Pentagon: Mental Illnesses 'Pre-Existing'

[The Straight Story]

Pentagon: Mental Illnesses 'Pre-Existing'
Monday, October 1, 2007
Printable Format

United Press International

WASHINGTON (UPI) — Pentagon officials are blaming some mental health discharges of U.S. troops in Iraq on what they call pre-existing mental conditions.

Experts say many of the approximately 10 soldiers and Marines discharged every day for mental health problems actually have combat-related problems, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Sunday.

By classifying the health problems as non-combat related, the military is saving money on treatment, the newspaper said.

Sens. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., have inserted language in a defense authorization bill to make it harder to discharge troops on those grounds, and to require a review of procedures by the Government Accountability Office.

Bond called the practice an abuse of the system. Obama said the lack of care for returning soldiers is deeply disturbing.

http://obama.senate.gov/news/071001-pentagon_mental/

[Beaverhausen]

1. so, they are claiming we are sending soldiers with "mental problems" into combat?

Ok. :eyes: Am I the only one with a problem with that?

And yes, of course I know they don't believe it, they are just trying to get out of paying for the care these soldiers need and deserve. But to use this rationale is preposterous.

[TomInTib]

4. Of course they are.

They knew that when they relaxed the standards for enlistment.

The military's biggest problem with these particular troops is that they are coming back alive.

But they are damned sure letting crazies in.

[maxsolomon]

2. the pre-existing condition of being a human with emotions

good luck bond & obama - betcha president pathological narcissist vetoes it.

[SPKrazy]

3. geez, next they will say anyone with a mental illness

had it before whatever (non-military is what i mean)

that is basically another atrocity of war, to suggest that war related mental illnesses might not be...

we have descended back to another era... perhaps we should bring out the shackles next?

:grr:

[stellanoir]

5. yeah the pre existing condition is being a sentient human being and having a soul

and fundamentally knowing that killing innocents is wrong

those bastards