CALL TO ACTION VOTEVETS.ORG NEEDS YOUR HELP TO FIGHT FOR THE SOLDIERS

Dear Military Family Member,
You know all to well the meaning of sacrifice. Only a small number of people know what it is like to have a loved one serve a combat tour that can last up to fifteen months. The uncertainty that goes along with overseas deployments is a heavy burden to bear. While most of the American people were told to "go shopping," you've made the real sacrifice.


Now, five years later, the Bush Administration and its neoconservative allies are trying to push a war weary nation into another quagmire. This time they want to attack Iran. They also oppose the Webb-Hagel Bill which would have provided troops with adequate rest and recovery time following a deployment to a combat zone. Their inaction on this measure jeopardizes our national security.

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS SIGNED UP WITH VOTEVETS.ORG


VoteVets.org has been at the forefront of these issues and will continue to be as we approach the 2008 election cycle. Our endorsed candidates did not get multiple deferments or have "other priorities" (in the words of Vice President Cheney). When the time came for them to serve, they suited up and put their lives on the line. Along with helping our candidates, we will also continue to hold anti-troop politicians accountable, as we did in 2006.


To this end, VoteVets.org is seeking more military family members to join our ranks. And for that, we need your help.

HELP SIGN UP MORE MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS WITH VOTEVETS.ORG

If you can, we would like you to refer five family members to us who you think would be interested in our cause. In this email you are afforded the opportunity to do just that. This will increase our voice in Washington DC and beyond.
Thank you for your support, and the sacrifices you have made.

Sincerely,
Peter Granato

Iraq War Veteran

Vice Chair, VoteVets.org

NOW HERE THIS. THE UK HAS THEIR HANDS FULL WITH PTSD BUT THEY REPORT PROBLEMS WITH KEEPING THEIR TROOPS DEPLOYED LONGER THAT 13 MONTHS OUT OF THREE YEARS!

Troops arrive home from fighting

Corporal Wara with his sons after his return from Afghanistan
About 150 troops have arrived back in the UK after a tour of duty in southern Afghanistan.

Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade have arrived back in Colchester, Essex, following six months in the Helmand Province trouble spot.

The level of fighting experienced by the unit had been the most intense since the Korean War, some experts say.

Army commanders added that the troops will undergo a normalisation programme on their return to Essex.
go here for the rest
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6039742.stm

'Stress risk' for British troops
Long deployments increased the risk of PTSDProlonged periods of service in Iraq and Afghanistan are putting the armed forces at risk of psychological problems, UK research has suggested.
A study of 5,500 regular troops found that about 20% were on tour for longer than recommended.And long deployments were found to be associated with an increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the British Medical Journal reported.
The Ministry of Defence said rates of mental illness among troops were low.
"Harmony guidelines" were introduced by the armed forces to make clear the maximum time service personnel should spend away from their families and how long units should rest between operations.
The recommendations are also used to monitor when troops are overstretched.
Health problems
A team at King's College London looked at the effects of the number and lengths of deployment in a random sample of military personnel sent on operations.
They calculated that those deployed for over the average recommended amount of 13 months or more in a three-year period were 20-50% more likely to have symptoms of PTSD.General health and severe alcohol problems were also associated with long periods in a war zone.
And "overstretched" troops were also more likely to have problems at home during and after active service.
go here for the rest
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6927659.stm

Yet we have no problem with our troops doing one full tour at 15 months and then have only 12 months home! What is wrong with us? Then we have a problem when they do develop PTSD! 13 months out of three years for the UK and their studies proved it was asking for more cases of PTSD. Yet our Congress and President have allowed this to keep going on when they should have stopped this practice a long time ago! What makes this all worse is that they do nothing to address the problems their bad decisions are creating! Repeat deployments raise the risk of PTSD by 50% according to the US Army study. Fewer of our troops are beating the odds. This is an emergency people and a battle we cannot afford to lose for them.

'The Army ignored my illness' 03 Aug 07 Health
UK troop reserves 'almost gone' 21 Jul 07 UK
Pain link to post-trauma stress 08 Apr 07 Health
Post-traumatic stress drug hope 17 Sep 06 Health
War trauma 'leaves physical mark' 24 Aug 05 Health
'My war injuries were psychological' 23 Mar 05