Combat Soldiers' Blogs Make Brass Queasy

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• Joint Chiefs Head Calls for Wider PTSD Screening

  Oct 13, 08 4:03 AM CDT
  Every member of the US military should undergo screening for post-traumatic stress disorder upon returning from combat in Iraq, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has recommended. As many as 1 of every 5 returning combat vets suffers from mental health problems, USA Today reports. "I think it's a bigger problem than we know," said Michael Mullen, an admiral whose post gives him authority over all four service branches.
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• Obama Stands By Plan for 16-Month Drawdown in Iraq

  Jul 14, 08 7:42 AM CDT
  Calling Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's demand for a timetable for US withdrawal an "enormous opportunity," Barack Obama lays out his plan for ending the war in Iraq in a New York Times op-ed piece. The presumptive Democratic nominee reiterates his support for a careful withdrawal over 16 months, leaving behind a "residual force" which would perform limited missions. "The good news is that Iraq’s leaders want to take responsibility for their country by negotiating a timetable for the removal of American troops," he writes. More »

• Wounded Warriors Saluted at Pentagon

  Mar 13, 08 12:19 PM CDT
  A poignant and little-known ceremony featuring wounded vets is held privately indoors at the Pentagon every six weeks, reports the Wall Street Journal. It's called the "Wounded Warrior March." Hundreds of Defense Department employees line the corridors of the Pentagon to applaud, cheer, shake hands, or hug servicemen wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.  More »

• Soldier Suicides at Record High

  Feb 1, 08 4:26 AM CST
  A record number of US soldiers may have killed themselves last year and it's likely linked to the stresses of war, according to the latest figures from the military. The survey found 121 soldiers died in confirmed or suspected suicides last year, a 20% increase over the previous year and the highest number since the Army started keeping records 30 years ago. The number of attempted suicides has also leaped since the Iraq war began. More »

• Petraeus Could Be Tapped to Head NATO

  Jan 21, 08 7:30 AM CST
  Iraq’s top commander could be at the helm of NATO by the start of next year, the New York Times reports. While no final decisions have been made, the Pentagon is considering nominating Gen. Petraeus in September, installing him before the election dust settles in a new, highly prestigious, but less politically treacherous position. But some fear taking his hand off Iraq’s tiller. More »