Hello Friends There is another group of heroic people on the front lines in Iraq that we really don't hear much about. These are the mem and women who are dedicated to finding a peaceful solution to this terrible war. They place their lives in harms way too and now, some of them have been kidnapped by a terrorist group and are being help captive. The following letter that I just received from The American Friends Service Committee describes this situation and tells a little about what you can do to help. Please read this and do what you can to help. Dear william, We have been deeply saddened by the abduction of four members of the Christian Peacemaker Team in Iraq. Tom Fox (U.S), Norman Kember (UK), James Loney and Harmeet Sooden (Canada), lived outside the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad in active witness against the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq. Tom Fox is a Quaker and a member of Langley Hill Meeting in Virginia. The Christian Peacemaker Teams, a non-governmental organization, is one of the few remaining international humanitarian organizations working in Iraq. Their presence maintains a critical, nonviolent public witness to the violence and uncertainty which persists in the country. Team members knowingly work at great risk to their own health and security. The kidnappings have caused enormous suffering and pain to the captives, their families, associates, and friends. We have been in close touch with CPT, Tom Fox’s family and other partner organizations. On Friday, we issued a joint statement with the Friends Committee on National Legislation appealing to those responsible for the kidnappings to release all four peacemakers unharmed. You can find the latest information on the evolving situation on the Christian Peacemaker Teams web site. You can alse see the Friends United Meeting web site about the kidnapping. In recent days, a German archeologist and a French engineer working on a water treatment center have also been kidnapped. These abductions along with the daily attacks and bombings, illustrate the insecurity that Iraqis live in every day. While the kidnappings are deeply disturbing, I also want to share two hopeful updates about the progress of our Wage Peace Campaign. Together, our recent email campaign asking Congress to join Rep. John Murtha in calling for a troop withdrawal generated almost 23,000 emails to Representatives and Senators in all 50 states. In the meantime, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has joined the call for a quick and safe withdrawal from Iraq. Pelosi’s office received dozens of emails from us in the past three weeks. Congress is clearly heading toward withdrawing some troops from Iraq. It’s not enough. We need to keep up the pressure to end the war, remove all troops and bases from Iraq, and to hold the U.S. to its legal and moral obligations to reconstruct Iraq. I also wanted to report back on the results of last month’s Wage Peace Campaign survey. We’ve received more than 1,500 responses about next steps for the campaign. Thank you so much for your ideas. We’re working quickly to update our web site to have resources available to help your local activism. Look for more material in coming emails. You can find that we already have: Opportunities to email Congress. (Right now, please support the “End the Iraq War Act” sponsored by Rep. Jim McGovern) Downloadable fact sheets, timelines, and a petition An online tool to write letters to your local newspapers A blog on Iraq affairs, Current News in Context To see the survey results, please follow this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/Report.asp?U=150580615239 Peace, Peter Lems, Wage Peace Campaign Forward this message to your friends. American Friends Service Committee 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 http://www.afsc.org/ If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific AFSC list, or update your account settings, you can visit your Profile Page.

Greetings All You know, I have to say I am a little dissappointed with this forum thread. There are 35 posts here and all but 1 are mine. I had hoped that I could copy some posts and maybe send them to a VA hospital so some of our wounded soldiers could see that we care about them and we think about them and their families. I know that hearing about death and destruction is not a pleasant experience but actually living in it is much much worse. I don't want our military people feeling like they are forgotten. Sometimes it seems like the only people that remember our veterans are other veterans, as the following article will show Home > Hanover Mariner > Local News Lt. Ralph Talbot Chapter 65 honors and assists disabled vets By Maureen Walsh/ Correspondent Wednesday, December 14, 2005 It’s hard to be in the hospital during the holidays, especially when you’re far from your hometown or even your home state and few family members or friends can visit. But that’s often the case for veterans receiving treatment in regional VA hospitals. So on Sunday, Dec. 4, members of the Lieutenant Ralph Talbot Chapter 65 of the Disabled American Veterans visited their comrades at the West Roxbury Medical Center to share food and fellowship and modest gifts and to assure them that they and the sacrifices they made are not forgotten. "The vets who are ambulatory and can do it come into the Medical Center just to let the vets know they’re remembered," said the Chapter Adjutant Joe McElroy. "I visited with four vets in the intensive care unit and they were all from Maine. These people don’t see friends and comrades from outside that often." For more than 50 years, the Lt. Ralph Talbot Chapter has provided support, assistance and information for disabled veterans, particularly in the towns of Weymouth, Norwell, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset and Scituate. In July, the chapter sponsored a visit of the DAV’s Mobile Service Van to the Weymouth Elks Club, where national service officers (NSOs) assisted more than 80 local veterans with a wide variety of issues "A lot of those who came out were obviously entitled to benefits they weren’t receiving. The service officers opened case files so they could advocate for them," said McElroy. "Others had physical or mental health disabilities that were aggravated or had worsened over the years and should have been reviewed a long time ago. The NSOs reopened their files and reapplied for the higher disability ratings those vets deserved." The Lt. Ralph Talbot Chapter extends the DAV’s mission into the local communities where veterans and their families live, he said. Through the chapter newsletter and bi-monthly meetings, the chapter keeps them apprised of their entitlements and how they are affected by changes in federal and state policy and personal circumstances. [continue] 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next » Herald Interactive Tools Recent articles E-mail article to a friend View text version Search site Subscribe to Hanover Mariner Mental Health And Political Forums http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=10129 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=9637 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8212 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=7420 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8259 Lifetime web building and hosting for under $40. One time payment http://www.superpayline.com/p002859 The most advanced VOIP system there is anywhere. https://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com/members/index.php?action=buy_miphone Better Universe. The People Helping People Company http://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com May a smile follow you to sleep each night, and be there waiting when you awaken. SIncerly, Bill Vanderbilt / Fanbelt

Hello Friends While there isn't much that we can do to help our combat soldiers who are actually on the front lines, there is a lot we can do to help them once they come home. tHESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE FACING SOME VERY HARD TIMES ADJUSTING TO LIFE AT HOME. pOST TRAUMATIC Stress disorder is a major problem they face. We need to reach out and help these people and their families. There are community projects we can join. There are congressmen who don't yet realize that their support is needed. Hey, our soldiers need their sopport and they need our votes. I think that we could have the upper hand here if we would just take advantage of the rights that our fighting men and women have have so diligently protected for us. Published: December 24, 2005 08:17 pm Returning vets bear heavy burden By KECIA BAL kbal@tribdem.com Somerset — Sitting at his kitchen table with a mug of coffee as his six daughters giggle in delight, Staff Sgt. Barry Gardner’s life seemingly has returned to normal. But as his Somerset family prepares for Christmas, Gardner remains haunted by images of war: Iraqi civilians with improvised explosive devices; a Humvee carrying his buddies exploding behind him; the deadly raids. Gardner, an Army National Guardsman with the Connellsville-based 103rd Armor, Company B, returned in May after a year of service and six months in Iraq, where his job was to detect and disarm homemade explosives. Diagnosed in July with post-traumatic stress disorder, Gardner still wakes up in the middle of the night, ready to fight. “I hear him talking in his sleep,” said his wife, Heather. “It’s not normal talk. It’s a soldier talking. “I know to only touch his feet to wake him up and snap him out of it.” Gardner and other soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan are now fighting a second battle: Readjusting to their lives, their families and their jobs. “We call it the hidden trauma,” said Mark Lerner, a clinical psychologist in Commack, N.Y., and president of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. “It can be tremendously devastating. Lives are shattered: Not only for the direct victims, but even for family members and loved ones. “This is one of the effects of war on normal individuals in an abnormal situation.” Denying distress A study conducted last year found that an alarmingly high 18 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq have post-traumatic stress, the National Center for post-traumatic stress disorder reported. While the disorder most typically is associated with Vietnam veterans, Lerner said modern troops may be at greater risk, considering their experiences abroad and the widespread fears of terrorism back home. “I’m afraid we’re going to experience very much more than what we had in the past,” he said. And often, soldiers are unwilling to admit they have a problem. Instead, they allow it to fester, said Stephen Robinson, executive director of the National Gulf War Resource Center. Though every soldier fills out a questionnaire designed to pinpoint signs of mental-health issues, Robinson said they often are reluctant to share their secret struggles. “If you indicate ‘yes’ to a question, which means you may have a problem, that means everybody else is going home and you’re going to be stuck at that base,” he said. The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder reports that 80 percent of soldiers with the illness acknowledged they had a problem. But only 40 percent were interested in getting help, and just 26 percent were undergoing counseling. “It appears that modern career soldiers are concerned about the stigma associated with mental-health problems and the potential negative impact on their careers,” center administrators said. Robinson, who tours the country advising families on how to help returning loved ones, said family and friends need to provide never-ending support. “If you knew your next-door neighbor had been robbed or raped, you wouldn’t wait for a sign of trouble. You’d let them know you are there,” he said. “This is a war where 85 percent have pulled the trigger, seen death or experienced wartime trauma. It requires a certain level of care. “Take your yellow ribbon off the back of your truck and reach out to them Mental Health And Political Forums http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=10129 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=9637 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8212 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=7420 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8259 Lifetime web building and hosting for under $40. One time payment http://www.superpayline.com/p002859 The most advanced VOIP system there is anywhere. https://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com/members/index.php?action=buy_miphone Better Universe. The People Helping People Company http://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com May a smile follow you to sleep each night, and be there waiting when you awaken. SIncerly, Bill Vanderbilt / Fanbelt Published: December 24, 2005 08:17 pm Returning vets bear heavy burden By KECIA BAL kbal@tribdem.com Somerset — Sitting at his kitchen table with a mug of coffee as his six daughters giggle in delight, Staff Sgt. Barry Gardner’s life seemingly has returned to normal. But as his Somerset family prepares for Christmas, Gardner remains haunted by images of war: Iraqi civilians with improvised explosive devices; a Humvee carrying his buddies exploding behind him; the deadly raids. Gardner, an Army National Guardsman with the Connellsville-based 103rd Armor, Company B, returned in May after a year of service and six months in Iraq, where his job was to detect and disarm homemade explosives. Diagnosed in July with post-traumatic stress disorder, Gardner still wakes up in the middle of the night, ready to fight. “I hear him talking in his sleep,” said his wife, Heather. “It’s not normal talk. It’s a soldier talking. “I know to only touch his feet to wake him up and snap him out of it.” Gardner and other soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan are now fighting a second battle: Readjusting to their lives, their families and their jobs. “We call it the hidden trauma,” said Mark Lerner, a clinical psychologist in Commack, N.Y., and president of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. “It can be tremendously devastating. Lives are shattered: Not only for the direct victims, but even for family members and loved ones. “This is one of the effects of war on normal individuals in an abnormal situation.” Denying distress A study conducted last year found that an alarmingly high 18 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq have post-traumatic stress, the National Center for post-traumatic stress disorder reported. While the disorder most typically is associated with Vietnam veterans, Lerner said modern troops may be at greater risk, considering their experiences abroad and the widespread fears of terrorism back home. “I’m afraid we’re going to experience very much more than what we had in the past,” he said. And often, soldiers are unwilling to admit they have a problem. Instead, they allow it to fester, said Stephen Robinson, executive director of the National Gulf War Resource Center. Though every soldier fills out a questionnaire designed to pinpoint signs of mental-health issues, Robinson said they often are reluctant to share their secret struggles. “If you indicate ‘yes’ to a question, which means you may have a problem, that means everybody else is going home and you’re going to be stuck at that base,” he said. The National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder reports that 80 percent of soldiers with the illness acknowledged they had a problem. But only 40 percent were interested in getting help, and just 26 percent were undergoing counseling. “It appears that modern career soldiers are concerned about the stigma associated with mental-health problems and the potential negative impact on their careers,” center administrators said. Robinson, who tours the country advising families on how to help returning loved ones, said family and friends need to provide never-ending support. “If you knew your next-door neighbor had been robbed or raped, you wouldn’t wait for a sign of trouble. You’d let them know you are there,” he said. “This is a war where 85 percent have pulled the trigger, seen death or experienced wartime trauma. It requires a certain level of care. “Take your yellow ribbon off the back of your truck and reach out to them

Hello Friends While there is a little good news comming down the pike now aqnd the it is often a case of too little, too late. Here is an example of a program that loooks good on the surface but there is a long way to go before we can say that our soldiers commi9ng home from Iraq are being treated with the kind of care they need. Editorials | Letters to the Editor | Archives Advertisement Editorial: Efforts for VA pay off -- Monday, December 26, 2005 Supporters of the Waco Veterans Affairs Hospital received a welcome Christmas present in the form of a $3 million study to research the underlying causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and possible new treatments. The Waco VA hospital has specialized in helping the nation's veterans deal with mental health problems since it first opened its doors in 1932. The newly funded study, which will include the Olin E. Teague Veterans Center in Temple and Fort Hood, should give additonal support for expanding services at the Waco VA campus. Continued support for the Waco VA Hospital is necessary because VA officials are still considering the fate of the 73-year-old facility that was unexpectedly recommended for closure in the summer of 2003. That stunning news came at a time when plans were under way to expand services at the Waco hospital following $12.4 million in just completed renovations to two buildings and $80 million in upgrades since 1989. Immediately, an impressive outpouring of support arose for the Waco VA campus that included veterans, business leaders, elected offiicials and citizens. VA officials left themselves open for legitimate critcism for choosing to close or downsize 18 VA hospitals arcoss the nation, including the venerable Waco campus, when the nation was engaged in a two-front war on terrorism. U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, who worked to obtain the $3 million PTSD study, has argued that the need for the specialized mental health services at the Waco VA Hospital should rapidly increase due to the estimated 17 to 19 percent jump in the number of Iraqi war veterans confronting mental health issues, with up to 3 percent showing full symptoms of PTSD. Another recent cause for hope came when U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, helped pass legislation that designates the Waco VA Hospital as a mental health center of excellence and instructs the VA to support it with appropriate resources. Although the future of hospital remains undecided, the praiseworthy efforts of supporters offer hope for many more years of excellent service by Waco VA Hospital. Mental Health And Political Forums http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=10129 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=9637 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8212 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=7420 http://community.adlandpro.com/forumShow.aspx?ForumID=8259 Lifetime web building and hosting for under $40. One time payment http://www.superpayline.com/p002859 The most advanced VOIP system there is anywhere. https://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com/members/index.php?action=buy_miphone Better Universe. The People Helping People Company http://wv0079721.betteruniverse.com May a smile follow you to sleep each night, and be there waiting when you awaken. SIncerly, Bill Vanderbilt / Fanbelt

Hello Friends While the death toll mounts, many are still looking for ways to justify this war. It seems to me that since this administration took over power, the rules have changed. It used to be a last resort to go to war. Now it has become simply a matter of preference for our president and / or vice president. News U.S. war casualties (page 1 of 2) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As of yesterday, at least 2,172 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. Since May 1, 2003, when President Bush declared that major combat operations in Iraq had ended, 2,033 U.S. military members have died, according to AP's count. The latest identifications reported by the military: * Army Spc. Dane O. Carver, 20, Freeport, Mich.; died Monday in Khalidiyah, when his vehicle came under attack by small arms fire; assigned to the National Guard's 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Saginaw, Mich.