Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Don't just bring them home



President Obama has announced that all U.S. troops, about 40,000, still deployed in Iraq will come home by the end of 2011. Although he initially said this was a priority while campaigning before the 2008 election, this move feels now more like a 2012 election move. 
There are approximately 14 million unemployed in the U.S. (9.1 %), the homeless rate is well 
over 643,067--- I'm just saying, to add an additional 40,000 to these ranks can be a potential disaster. Even if returning troops have family, shelter, and support, and or a job, they still need psychological & support services- the necessary help should not be an afterthought that comes after the returning soldiers have a crisis. 



6 comments:

Billie Greenwood said...

The homeless shelter where I volunteer in Iowa has two sections reserved for veterans. These are the walking wounded: bearing invisible wounds.

nonnie9999 said...

it's not an election move. the withdrawal was agreed to when chimpy was still in office.

Fran said...

Billie~ Huge transition, these troops deserve the finest support & transition services. The need will be huge-- they better not play the *no funds* card.

Nonnie~ we've seen planned end dates come & go
sure seems awfully close to election time for this exit to finally come to fruition. Will it be done right w ample support services, or soldiers left to fend for themselves in this stateside mess we've got going on?

D.K. Raed said...

the homeward bound troops will initially still have their military jobs, so the immediate impact will be muted. but the ones that eventually "opt out" of the military will face the same grim employment problems we all are.

what a great re-up program for the troops (stay in the military, where at least you have a job) ... also a great incentive for more military actions to be undertaken to use up all these troops. by "military action", I mean "employee outsourcing" ... by "use up", I mean "waste" ... and by "great", I mean "shitty".

D.K. Raed said...

Q: (why did google-blogspot suddenly ask me for my phone # in order to post a comment? I declined but have definite raised hackles)

Fran said...

DK ~ Loved the explanations!

by "military action", I mean "employee outsourcing" ... by "use up", I mean "waste" ... and by "great", I mean "shitty".

Google intrusion:

WTF??? Occasionally I get that phone # question to log in, & decline.
Never had it ask just to post a comment??

Maybe it has something to do w

"Massive hack hit 760 companies" (google included)

http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/27/technology/rsa_hack_widespread/?npt=NP1