Iraq ledger: War by the numbers or only some of the numbers

Reading the following report,

Iraq ledger: War by the numbers
Reckoning the costs of war in Iraq will take years. Using federal government and other sources, analysts at the Center for American Progress have calculated an 'Iraq War Ledger.'
By Brad Knickerbocker, Staff writer / December 17, 2011

I want to direct your attention here

Veterans

More than 2 million US service members have served in Iraq or Afghanistan (many in both wars).

The total number of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care is 1,250,663, half of whom (625,384) have used VA health care since 2002.

The number of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans diagnosed with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is at least 168,854 – more than a quarter of those who have used VA health care.

The suicide rate for Iraq/Afghanistan veterans using VA health care in FY 2008 was 38 suicides per 100,000 veterans – more than three times the national suicide rate for the previous year.

read more here
You can read the rest of the report with the above link, but when you do, consider this. Of the huge number of veterans they say have been diagnosed with PTSD, there are over 800,000 claims tied up and not counted in this number. That is only part of the story. Many more have not and may never seek help for PTSD after their military service. This number does not include active duty servicemen and women still in. If you don't believe this is huge issue this nation has to take on, wait a few months and as you read more and more reports, you'll know how late we are in addressing this.