Iraq battle stress worse than WWII

Times Online ^ | 11-6-05 | Michael Smith

[Firefigher NC]

SENIOR army doctors have warned that troops in Iraq are suffering levels of battle stress not experienced since the second world war because of fears that if they shoot an insurgent, they will end up in court.

The two senior Royal Army Medical Corps officers, one of whom is a psychologist, have recently returned from Basra, where they said they counselled young soldiers who feared a military police investigation as much as they did the insurgents.

The revelations follow the collapse last week of the court martial of seven paratroopers accused of murdering an Iraqi who died near al- Amarah just after the war and amid signs of a dramatic drop in morale among frontline infantry soldiers.

The doctors’ warnings came in post-operational reports submitted by senior officers to their formation commanders after serving in a battle zone. They are exceptional because of their content.

One source said: “There doesn’t appear to be any overt consideration or understanding of the pressures that our soldiers are under.

“The unpopularity of the war at home and a belief that firing their rifles in virtually any circumstances is likely to see them end up in court are sapping morale.”

[gaijin]

Things are worse for our troops than I think many here appreciate:

I understand better than 1/2 of Marines skilled with a violin gets regular practice there, you know.

This worries me.

[A CA Guy]

Yeah, get enemy press who are trying to make a story out of there as well.

[Doctor Raoul]

In the early days of the air war over Europe, those flying with the 8th Air Force knew that statictically they would NOT survive a combat tour. You KNOW you're not going to live.

I understand that this war is different, more intense and virtually no "safe harbor" even when "off", but compare that to knowing you're not going to make it and I think the Brits got a little hysterical.

[cubreporter]

If it is it's because they are not getting support and people are encouraging the enemy with their hate of President Bush. That puts our soldiers lives in further danger. Who wouldn't be stressed? Shame on those who are so full of hate.

[Last Dakotan]

Frag Kevin Sites.

[Lancer_N3502A]

I can see this. In WW2 all you had to do was worry about getting killed.

Now you have to worry about getting Article 15'd if you say something politically incorrect; getting sued by any number of left wing communist organizations by being in a patriot, in the military and defending your country; getting charged with a crime against humanity if you actually engage the enemy; AND getting killed.

Makes me sick to my stomach.

[Bommer]

"Ridiculous," you mean. And yes it is.

Its only ridiculous because the troops are afraid of being tried for war crimes if for every terrorist they kill! They are afrid of being shot and blown up, but even more fearful of what lawyers for liberal rights groups are going to do to them in court. I'd be scared too!

[Terpfen]

It's not even the liberal rights lawyers, it's the military.

In this case, the British military.

[Mike Darancette]

I don't think those who went ashore at Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Iwo Jima would agree. Not to mention those that made the Philippines death marches.