War has become an integral part of the American way of life.
At any one time there is no less than 130 conflicts ie; (wars) going on in every corner of the globe.
American “interests” are represented in nearly two thirds of these. On a daily basis the mainstream news media inundates us with the talking points that (it seems) are being directed at us to discuss at length, while simultaneously providing us with as little actual information as possible.
At any one time there is no less than 130 conflicts ie; (wars) going on in every corner of the globe.
American “interests” are represented in nearly two thirds of these. On a daily basis the mainstream news media inundates us with the talking points that (it seems) are being directed at us to discuss at length, while simultaneously providing us with as little actual information as possible.
As long as these skirmishes are a safe continent away, we go on about our lives with seldom more attention paid to the ever mounting death tolls, as we would pay to the chatter of a low volume talk show buzzing in the background on our T.V.'s. And this has been the way of it for years, since CNN played non-stop coverage of the first Iraq war. Remember that one? In the wake of recent “news” casters like Brian Williams who lied about the events he was not involved in during the Iraq war, to Bill O'Reilly lying about events in his coverage of the Falkland Islands reporting, it is evident that our consolidated and biased news media has a direct hand in the glorification of war. The real face of war has been white washed and sanitized so that it is more palatable for the American consumer. Most corporate news media are in fact, no more than propaganda machines. Not that every news cast you see is false, or that there is a conspiracy behind mainstream news media, however when you have 5 huge corporations controlling everything see, read, and hear, it is much easier for certain stories to be cast aside for political reasons.
Note: More recent evidence shows that it may be just 4 companies
When there is such a concentration of ownership in the media, government pressure to suppress stories is much more prevalent and easier to accomplish. If the U.S. Government were to allow the true face of war where 90% of the casualties are innocent civilians, a third of which are children, it would never be tolerated.
There are some who can never forget the wars that have been foisted on innocent civilians in foreign countries and our service members here at home The lucky ones, who came back, body intact, still have the acrid smell of burning flesh lodged in their nostrils. The sight of charred bodies still haunt their dreams, sure they act like they are fine when they are around people like you and I, people who weren't there. But when they get together with fellow Vets, the look in their eyes is that of someone who has seen, and maybe who did, way more than any human being should have to. The ones who parish in combat, they are hero's for taking the mantle of service. However, the politicians who put our best and brightest in a war zone, do so not for god and country. Would your God really want to see us killing each other for the whims of old men in power? Do you really want your children in a war where the outcome is always death, and destruction to both sides, I would wager the answer is no, unless it is absolutely necessary?
The wounds of war are all consuming, they effect such a vast section of our society that they are on a scale that encompasses millions. These wounds are not the ones talked about at dinner parties, and neither are the more visible scares of some of today's veterans.
Although deservedly touted as heros in the media, it is more for the tug at the heartstrings, and those precious ratings numbers, than for actual actionable efforts to ensure that these men and women who have sacrificed so much, receive the medical, financial, and social integration care that should be free of charge and open to all service members.
Although deservedly touted as heros in the media, it is more for the tug at the heartstrings, and those precious ratings numbers, than for actual actionable efforts to ensure that these men and women who have sacrificed so much, receive the medical, financial, and social integration care that should be free of charge and open to all service members.
According to Cost Of War.org “The true count of Americans injured or sickened in the war is much larger – by orders of magnitude – than the figures given on the official Department of Defense casualty website. That official total – over 52,000 – includes only those “wounded in action.” Not included are those suffering what are categorized as “non-hostile injuries” and other medical problems, which include heat stroke, suicide attempts, respiratory problems, and vehicle crashes.
While some baseline number of injuries and illnesses would have occurred in any case, many of the latter should be considered a result of the wars, and therefore as much a combat injury, broadly speaking, as IED (improvised explosive device) injuries.
While some baseline number of injuries and illnesses would have occurred in any case, many of the latter should be considered a result of the wars, and therefore as much a combat injury, broadly speaking, as IED (improvised explosive device) injuries.
The true numbers of the injured are significantly higher even than this, given that many problems are not diagnosed and treated until the injured return home. Toxic dust exposure and resulting respiratory, cardiac, and neurological disease represent another large segment of war zone-induced illness that has yet to be fully recognized.
Traumatic brain injury and PTSD are major issues among returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. For example, 15 percent of all Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans were found to have suffered a traumatic brain injury [1]. According to the most recent data from the VA, approximately 30 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan vets accessing care were diagnosed with PTSD“
Traumatic brain injury and PTSD are major issues among returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. For example, 15 percent of all Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans were found to have suffered a traumatic brain injury [1]. According to the most recent data from the VA, approximately 30 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan vets accessing care were diagnosed with PTSD“
The current budget for the Department of Defense is around a staggering ($525,000,000,000), lets put that into perspective. Even at the staggering assumption that each individual veteran needed $100,000 in care, that amounts $52,000,000,000. Out of 525 Billion dollar budget for defense 52 billion (1/10th of the budget) isn't a lot to ask for the health of those who fought to forward Washington's Political agenda. Yet, we have scores of homeless vets throughout the country, whom many have died or are dying on waiting lists for Veteran Affairs to do their job.
With new head of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald exaggerating his service and blatantly lying about the scope of firings in the Veterans Affairs with claims that he fired 900 employees from the VA and the truth being that of a much lower number, roughly 160 employees being fired or resigning to skirt an investigation. It is unlikely that anything will change for these men and women that served in our armed forces. It will take a monumental change in the American culture, a movement the likes of Occupy, or the Vietnam war protests to bring this issue to immediate attention
