U.S. soldier in Baghdad kills four fellow troops before killing himself

[FaithInOne]

Recruiters are pushed to enlist as many people as they can using any method they can. And it's surprising we get mentally unstable individuals committed to a war zone?

Again, I don't understand how you're attempting to rationalize the actions of a person who has no mental stability. They DO NOT ACT RATIONALLY.

You're right. I know

You have to have hit rock bottom to break through that last barrier of killing others in a murder suicide.

[Cry Havoc]

You're right. I know

You have to have hit rock bottom to break through that last barrier of killing others in a murder suicide.

Here's the thing though... if you're a person who's mentally unstable (or even someone who's stable but has difficulty dealing with death), and you're in a war zone, do you really think there's that clear of a difference between killing the people next to you and killing people 200 yards away? Killing civilians happens in every war, but I would never want to deal with that. I don't know if I could. I'm sure the line would blur for me at some point too.

[FaithInOne]

Especially if he did begin to view the soldiers around him as nothing more than murderers of innocent iraqi civilians or mercenaries for oil.

[Wild Cobra]

Here's the thing though... if you're a person who's mentally unstable (or even someone who's stable but has difficulty dealing with death), and you're in a war zone, do you really think there's that clear of a difference between killing the people next to you and killing people 200 yards away? Killing civilians happens in every war, but I would never want to deal with that. I don't know if I could. I'm sure the line would blur for me at some point too.

Seemingly normal people in the civilian world kill other too.

Why should it be any different in the military?

[Winehole23]

Seemingly normal people in the civilian world kill other too.

Why should it be any different in the military?

LockBeard suggested the soldier was a pussy. IMO CH wasn't picking on the military, but giving a little context.

[mrsmaalox]

The question is how often you do a psychological review to see which soldiers are fit for service.
It looks like not often enough.

A soldier may very well be initially fit for service, but after the experience of the war become unfit. The problem is in the follow up evaluations. Soldiers returning from a 12-15 month deployment are screened mostly like this: As their plane lands at their US base, they are handed a card asking if they feel they would benefit from counseling from a mental health professional. Check yes or no. Check no, and they will be in the arms of their loving families in a matter of minutes. Check yes, and they are detoured onto a bus to be taken to a mental health clinic and a possibly 2 week delay of being reunited with their families. So what are they most likely to check?

[Viva Las Espuelas]

A soldier may very well be initially fit for service, but after the experience of the war become unfit. The problem is in the follow up evaluations. Soldiers returning from a 12-15 month deployment are screened mostly like this: As their plane lands at their US base, they are handed a card asking if they feel they would benefit from counseling from a mental health professional. Check yes or no. Check no, and they will be in the arms of their loving families in a matter of minutes. Check yes, and they are detoured onto a bus to be taken to a mental health clinic and a possibly 2 week delay of being reunited with their families. So what are they most likely to check?

sounds like we need to scrap the asking and start doing

[Wild Cobra]

Check no, and they will be in the arms of their loving families in a matter of minutes. Check yes, and they are detoured onto a bus to be taken to a mental health clinic and a possibly 2 week delay of being reunited with their families. So what are they most likely to check?

Can you back that up?

Seems to me that would be counterproductive, and dealt with differently, like at the soldiers home base!

[Viva Las Espuelas]

you asked for it now.........

[mrsmaalox]

Can you back that up?

Seems to me that would be counterproductive, and dealt with differently, like at the soldiers home base!

No I don't have the policy in hand. Like I said earlier, I've been told this by someone who works in that field and treats these men/women on a daily basis.

And since when are we surprised at the counter productivity?

[mrsmaalox]

you asked for it now.........

Hey. I've made it clear where I've gotten my information. I consider it a credible source. If someone doesn't agree that's cool, I'd love to get their information too.

[Wild Cobra]

No I don't have the policy in hand. Like I said earlier, I've been told this by someone who works in that field and treats these men/women on a daily basis.

And since when are we surprised at the counter productivity?

That's a real big one. If that is policy, I would be really shocked. Only in a case where there is a perceived danger, such a thing should happen.

The military has a long history of the advantages and disadvantages of family. It would shock me if it's true in the way you laid out. I have never heard of such a thing in my 11 years of service.

[mrsmaalox]

That's a real big one. If that is policy, I would be really shocked. Only in a case where there is a perceived danger, such a thing should happen.

The military has a long history of the advantages and disadvantages of family. It would shock me if it's true in the way you laid out. I have never heard of such a thing in my 11 years of service.

It's shocking to me as well. But I'll tell you what, my husband's 20+ yrs in the field of Army psychiatry/behavioral health have been one continuous shock to him as well!

[Winehole23]

http://www.salon.com/news/special/co...09/04/09/ptsd/

[whottt]

I do not understand why people feel the need to take out others before giving up on life.

Anger....

[jack sommerset]

Blame Obama. He promised to get them out of there.

[Winehole23]

He sure did. But he didn't really mean it.

[jack sommerset]

I Know. I am not sure yet but I am considering when anything goes wrong to blame Obama and laugh. When someone says Obama did something right I will just call the person a ing idiot and dismiss anything they have to say.

[Winehole23]

Up to you, jack. It's not too different from what you already do.

I might not have noticed the difference. Thanks for the heads up.

[jack sommerset]

I don't blame Obama for everything. Not even close.He is a liar and ty President. He has no clue what he is doing. I the have to stop. I am late. Good day to you winehole!

[Cry Havoc]

Blame Obama. He promised to get them out of there.

2/10 for the trolling effort.

[Winehole23]

Good day to you winehole!

Good day, Jack!

[SnakeBoy]

Ever known that you ended a life that had barely begun? Can you possibly comprehend what that would do to you?

Why are you bringing abortion into this?

[Barry O'Bama]

Maybe you should sign up to take his place. Show those US troops how to be tough, fake Barry.

I don't have to I'm the president of the United States. Now leave me alone I have to recruit my Brownshirts aka civilian defense force.

[jack sommerset]

2/10 for the trolling effort.

Exactly what I am talking about. Obama did say he would end the war in Iraq and this dumbass doesn't like the truth and he says I am trolling. I think I will blame Obama for everything to counter bungholes like the Havoc.