Unfortunately, many, if not most of those veterans will likely head for Afghanistan, not home. It would take a huge amount of courage for a Democratic president to wind down the Middle East Bush Wars in a reasonable time, and Obama has fallen just short of that courage.

There is certainly a political calculation here too. In order to get any of Obama's plans enacted by Congress he cannot afford to totally alienate the Repub members, which a total wind down of the Bush wars would do. Basically we are asking some of those veterans to die or be terribly wounded to be sure of getting some of the needed progressive programs passed in Congress.

It is disingenuous for Obama to say "combat troops will be withdrawn", while also saying the remaining troops will continue to do the same things the "combat troops" have been doing for the past 7 years. There never was what is called "combat" in Iraq since we won that war by deposing Saddam. Since then it has been counter insurgency operations, just as Obama says will continue.

I am more than willing to welcome our soldiers (and contracters?) home if they can obey the law, and live within the norms of American society.
But if service in the Armed Forces (or as a contracter) becomes an excuse to break the law, we are screwed.
The habits of an military occupation are very hard to break. They will have to prove they can do that.

"Our duty to these brave men and women"

Yeah, faced almost hopeless odds, didn't they. As I remember it, they went triumphantly off to kick ass and take names.
And, shit, if they were short, why didn't they just grab a brick of $100 bills off a pallet and stash it.

Question for Paul:

Can you comment on the advisability of allowing returning military members to remain in the military and stationed in the States to re-integrate into society in a (hopefully) orderly way rather than mustering out immediately upon return?

I hope "we" don't just drop the people who gave 100% into this tough economy to sink or swim. Service in Iraq and Afghanistan and the consequences of those experiences are difficult enough without trying to find work in this economy.

Paul--

I'm very glad to see someone posting about the Vets.

First, we need to give the VA's healh care budget a big boost-and raise salaries for pyschologists and psychiatrists working for the VA.

Many of these Vets are are suffering from stress truama and psychological problems--especially those sent back to Iraq more than once.

Also, for reasons we don't etnirely understand,
Vietnam Vets are now showing up at VA hospitals with problems related to trauma. It may be that because this genration didn't feel that it was okay to talk about this, the trauma is kicking in later in life.

Finally, we need jobs programs for returning Vets. Having been trained in the military, they know how to do things that many of us don't do well: working well in groups; putting the interests of your colleagues (or the people you are supposed to help) ahead of your own . .

I think of the former marine (soldier?) who threw himself onto a sibbway track in NYC a year or so ago in order to save a young man who had suddenly had an epileptic atttack that caused him to fall onto the track-- just when a train was coming in.

The former soldier put his own bodh over the fallen man's body, and managed to rollstheir bodies so that they were in between the wheels of the oncoming train.

They both survived, without any significant injuries.

Finally, I cannot believe that the prsdient is serious abotu sending men into Afghanistan. Perhps he is bluffing??

Perhaps Obama should have said 'offensive operations will end, no more American patrols, no more American missions, etc. after this date when 100,000 troops will start their return home.' rather than "bringing combat troops home" which is ambiguous.

After reading this column I'm reminded of my own homecoming.

After the war ended and after serving in Europe as a paratrooper, I mustered out, one month short of 4 years,(demobilization) at Camp Kilmer, NJ. I caught a PA RR train (Pullman Car) from Edison to North Philadelphia Station on Broad St. in Philly. After walking about three blocks to Broad and Lehigh Ave I caught the #54 trolley car and got off at Belgrade St. Walked another 4 blocks to my house, a brick row home, and walked in.

I could see from the front door of the parlor to the kitchen, and there was my mother with her back to me standing at the kitchen sink. She heard the door open and turned to see me standing there, I was in uniform with my duffle bag on my shoulder. My mother fell to her knees and started crying. This scene took about 3 seconds but its been burned in my mind since then.

In my opinion, the returning troops will be much better off coming home to the country with Obama as President and the Democrats in control of Congress. The republicans talk a good game but they concern themselves with the military industrial complex while ignoring the footslogger.

Welcome Home Soldier, Thanks for the Sacrifices
- Invisible Costs of the Iraq War -

By James Rickman
(Author / Entrepreneur – March 3, 2009)

Most breathed a sigh of relief as the new President announced the troops would return from Iraq by the end of August 2010. Gee, what a treat for their sacrifices. They return to a country trillions of dollars in debt, financial chaos, Wall Street bailouts, growing 10% unemployment, increased crime, school budget cuts, and broken healthcare systems. It should be no wonder if a solider or two questions just what their sacrifices really accomplished.

So far very little open national dialogue has focused around caring for the returning soldiers, the “invisible” costs of the Iraq war. For example, a recent RAND Center- National Security Research Division study found that of the 1.64 million troops deployed since October 2001; of those an estimated 620,000 return with invisible wounds including, serious mental health and cognitive disabilities: post-traumatic stress disorder (PSD), major suicidal depression and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Given the sobering statistics, perhaps the national dialogue might pause just for a moment from its focus on Wall Street bailouts, to consider the lifetime costs associated with war time lost lives, injuries, and medical treatments estimated at between $700 billion and $1.2 trillion through 2015.

For example, annual costs of a single service member diagnosed with moderate traumatic brain injury reached $383,227 in 2007. All of these related conditions affect mood, thoughts, and behavior; yet these invisible wounds often go unrecognized and unacknowledged. The effects of mental health and traumatic brain injury are sometimes poorly understood, leaving a large gap in knowledge related to how extensive the problem is or how to address it.

Several studies show Iraq war veterans are found to return with very high rates of suicide, intimate / marriage relationship and substance abuse problems, unable to hold jobs, homelessness, and other disabling social issues. It will require significant trained medical staffing to coordinate the large numbers of soldiers and their families that will seek treatment some for the rest of their lives.

Most would not dispute that mistakes were made in launching the Iraqi military campaign but we should accept what has occurred remaining focused on providing the best possible treatment for those men and woman returning with invisible wounds.

The 1.64 million brave soldiers gave their hearts and sole in support of our country despite many questions that will linger on forever as to the mission and its effectiveness in accomplishing any significant tangible goals that actually improve the daily lives of Americans.

Based on the facts one must ask former President, George W. Bush; was the Iraq war more important than investing in competitive jobs, better education for our kids, crumbling infrastructure and healthcare for the 48-million plus Americans with no medical coverage?

Are Americans more secure as a result of the Iraqi war? Was it all simply a misguided distraction during years of opportunity to investment in rebuilding at a predictably critical strategic time that would have enabled the United States of America to maintain it’s now lost global leadership role.

Were there other critical national security interests to begin planning for such as the coming “clean water” crisis, already being addressed by many Asian countries, that has the potential to devastate large segments of global populations effecting food supply, disease sanitation, and employment?

For example, California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenagger’s declared a state-of-emergency due to draught and clean water issues that have cost that state over $2.8 billion and 95,000 jobs lost in 2008.

This is only a small preview of the coming global clean water crisis that could leave 20% of the Earth’s species extinct, one fact already being studied by leading scientist such Dr. James Martin of the Oxford University Institute of Science & Civilization.

Perhaps these questions bare serious scrutiny and truthful answers, so that future decisions of national security involving trillions of tax-payer dollars are better spent next time on directly improving people’s lives.

As the new President, Obama stated, “the time of reckoning” has arrived. Every one of our citizens should make standard of living sacrifices for the good of the whole. By 2025 the worldwide population is calculated to exceed eight (8) billion people, a level that will consume resources beyond the capacity found on Earth.

Obama made his initial opening move on a health care overhaul last week: his speech to Congress and a budget that set aside $634 billion over 10 years as a down payment on coverage for all Americans. It's a goal that could ultimately cost $1 trillion or more.

The Obama Health Plan attempts to expand coverage while slowing the rate of increase in costs. Administration officials say they hope that will lead to a more affordable system, without the coverage gaps that now leave an estimated 48-million people uninsured.

Regardless of how the crisis dialogue is often presented, the fact remains starting in 2010 the Iraq mission will end as thousands of soldiers that have been deployed for months and years will return to our country. Over one-third of the returning soldiers are known to require temporary and costly lifetime disability treatment for invisible wounds, a symptom of their sacrifice to our country.

The costs of being misguided with neat campaign slogans is the real, “shock and awe” that will haunt America not in some far off land but rather increasingly close at home requiring we deliver truthful answers to the people of our country so that we can find innovative practical solutions.

How could we have been lead so astray? JFK once said, “We have nothing to fear but fear it- self”. In this case these are fitting words to ponder, we might all take a moment to examine the depth of “fear” tactics that were used to manipulate many decent people.

Did the facts ever really exist to justify launching the decade long war costing trillions of American tax-payer dollars that resulted in the displacement of an estimated 5.2 million Iraqi people?

Instead of chasing “terrorists” and non-existent WMDs in Iraq, should we have used that money here at home to rebuild tangible national security interests including, innovative training and education systems, sustainable infrastructure and affordable health care?

Throughout history America has always lead the world not only as an economic power but even more important is its defining role as the “truthful, moral and ethical” beckon of light inspiring people worlwide.

Perhaps, we should each thoughtfully consider the millions of citizens, soldiers and their family’s lives that could have been spared the scars of deep wounds that will cost this country and others worldwide for generations. Finally it's useful to remember the guide of directly improving people's daily lives in all our future decisions.

About Author - www.sustainablevirtualbiz.com

As the Founding principal partner of Sustainable Virtual BiZ, LLC. Mr. Rickman has over 18-years of enterprise experience and he's an expert in sustainable "green" virtual business support services. He is a member of the Oregon Sustainability Angels Network - venture capital association.

He is a Founding Director of Business Development for Artel Software, Inc., IMAGRAPH Corporation, and Interactive MicroSystems, Inc. He is a sought after published technical evangelist including COMDEX (Consumer Electronics) and the (NAB) National Association of Broadcasters. He holds advanced degrees from Boston University.

Mr. Rickman enjoys involvement in educational service roles within the Portland State University, Hillsboro, and Beaverton, Oregon community. His hobbies include reading, golf, SCUBA, hiking, kayaking, and fishing.