Army Ranger Kills Himself--- before we get too excited about Obama foreign policy

Very tragic. I know all the services have been dealing with this for some time, and recently there was a story about the Army's suicide rate hitting a new high. I have a number of friends on active duty, and we've spoken about it but really cant figure out why- is it really just the deployments? It almost seems too simple.

I also remember reading that suicide is a major problem for veterans. From my understanding the military is getting more serious about diagnosing and helping people suffering from depression, and one can only hope that it reduces the suicide rate.

 

The suicide rate in the military is very, very high.

For the love of reason, bring them home.

 

The military has a lower suicide rate than the civilian population when you look at the demographics.

 

based on which stats?

 

Certain parts are higher relative to the civilian population than others.

But the rising trend overall can't be denied.

http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&...pw.r_cp.&fp=265f5e3edf2ec82b&biw=1920&bih=979

 

If I've learned anything from movies, it's that the military turns combat soldiers into mind-numbed psychopaths incapable of fitting back into society.

 

Every piece of information I've seen on comparable age groups shows the military rate above the civilian rate, typically from 2008 and beyond.

 

Would love to talk about this with Donny but glynch just took a dump in the thread exposing his real concern is how to use this for his own agenda.

I am against the current deployments but wouldn't use this as justification due to the stigma that suicide still holds in our culture.

 

Glynch <------------- normal people -------------> Basso

 

Remind them of what exactly? That here in America we are slowly dumbing down our education to the lowest common denominator. That laws change to satisfy the smallest of minority. That here in the great USofA we can stop wars because a few soilders can't handle it.

Listen, I really do feel bad for the families of people who commit suicide. It's terribly tough on them. I can't imagine their pain. And I'm sorry that the guys couldn't find another solution to their problem and picked suicide as their only way.

But this is war and war is hell. Not everybody is cut out for it. Just because a number of people that were not meant to do a "thing" does not mean that "thing" is wrong.

 

War is definitely not right...
In a perfect world...

 

A man is dead, and that is a tragedy, but he was free to walk away 7 months ago, and chose not to.

 

No, but there are thousands of other reasons that the "thing" we're doing is wrong.

This is just evidence of it.

I'm going to quit now before I get more pissed off at your use of the word "thing" to describe what's actually going on over there.

 

How does a suicide and Obama foreign policy have any connection?

95% of his tour's were because of Bush. So, why is Obama being singled out?

 

Don't let facts get in the way of an agenda. Look, I want the troops sent home for a number of reasons. First, I do not think that it is financially responsible, second, I do not think it is our job to "police" those that do not want to be.

However, it is my understanding that suicide rates in the military are low. The story of the soldier that flips out or kills himself gets the headlines... but would not be news if he was a painter or accountant.

 

Roping Obama's name into this thread was... well, basso-like.

Especially considering the foreign policy alluded to here is that thread praising Obama for fighting a succesful proxy war in Libya in which no Americans were engaged in direct combat (and therefore probably did not suffer from any ptsd). I think the jury is still out on whether that was good foreign policy, but on fighting wars without adding significantly to our battle fatigue, I can't help but call it a success.

 

^^^ /END THREAD

 

So, I shouldn't flip out or kill myself if I want to get into the news? Or perhaps I should just switch careers?