How many more Iraq Vets will commit suicide before the troops are withdrawn?

Thank you for asking this. We all hate predicting deaths, and these deaths seem particularly wasteful and tragic. But it is important to keep this issue foremost in everyone's minds.

I’m sorry; I find this question objectionable on two levels:

The number of PTSD related suicides is NOT directly related to our continued presence in Iraq - it is directly related to the lack of care provided by the U.S. Military and the U.S. Veterans Administration, however. Suicides will continue regardless of the continued occupation of Iraq, or withdrawal.

This question appears to be created for sensationalism. And it is CRUEL and INSULTING, to every veteran of every war to bet on their suicides, depression, and inability to cope with the sudden change in their lives. Our time would be better spent supporting the veterans instead of wagering on their suffering.

Maybe I'm still a little dinky dau but I refuse to tolerate this level of callousness!

Suicides spike in US Army, to surpass last year's record

Suicides in the US Army are headed to a new record, with 140 suspected cases reported since the start of the year, a top general said on Tuesday.

The cause of the rising suicide rate remained unclear and varied from base to base, with about one-third of the suicides among soldiers who had not yet deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, General Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, told reporters.

The number of suicides was already at last year's record level, Chiarelli said.

"We are almost certainly going to end the year higher than last year," he said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gbombMoyAEoJL8vBNRSA_lFuowdg