There appears to be a deliberate effort to obscure the true cost of the war. For example, explains Koff, the Pentagon has not counted some injuries from chain-reaction crashes as combat-related, even when the crashes resulted from an insurgent attack on another vehicle in the convoy. These subsequent injuries are called automobile accidents, and are not added to the combat toll. In other words, the Pentagon is keeping two sets of books.
Naturally, the Administration does not want the higher figure of 50,000 publicized, and claims that at least 55-70 percent of soldiers injured return to duty within 3 to 4 days. But even the figure of 55,000 does not reveal the true human cost of the war, because it ignores what happens after the soldiers return home. According to Koff, 205,097 of the 631,174 troops who had returned from Iraq and Afghanistan and been discharged as of November have sought medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans' Administration says that 25 percent of the claims were for mental disorders, and another 43 percent for diseases of joints, muscles, and bones. So far, 25 percent of returning veterans have filed for some degree of disability.
There is likely to be a surge of a different sort as more veterans return in the coming months, and the costs of treatment will rise over the next 50 years or so- an expense that has not even been estimated by the Administration, which has shown a reluctance to budget for such costs.
Tragically, the backlog of cases is growing, and veterans are being turned away, denied immediate treatment or help because there is now a waiting list for treatment, especially for mental disorders. An example of the high cost of postponing treatment is evident in the unfortunate story of Jonathan Schulze, a Marine from Minnesota, described by Bob Geiger in the Smirking Chimp(http://www.smirkingc... ). Schulze, 25, recently returned from Iraq and committed suicide shortly thereafter. He suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a combat wound as much as any bullet wound. He went to the VA several times, seeking care, but was turned away; they told him there were 26 ahead of him, and he would have to wait. The stress of remembering combat scenes finally became too much, and he hanged himself, leaving behind his fiancee and young child.
"Jonathan wanted help so bad," said Marianne Schulze, Jonathan's stepmother. The government which sent him to Iraq and demanded great sacrifice from him, failed him. It is failing to support others like Jonathan Schulze, and the blame belongs to VA Secretary Jim Nicholson, who failed to increase capacity for VA mental healthcare as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars continued to escalate. At last some members of Congress are beginning to notice, and will be introducing legislation to expand services for veterans. Senator Barak Obama(D,IL)a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, and Senator Olympia Snowe (R,ME) have introduced a bill to improve veterans' benefits and better track the war's impact on returning soldiers. If it passes, and President Bush signs it (without a limiting signing statement) a start will be made for supporting our troops here at home after they return. A little late, perhaps. But better late than never.
But seriously, you are so right. My niece who was medevacked out of there for seizures received very good care upon her return home, but now they don't know her name. There's no follow up. She was left high and dry without her final few months' pay for four and a half months, which she found extremely stressful. Her pay finally came only a few days ago. Moreover, she was on medical hold here, but since she was otherwise healthy they told her to stay in a hotel and put it on her government credit card. They failed to pay the bill which they MADE her incur, which resulted in her credit being totally trashed. She has been devastated over her treatment and believes she's been used and tossed aside. This just isn't right.
Makes me wonder what the Bush twins are up to these days...