War Crimes.

Many of us know about post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, but do we really understand the real dangers? If left untreated, PTSD opens up a world of violent acts committed  by soldiers. These man are thrust  into danger, and then re thrust  back into a normal life as though coming back from camp expected to be just as they where when they left. In a recent study done by  King' college in London, researchers have found that soldiers in combat roles are fifty percent more likely to commit a violent crime than those in non-combat roles to commit assaults or threaten violence after returning.  Men who had multiple traumatic combat experiences had a 70 to 80 percent higher risk of becoming violent criminals. David Forbes, an expert in post-traumatic mental health from the University of Melbourne, Australia, said this study showed for the first time the link between combat and interpersonal violence, and the need for better understanding of the mechanisms behind how combat enhances the risk of violence.  These acts of violence are no small crimes, such as in the case of Dwight L. Smith Jr:  a soldier charged with kidnapping, raping, and murdering a local woman last year is now claiming in a letter that he killed innocent men, women and children overseas and that his combat service got him "addicted to killing people."  In the letter, Smith writes, "I am going to be honest with you dad. I have killed a lot men and women and children. Some that didn't even do anything for me to kill them. Also some that begged for mercy. I have a problem. I think I got addicted to killing people." "I could kill someone, go to sleep and forget that it ever happened," Smith writes. Of course not all returning soldiers suffer from PTSD, but the ones that do are plagued every day with disturbing memories, terrifying flash backs, night mare dreams, crippling depression, and many more unsettling symptoms. Although the subject has to come to light much more over the years, people are still left untreated and this can have damaging effects on the soldier and every one around him. Post traumatic stress disorder should not be taken lightly and it should be tested and treated as soon as they are dismissed home. Our returning heroes deserve at least that much.

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One of the guys?

In the book War Is Boring David Axe gives you his tail of his addiction to war and his adventures that come along with being a war correspondent.  In the book it is clear that he feels that he should be held to a higher regard then just a field journalist taking pictures of a war.  It’s true that he puts his life on the line every time he steps out in a war zone carrying his camera ready to capture whatever story is unfolding before him.  Much like a soldier David admits to craving war and the excitement that comes with it rather than the dull mundane life of an American citizen. He gets down to the nitty gritty and flings himself into the must hard hitting dangerous situations no sane person would ever fathom being in. David tells the stories that need to be told, tells the truth that need that to be heard, but should he be considered a war hero should he be held to the same standards as a soldier?  Sure a war correspondent can usually be found right in the deep shit with the rest of the guys with a look of wonder in their eyes , and a camera steadily pointed at the action, but there not actually fighting, there not killing.  Please don’t get me wrong a war correspondent has an extremely important job of telling the hidden agendas of a war and what it’s all about I just don’t think they be themselves up with the works of an actual soldier. When David finally returns home, while having dinner with his parents he tells them “I mean I look around this restaurant at these people, and I know, deep in my soul, that I’m the scariest thing here.” I don’t think following soldiers around possibly to your death by choice classifies you as “scary” maybe in the terms of bat shit crazy scary.  Yes a war correspondent is vital for war, but in my opinion should not expect the same praise as the man of the story they are telling.