Are American soldiers in Iraq doing drugs?
965392
i'm sure some are, but it's not a serious problem like in vietnam.  drugs are available everywhere and someone will be using them.
276598
Military only tests when they suspect drugabuse and when folks enlist. They don't test hair and nails. They take blood and test all in one including aids and hepatitis and tetanus and a lot more. (Including drugs). And when they suspect that you use drugs they might "offer" you a urinscreening. That's very easy with a paper they put in and it can't be the wrong color or so. Hair and nails, like a hair from your butcrack that's been there forever is not a standard testing object.
533403
The Iraqi people don't want the US there. The US is well overdue to come home. The soldiers are just doing their job, granted. But there is a distinct line between  a false liberation and an illegal occupation.
576079
The troops should never have been there in the first place.\nI'm not saying I thought Saddam was a good man- he was a moron. \n\nBut let's look at another factor: who said these guerrilla soldiers are actually insurgents? The Iraqi military were trained for years by the US and the UK. The standard procedure if the UK were successfully invaded is for the auxiliary troops to begin assassinations and terror campaign against the invaders. The Iraqi's are doing just that and the insurgents are the foreigners going in to Iraq to help them.\n\nI don't remember hearing any Iraqi's saying they wanted they're country invaded. Do you?\n\nIt's the same old story of politicians sending troops to war while they sit back and get rich. Of course they don't send their own children off to war, just other peoples.
384291
Actually no, the troops are fighting for Bush's wallet. The troops are out there putting thier lives on the line and following orders. They are amazing and should be commended & supported 100%. Unfortunately the commander in chief is an idiot & a liar. This war isn't about freedom. It's about big business. Pretty much everything Bush & Cheney set into motion is about profiteering. Haliburton isn't even supplying the troops with so much as clean water. They've been drinking contaminated water for Christs sake! Most of them still don't get the sufficient armor they need & they're getting billed for it. The pentagon just released a report that there's less than 1 batallion of Iraqi troops able to defend themselves without the Americans. This iraq war is never going to end. Bush & Cheney have no interest in it ending. It will go on forever & they will continue to laugh all the way to the bank. Americans are not asked to make even the slightest sacrifice. Keep pissing away resources while our soldiers die every day. The 9 - 11 attackers are still out there and Bush has no interest in getting them. Why would he want to take out his long time business partner Bin Laden?
968330
http://www.house.gov/mccaul/pdf/Investigaions-Border-Report.pdf\n\nHomeland Security Report - Page 7:\n\nIn 2005 the government estimates the following crossed our Southern Boarder:\n\n5.6 to 11.2 million pounds of cocaine.\n\n34.3 to 68.6 million pound of marijuana.\n\n*********************************\n\nFederal Drug "Seizures" on our  Southern Boarder in Fiscal Year 2005:\n\n1,129,275 pounds of cocaine.\n6,866,465 pounds of marijuana\n     16,790 pounds of methamphetamine.\n\n\nAccording to the National Drug Intelligence Center, THE cartels are “the predominant smugglers, transporters, and wholesale distributors of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and heroin in the United States” and “are expanding their control over the distribution of these drugs in areas long controlled by Colombian and Dominican criminal groups, including areas of New York and Florida.”
484006
The American War on Some Drugs is actually a war by powerful cultural group on other Americans of different cultural practices who are, if not necessarily less powerful, certainly less inclined to savagely impose those practices on others.\n\n "As a consequence of this 'war' there are hundreds of thousands of political prisoners incarcerated in America. In their pursuit of this campaign, the anti-drug zealots have, in course of a couple of decades, essentially eliminated the civil liberties of those who don't agree with them, and ultimately their own.\n\n "This campaign has profoundly distorted all American institutions, corrupted the governments of half the hemisphere, and caused even more disrespect for government that its equally futile predecessor in Viet Nam.\n\n "If we don't end the War on Some Drugs, there will soon be little left to love in America, as there is already almost nothing to respect."\n\n-- John Perry Barlow, December 1998.
48456
Of course, if they want to have a Vietnam-like experience they can attack Iran.\nThese countries are not comparable, Kuwait is as small as capital of Iran and Iraq was at its worst point of military power when US attacked them, years of sorounding had made them so weak that even 1 Iraqi aircraft didn't do any mission.\nAlso it must be noted that US troops only captured deserts of Iraq and its mountains were attacked by Turkey which had long time problems with natives there.\nThe last time that US troops try to attack Iran on 25th April 1980 they so hurrily left Iran that Iran government sent them the  body of boys.\nIt is funny; neither Iranian was aware of operation nor they shoot a bullet only Iran sand defeated USA.
627279
You heard the story on NPR this morniing too.  All the lower level soldiers that are now serving time in prison were all scapegoats.  Of course the upper level military authorized it, they came up with the methods.  The US now has secret concentration camps around the world and also has contracted with Haliburton for over 300 million to build concentration camps inside the US.
1187013
theres alotta mexicans in the military...some dying in iraq n afghan so u can eat cheeseburgers n drink ur coke. next time u eat, look at what it is......a mexican worked 2 get that food 2 u lil homie. el tri-color por vida!
967717
Yes there is, but not at the level you my think of. There are military service people that claim gang affiliation. I know I was an MP at Ft Bragg for 5 years 94-99. (118th mp co (abn) and 108th mp co (aaslt) ) I personally stopped a vehicle that had "crippin ain't easy" painted on a license plate  he was an E-6!! so there are some idiots in there plus you have spring lake and Fayette -Nam to contend with.  Not to mention all the other thug wanna be's.  The Army has an active gang unit that deals with this problem. Only problem is that it's not the MP's doing it, it's the MI or post commander that assigns a task force.. we had one but it was disbanded because it was deemed a waste of man power. and if a solider off duty wore gang colors we could press the issue because they were allowed to wear the color of clothing they desired.. thanks Clinton for that one! But rest assured that they know and do watch them.. Have fun at Bragg the ole Iron Mike I said hi over by the circles.
257960
Yes the Army is involved in "field combat" If you watch the news you will see that they are running convoys patrolling the towns.  The Army is involved just as much as the Marines
795219
I'm not jumping on the democratic mind frame. However I am having some serious questions about just how much the Iraqis them self want change. I know people that are in Iraq right now. During Ramadan the Iraqi soldiers did not get paid. So they just packed up and left the base. Leaving our guys to have a skeleton crew trying to hold the base down. This makes me wonder if our guys are giving their lives for Iraqis that are only in it for the money. Well than maybe I do need to take another look.
408582
I do not think there was a release of a drug that caused servicemen to "snap" when they came home.  What happened is that they were not prepared to be re-introduced to civilian life so quickly. The military job is to take an ordinary man and to transform him into an extension of the service to do what the military needs to be done. The service men do not have the same amount of training to de-military them. They need more counseling and support groups to readjust.
319373
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/blog/2006/03/soldiers_in_iraq_know_they_are.html
276967
I love you guys ! you are generally respected. my son was a Lance Cpl in the Marines and did three tours in Iraq. he came back the last time with PTSD. he sought help but not the way he should have.and they didn't do anything to help him. he began drinking then a while later began to use drugs. he was reduced to a private and dishonorably discharged. the way our government and the military is handling the guys who have served our country is what is disturbing to me.I don't agree with the mission but you guys have a job to do and I respect what you are doing and why you are doing it. I don't respect the governments position.  my son was a wonderful happy young man before he went to Iraq. God Bless You and Keep you safe ! You Keep your head held high, what you are doing is an honorable thing. and you should be Proud, we are proud of you !
244892
well if you look into a few history books, that are blatantly honest, you will see that there was a lot of alcohol consumed and a lot of drug use, not only to alleviate boredom and fatigue but also to help the soldiers cope with the trauma of the war. this is even more evident in the vietnam was where a large percentage of american and australian soldiers returned from was with amphetamine addictions. soldiers spent a lot of time writing, diaries and letters home as an outlet for their personal feelings of fear and depression.