Army Desertion Rate Jumps Sharply


I don’t think this is much of a surprise. Now deployments have jumped to 1 year and up, and they can expect only a measly year back in country before redeployment. In short that sucks. It isn’t 1 year back and then start work ups, its one back then deployment, so how much time does one receive treatment for possible PTSD or with family. I would guess about 2 weeks. At first it these people were making a bee line to the door, then with stop loss blocking that exit. Of course stop loss is only a short term solution because given enough time they’ll find they’re own exit. To think these soldiers will not find better treatment on their own in the absence of assistance from their bosses is straight crazy.
Of course there are people out there who would point at this title and immediately point toward Vietnam. Some people would say this is a sign that soldiers don’t agree with the war. But I beg to differ. If these soldiers were indeed at odds with the war, then why did they join? Who didn’t tell them of the likelihood of being sent to war. When I recruited my DEPPers were never short of people to warn them about brainwashing, the likelihood of war, and anything else could be thought of.
No I think this is definitely about a need to better help our soldiers. Instead throwing them into the grinder over and over again, there has to be a time set aside especially for family separation, and to treat PTSD. All soldiers who were in theatre for the first time should have 6mo to a year of treatment maximum of counseling, so that nobody sticks out. The biggest problem with seeking help is firstly not everyone admits to the need for help, and others know the need but fear in onus of looking like a wimp or being crazy. If everyone has to seek counseling then no one seems like a loser. In that year off rotation family member should be devoted to family. No week to month long training missions away from the family.
Some would think that these suggestions would mamby – pamby our soldiers, but I think The goal should be to keep what we have so the experience that they learned on the battlefield can be passed on to those fresh from boot.

Halo 3 and Suicide Bombing
Isn’t it wonderful when the complicated concepts of life are accidentally brought to understanding through a simpler medium. From the game civilization we learn more about what it takes to run a civilization, from Sim City we learn what it takes to run a city, but these games were designed to teach while it entertains. Halo doesn’t anything but the joy of killing, and teamwork as long the goal remains the same. But to gain an understanding the mind set of a suicide bomber, is so cool.

N. Korea Thanks U.S. for Piracy Aid


The article paints these thanks as a sign of improving relations between the U.S. and N Korea. Since I’m a fan of the ironic, I focus more on N Korea role as a pirate nation and the U.S. role as the cops in international waters. N Korea, among it’s other fund raising events like trafficking people and drugs, counterfeiting, will occasionally sponsors piracy. The United States’ stand against piracy is such that it will assist any nation that is attacked by pirates.

Of course the mere fact N Korea decided to publicly thank the U.S. for it’s assistance does show a lot toward good relations. Of course it would more pleasing if N Korea publicly denounced piracy and actively sought to curtail its practice. I know I go too far to dream that dream. The people are the nation, not the government. It is these people that do not get access at the choice cuts when resources are divvyed up by the Government, and that is what causes the ‘need’ to way lay ships that pass too close to their shores. If the Gov cracked down of these pirates, the pirates would turn to other ways of making money and cause more heartache. These poverty stricken citizens might start robbing other poverty stricken citizens on their way to work. So as long as these pirates are placated money earned by mugging foreigners, The Gov of N Korea has to expend a smidgen effort to keep them in line.

Man builds Jet Simulator in his Bedroom



I think the best part of this story is how he had to give the wife the boot because there just wasn’t enough room for her and the simulator. I think it show a wonderful sense of priority. Of course business would pick up a lot faster if he didn’t try to recoup his losses all at once. $130, for an hour seems a bit much. I’m sure he isn’t using the money to pay for Fuel.

Dozens Arrested in Anti-War Protest


Andrew Yankey, a spokesman for the anti-war Olympia
Port Militarization Resistance
told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the
demonstrators were not protesting the
soldiers, who had recently returned from Iraq, but the
equipment that he said likely will
be shipped to war again.

It seems Andy here has either lost his sense of logic, or maybe,though he isn’t protesting the soldiers, Andy is indifferent to their plight. The goal of these demonstrators was to interrupt the flow of equipment to where it was needed most. Of course if these protestors succeeded in stopping these shipments it wouldn’t have stopped the combat in Iraq or Afganistan. Instead it would just mean the soldiers still in these combat zones would have less to fight with, making their coming home a little less likely. It’s seems this group is under the same misguided understanding congress is in. If we take away the toys then the country won’t fight. Ultimately I’m sure this would prove true, but at what cost. Who would we blame the 1000 extra deaths on. Maybe we could pin it on the president's already excessive bill, or will these groups take some of the responsibility. I’m sure it would be the latter. Our society today does seem to have trouble sticking to their guns, afraid to lose the popular opinion.