Is it really worth it?

Last week I made a post about war and the many people that end up on the street due to having served in a war.

Let me sum that up:
One out of 4 war veterans end up living on the street.

11% og all adult American are war veterans - That is ALOT of people!

It isn't just the Vietnam war that's put people on the street, it's also Iraq and Afghanistan.


Now, for my point for this post.
Today there was an article in the newspaper, based on a documentary made by CBS.
The article shows that the expected suicide count among war veterans in 2007 will be at least 5000!
In 2005 6256 war veterans killed themselves - thats a 120 people A WEEK!
Research have shown that war veterans have double the risk of taking their own lives than people who never served in a war...


SO:

- Between 200,000 and 500,000 of The United States of America's citizens end up living on the street as a result of having been in a war. (Traumas) (It's estimated that between 800,000 and 2million people live on the street at any given time)

- Over 5000 people kill themselves every year after serving in a war. (One would of course assume that alot of these also belong to the group of people mentioned above - but not all!)

- Other than that, it will also devasate the families of the above mentioned.

- It is not only the soldiers and their families that get their lives ruined, it is also that of innocent people living in the war-plagued contries. Many get killed, wounded or traumatized.

- And, a war costs ALOT of money (money that could have been spent on better things, such as the homeless - obviously not those that end up on the street due to war, since there wouldn't be any of those without wars)

Is it really worth it?

Again I want to point out the fact that I am NOT bashing the soldiers. Like I said in the other blogpost: They're very brave and should be admired for their courage!!