Kos points out REAL Iraq coverage in USAToday this week of all places

[Hissyspit]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/3/31/7256/36695

Posted by kos:

Don't look now, but USA Today has been offering some of the best Iraq coverage of any publication. Page 1 stories this week:

Monday
Army late with orders for armored Humvees
In June 2003, the U.S. Army realized that it didn't have enough armored Humvees in Iraq (news - web sites) to protect soldiers from a growing number of attacks by insurgents. By Friday, officials expect to correct that problem by having almost 22,000 armored Humvees in Iraq - up from 235 when the war began.

Why did it take the government almost two years to remedy a deficiency that the Army acknowledges was costing soldiers' lives?

An examination of Army records, correspondence with members of Congress and Pentagon (news - web sites) documents shows that the military repeatedly underestimated the need for more armored Humvees. Even after recognizing its miscalculations, the Army was slow to order more armored Humvees, and then transported them to Iraq from its existing worldwide supply in fits and starts. Officials also failed to take full advantage of a defense contracting firm that says it could have increased production to meet the Army's needs.

Wednesday
Tanks take a beating in Iraq
The U.S. military's Abrams tank, designed during the Cold War to withstand the fiercest blows from the best Soviet tanks, is getting knocked out at surprising rates by the low-tech bombs and rocket-propelled grenades of Iraqi insurgents.

In the all-out battles of the 1991 Gulf War, only 18 Abrams tanks were lost and no soldiers in them killed. But since the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, with tanks in daily combat against the unexpectedly fierce insurgency, the Army says 80 of the 69-ton behemoths have been damaged so badly they had to be shipped back to the United States.

Today
Mental disorders are on the rise among Afghanistan, Iraq veterans
As many as one out of four veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq treated at Veterans Affairs hospitals in the past 16 months were diagnosed with mental disorders, a number that has been steadily rising, according to a report in today's New England Journal of Medicine.

Records show that 20% of eligible ex-soldiers came to VA hospitals seeking medical treatment between October 2003 and February 2005. Overall, 26% of them were diagnosed with mental disorders, say Han Kang and Kenneth Hyams of the VA.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was most common, diagnosed in 10% of patients, followed by drug or alcohol abuse (9%). Seven percent were diagnosed with depression; 6% had anxiety disorders, such as phobias and panic. Many ex-soldiers had multiple disorders, Kang says.

[katinmn]

1. Yep. The founder, a vet, is against the invasion of Iraq,

generally negative on *, and he called for a troop withdrawal in his editorial around the holidays.

I think USA Tday reporters have more freedom to report the truth. Let's hope they use their power.

[Inland]

2. Saw a piece on MSNBC re this on Tuesday nt

[FreedomAngel82]

3. Wow

I'm surprised on MSNBC. This is so disgusting and what makes the Terri Schavio thing even more disgusting. People jump on that band wagon but don't care about this. So pissed off. And I was hearing on Bernie Ward once that other countries would get what they need (vests) in twelve days TWELEVE DAYS and our people have been taking MONTHS to get what they need. Are they trying to kill them?!?!?! :banghead:

[Discord]

4. Of course. Less voters to have to switch their votes on.

And the ones killed in action will undoubtedly still vote for the next Repuke who runs.