Unfit Troops Sent Into Combat

  More of the Bush administrations support for our troops as it seems that some 43,000 troops have been sent to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan after being called medically unfit for combat just weeks before they were deployed, according to the Pentagon. That is 43,000 since 2003.

USAToday

At Fort Carson, Colo., Maj. Gen. Mark Graham ordered an investigation into deployment procedures for a brigade deployed to Iraq late last year. At least 36 soldiers were found medically unfit but were still deployed, Graham told USA TODAY.

For at least seven soldiers, treatment in the war zone was inadequate and the soldiers were sent home, he said, and at least two of them should never have been deployed.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee in February, the panel's chairman, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., asked Army leaders about an e-mail from the surgeon for the Fort Carson brigade that said medically "borderline" soldiers went to war because "we have been having issues reaching deployable strength."

"That should not be happening," Army Secretary Pete Geren told the committee. "I can't tell you that it's not, but it certainly should not be happening."

  I should note that not all of the service members had serious health problems such as mental illness. Many had problems such as needing eyeglasses and dental work.

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