Contents of these articles all very sad and unfortunately part of how the army runs things - perhaps a classic example Joe Conason could use in his book (It Can Happen Here: Authoritarianism in this day and age).

To save your injured soldiers, maybe your commanders could look to Fiji, whose military force is renowned for its peacekeeping duties under the United Nations. Boredom may have pushed these highly skilled, experienced soldiers over the edge, ousting a democractically-elected govenment last December.

The US could recruit and send our soldeirs to Iraq. The US saves face and meets its targetted manpower on the ground without forcing your injured soldiers and saves ordinary Fijians' day by returning governance to those who should be running our government instead of gun-toating, trigger-happy, soldiers.

Whatever happens, I hope they make findings of their "investigations" available to Salon; they should allow this wonderfully informative series a dignified "La Fin"

We need to stop this political sidebars and listen to these Soldiers. Republican or Democrat, these Soldiers are asking for your help. Soldier mentioned in all these articles placed alot a risk to tell these stories. They wouldn't risk their careers on anything not able to prove. Please don't put their braveness and selfless service to the political battle. Someone needs to step in and help these Soldiers. There is always a new storyline in the news daily, this takes away the attention these brave men and women are fighting for! Please demand responses to these issue. Soldiers are depending on each and everyone of you! Take their stories for face value and help them. Democrat or republican the Soldiers don't care, just help them to protect our way of life, as they have volunteered to save yours!

You sure are giving me some good practice on my irony/hypocrisy confusion.

You spent an entire thread explaining why wlaking wounded soldiers should be sent back to work, then when asked why you haven't served, you play the sick/injured card.

That is priceless. You guys are frickin hilarious.

Are you still going to refuse to answer the questions posed by Anonymous and fall into that "control freak" category you labeled upon others like you?

You can't make general if your unit readiness isn't inflated. This brigade commander, like the Commander-in-Chief, will do anything he can to make the numbers look good.

I am sadden to see the Army I help build after Vietnam being torn down by those who have not learned from the past. This will be another lesson whose cost will be measure in blood.

staff officers is akin to Gen. Westmoreland's body counts in response to Pres. Johnson micromanaging the military's efforts, just as the current administration is doing. It undermines the military's efforts and allows for officers who are better suited to be politicians to advance their careers based upon the illusion of a troop surge, even if it is staffed with those who have sustained injuries rendering them unfit for combat, to accomodate the demands of the current administration. Eventually, Westmoreland (just as that fuck, Robert McNamara) was utterly and completely discreditted. But not before more than 50,000 were dead and millions of Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians were murdered in a failed and flawwed "war". He was a politician, not a military leader. Pace and Patreus are also politicians. Fuck them for not telling the truth and sacrificing their men for an unjust, illegal cause.

None. But then again I'm partially handicapped according to the military. I'm sure I could have filled some role somewhere but being deaf in one ear, color blind and a two time cancer patient, the army took a pass. Thanks for asking though and keep the condescension coming. It's soooo Salon.

Which West African country do you live in during a civil war....? Was is Cote d'Ivoire? It was for me.

Perhaps you were unable to comprehend my previous post, but I was essentially agreeing with you that there is a role to play in the military for the walking wounded, as long as that role is approved by medical personell.

I hope you were wearing your raincoat when you saw the direct questions from Anonymous that you are too cowardly to address. Or the questions from me you are too cowardly to address.

And I have another question. Just out of curiosity, which war did you volunteer for?

And I quote you from one of your earlier letters

"I wouldn't fuck that skank with a stolen dick"

Your mamma must be so proud.

No, what you get mixed up the difference between a direct question and the sound of your own voice bouncing around in your head.

BTW one of the RAF's top aces in WW2 had no legs.

So, if one were to assume that there are injured people who are not fit for front line duty but otherwise not occupationally disabled, there could be a role for them somewhere else.

"What do you do with people who are otherwise unfit but uninjured?"

You can't be this stupid, can you?

The answer to your question is that you put them in a role deemed appropriate by a qualified M.D., in some cases this might be discharge, in others, back to the lines. I saw this often serving in Gulf War I.

I have three questions for you:

Why would you say something like "I know that control freaks tend to explode when you ask them simple direct questions, but give it a whirl. I'll wear a raincoat in case you burst.." when you have failed to answer fairly direct questions posed to you by Anonymouns?

Would that be irony or hypocrisy? I always get those mixed up.

I am assuming since you are not currently in Iraq, that you are both unfit and injured. Is this correct?

You're a fucking asshole too. Kiss noise.

What do you do with people who are otherwise unfit but uninjured? I know that control freaks tend to explode when you ask them simple direct questions, but give it a whirl. I'll wear a raincoat in case you burst..