Sick, wounded U.S. troops held in squalor
FORT STEWART, Ga., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Hundreds of sick and wounded U.S. soldiers including many who served in the Iraq war are languishing in hot cement barracks here while they wait -- sometimes for months -- to see doctors ... One document shown to UPI states that no more doctor appointments are available from Oct. 14 through Nov. 11 -- Veterans Day...One month after President Bush greeted soldiers at Fort Stewart -- home of the famed Third Infantry Division -- as heroes on their return from Iraq, approximately 600 sick or injured members of the Army Reserves and National Guard are warehoused in rows of spare, steamy and dark cement barracks in a sandy field, waiting for doctors to treat their wounds or illnesses...
Some of the soldiers said they have waited six hours a day for an appointment without seeing a doctor. Others described waiting weeks or months without getting a diagnosis or proper treatment...
A half-dozen calls by UPI seeking comment from Fort Stewart public affairs officials and U.S. Forces Command in Atlanta were not returned.
You know, the Czar of Russia also used to treat his troops that way, until...
The parallels between aWol and Czar Nicholas II (The Deuce) are surprisingly many. Rove/Rasputin for advisors is an obvious example, but did you know that Bush writes his "R's" backwards too?
"Supporting the Troops" is to Americans what "Turning the other cheek," "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," or "Thou shall not kill" is to rightwing christian fundamentalists. Things to recite not to live.
Anyone reading the article catch the "pre-existing condition" ploy? You might recall there was a huge flap (on the Internet, anyway) at the initial deployment because our troops were being sent off without a base-line medical exam--an exam mandated by law. Now they are back with injuries, but no base-line exam to compare to, so no way to prove injuries are not pre-existing. No proof, no treatment or benefits. Clever. Typical. Utterly disgusting.
The languishing wounded soldiers is in the same category as the ceramic armor inserts. The White House and the Pentagon used faith based intelligence to rush head long into a war thinking it would be over in a month and the US Army would be charging through Syria right now and into Iran next Spring. They just didn’t do any contingency planning for a prolonged bloody Iraq occupation with the associated physically and mentally wounded troops
The treatment of the wounded and the Valerie Plane affair are just tips of the iceberg. Their incompetence, lies and propaganda are going to haunt the Bush II Administration.
Not Ed Meese, ROTFL!!!! Bartender a shot of Stolichnaya on me for the fine gentleman.
These days opposition to the GOP feels a bit like being a decembrist
You might recall there was a huge flap (on the Internet, anyway) at the initial deployment because our troops were being sent off without a base-line medical exam--an exam mandated by law.
workin_granny if you can point to any links on that, I'd like to check it out. Thanks.
Billmon, you asked for a link, so I googled and found it again at the Tom Paine site--one of my first stops every day. I'm going to try to follow directions for the link but as it's my first try.... well, if it doesn't work,
http://www.tompaine.com/op_ads/opad2.cfm/ID/7673
Thanks,workin_granny. Don't worry about the link. I'll fix it.
Is there anyone counting US KIA wounded since "bring 'em on?" I think that would be a damaging tally.
Is there anyone counting US KIA wounded since "bring 'em on?"
Not that I know of. But I think it would be possible to calculate from the data posted at the Lunaville Iraq Coalition Casualty Site. The link is on my main page, top right.
Maybe the marines should change their motto from semper fidelus to caveat emptor.
Bartcop.com has been tracking KIA and WIA since "Bring 'em on." He also has totals for war-to-date.
Beware--the guy's got a really vicious sense of humor and tears Bush, Rush, Spiro and the rest to shreds.
Again, and a little bit more elaborate this time, I'd like to point out, that there is very much a system behind not efficiently testing the troops before, during and not caring sufficiently for the health of the troops afterwards.
There is a vast economic interest not to address the issue of absorbed Depleted Uranium in the deployed soldiers.
The soldiers were not and are not tested for inhaled, powderized Uranium Oxide residue in blood, bonemarrow and urine, as it results from exposure on the battlefield or contaminated areas.
Health problems resulting from this are diagnosed and treated for the symptoms they cause, but never for their reason.
Golf War Syndrom and their related ailments caused in the Kosovo campaign are burdened on the soldiers suffering from it. Without proper compensation, health care and welfare for those that became disabled or suffered genetic damage in their offspring, most of these ex-soldiers suffer quietly in the shadow of society. .
[From our medical unit of 150 who went to the front, forty are sick, six have died from homicides, suicides, heart attacks and cancer. Washington told me I couldn't get tested for depleted uranium because I hadn't been hit by friendly fire.]
If their claims were addressed in terms comparable to Workers Compensation Board employer liability, the flood of claims would pale the cost of "rebuilding" Iraq.
Just remember how long it took to reach settlement for the "Agent Orange" victims.
While I appreciate the parallels between aWol and Nicky. I think the parallels between the Smirking One and Caligula are also interesting.
For sheer irony though, Americans' charges against King George enumerated in the Declaration of Independence ring true against Selected George as well.
Oops, forgot my linking info in the post about King George and Caligula.
Billmon: wouldn't that sort of add credibility to the SCOOP's interviews of the returning soldiers?
No matter how bad we think it is, it is worse.
"Supporting the troops" is a meaningless meme coined cynically by those who try to cast the anti-war camp into traitors.
The Neocons and their fascist ilk wouldn't touch the troops -- hispanics, blacks, poor, etc. -- with a ten-foot pole, no more than an 18th century British aristocrat had any respect or love for the Fletcher Christians and Alexander Selkirks of their world.
"Supporting the troops" is a sick joke.
In the eyes of our "Masters", the troops are easily exploitable scum and useful cannon fodder.
I suspect it's always been like this with rulers and their armies.
(Remember the Vet Riots in Washington after WWI.)
There are some marvelous Italian sites on depleted uranium: www.uranioimpoverito.it is a good starting point (if you don't read Italian, google "uranio impoverito" and use the translate this page option).
Lupin, I've been wondering about the credibility of the SCOOP stories also .. almost too much to believe .. anyone here have opinions?
By the way, where is aWol these days, when he's not throwing tantrums for Congress? Seems quite low-key lately .. no brave pronouncements, no cool photo-ops ..
By the way, where is aWol these days?
My guess is, they're replacing the batteries or installing new software. At least judging by by the the $87 b-billion speech speech permorfance.
While I appreciate the parallels between aWol and Nicky. I think the parallels between the Smirking One and Caligula are also interesting.
I've already covered that one.
wilderness: Well, this weekend Beelzebush is doing Thailand. PETA should be thoroughly up in arms, since real mice may be harmed in the testing of his food. Also, some northern tribesmen have decided to do their patriotic bit by putting a hex on Shrub and some of the other other leaders they believe exploit the poor:
"... A shaman "captured" the spirits of the leaders and encased them in a pot that was sunk in a river. ..."
One thing bothers me, though. The Shaman claims to have imprisoned their souls. How is that even *possible* in Bush's case? ;-)
SEE:
Thai mouse to risk life for Bush in last line of bio-chemical defence
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4777433-110878,00.html
JMF -- Interesting link, thank you. Re mice, I suppose it's an even trade.
In some shamanic traditions, the soul can be retrieved from its hiding place & returned to the body .. so this may be a two step process.
Seems the Army is hard pressed to offer troops anything close to the type of preventive considerations Bush now receives.
Billmon: Inspired by your Romanov illustration, I've coined a riddle of sorts:
Q: What would you call the entire Bush administration gathered in a Yekaterinburg basement?
A: A good beginning!
Re mice, I suppose it's an even trade.
wilderness: I dunno. Sounds like a waste of perfectly good mice to me. ;-)
(Loved the "two step process"!)
Just like to add that, like Czar Nick the Deuce, aWol also:
--favors tax cuts to the obscenely wealthy
--is opposed to overtime pay
(they have similar economic worldviews in general)
--likes to dress up in military garb and pretend that he really served as a soldier
--hates France
JMFeeney writes : ""... A shaman "captured" the spirits of the leaders and encased them in a pot that was sunk in a river. ..."
Interestingly, in Thailand, that's how they catch eels - put a dead dog in a clay pot and bury it in the muck of a river. Eels swim in to feed, and you catch them at the neck of the pot.
Seems appropriate.
(I'm reading a book of teachings by the Thai monk Ajahn Chah, and this was mentioned at one point.)
To all those "patriotic" murcuns who have the flag waving from their SUV...now it's time for you to put your money where your mouth is...do you support your troops or not?