YOUR COMMENTS

Although I respect Mr. Fumento's service to our country, I strongly advise him to consider the difference between "100,000 people" and "100,000 troops". I believe HIS report is the one that is misleading. Mr Fumento works for the Hudson Institute, AEI and CEI, all solid right-wing "think" tanks. He worked for the extremist right-wing Washington Times newspaper. He also wrote a book called "The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS." Who's the one pushing the political causes sir?
- Breyer S., Manchester, NH

This is no surprise. The facts don't fit . We should make them up. History will judge this time as Yellow Journalism. What the Democrats and the media do is treasonous.
- Mike, Auburn

The author is completely wrong.
There is a difference between "per 100,000 persons", and "per 100,000 troops".
Also, the VA has a nasty habit of denying or delaying treatment for soldiers who believe they have, or do have, PTSD. This means that troops who need help aren't getting it. The DOD has a really nasty habit of fudging paperwork so that soldiers who get out are not allowed to get the treatment they deserve. So even if the VA has numbers on something, they do not reflect the real cost on the troops, only what they are capable of reporting. Unless we change the rules so that ALL soldiers, regardless of discharge status, who have seen combat get the treatment they need, these numbers will continue to rise-which they are.
- joe T., Derry, NH

It should be obvious that the suicide rate would be much higher among the soldiers back from Iraq/Afgan. than among current active duty soldiers. Stress and mental illnesses do not manifest themsevles until the soldiers are removed from the situation. Mr. Fumento should realize this instead of just reacting to the usual conservative whipping post. Maybe you should take the time to come up with your own concrete numbers.
- sue, pembroke

That's why when you want to know how the war is going in Iraq, don't watch the news. Write to a soldier. And when you do, be sure to thank them.
- Mike, Merrimack

Some of the studies The Union Leader quoted aren't exactly what I'd call independent, which is used as a reason in this very article to distrust a particular study. Regardless of the suicide rate, it seems that war can bring out the best and the worst in us humans.
- DM, Manchester

What????? A Network news agency may have made up a story?????? I'm shocked... astonished.... That wouldn't happen in the information age, would it??? Truth on the aiwaves would probably be more shocking. Thes agencies are agenda driven. They will tell the story only with a twist to make their view the positive one.

I wonder how they would spin a story if it countered freedom of press rights to help their hidden anti-American agenda??
- Mark, Candia

Thanks, Mr. Fumento, for setting the record straight on the suicide rate of young veterans. It makes one wonder what purpose is served by CBS's grossly misleading information.
- Marty, Manchester

Gee, CBS doesn't even need Dan Rather and his "news" crew to manufacture news anymore. No big surprize there. I'm sure the same crew that maintains the President dodged the Vietnam war ( even though he voluteered to fly there) or that he stole the 2000 election will try and justify CBS's juggling the figures to make the Iraq war look even worse than it is.
- Jeff, goffstown