Iraq war haunts Americans at home
Published 25 March, 2008, 06:04
Four thousand U.S. servicemen and women have now died in the Iraq war. But many of those who live to return home, still have a whole different set of battles to fight. Apart from headaches, vertigo, troubled sleep and sight problems, many suffer serious psychological effects.
Critics say worst of all – sickened soldiers face several obstacles in getting diagnosed or treatment for their health problems.
“Many soldiers go through depression, shock and other disorders. And it's a crime that they don't get sufficient and reliable medical treatment that the army should provide for them. And when they return home, they go suffer again – but this time from unemployment, problems with accommodations and from insults,” said Martin Smith from Veterans Against the War and Occupation of Iraq.
Sometimes, sick soldiers take matters into their own hands. Military reports indicate the suicide rate among army soldiers last year is the highest for twenty-six years.
Some blame the rising number on a lack of specialised mental clinics equipped to treat servicemen and women in dire medical need.
With 153 hospitals and 700 odd community-based clinics, the U.S. Veterans’ Affairs department plans to open an additional 14 out-patient clinics this year. Officials say the move would provide easier access for soldiers.
But the fragile health state among thousands of U.S troops is prompting many soldiers at home to do an about face, calling for an end to the war they once fought.
In a speech last week, U.S. President George W. Bush said the U.S was on track for victory in Iraq and troop withdrawal of some 160,000 soldiers was not an option.
Military analyst Evgeny Khrushchev calls Bush's words empty rhetoric, pointing to his notorious ‘mission accomplished’ speech in May 2003.
“If the mission is accomplished what are American forces are doing in Iraq? The reason that was given to them was completely false. General American public has all the reasons to expect that the situation will get even worse,” Khrushchev said.
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