Fort Hood Shooting: 'A third of US troops on meds, facing stress & suicides'

[DeSwiss]

RT ·Published on Apr 3, 2014

A shooting took place at the US military base at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas on Wednesday afternoon. Four people were confirmed dead including the gunman, apparently of a self-inflicted wound. The gunman was an Iraq vet treated for mental health issues.

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“Your worst enemy, he reflected, was your nervous system. At any moment the tension inside you was liable to translate itself into some visible symptom.” ~George Orwell, 1984

[daybranch]

1. This sad situation should have more context

While the speakers do that I recognize a lot of missing information which may allow us to form more accurate conclusions.
First you should note the number of pictures of the shooter both in and out of military clothing with many weapons. These may show a fascination with firearms and an inflated sense of self and right to command respect. You notice I said command. You should also note that the individual although in an infantry division based on his uniform was a truck driver. Truck drivers while very valuable are often jobs assigned to those who we do not trust to carry a rifle.
You should also realize that if you are found wanting by others in your mind, you are always seeking to demonstrate your proof of your competence and resent any question regarding your ability regarding the area.
I of course am not a shrink, but I have many years observing myself and other combat veterans from Vietnam.
I see so many who want to presume some great nobility for their actions and I even watch as their exploits are amplified and often just invented. As someone who was with other young men, during this formative period, I understand the need to construct an maintain such an ego . I like many veterans today, often resort to the tough guy never back down swagger. This has over the years led to confrontations that I realize I caused due to an inflated ego.
Unlike many others, I saw so many killed with guns since I was a small child and then through commbat. I see guns as a weapon to kill. It is not a trophy but rather a tool of destruction. I watch as so many praise target shooting and 22 LRs for their children to target shoot etc. , but I do not see them sticking to these rifles that they praise as harmless but rather they turn to the instruments of mass murder of soft targets. They talk of liberty etc. but it is usually a desire for admiration from others that drive thee gun purchases.
I am getting off subject , but to return-. When we add this story up, it will make a lot of sense if we are wiling to examine ourselves , the military, the economy, and ourselves honestly.

[DeSwiss]

2. Thank you for your perspective. n/t

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

3. I saw on the local...

... news tonight (DFW area) they said that Lopez (the gunman) had recently been refused a request to leave the base so he could attend his mother's funeral, but they didn't elaborate on why.

I would've thought just about anyone would be given leave of absence for something like that -- seems pretty odd if true.

[DeSwiss]

4. One would think......

...that they'd be especially sensitive to providing emotional support after what's happened there in the past.

Of course you have to care about such things to begin with. And I've seen little evidence to that from the military. They seem to use people like chewing gum. And just spits them out onto the streets when they're done with 'em.

- It's really quite pathetic how we treat those who put themselves in harms way in what they believe to be ''our'' behalf......

[center]

[/center]

This is why the troops have mental problems. This is why people in the country have so much depression. Our bodies and our minds are telling us that this shit is wrong. And what is worse, most of us know it yet remain silent. We take a pill and try to ignore it, but this carnage and killing we're responsible for won't be ignored. And for our silence, we will deserve anything coming our way.

Will anyone be listening when we cry out? Will they care?