US Soldier Suicides Outnumber Combat Deaths In 2012
American soldier suicides continue to outnumber combat-related deaths in 2012, and the trajectory for soldier suicides continues to get worse.
Statistics released by the Department of the Army show that through November potentially 303 active-duty, Reserve and National Guard soldiers committed suicide. As of Dec. 7, Stars and Stripes reports that 212 soldiers have died in combat-related deaths in Afghanistan.
The Army set a grim new record of 177 potential active-duty cases with 2012 coming to a close on Tuesday – 64 of these cases remain under investigation, 113 have been confirmed....
Rufus wrote: American Imperialism which started sometime around 1861 would you say?
Even before that, Southerners were the real imperialists, in the name of slavery & Manifest Destiny. I'm not exaggerating: aside from the Mexican War, which was most popular in the South (& which Lincoln opposed while a Congressman), filibustering, a violation of the 1794 Neutrality Act, was popular among Southerners such as William Walker. He was the "Man of Destiny" all right — he ultimately got shot by a firing squad, exactly what he deserved for trying to set up his own little American slave colony in Nicaragua.
Long before the Civil War, the South recognized that to keep their "Peculiar Institution" politically viable, they needed territory.
Neil wrote: Remember that Butler died before Dubya & current soldiers were born. The only relevance of that quote is that American imperialism, whether in the name of industry profits or hubris, is a Progressive obsession. There's a logic to it: if gov't is needed to solve citizens' social problems, then it takes only a little leap to conclude that it's good for foreigners, too.
American Imperialism which started sometime around 1861 would you say?
Jim Lincoln wrote: You would see why present day troops are having such a hard time.
Remember that Butler died before Dubya & current soldiers were born. The only relevance of that quote is that American imperialism, whether in the name of industry profits or hubris, is a Progressive obsession. There's a logic to it: if gov't is needed to solve citizens' social problems, then it takes only a little leap to conclude that it's good for foreigners, too.
Thomas Brackett Reed was one Republican Congressman who seemed to understand this; he opposed the Spanish American War, as did McKinley at first, but was overruled by Progressive hotheads in both parties.
U.S. Marine Corps Major General, Smedley Butler wrote: I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.
--Banana Wars You would see why present day troops are having such a hard time.
@jpw the soldiers of World War 2 went a lot of shell shock, possibly even more. The Soldiers of today are surrounded by constant Negative influences, not just from battle but also their peers. The common soldier's Morality has dropped quite a bit. My father has PTSD and deals with it quite frequently, and my grandfather definitely had some things to Mourn over after Vietnam as did my other grandfather.
The reasons are myriad but amongst the reasons is, they are told what they are doing is noble and right, but the reality, they come to discover, is different.
Mike wrote: Problem is, soldiers have firearms. That's what they do isn't it?
In general yes, but do not assume they always let soldiers have ready access to their weapons. Fear of fragging might be one reason. And I know a fellow who said he was unable to defend himself against a wild boar while on exercise in Germany, because he was Signal Corps, not infantry. Maybe this is why some go crazy in the military ― "Catch 22" & all that.
Back in the more laissez-faire 19th century, many Union soldiers purchased their own Henry repeating rifles because such guns were generally not procured as std. weapons. Yet the Army was not completely stupid, & did procure & supply repeating Spencers (at Lincoln's demand) to some Union units who used them successfully. “Load on Sunday & shoot all week” was the opinion of disgusted Confederates who faced them.
While all service members would surely agree that multiple deployments take a toll, I believe Mike NY sees the bigger picture when he references societal problems as a whole.
A recent article below speaks of the rise in civilian suicide surpassing auto related deaths.
They happen because the data is needed to promote government preventive mental healthcare.
Suicide among civilian males is about 4x that of females. The male/female ratio in the military is approx 6:1. How would the mil vs civilian suicide rates compare if the comparison were based on equal footing? Would they be that different?
The issue is being brought up now because of its "convenient" 2-week proximity to the murders in Connecticut, which was also followed by calls for preventive mental healthcare.
“So we’re dealing with broader societal issues,” (Sec'y Defense)Panetta said in a June speech. “Substance abuse, financial distress and relationship problems — the risk factors for suicide — also reflect problems … that will endure beyond war.”
June speech, December news. Surprise, it fits.
Also from the news item: "A bipartisan group of lawmakers from both the House and the Senate are pushing for new rules that would allow military commanders and mental health specialists to ask unstable troops if they own personal firearms, reports Stars and Stripes"
Familiar ring? (It's the gun that's the problem.) Problem is, soldiers have firearms. That's what they do isn't it?
They happen because soldiers serve much longer terms than draftees and are in combat zones longer than they should be.
I really, really despise the draft. However, if the draft was re-instituted, wars wouldn't last or be supported such as those of Banana_War Bush.
The volunteer troops now are highly patriotic and highly cherished (or should be) resource of the Nation. They are not of unlimited supply and even their absence from the country is a detriment to the country. It's time to stop treating them as expendable as indeed no one is, but they even should be more carefully conserved for wars where this country supports implementing our 1st Amendment into the laws of the countries we help.
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