands Up For Soldiers In Deed
It took personal courage to stand up make some noise as to what was going on in the 3rd Infantry Division. Make no mistake, this isn't something that just happened in one Brigade Combat Team out of 5 in the Division, or the Army for that matter. Master Sergeant Jenkins lived up to the Army values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. He did what is listed on countless yearly NCO evaluations 'chooses the harder right, over the easy wrong', and he did it to 'take care of Soldiers'. Something that is expressed far to often, but in word only. He gains nothing from this experience, other than the extreme satisfaction of knowing he stood up. His actions will affect countless Soldiers, whom otherwise would have been stepped on by the 'Mission First' mantra. It should be boldly noted that a large part of 'Mission First' is taking care of Soldiers, Let it be known that Master Sergeant Jenkins is being saluted by many in the Army. Army Strong.
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3,000 More Troops Requested ...
Bryan Bender of the Boston Globe has just filed a story (2:30 am; March 15, 2007; but AP has nothing. yet) that Petraeus is requesting about 3,000 more troops, on top of the 4,700 requested last week by Dubya. As the “surge” now climbs to 30,000 the internal pressures to find those extra bodies will likely increase. And the temptation to play fast and loose with “medical re-evaluations” will get all the stronger.
That Mark Benjamin has managed single-handedly to put the spotlight on this issue right now is critical. It would be criminal of us to squander his good work. Like “greenholdt” I’m skeptical (to put it mildly) of the Army’s decision to send a letter of “Clarification” to Salon’s readership. This should not be allowed to degenerate into an exercise in “damage control” by the military ... as they continue to increase the size of the Surge. Keep an eye on ‘em, Salon. As Yellow Dog already pointed out this “is a looooooonnnnnngg way” from a win, and “congressional dems have five-second attention spans.”
PS -- It's clear your readership is behind you 100% on this one. You print it, we'll holler!
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
I want to thank the unnamed person who made the comment about the Army Values. This was a hard decision I had to make and I hope it has been received by all in the manner it was meant. I love the Army and have served proudly for 21 years. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team is a professional organization and I have enjoyed my time in this unit. I had a issue with a process that occurred and it needed to be addressed.
V/R MSG RONALD JENKINS