Quote Originally Posted by HoreTore
I do believe we suffer some minor communication problems, as I believe we agree with each other, at least I fully agree with everything you've said...

That this report exists, and is taken seriously, is off course a tremendous step in the right direction and very positive. What I meant was negative, was the fact that 50% of the troops say that they do not respect civilians. Yes, it may be lower than ever before, but it's still way to high if you intend to "win hearts and minds"...

But this is not just an american problem, of course. I finished my military service(conscript) half a year ago. During that year, officers talked almost nonstop about how great international service(as you have to join for another year to be sent to war) is, but they talked almost exclusively about the positive aspects. Mental health and what a war and battlefield does to your brain, wasn't mentioned even once. I tried to bring it up one time, but the answer I got was short, and I got the feeling I was talked down to. I've thought about the possibility of joining, but the thing holding me back has never been the possibility of being shot, it has been the uncertainty of what may happen to my head.
Mental health is not discussed within the ranks for numerous reasons. One being that it is often seen as a form of weakness. That its activitily being researched and discussed in the military at this time is a postive step.

You can not go to combat and kill your fellow man without some type of negative effect. When troops are stuck fighting an insurgent war that they were inadequately prepared for - Remember the United States prior to 2004 primarily trained as a combat force not an occupation mission. We were unprepared as a military force for the mission we assumed in Iraq. While you believe that the number of 50% say they do not respect Iraqi civilians - that number is significantly lower then many past conflicts.

To kill your fellow man - often requires you to come to terms with yourself afterwards. To think less of them often is the result of that coming to term.