From March 14th to 16th 2008, Pacifica Radio provided coverage of the historic Winter Soldier 2008 gathering in Washington, DC.
National broadcast (April 22nd) on the first class action lawsuit brought by Iraq war veterans against the Department of Veterans Affairs. US vets suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are alleging a system-wide breakdown in the way the government treats injured soldiers.
When young American men and women sign up to serve in the US military, our government makes a basic promise to them: that if they are wounded in the line of duty they will get the care they need. Unfortunately, for tens of thousands of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, that's a promise that only exists on paper.
Corporal Phillipe Louis Jean: When I Got Back from Iraq, They Tried to Deport Me
Specialist Joshua Casteel: Abu Ghraib Interrogator Meets With the Pope
Lance Corporal Jeff Key: Gay Marine Comes Out on CNN
Sergeant Todd Bowers: While I Was in Iraq, My Student Loans Were Sent to Collection
Sergeant James Dean: Afghan Vet Shot by Maryland State Troopers
Peace is Possible by Andrea Cagan a bio.
This can help. Contactinfo.net I have had two friends who have done suicide WITH this Knowledge. But at least they HAD it.
PTSD and Vet Suicides
Hello,
I heard the extremely moving tragic broadcast of Kevin and Joyce Lucy - I was crying for their son, Jeffery. The U.S. Gov and VA Administration is TOTALLY responsible for what is happening to our youth who have gone to serve in WAR in America. When they say that "the war" is NOT on OUR SOIL - THEY ARE WRONG! - It most definitely IS! The WAR is brought home with this young men and women who have served and suffered their hearts and minds to the atrocities and henious crimes of what war "training" is! The "support our troops" that the veterans supposedly get is a LIE! How does a government think that it has the right and authority to take our youth to WAR and then have them come back and somehow integrate back into our society to become productive, successful MEN and WOMEN?! HOW are they supposed to do that after what they have been trained to do and what they have witnessed in killing, rage in war, and the total disregard and henious crimes committed on children and families! How are they supposed to migrate back into US society, that is based on greed, status quo, and a disregard for treating eachother with respect and compassion?! The 18 to 28 year old men especially are completely misdirected by OUR GOVERNMENT to be patriotic (that means killing is OK) to be strong (compassion and sensitivity is a sign of weakness) and then to have the commanding officers and whomever else be ineffective with any forthcoming healing treatment for these affected men and women. In the big picture - this WAR is KILLING OUR YOUTH IN THIS COUNTRY- by making many of them incapable of growing into mentally and physically healthy, balanced, productive citizens who would be able to make a contribution to our society. Instead, they have destroyed many of OUR YOUTH in the name of "serving our country" for OUR government's own immoral purposes.
Each one of us should be in front of that courthouse EVERY DAY in San Francisco PROTESTING in the names of our DESTROYED YOUTH and letting EVERYONE know that the government's and its administrations IRRESPONSIBILITIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF THESE UNITED STATES anymore; AND WE ARE PUTTING THEM ON NOTICE! PS- We have to also somehow put the MAINSTREAM MEDIA ON NOTICE to STOP SUCKERING UP TO OUR GOVERNMENT! These are the quetions we should be asking our Presidential Candidates about what they are going to do to change these present situations!
Personally, I don't give a damn about whether HILLARY is drinking beer and doing Shots w/ citizens - The FOCUS is totally OFF from what should be given attention to be reported!
Thank you for bringing issues and people such as these families into the foreground so that we can truly begin to find out what is REALLY GOING ON!