Conscience Stalks the Military Again

A report by RT News discloses that "US special forces have been committing suicide at record levels for the last two years," Adm. William McRaven, the head of SOCom, said at a conference in Florida.  Although Mc Raven did not give any current statistics, in January, he directed the formation of a suicide-prevention working group to address the unique needs of the elite troops.   A 2103 survey by the Guardian disclosed that suicides (349) in Afghanistan had outpaced combat deaths (311).  As of 2010, military suicide were double the rate of civilian suicides. 

According to McRaven, the "health" of these troops is "critical to our command’s readiness and our ability to accomplish the mission. "  But, he says, "At the end of the day, we'll find the right weapon" -- meaning the right "weapon" to combat "suicides of conscience." 

Actually Barfo  has discussed the matter before, back in 2008.    [here]  Because he wishes to continue to wage war, McRaven continues the mistake of  thinking that these suicides can be dealt with by "support programs" and "coping techniques."   As Tolstoy explained in Resurrection

"It is usually imagined that a thief, a murderer, a spy, a prostitute, acknowledging his or her profession to be evil, is ashamed of it.  But the contrary is true.  People whom fate and their sin-mistakes have placed in a certain position, howsoever false that position may be, form a view of life in general which makes their position seem good and admissible.  In order to keep up their view of life, these people instinctively keep to the circle of those who share thier views...   Can we not observe the same phenomenon when the rich boast of their wealth -- robbery;  when commanders of armies pride themselves on their victories -- murder; and when those in high places vaunt their power -- violence?"

It is not a question of strategies but of [synderesis]