they printed my 84th ltte re: war profiteers and "supporting" the troops

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2007/06/19/dailylight/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letter2.txt

‘The cost of war’


To the Editor,

Today is yet another landmark in Iraq-soldier No. 3519 has been killed — 42 soldiers and Marines since June 1. Instead of my usual rants, I’ll just lay the facts out for you. Draw your own conclusions.

1. Halliburton Corporation-has earned $20 billion since Iraq Invasion — cross reference — “Dick Cheney.”

2. Lockheed Martin Corp — $19 billion in ONE YEAR — cross reference “Lynne Cheney” and “Haley Barbour.”

3. Boeing Corp. — $19 billion per year. Cross reference “Donald Rumsfeld” and “Darlene Dryun.”

4. General Dynamics — $10.6 billion/year — cross reference “Colin Powell,” “Gordon England.”


5. New Bridge Strategies — billions/year — cross-reference “Joe Allbaugh,” “Neil Bush.”

6. Chevron — $4 billion/QUARTER — cross-reference “Condoleezza Rice.”

7. Shell Oil — $6 billion/quarter — cross reference “Gale Norton.”


8. Unocal — $204 billion/year — cross reference “Zalmay Khalizad.”

9. Both of our senators voted against an independent investigation of contractor fraud in Iraq. Aren’t you proud to know where THEIR alliances are?


3,519 dead, 111 of those suicides.


25,868 injured and unable to return to duty.


As the troops’ deployments are being extended, at least three in 10 of their stateside family members report a “severe” difficulty in paying bills.


Divorce rates have gone from 32 percent to 56 percent for military families.


The increase of traumatic brain injuries has gone up exponentially due to IEDs. These are difficult to diagnose and a contributor to PTSD.


Approximately 91,000 soldiers are returning home with PTSD, and very little resources waiting for them.


400,000 veterans become homeless any given year — a number that is sure to increase as our troops return.


Under DoD Directive 1325.6, an active duty military troop is forbidden from public dissent.

Research all your facts before you claim to support the troops. A yellow ribbon and a “thanks-a-million” card won’t cut it — not while war profiteers are becoming increasingly wealthy off our troops’ blood. There used to be a law against war profiteering — now it seems to be part of the career ladder to the White House. What has happened to my country?

[aquart]

1. Excellent letter.

A friend emailed me something today about there being 17 million foreclosed homes in the United States. Surely some of them can provide housing for our returning veterans?

Or we could (gasp!) create some jobs in this country by BUILDING vets housing.

But that will have to wait for a Democratic president. No Republican has yet to do anything but wave a flag and cut benefits to our soldiers and their families.

[w8liftinglady]

2. there is actually a National coalition for homeless veterans

http://nchv.org/index.cfm
What a F#cking shame.

[sanskritwarrior]

3. I have one small bone to pick with you over your letter

It is factually incorrect according to icasualties.org the number of troops wounded and unable to return to duty is 11,667, 14,283 have returned to duty.....I like your letter a lot, but if you use facts that are incorrect you open yourself up to attacks from freepers and others........

http://icasualties.org/oif/ <-----left hand side of the page most of the way down......it shows Wounded RTD (return to duty) and Wounded non RTD.........

[uppityperson]

11. You are right, that number is wrong, but letter has already been printed.

Good letter aside from that.

[dae]

4. One helluva letter, way to go!

:toast::toast:

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. You rock, sister!

I can hear the heads exploding from Ellis County all the way up here!

fsc :hi:

[ninkasi]

6. K&R

for a great letter that connects the dots. Our kids, our parents, our brothers and sisters, as well as the Iraqis, are sacrificed in order to enrich the neocons.

[w8liftinglady]

7. thanks guys.I actually hope they print my PTSD letter this week,too.

The Invisible scars of battle.
I dedicate this to my son,who will be serving his 4th tour in a war zone beginning this summer.
So many times,I have looked in his eyes,trying to catch a glimpse of my happy little boy.I see hollow,empty spheres,hiding the pain and death he has seen,multpile times,after multiple deployments.
The status of mental health care for our returning veterans is shameful.Even the DoD estimates that over 300,000 Iraq War veterans will need counseling for PTSD.This doesn't include the veterans of other wars who have seen their share of trauma.The solution-try to diagnose these brave war veterans with Bi-polar and other psychiatric disorders,and call them pre-existing.This denies the soldier access to what little help there is,and denies any disability claim.There are a total of 350 psychiatrists to care for almost a million mentally ill veterans of war.There is a huge stigma,still perpetuated today,against seeking help for the horrific experience that is war.The incidence of alcoholism,drug abuse and suicide is far higher among these war heroes,but talk therapy,by a war veteran,isn't profitable.Prescribing myriads of anti-psychotics and anti-depressants is.The anger and fear continue to eat at these soldiers and Marines' souls while they walk around in a drug-addled state-many staring down a bottle or the barrel of a gun.20-40 soldiers A DAY are being evacuated from Iraq with incapacitating PTSD,many handcuffed to their stretchers.This is what happens when your kids are sent to war multple times,seeing death and destruction every day,18 hours a day,watching their buddies be blown to pieces,learning to hate all Arabs,and coming home to a clueless nation who thinks a faded yellow ribbon is a fitting testament to these brave troops' sacrifice.
Those of you who still support this war should try to walk a day in these Men and women's shoes.Imagine how their lives have changed,and how our nation has deserted them when they come home.Let's take the billions we spend on contractors in Iraq,and funnel that money into a program to help all wounded warriors-even those without visable scars.Support our troops.Bring them home to a grateful nation,one who is willing to appreciate and reward their sacrifice,not profit from it.

[Breeze54]

8. You are just AWESOME and RELENTLESS!! I LOVE IT!!!!

:hug:

Good for you!! I'm very proud of you and I admire you!!

:kick: & Recommended!!

Now? Write a book of all those letters! ;)

[HCE SuiGeneris]

9. Very well done WLL!

So glad that your energies and talents are finding the public forum.

[sanskritwarrior]

10. Again not to be a wet blanket

but people are basically high-fiving you for a factually incorrect letter....I hate it when the current misadministration plays fast and loose with the facts, shouldn't we hold ourselves to a higher standard........