Many Military Families Struggle with Finances(AP, Mar 25, 2012) Military families understand the financial struggles Staff Sgt. Robert Bales faced at home. A 2010 military survey found that 27% of service members had over $10,000 in credit card debt compared to 16% of civilians. Unemployment among military spouses is 26%.
$51 For 2 Minutes: German Pay Phones Anger Troops (NY Times, Mar 2, 2012) For many troops passing through Leipzig to war zones, the steep cost of a quick call home has been a source of growing indignation.
Support In U.S. For Afghan War Drops Sharply, Poll Finds (NY Times, Mar 27, 2012)Support for the war in Afghanistan has dropped sharply among both Republicans and Democrats, according to the latest NY Times/CBS News poll. Now 69 % think the U.S. should not be at war in Afghanistan compared with 53% four months.
Afghanistan’s Wounded Struggle With Genital Injuries (HuffingtonPost.com, Mar 22, 2012) Before they went off to Afghanistan, the guys of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines talked quietly about their deepest fear: having their genitals ripped off, burned away or crushed in the fiery blast of an improvised explosive device.
How Many Deployments Are Too Many? (USA Today, Mar 22, 2012) After nearly 11 years of war and hundreds of millions of dollars in research on the mental health of troops, the military is no closer to understanding how many deployments are too many for individual servicemembers, researchers say.
40% Of PTSD Cases Reversed (Seattle Times, Mar 20, 2012) A Madigan Army Medical Center screening team reversed more than 40 percent of the post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses of patients under consideration for medical retirement since 2007, according to information released by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.
Audit: Afghan Guards Will Cost More (Washington Post, Mar 29, 2012) The cost of providing security for U.S. development work in Afghanistan will increase sharply as program managers are forced to rely on a security enterprise run by the Afghan government, according to the preliminary findings of a U.S. government audit.
Afghan Policeman Kills 9 Sleeping Fellow Officers (AP, Mar 30, 2012) An Afghan policeman killed nine of his fellow officers as they lay sleeping in a village in the eastern Paktika province Friday.
Allen Wants ‘Significant Combat Power’ In 2013 (ArmyTimes.com, Mar 22, 2012) Marine Gen. John Allen will hold off on a recommendation of further reductions beyond the “surge” cut this year and no cut for next year.
Afghan Child Hunger Among Worst In World (AFP, Mar 6, 2012) Children in Afghanistan suffer one of the highest levels of malnutrition in the world despite billions of dollars in aid poured into the war-torn country.
Israel’s Secret Staging Ground (ForeignPolicy.com, Mar 29, 2012) U.S. officials believe that the Israelis have gained access to airbases in Azerbaijan. Does this bring them one step closer to a war with Iran?
U.S. War Game Sees Perils Of Israeli Strike Against Iran (NY Times, Mar 20, 2012) A classified war simulation held to assess the repercussions of an Israeli attack on Iran forecasts that the strike would lead to a wider regional war, drawing in the U.S. and leave hundreds of Americans dead, according to American officials.
U.S. Intelligence Report Warns Of Global Water Tensions (NY Times, Mar 22, 2012)The American intelligence community warned in a report released Thursday that problems with water could destabilize countries in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia over the next decade.