Mental health problems among thousands of US Iraq vets ignored by Bush admin November 8, 2007
Posted by dave128 in Bush Administration, Human Rights, Invasion of Afghanistan, Invasion of Iraq, Politics.add a comment
Here is the video I promised yesterday. It’s very informative and emotional, it left me with tears in my eyes. Kudos to the great Dateline team, who always do great stuff.
Tens of thousands of US soldiers are returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
They say they’ve been abandoned by the Bush Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, claiming that government officials are actively trying to cover up the extent of America’s traumatised soldiers.
For many vets, this means not enough help is being offered and their lives are plagued by anxiety and mental health issues. But for some, the results are even more tragic.
Dateline video journalist Nick Lazaredes meets the widow of an Afghanistan veteran who was severely depressed by his recall to fight in Iraq.
He was killed in a police shootout on Christmas Day, his death dubbed ‘police-assisted suicide’.
As Dateline reveals, his story is not an isolated one.
Reporter/Camera.
NICK LAZAREDESAdditional Filming.
STEVE HARPERResearchers.
YAARA BOU-MELHEM
TARA LIBERTEditors.
WAYNE LOVE
NICK O’BRIENProducer.
AARON THOMAS
Australian soldiers killing themselves April 30, 2007
Posted by dave128 in Bush Administration, Human Rights, Invasion of Afghanistan, Invasion of Iraq.1 comment so far
The Federal Government acknowledges two soldiers took their own lives after returning from the Middle East, but veteran activists say there could have been as many as five suicides – and they fear more will come.
To date 121 soldiers returned from the Middle East have been discharged for mental illness. About two dozen have serious psychological problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Families say the soldiers who commit suicide on their return are the hidden casualties of war.
Read the whole article: Our suicide soldiers: the hidden casualties
While Iraqis have suffered the most from Bush’s invasion, the tragic repercussions are spread considerably far across the world, and will most likely continue for at least decades to come.
Daily Update – Wednesday April 25 April 24, 2007
Posted by dave128 in Bush Administration, Human Rights, Invasion of Afghanistan, Media, Oil, Politics.add a comment
I’m finding it hard to write longish posts, the main reason being it’s too depressing. So, in order to keep what’s left of my sanity I’ll be trying “daily updates”. I won’t be updating everyday, but rather they will be a collection of news worthy/interesting things I’ve come across over a particular day. So, on with it…
The US Government has been positively pwned* over the Pat Tillman cover-up: Ranger alleges cover-up in Tillman case
Via Boing Boing: Fascist America, in 10 easy steps
The independence of Afghanistan’s media could be eroded if a new law is passed: Media at risk under new Afghan law
Indiginous American women are “2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than women in the United States in general” says Amnesty International: Native American women suffering shocking rates of rape: Amnesty
Another racism controversy from US radio DJs: US radio DJs in fresh racism row
In the six-minute prank broadcast, the caller says he wants to see one of the female employees of the restaurant naked and calls a part of her body “hot, Asian, spicy”.
[snip]
The two suspended DJs had been vocal supporters on air of Don Imus.
What a huge surprise.
I thought I’d end on something positive, Dave Raggett’s Introduction to HTML. A really handy guide, if like me, HTML scares the bejesus out of you.
Another positive, I watched the excellent documentary Crude Impact last night. It examines that huge issue oil, from its damage to indigenous communities and the environment, to the extent certain countries will go to in order to satiate their lust for oil (*cough* invasion of Iraq *cough*). And on this subject, I wonder just how much oil China and Russia get from Iran? Like this post, the film was mostly depressing, but ended with hope (okay, so HTML for beginners isn’t as snazzy as saving the planet, but meh!). I haven’t felt this energised by a documentary since The Corporation. Please visit their website, and try to view the doco if you can.
U.S. forces kill almost 20 civilians in two days in Afghanistan March 6, 2007
Posted by dave128 in Bush Administration, Human Rights, Invasion of Afghanistan.add a comment
Disturbing news from Afghanistan, with two reports of civilian deaths in as many days.
The first batch of killings happened in Nangarhar province. A suicide bomber attacked a military convoy, then shooting broke out. The marines fired indiscriminately, killing ten people, according to witnesses.
The following day U.S. forces bombed a house in Kapisa province. A cleric who buried the dead said there were nine bodies, five adults (including four women) and four children. U.S. forces alleged two men who had attacked a NATO base were seen entering the housing-area.
President Karzai implored foreign forces to use restraint, fearing a backlash against U.S. troops would give support to the resurgent Taliban. This is just another example of the U.S. exacerbating the threat from fundamentalists, and not”making the world safer” as they are fond of proclaiming.
In a disturbing development, the U.S. military erased photos and videos that journalists took of the aftermath of the shooting.
That makes my blood boil. They are always touting themselves as freedom-loving, democracy-spreading angels. These actions are the total opposite of that. The U.S. said “it was concerned the pictures would not accurately represent the scene.” Which, in a way, is true, because the U.S. has no view of reality.
This reminds me of a discussion (that’s a nice word for it) I had with a Republican over the invasion of Iraq. I mentioned how the photos coming out of the country (specifically the graphic image of a child with his arms blown off) were distressing me terribly and how angry they made me. He replied that he could show me photos of car accidents and it would be the same thing. He alleged the photos and video, yes all of it, coming from Iraq was being taken out of context (of course by the elitist liberal media).
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