Well, tonight I work and then I have a whole 7 day run off. Of course, I have already promised everyone back home I would come in and see them, so 10 hour drive starting tomorrow here I come. I dread that drive. Now, I can expect for people at home to make fun of any accidental accent assimilation which has happened while I have been away from home. They will probably be more ruthless than anyone around here is.


Anyways, I was reading a few things of interest to me, both related to politics and Healthcare that I wanted to point out for those of you who are interested in the subject. The first, is an article discussing the ignoring of troop medical conditions, leaving them disadvantaged (to say the least) in the battlefield. From that piece...

Since 9/11, one Army division has spent more time in Iraq than any other group of soldiers: the 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, New York.

Over the past 6 years and and six months, their 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) has been the most deployed brigade in the army. As of this month, the brigade had completed its fourth tour of Iraq. All in all, the soldiers of BCT have spent 40 months in Iraq.

At what cost? According to a February 13 report issued by the Veterans for America Wounded Warrior Outreach Program, it is not just their bodies that have been maimed and, in some cases, destroyed. Many of these soldiers are suffering from severe mental health problems that have led to suicide attempts as well as spousal abuse and alcoholism.

Meanwhile, the soldiers of the 2nd BCT have been given too little time off in between deployments:
In one case they had only six months to mentally “re-set” following an eight-month tour in Afghanistan–-before beginning a 12- month tour in Iraq.

Then, in April 2007, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates decided to extend Army tours in Iraq from 12 to 15 months—shortly after the BCT had passed what it assumed was its halfway mark in Iraq.

As the VFA report points out: “Mental health experts have explained that ‘shifting the goalposts’ on a soldier’s deployment period greatly contributes to an increase in mental health problems.”

Perhaps it should not come as a surprise that, during its most recent deployment, the 2nd BCT suffered heavy casualties. “Fifty-two members of the 2nd BCT were killed in action (KIA),” the VFA reports and “270 others were listed as non-fatality casualties, while two members of the unit remain missing in action (MIA).”...

More in the link, if you are interested. But wait, the republicans are wanting us there, I think McCain said 100 years is fine with him, or some such non-sense. Tell that to these guys, and their families.

To try and throw something less upsetting out there to think about, Maybe something weird: like a Zebra/horse...
Just thought that was cute...Later all, I need some breakfast...