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Commentary: The Price of War

As if the vile machinationistic intentions of a certain right-wing party weren't enough to sink this country to the pit of despair, one of it's most conservative and staunchest groups is being spat in the face. As we know, those serving in Iraq were given extended duty and additional deployments. As we know, the government has failed to safeguard them by refusing home assistance in the form of extra armour and as we know they've dragged their feet on supplying armoured HumVee's. The VA hospitals are widely acknowledged outside Red circles as being woefully inadequate. All this we know. And, as a further sign of what should have already been painfully obvious to people but somehow isn't (that is, that the Republicans take advantage of the military and don't care for their needs while relying on their support for elections), we get word that a lawsuit from a group of veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are suing the government for inadequate mental care.

An average of 18 veterans commit suicide a day, an average of 5 under the care of Veterans Affairs. The Rand Corporation released a study that showed that 20% of the troops overseas are suffering from severe depression or post traumatic stress disorder. In 2006 there were 99 confirmed suicides among those within the VA care, the highest in 26 years. The VA has responded to the class action lawsuit stating that 3 billion will be paid in mental health this year, and that they have expanded the number of psychologists assisting veterans. More interestingly, they are claiming that the courst have no business meddling in the affairs of the VA and no jurisdiction. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7357909.stm The class action lawsuit on behalf of the veterans is being led the Causus of the Democratic Party. What does this tell me? Quite plainly, the Republicans don't give a damn for veterans (as VA hospitials have been systematically under-funded under Bush), that the Democrats do care. The Reds will eventually lose the support of the military if they continue to spit in their faces. That's all I'm saying.

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