Soldier gets billed for Humvee parts damaged in bombing that tore off his hand.

[TomJoe]

I've heard of several instances of stuff like this happening... it's a crock. You'd think the military would treat their own with respect and dignity.

Try walking into a VA hospital (here in the US) sometime... it's possibly the most depressing hospital environment to find oneself in.

[seebs]

I think Rumsfeld and Bush are too separated from the actual men on the ground to have any clue. This is the true horror of modern war; thanks to telecommunications, the people deciding who dies are nowhere near the combat.

So far as I can tell, to Bush, this is essentially a way to show off how devout he is in all those things he goes out of his way to tell us all he prays about. Rumsfeld? I don't really know that he sees this as anything but a video game, or some kind of revenge, at this point.

Bleh.

[seebs]

On consideration, I may be being too harsh on them. I just have very low confidence in this administration's commitments to the troops.

Why must "supporting the troops" always mean "commanding them to spend even longer periods getting shot at over something we can't even clearly articulate"?

[Petra]

I don't think you're being too harsh on them at all, seebs. Too easy, in fact.


I watched a couple of video's last night (Parts 1 & 2) that interviewed returned servicemen who had been wounded in Iraq. Worth watching, I think: http://207.44.245.159/article7693.htm


I don't think anyone at the top gives a shit. "Bring it on!" they cry as they live off the fat of the land and squander the future and the safety of so many Americans. And is the world a more safe place? No. Are Iraqis *freeeeee* now? No.


Bastards.

[viscousmemories]

Originally Posted by lunachick

I watched a couple of video's last night (Parts 1 & 2) that interviewed returned servicemen who had been wounded in Iraq. Worth watching, I think: http://207.44.245.159/article7693.htm

Those are really good, luna. Thanks for the link. I can't believe the bit about how they're keeping self-identified PTSD sufferers in-country for treatment.

Also the additon of Tom Waits contributes to the power of those films.

I believe most VA hospitals suck too. I saw enough of military 'hospitality' when I was in service, so I never bothered utilize the VA services when I got out.

[Petra]

Yeah, and the part where that guy had his hand blown off and said it didn't hurt at all. He repeated that it didn't hurt at all with a look in his eyes that broke my heart. It didn't hurt him physically when it happened, but it'll hurt him emotionally and spiritually for the rest of his life.

[Petra]

Originally Posted by TomJoe

Try walking into a VA hospital (here in the US) sometime... it's possibly the most depressing hospital environment to find oneself in.

I can imagine. Watch the vids, TomJoe, they made me cry last night.

[maddog]

Originally Posted by TomJoe

. . .
Try walking into a VA hospital (here in the US) sometime... it's possibly the most depressing hospital environment to find oneself in.

I got a kind of look at that in the film "Born on the Fourth of July" about Ron Kovic (sp?), who became an anti-war activist after suffering a crippling injury in Viet Nam.

OTOH, in my real-life experience recently with VA hospitals, I was very impressed with the kinds of facilities they had for my pal Charlie, the kinds of treatment they offered him, their willingness to place him closer to home (mostly for my sake), and thank IPU for the Nursing Home Care Unit's Palliative Care Program, which provided real, honest-to-goodness 24/7 medical care in a reasonably pleasant environment for a terminal guy with nowhere else to go. And because it was part of the larger VA hospital, any extraordinary or other (e.g., dental, rehab, phys ther, soc worker) services he needed were available on the premises. Because Charlie didn't really have money, it was in essence the only choice for him. While one would always prefer autonomy and being among one's own objects in familiar surroundings, the VA NHCU was a blessing which relieved the real, inexpert people in Charlie's life (basically, me and his landlady) of incredible burdens that would have made all three of us much unhappier in the end.

The director of the NHCU at my local VA hospital said bluntly that 1800 veterans die every day, and the government should do more to help these guys at the end of their lives. I agree wholeheartedly. And, in this case, b/c the unit is in the charge of a guy who really cares like that, the facilities and the care that Charlie received were pretty darn good, if you ask me.
#213