I have been rather amused by the headlines of the moment heralding the “tragic fall and exit of retired Army General David Petraeus” portrayed as a “hero” general during his military career. Frankly my dislike for the man has nothing to do with him not being able to keep his zipper shut.
That said, I do indeed feel much empathy for his wife and children, and his mistress’s husband, not only for suffering from the painful truth of their philandering spouses, but of course the public rehashing of it all. No, adultery , however hurtful and destructive it may be for one’s marriage is not the real reason I have against the so-called army general “hero”.
There has been something much more immoral, much more tragic, much more callous about this man who has been in various commands in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003. His highest titles have been Commander of the Multinational Force Iraq from February 2007 to September 2008, then became U.S Central Commander in Oct, 2008 to June 2010, then US Commander of all military troops from July 2010 to July 2011.
I would not have really been aware of the very disturbing and troubling facts concerning the troops deployed in the Iraq and Afghanistan had it not been for knowing several mental health practitioners who were involved in evaluating and treating soldiers who were sent from the battlefront of Iraq and Afghanistan for mental health treatment.
Even in 2008 the Mental Health Advisory Team published a report outlining the concerns about multiple deployments being implicated in the increased low morale, and rising mental health problems seen in troops, especially PTSD.
It was not unusual to hear about soldiers who were deployed more than 3 or 4 times! Apparently there was much pressure to return these poor soldiers back to the war front as soon as possible. The soldiers talked about the indifference and lack of empathy by their field commanders in charge. The old macho mentality is still a play in the military.
Having done part-time hospital based counseling with former Vietnam and Gulf War vets, I had never run across so many deployments as the norm as currently imposed on these men. In the Iraqi and Afghanistan war, not only were multiple deployments the norm, but the deployments were longer and the interim between deployments was briefer.
I use to often comment about the intense anger and wrath I found in many of my former Vietnam war vet patients. Many had intense need for vengeance toward the government for their mangled lives. But after hearing what the soldiers have gone through with America’s latest war; there can be no comparison, as they are coming home even more mentally mutilated, angry and weary.
Not surprising that this past August it was reported that suicides in returning troops had exceeded the rate of those dying in combat. The rate of suicide has steadily risen since 2005, as the Iraqi and Afghanistan war intensified.
It is cruel and inhumane to even consider redeploying a man who has already been through front line trauma of warfare. But to do it over and over, and to use money as an incentive is outrageously immoral.
A general is supposed to take care of his troops, by providing them not only with the most advanced weaponry, and training, but ensuring their welfare and it is impossible to assure that by refilling the ranks with multiply deployed war-weary men!
Soldiers often expressed concerns that if they confessed to how serious was their mental suffering or how depressed they were, it would affect their direct commanders evaluation of them and therefore could have an impact on an honorable discharge.
Any person who has witnessed or participated in war is going to have some degree of PTSD. KIlling and seeing other human beings blown apart is already enough trauma to severely affect anyone. Severe PTSD, however treated, can be disabling for the rest of a person’s life. Repeated exposure to the constant stress and trauma of warfare only serves to further mentally mangle these men.
No only they will the veterans suffer, but also their spouses, children and families. The depression and guilt associated with killing can gut these men/women forever. Returning soldiers are extremely reluctant to share what they have gone through. Instead a lot of them try to dull out the remorse, guilt, pain, and anger with drugs and alcohol.
Many are unable to deal with the anger triggered by the atrocities of the war, and some take out that anger and revenge of their spouses and families. Violence and murders by returning soldiers are the highest ever in U.S. history. You can not expected these mangled men to always dissociate using violence to resolve conflicts, as they constantly used weapons to kill in combat.
Suicide, as mentioned before is likewise is at an all time high. Although supposedly the VA has increased mental health counselors, the amount of time alloted to treat individual veterans is insufficient!
Apparently I am not the only person who has had a very dim view of David Petraeus. Theodore S. Westhusing was a 44-year-old Army officer and West Point graduate, who served directly under Petraeus in Iraq. In June 2005, he killed himself leaving a suicide note saying “I am sullied no more.” In the suicidal farewell note he left for Petraeus , who was a Lieutenant General at that time, he blamed him for lack of support to his staff and a mission that led to corruption, human right issues, and liars. He also accused him of caring only about his career.
General Petraeus has been acclaimed for his military strategies of surging Iraq with US forces. In my opinion his surges have also directly resulted in surges of suicides and violence in returning troops. I feel that these increases in suicides and violence committed could have been preventable to some degree had he not seen his men/women as disposable pawns in his thirst to establish his military power at all costs.
Had it not been for the recipient of Paula Broadwell’s harassing emails, Jill Kelley, who contacted the FBI out of concern, this despicable tryst would never has been known. Ms Broadwell, a fellow West Point graduate, ended up being driven by jealously that this other women was interfering in her relationship with her general.
Yes General Petraeus, your mega ego and thirst for power and control served you well in your “meteoritic” rise in the Army, but in the end, you succumbed to something you apparently had little command and control over: your own sexual appetite.
Wow, that was an eye opener!
Thank you Liz! I had wanted to write about the rising suicides and violence in troops since this summer, but when this story broke about Petraeus, I could no longer wait to share my own opinion about his war strategies and surges( using multiple redeployments) as having been implicative in the increasing suicides and violence we are now witnessing in our returning American troops. Thank you so much for your comment!
Wow! You really nailed this one–as you usually do. The practice of sending our troops repeatedly into harm’s way is not a common topic in the U.S. People tend to assume that the military “leaders” know what they are doing. The average person doesn’t realize the differences between what soldiers face today versus most previous wars. In my opinion, the abolishment of the draft all those years ago has worsened some aspects of military service. Most (not all, but most) people who enlist today perceive that they have no other viable economic alternative. In order to get food, clothing, shelter and funds for education, they join one of our services, thinking that their families will be supported while they are deployed. Then, in order to maintain adequate manpower levels, the services offer cash incentives to those who re-up and return to combat. Since there are few real alternative jobs for them in civilian life, many of them are desperate enough to re-enlist, only to face more trauma. And if they are lucky enough to return at last, they mostly face unemployment, poverty—even homelessness—and, to make matters worse, they often display personality issues that isolate them from their former friends, family members and communities. Thank you for writing this blog. It’s good to know someone has penetrated this veil of horrors.
Wow Shawn! I am so grateful for your excellent and insightful comment reqarding the multiple deployments of our troops in this war! You are extremely knowledgable in the fact that the vast majority who sign up for military service come from impoverished and disadvantaged families and that the military is their only vehicle to escape their very dim future. Once in, cash incentives for redeployment to the war zone are practically a irresistible incentive to someone who has no other decent alternative, knowing that unemployment probably awaits them upon return. They are willing to risk death, dismemberent of limbs, and other mutilations or trauma in order to possibly have the ability to further their education or provide for their families.
You are so right about this veil of horrors camouflaged as patriotic service! Thank you so much for your courageous and very truthful comment!
All i could do is cry when i read your post..we all should get down on our knees and always keep these men and women in our prayers for the rest of our lives..God Bless them all..
Thank you Becky. The invisible wounds of those who have seen combat is atrocious. The memories and trauma haunt them for the rest of their lives. They do indeed deserve our prayers.
My son in law returned in July from his second deployment in three years. He spent a year in Iraq and a year in Afghanistan. I could write much more about the horrific loss his babies felt. What happens to the spouses and children is also very traumatic . The adjustment and return to home life is a whole other thing.
Thank you so much Jeanne for also mentioning the impact of war and multiple deployments on the family! I am so sorry your daughter and grandchildren had to go through this too. PTSD can be generational in that aspect. Combats vets can come home with so much pain and depression, that they can’t fully be present in ways they would like to their families. You can to have the patience of Job and a lot of empathic understanding. A lot of times, children can internalise that loss, and because they are so ego centric even feel responsible. My past work with vets was an eye opener into the atrocities of war that are not talked about, and hidden from the public.