And while the main mission for us being in that region continues since we abandoned that mission, actually related to 9/11, and our promises to those people in that country so long ago, the second time on the promises, i.e. Afghan/Soviet conflict.
Yesterday I posted here with some of my thoughts on.
Let me give abit more perspective as to the feelings and reality of.
New York City Parade, National Guard troops, Desert Shield/Storm tribute, 1991 | Image from NY State Military Museum
Short but deadly conflict and oh so patriotic feelings from the masses who don't serve but yes giving Honor to those that do. Well many of us older veterans knew exactly what was to follow in relation to the veterans of. Some joined the already decades long fights, with many similar issues, for a fully funded Veterans Administration especially related to the aftermath of our countries wars. And each war seems to bring something with that affects those serving in, this one brought thousands suffering from what was quickly labelled Gulf War Syndrome {GWS}, finally in the past couple of years getting at least some attention by the peoples government, and as before ignored by those not only attending the parades but the whole country, but for a few within. As was PTSD: Post Traumatic Disorder when we of Vietnam and the few caring people within the society finally gave a name to what always has been, no longer can be ignored. Why there were even a few experts{?} making a handsome living in denying it even existed, combat PTS or in the civilian populations. One major issue of Vietnam Agent Orange Defoliants not only has been ignored but lingers on especially in the population of Vietnam and the generations since but as our brothers who sought help for here are dying off from. And there's so much more, like calling TBI Traumatic Brain Injury the signature wounds of these present conflicts like they don't happen, related to our wars, in the other theaters of, few veterans were being diagnosed with prior to this decade.
Some already are saying that this coming event:
February 23, 2012 - The Department of Defense announced today the names of 78 service members who have been invited to attend the Feb. 29 White House dinner hosted by President and Mrs. Obama to express the nation’s gratitude to, and recognize the significant contributions of, the men and women in uniform who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation New Dawn, and the families who supported them.
Is not sufficient as to the official ending of the war and occupation of Iraq, once again as the main reason reason for being in that region continues and soldiers of both continue to be killed and maimed.
Below is just a most recent report to come out, on only one major issue, related to these wars, all wars, both the costs of were rubber stamped by the congresses put off the budget till this administration came in and still on the countries credit card.
February 24, 2012 - It’s difficult to know just how many of the two million people who have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been afflicted with two common combat ailments, post-traumatic stress disorder (P.T.S.D.) and traumatic brain injury (T.B.I.). But a new study of six years of data from the Veterans Health Administration, published this month by the Congressional Budget Office, illuminates not just the extent of the treatment that is needed, but its costs.
In a sampling of nearly half a million veterans of the two wars, 21 percent had P.T.S.D., 2 percent had symptoms of T.B.I., and 5 percent had both. For a variety of reasons, it’s hard to extrapolate these rates to the entire group of those who served.
But the notable finding of the report is this: Taken together, the afflicted group’s first-year treatment costs ran four to six times as high as patients without these conditions.
snip To put the numbers in perspective, the Veterans Health Administration spent a total of $6 billion on health care expenditures for veterans of these wars from 2002 to 2010; total spending in 2010 alone for health care for veterans of all ages and all conflicts came to $48 billion. All dollar amounts are adjusted to 2011 values. read more>>>
Keep in mind, as I placed above, the tens of thousands of us who served in Vietnam, add in those of Korea, the already growing smaller ranks of WWII veterans as well as those of Desert Storm and All the Veterans of our Military actions in between and related to the above issues and study, that have been ignored all these decades.
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