...and the Pentagon would never lie. Not this time. Again.

In pretty much any downtown urban area, you can see that "resiliency" on display.

we just need a "War on Suicide".

would just increase the numbers. That's what every other "war on ...." has done since this insidious phrase entered the political lexicon.

Headed by a special Suicide Czar.

I know everyone bandies about the phrase "support our troops," but shouldn't the troops' first line of support be their military leaders? But look at how these leaders tapdance around the fact that so many troops are committing suicide.

Chiarelli says that combat strengthens an individual. I have no doubt that's correct in some individuals. However, looking at the population data, it's clear that those individual are not being strengthened the way Chiarelli's hypothetical individual is. So, why mention this "strengthening effect" since it does not really explain what's happening?

The top psychiatrist tapdances around the various larger issues at play: financial issues, substance abuse, yadda yadda yadda. But she firmly avoids discussing the largest issue at play: being sent to fight and die in an illegal war. That's gotta be quite a buzzkill, and the army's top psychiatrist pretends it doesn't exist.

But hey, they put together a really good video, okay?

Ummm... a military psychiatrist says definitively that there's no link to multiple deployments and suicide -- but the reasons seem to come from conditions when they get home? Are we to believe that they come home stable and happy, but everyday American life just makes them snap? And are these the same psychiatrists who developed methods of "enhanced" interrogation techniques? Frankly, I'm not saying they're wrong, just not credible. I'm witholding judgement until I hear from some independent research.

Could the legal, occupational, spousal, and substance-abuse problems involved in these suicides possibly be linked to the wars, Col. RItchie? Or am I just grasping at straws?

A soldier is gearing up for his 5th or 6th combat tour. His wife has left with the kids because he's never home anyway. He has nothing to look forward to in the furure but more of the same. If he's any good at all he's been stop lossed at least once, so he can't even look forward to finishing his contract and getting out. And this dumb ass General isn't sure if his substance abuse, family or morale problems are due to his multiple deployements or if any of that has anything to do with why he's thinking of killing himself.

Never ever believe anyhting an actice duty officer says in public. Never trust anything a General Officer says, ever. Above the rank of full bull colonal they aren't officers anymore they are politicians. It isn't that they suddenly get stupid or forget what motivates the troops, they just aren't allowed to tell the truth anymore.

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

knowing that the centerpiece of the Army's shiny new suicide prevention program is a VIDEO.

Wow.

Just . . . . .

wow.

Could it be possible that as recruiters get more desperate to fill their quotas, people who are more susceptible to mental health issues are being recruited in larger numbers?

Its obvious then! To prevent suicide in our soldiers, we NEED to send them into combat.

If this guy has psychology credentials...he should get them yanked post haste!

Contrary to reporting by Salon, the Army in fact does consider deployments to potentially be among the "stressors" influencing suicides, though not the only one: a third of the Soldiers who committed suicide in 2008 had not deployed. However deployments unquestionably put stress on relationships. As we determine how to help our people, we must thoroughly examine all possible causes and factors. To hear -- in context -- what the roundtable participants actually said go to:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/PentagonRadioNetwork/bloggersroundtable/2009/03/05/US-Army-Bloggers-Roundtable-with-US-Army-Gen-Peter-W-Chiarelli

Dear Letters Editor:

You need to question Col. Ritchie's judgement. The percentage of soldiers committing suicide from the normal causes she mentions; shouldn't change.

Any increase would have to come from something else and I suggest that is the deployments.

I am a 27 year veteran (1944-1971).

Honesty and integrity in our services is soundly lacking today.

Respectfully,

Larry J. Kluth (Lt.Col.USAF Ret.)

The culture of lies at the Pentagon seems not to change

with administrations.

The DoD avoided screening for Traumatic Brain Injury

until recently.

The Pentagon's top epidemiologist has admitted the delays

were deliberate—

part of an effort to avoid "another Gulf War Syndrome"

veterans' health headache for the military.

They’ve outright lied to the public about Acinetobacter

baumannii, Leishmaniasis, PTSD, TBI, and we have a

few other “mysteries” yet to unravel.

These lies are killing thousands of people.

The effects of these lies didn't stop at the doors to Walter Reed, NNMC, or the VAMC's.

These lies have infected your local hospitals,

possibly your blood supply, and are tearing apart families

in nearly every community.

Our countries failure to care for its war casualties

effects our society as whole.