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Disposable Soldiers
Posted by: From Arkansas in Are You Kidding Me?, Shame of America on Jun 20 2008
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A few days ago, there was a report on Good Morning America that I took note of and went to find out more about. They called it Disposable Heros. Please go see the video on this.
It seems that the government has been bringing home the vets from the war in Iraq and Afganistan but using them as lab animals. Soldiers who come home from those countries and have problems with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and smoke are put into a program taking a drug called Chantix to help get rid of the smoking. Unfortunately, it has some really nasty side effects that the government, who knew all about them, did not choose to tell the patients about it for three months!
What type of side effects come with this nice smoking fix? Neuropsychiatric behavior. Suicide. Okay, that presents a problem since the people who come back from overseas are already messed up with PTSD. Now the government adds on another problem topping the other one and does not tell the person for at least three months. Yeah, that works. NO!!!!!!!!!
One of the people who was affected by this is a soldier named James Elliot. His job was as a sniper. This person who apparently was a very nice person otherwise, walked around with a gun in his hand daring the police to shoot him. He served a 15 month tour in Iraq and came home to this. He got involved in the study about three years after getting back. The study paid him $30 a month to participate. Oh that pays for the hassle and the suicide feelings. Sure it does. After he started taking the drug, he stopped sleeping and became suicidal. He felt like a lab rat, a guinea pig. He called them “Disposable Heros” and he was so right.
Now that this aired on Good Morning America, there have been some changes. Small but better than none. Members of congress are now calling for the testing to stop right now. Nearly 40 suicides, 400 signs of suicidal behavior later, maybe it is time to stop the insanity. However, the VA chooses to continue the testing regardless of the consequences. ARE YOU KIDDING ME????
Citizens of the United States of America…is this how we treat our returning veterans? If so, why on earth would anyone want to serve this country that does not give a crap about them??? WHY? The VA so deserves the SHAME OF AMERICA award and is getting my version of it right here and now. People, contact your congresspersons and tell them that this is unacceptable behavior on the part of a government agency. The VA has NO RIGHT to hurt the vets that have served our country this way. There should be a congressional hearing on this very thing and someone’s head or many heads should roll over it. This is disgusting. HOW COULD YOU, VA???
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4 Comments
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This reminds me of stories from the 1960’s about the CIA testing assorted drugs on soldiers, prisoners and ordinary citizens.
There is absolutely no excuse for this kind of thing and the persons responsible for the testing program and their refusal to stop testing it need to be held accountable.
So also does Pfizer for continuing to manufacture and market Chantix after they discovered it’s side effects.
Yes, it’s a good idea to quit smoking but not at the cost that these soldiers are having to pay.
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You are so right. Now if the soldiers were told about everything, side effects and all, that would be different. They would be going into the thing completely eyes open. BUT they were not given this information at all. And now the VA still wants to continue this thing. That is criminal, IMO.
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This country has always treated Vets like crap. This is just one more piece of disgusting information about this country I have to cal my home.
Yes, I agree that vets have not had a good thing going when they come back from serving their country BUT there are always those who believe that the country is still worth the effort. If it is not then why are there still people willing to fight for it??
Yes, it is your home. If this is not satisfying to you then isn’t it something you want to change or leave? Those seem to be the options. I opt for change, myself. Our country used to be the greatest power in the world. I would like to see that back again, not for the power but for the love of people that was behind it. Now, most people are so concerned with themselves, much like you, that they do not see the bigger picture.
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