TV News LIES

Monday, Sep 15th

Last update08:21:01 AM GMT

You are here News Military War zone killing: Vets feel 'alone' in their guilt

War zone killing: Vets feel 'alone' in their guilt

E-mail Print PDF

Iraq vetsA veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, former Marine Capt. Timothy Kudo thinks of himself as a killer _ and he carries the guilt every day.

"I can't forgive myself," he says. "And the people who can forgive me are dead."

With American troops at war for more than a decade, there's been an unprecedented number of studies into war zone psychology and an evolving understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder. Clinicians suspect some troops are suffering from what they call "moral injuries" _ wounds from having done something, or failed to stop something, that violates their moral code.

Though there may be some overlap in symptoms, moral injuries aren't what most people think of as PTSD, the nightmares and flashbacks of terrifying, life-threatening combat events. A moral injury tortures the conscience; symptoms include deep shame, guilt and rage. It's not a medical problem, and it's unclear how to treat it, says retired Col. Elspeth Ritchie, former psychiatry consultant to the Army surgeon general.

"The concept ... is more an existentialist one," she says.

The Marines, who prefer to call moral injuries "inner conflict," started a few years ago teaching unit leaders to identify the problem. And the Defense Department has approved funding for a study among Marines at California's Camp Pendleton to test a therapy that doctors hope will ease guilt.

But a solution could be a long time off.

More...


Most Recent Related Stories...


Trump threatens 'WAR' in Chicago; Pritzker hits back at potential National Guard deployment

Chi protestsProtests against the National Guard roiled DC on Sept. 6 as Chicagoans waited to see where...

JD Vance Doesn't 'Give A S**t' If Folks Call Venezuelan Boat Strike A War Crime

JD VanceVice President JD Vance threw his full support behind President Donald Trump’s deadly military strike on...

West Point cancels ceremony to honor Tom Hanks as ‘outstanding US citizen’

Tom HanksIn Forrest Gump, the title character, played by Tom Hanks, receives the Congressional Medal of Honor...

US veterans decry arrest of ex-army sergeant after Ice protest

Mavalwalla and father in AfghanistanVeterans who helped the US’s Afghan allies find refuge in the US say they are outraged...
 
America's # 1 Enemy
Tee Shirt
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
TVNL Tee Shirt
 
TVNL TOTE BAG
Conserve our Planet
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
Get your 9/11 & Media
Deception Dollars
& Help Support TvNewsLIES.org!
 
The Loaded Deck
The First & the Best!
The Media & Bush Admin Exposed!