There is an article in today’s NY Times, about Iraq, American soldiers, and battle stress. It looks at how soldiers are adjusting after returning from Iraq, adjusting to civilian life after living in a battle zone.

I’ve complained releatedly about how I think that our soldiers and returning veterans are not being treated as they should by our country. The article, although not necessarily addressing all the issues that I feel are important, does make several important points.

An Army study shows that about one in six soldiers in Iraq report symptoms of major depression, serious anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, a proportion that some experts believe could eventually climb to one in three, the rate ultimately found in Vietnam veterans. Because about one million American troops have served so far in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Pentagon figures, some experts predict that the number eventually requiring mental health treatment could exceed 100,000.

…

As of Wednesday (December 15, 2004) 5,229 Americans have been seriously wounded in Iraq. Through July, nearly 31,000 veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom had applied for disability benefits for injuries or psychological ailments, according to the Department Veterans Affairs.

This article, although highlighting some of the problems, ignores how recent cuts in VA benefits are going to affect the issue.

We’re sending soldiers off without proper armament, and although the advances in medical technology that are saving the lives of our soldiers are amazing, I wonder whether we’re spending our money in the best way possible. I guess you have to understand that I’m coming from a public health perspective here–we’ve put the VA on the chopping block, and are closing VA hospitals. It’s wonderful that we’re saving all these lives, but I have to wonder whether we’re shorting the vast majority of soldiers to save the lives of a few.

Of course it’s not really a zero sum game here. It shouldn’t have to be either or. But I don’t see how we can do both, unless we’re willing to raise taxes to pay for these expenses.

And I don’t see the “yellow ribbon brigade” interesting in doing that, at all.

Send ’em off and make sure to support them by blindly following the CIC and demonizing those who speak dissent, but when it comes right down to it–when it comes down to making a small financial sacrifice for those who are sacrificing far more… Well, that’s just not in their worldview.

View a list of the soldiers killed in Iraq.

Visit the Digital Memorial for those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq