And when you turn on your television news—CNN, MSNBC—you’ll hear a story like this read in about 30 seconds.  You’ll never get any followup. 

But how much time did those stations devote to Paris Hilton in jail?

Unfortunately the only news show that qualifies as alternative media is in the comedy genre—Jon Stewart.  Or Lou Dobbs.

In Haig’s presence, Kissinger referred pointedly to military men as “dumb, stupid animals to be used” as pawns for foreign policy.

Woodward and Bernstein, The Final Days, chapter 14

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_Kissinger

Considering the fact that Kissinger is a regular visitor to see HRM King George and is giving the King advice, it’s not surprising that the WH is oblivious to the troops needs, both here at home and abroad.

We rushed these soldiers into action, many of them with little training (and proper equipment—complaints about which Rumsfield belittled as whining)for such a prolonged conflict in an area so hostile to them on all fronts.

And Bush has refused to give them relief, while sympathizing with the Iraqui parliament who insisted on taking a month off.

I hope Congress questions Petraeus about this next month, although I’m sure it won’t be in the status report that the White House has decided to writefor him.

Olbermann tonight added another stunning fact:
there were an additional 900 attempted suicides.

C-span also today aired a panel of military ‘leaders’  discussing the report.

Another Bush crony named Colonel Elsbeth Ritchie (a definate candidate for the next medal of dishonor),M.D.,  Director of one of the Pentagon mental health programs, offered these jewels of wisdom:

“It’s hard to stop suicides without taking their guns away…”

“..If you’re watching this and are thinking about suicide, get some help”...

Just not from you or the Pentagon, right Doc?

Now all we have to do is get the troops home and decrease their suicide rates any way we can.  Maybe we can find out how to increase the suicide rates of politicians, this may be the best way politicians can serve their county plus they have accomplished something positive at the same time.

Left unsaid was how many were Regular Army and how many National Guard. Also, no mention of how long they had been in the Army nor their ages.
While those facts would help shed some light on the problem, just the fact that there is a problem is most troubling.
I’m told be a friend who served 27 years in Army Infantry that the one thing that you don’t do is seek counseling if you plan on staying in the Army.
It stands to reason that a good soldier is macho. And macho guys don’t need that kind of help. There are rare exceptions. But, like they say, that just proves the rule.
Just one more unintended consequence of Shrubs’ ‘ego war’.
Just like the Marine Sgt., hit by IED and suffering from severe brain injury.
A vital young man reduced to being mute, with little motor control; who will require special care for the rest of his life, such as it is.
If Shrub was even aware of that soldier, he’d say, So?, and get a good nights sleep.