Tilting at windmills

Washington Monthly, May-July, 2008 by Charles Peters

They were far from the only victims of this policy. Fifty-eight thousand other soldiers have suffered the same fate, and many have been wounded or, even worse, killed.

Thus, it is not surprising to learn from Time's excellent Pentagon reporter Mark Thompson that in order to endure the stress of continuing service in Iraq, "a sizeable and growing number of U.S. combat troops are taking daffy doses of antidepressants" prescribed by Army doctors. Compelling them to stay, keeping them doped up until they are so maimed that they can't continue fighting, and denying them decent veteran's benefits because that might tempt them to even consider leaving the Army--this is the Bush-McCain policy, and it is shameful.

Charles Peters is the founding editor of the Washington Monthly.