GI WHO ATTEMPTED SUICIDE SENT BACK TO IRAQ

A U.S. soldier who attempted suicide has been sent back to Iraq.

This move by the United States Army underscores why Defense Secretary Robert Gates said after the initial draw down of 30,000 troops from Iraq the Army would have to reevaluate the situation on the ground in Iraq before withdrawing anymore troops.

The problem in Iraq is the there has been a steady increase in the number of insurgent attacks both in Baghdad and the rest of Iraq.

The withdrawal of 30,000 troops will bring the troop level in Iraq back down to 130,000 which was the number of troops deployed to Iraq before the "surge" began.

Sending a GI back to Iraq who has attempted suicide indicates how desperate the U.S. Army is for additional troops in Iraq.

Many of those assigned to Iraq are on their third and fourth rotations and the Army is stretched thin and the equipment is wearing out.

However, the mainstream press in the United States continues to ignore the dire circumstances in Iraq.

It is the job of this blogger, Bill Corcoran, Chicago, editor of CORKSPHERE, http://corksphere.blogspot.com/ to not let stories like this one go unreported.


Soldier, After Bipolar Treatment and Suicide Attempts, Sent Back to Iraq

Published: February 11, 2008 7:30 AM ET

http://tinyurl.com/yo42q2

FORT CARSON A Fort Carson soldier who says he was in treatment at Cedar Springs Hospital for bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse was released early and ordered to deploy to the Middle East with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.The 28-year-old specialist spent 31 days in Kuwait and was returned to Fort Carson on Dec. 31 after health care professionals in Kuwait concurred that his symptoms met criteria for bipolar disorder and “some paranoia and possible homicidal

tendencies,” according to e-mails obtained by a Denver newspaper.The soldier, who asked not to be identified because of the stigma surrounding mental illness and because he will seek employment when he leaves the Army, said he checked himself into Cedar Springs on Nov. 9 or Nov. 10 after he attempted suicide while under the influence of alcohol.

He said his treatment was supposed to end Dec. 10, but his commanding officers showed up at the hospital Nov. 29 and ordered him to leave.“I was pulled out to deploy,” said the soldier, who has three years in the Army and has served a tour in Iraq.Soldiers from Fort Carson and across the country have complained they were sent to combat zones despite medical conditions that should have prevented their deployment.

Late last year, Fort Carson said it sent 79 soldiers who were considered medical “no-gos” overseas. Officials said the soldiers were placed in light-duty jobs and are receiving treatment there. So far, at least six soldiers have been returned.

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