More soldiers have died by their own hand than in battle this year, as the Army continues to fight the elusive enemy that also claimed more lives in 2012 than combat in Afghanistan.
So far this year, 106 active-duty soldiers and 102 reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty are believed to have committed suicide, the Army announced Oct. 1.
In comparison, 91 U.S. troops — 80 of them soldiers — died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
The Army continues to focus on suicide prevention, but the results appear to be mixed, with potential improvement among active-duty soldiers but an alarming increase in the numbers among reserve component soldiers who are not on active duty.
On Oct. 1, the Army announced there were 12 suspected suicides among active-duty soldiers in August, seven fewer than the month before.
Two of the 12 deaths have been confirmed as suicides and the others are still under investigation.
In July, the Army reported as many as 19 suicides among active-duty soldiers; three have been confirmed and the others are still under investigation.
So far this year, as many as 106 soldiers are believed to have committed suicide. Of those, 51 deaths have been confirmed as suicides.
This is a decrease from 2012; this time last year, the Army reported as many as 131 suicides among active-duty soldiers.
The Pentagon has quietly removed nearly 12,000 troops from Afghanistan during the past several months, scaling back the military’s combat power before the end of the fighting season.
U.S. troop levels have fallen nearly 20 percent, from 66,000 in April down to about 54,500 in late September, Pentagon data show.
Meanwhile, U.S. military operations in Afghanistan are slowing. In August, the U.S. military conducted 158 close-air support missions that dropped weapons, less than half of the 368 sorties that released weapons in May, according to Air Force numbers.
Military officials say the drawdown is part of a gradual reduction to meet President Obama’s target for getting troop levels down to less than 34,000 by February.
It also signals a fundamental shift in the U.S. mission there from directly fighting the Taliban insurgency to supporting the Afghan troops who now plan and conduct combat missions independently.
BAGHDAD — An Iraqi sheik cradled his grandson’s tightly wrapped body Tuesday, his face grim and his eyes downcast, trailed by men bearing the coffin of the infant’s mother.
The mother and son were killed the day before by a bombing in Baghdad — two among nearly 1,000 Iraqi lives lost to violence in September. The heartbreaking image, captured in an Associated Press photo, illuminates the human tragedy behind the numbers.
Sectarian bloodshed has surged to levels not seen in Iraq since 2008. More than 5,000 people have been killed since April, when a deadly government raid on a Sunni protest camp unleashed a new round of violence that showed al-Qaida in Iraq is still strong despite years of U.S.-Iraqi offensives against the terror group.
At least 979 people — 887 civilians and 92 soldiers and national policemen — were killed in September, a 22 percent increase from the previous month, the U.N. mission in Iraq said Tuesday. Baghdad was hit hardest, with 418 violent deaths. The U.N. also reported that 2,133 people were wounded nationwide in the relentless car bombings, suicide attacks and shootings.
The spike reversed a brief decline to 804 in August after the death toll reached 1,057 in July, the highest since June 2008 when 975 people were killed.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Some of you might have seen my post on the Book of Faces about United Healthcare yesterday. They still blow syphilitic goats.
François Englert
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
and
Peter W. Higgs
University of Edinburgh, UK
“for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Colliderâ€
Quote by Raine:
We have the Nobel Prize Winners in the physics category!François Englert
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
and
Peter W. Higgs
University of Edinburgh, UK
“for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Colliderâ€
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all..![]()
After reading a FB post by an old HS classmate, I've started looking into the paleo diet. It's an interesting idea.. I think I may give it a try.
Only major problem is dairy is out.. which means no milk for coffee.. which for me means NO COFFEE!!![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Quote by Raine:
We have the Nobel Prize Winners in the physics category!François Englert
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
and
Peter W. Higgs
University of Edinburgh, UK
“for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Colliderâ€
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:
Some of you might have seen my post on the Book of Faces about United Healthcare yesterday. They still blow syphilitic goats.
I've had them as my company-sponsored healthcare denier before. I tend to agree.
UHC YOU SUCK. You suck rhino dick. You suck donkey prong. You blow syphilitic goats. Not only do you suck various animal phaluses, you tongue bathe their hairy balls. You are not coerced into doing these acts of bestiality you actively seek these animals in the seedier parts of the internets. Screw the ACA, single payer national health insurance. Lets drive these for profit swine out of business. Healthcare is too important to be left to the magical, mythical free market.
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
We have the Nobel Prize Winners in the physics category!François Englert
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
and
Peter W. Higgs
University of Edinburgh, UK
“for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Colliderâ€
Awww.. you mean Edward Snowden didn't win for his personal studies in the acceleration rate of a chickenshit asshole thief around the globe?
Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
We have the Nobel Prize Winners in the physics category!François Englert
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
and
Peter W. Higgs
University of Edinburgh, UK
“for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Colliderâ€
Awww.. you mean Edward Snowden didn't win for his personal studies in the acceleration rate of a chickenshit asshole thief around the globe?The peace prize is announced on Friday...
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
We have the Nobel Prize Winners in the physics category!François Englert
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
and
Peter W. Higgs
University of Edinburgh, UK
“for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Colliderâ€
Awww.. you mean Edward Snowden didn't win for his personal studies in the acceleration rate of a chickenshit asshole thief around the globe?The peace prize is announced on Friday...
Hence the physics references!![]()
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
We have the Nobel Prize Winners in the physics category!François Englert
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
and
Peter W. Higgs
University of Edinburgh, UK
“for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN’s Large Hadron Colliderâ€
Awww.. you mean Edward Snowden didn't win for his personal studies in the acceleration rate of a chickenshit asshole thief around the globe?
Quote by TriSec:
Remember, healthcare is my business.
My professional opinion is that UHC not only blows syphilitic goats, there is actually a line of them waiting.
I used to have this account; they really and truly suck. (And check out athena's "Payerview" website. I may not work for them anymore, but their metrics are still good.)
We must now have the courage to take the final step and call homophobia and heterosexism what they are. They are sin. Homophobia is a sin. Heterosexism is a sin. Shaming people for whom they love is a sin. Shaming people because their gender identity doesn’t fit neatly into your sense of what it should be is a sin.
Quote by Raine:
This is really cool. I bet Rabbit knows a little bit about this!
Quote by Raine:
I can't believe this shit. I am really getting pissed. Now the effing GOP is going after entitlements -- or should I say AGAIN.![]()
Quote by BobR:
I had not. Dogfish Head is the undisputed king of gimmicky beers.
That said - being the total space geek I am, the temptation to drive to Rehoboth Beach and try it is very strong.
A day in the life of the emptiest suit in Washington:
7 a.m. You wake up, light a Camel. Read a pink Post-it left on the refrigerator by your wife: "John, don't ever forget, YOU REALLY ARE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE !!! Also, we're out of bagels."
7:30 a.m. You lie in your tanning bed meditating about the government shutdown, wondering if it was such a brilliant idea to let it happen. You put on some Pink Floyd, "Dark Side of the Moon," but that doesn't help.
8:00 a.m. On the ride to Capitol Hill, your driver remarks that there's not much traffic in the city, no tourists lined up to see money being inked at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. You smoke another Camel.
8:11 a.m. From the car you call the police to report that some jerk on D Street is selling "Boehner is a Bum" T-shirts - no, wait, he's giving them away! Worse, he's wearing a national park ranger's uniform.
Quote by Raine:Read this!
more...A day in the life of the emptiest suit in Washington:
7 a.m. You wake up, light a Camel. Read a pink Post-it left on the refrigerator by your wife: "John, don't ever forget, YOU REALLY ARE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE !!! Also, we're out of bagels."
7:30 a.m. You lie in your tanning bed meditating about the government shutdown, wondering if it was such a brilliant idea to let it happen. You put on some Pink Floyd, "Dark Side of the Moon," but that doesn't help.
8:00 a.m. On the ride to Capitol Hill, your driver remarks that there's not much traffic in the city, no tourists lined up to see money being inked at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. You smoke another Camel.
8:11 a.m. From the car you call the police to report that some jerk on D Street is selling "Boehner is a Bum" T-shirts - no, wait, he's giving them away! Worse, he's wearing a national park ranger's uniform.
Quote by Raine:Read this!
more...A day in the life of the emptiest suit in Washington:
7 a.m. You wake up, light a Camel. Read a pink Post-it left on the refrigerator by your wife: "John, don't ever forget, YOU REALLY ARE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE !!! Also, we're out of bagels."
7:30 a.m. You lie in your tanning bed meditating about the government shutdown, wondering if it was such a brilliant idea to let it happen. You put on some Pink Floyd, "Dark Side of the Moon," but that doesn't help.
8:00 a.m. On the ride to Capitol Hill, your driver remarks that there's not much traffic in the city, no tourists lined up to see money being inked at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. You smoke another Camel.
8:11 a.m. From the car you call the police to report that some jerk on D Street is selling "Boehner is a Bum" T-shirts - no, wait, he's giving them away! Worse, he's wearing a national park ranger's uniform.
Quote by Mondobubba:
"I would take Boehner drunk over Cruz sober."
If your intent was to insure as many people as possible, you’d have single payer.
Quote by Raine:You know, I am seeing a new meme here. Medved said it today on the SMS show, and I have been hearing this from a few other conservative types:Quote by Mondobubba:
"I would take Boehner drunk over Cruz sober."If your intent was to insure as many people as possible, you’d have single payer.
Just a reminder: THE GOP DIDN'T WANT SINGLE PAYER when we first started negotiating the ACA. IT was one of the very first concessions Obama made to the GOP thus leading the rise up of the firebaggers.![]()
Quote by Mondobubba:
Bobber you must be so proud of Georgia Tech!
Quote by BobR:
Stupid, poor, and voting against your own economic interests. Isn't that exactly what the GOP wants?
Quote by Scoopster:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Hell no. We don't want him. He can go indie if he wants to tho.
17/24 of the red districts they polled indicated that they'd support a generic Democrat over their current Republican rep..... In a followup series of questions, PPP then told respondents that their representative voted for the shutdown. At that point, the average swing moved a further 3.1% toward Democrats, and 22 out of 24 points were in the gray zone. That would be more like a 50-seat gain for Democrats - equivalent to a wave election.
if they could see his heart from in there, that would explain a lot about Republicans
Quote by Scoopster:
Comment of the day.. about Sen. James Inhofe's recent quad-bypass sugery that was discovered during what he referred to "...a routine colonoscopy that everyone gets..."![]()
if they could see his heart from in there, that would explain a lot about Republicans
Quote by Raine:I expect this nonsense from UGA.... *ducks incoming*Quote by Mondobubba:
Bobber you must be so proud of Georgia Tech!
Quote by Scoopster:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Hell no. We don't want him. He can go indie if he wants to tho.
Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:I expect this nonsense from UGA.... *ducks incoming*Quote by Mondobubba:
Bobber you must be so proud of Georgia Tech!
Every college has its douche-holes
Quote by Raine:
Seriously, looks at these asses. Chuck todd is there too.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:I expect this nonsense from UGA.... *ducks incoming*Quote by Mondobubba:
Bobber you must be so proud of Georgia Tech!
Every college has its douche-holes
Bobber, let us examine "douche hole." Since a douche in the context is a vaginal wash, you have just called them va jay jays. I think we should not call them that. Perhaps assholes or douche bags, but not douche holes.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:I expect this nonsense from UGA.... *ducks incoming*Quote by Mondobubba:
Bobber you must be so proud of Georgia Tech!
Every college has its douche-holes
Bobber, let us examine "douche hole." Since a douche in the context is a vaginal wash, you have just called them va jay jays. I think we should not call them that. Perhaps assholes or douche bags, but not douche holes.
Quote by Raine:
Seriously, looks at these asses. Chuck todd is there too.
Quote by Raine:
And there it is: raising the debt is agreeing to pay for what congress already authorized.
The CR authorizes the bills that are already spent.
BOOM.
Quote by BobR:
He's making a very good point that the Republicans don't want to negotiate - they want to get everything they want, and if they don't then they accuse the Democrats of not negotiating.
Quote by Raine:
14th amendment was just brought up.
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Does Fox News even show these things live? Or do they O'Keefe them?
Quote by Mondobubba:
Ken Cuccinelli Loses Bid to Re-Ban Sodomy
Quote by Raine:In other news, the Cuccinelli household is still sexually confused.Quote by Mondobubba:
Ken Cuccinelli Loses Bid to Re-Ban Sodomy
Quote by Mondobubba:
And now, you moment of Buzz Feed zen.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:In other news, the Cuccinelli household is still sexually confused.Quote by Mondobubba:
Ken Cuccinelli Loses Bid to Re-Ban Sodomy
I think Mrs Cooch is extremely frustrated.
Quote by Raine:You really think that?Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:In other news, the Cuccinelli household is still sexually confused.Quote by Mondobubba:
Ken Cuccinelli Loses Bid to Re-Ban Sodomy
I think Mrs Cooch is extremely frustrated.
I suspect she, living in the 21st century, has found means to not be frustrated. (you know, being married t the Cooch as an exception, and also a loophole)
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:You really think that?Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:In other news, the Cuccinelli household is still sexually confused.Quote by Mondobubba:
Ken Cuccinelli Loses Bid to Re-Ban Sodomy
I think Mrs Cooch is extremely frustrated.
I suspect she, living in the 21st century, has found means to not be frustrated. (you know, being married t the Cooch as an exception, and also a loophole)
You know you might be right. Mrs Cooch does have a locked door full of things that vibrate.