American troops in Afghanistan losing heart, say army chaplains

American soldiers serving in Afghanistan are depressed and deeply disillusioned, according to the chaplains of two US battalions that have spent nine months on the front line in the war against the Taleban.

Many feel that they are risking their lives — and that colleagues have died — for a futile mission and an Afghan population that does nothing to help them, the chaplains told The Times in their makeshift chapel on this fortress-like base in a dusty, brown valley southwest of Kabul.

“The many soldiers who come to see us have a sense of futility and anger about being here. They are really in a state of depression and despair and just want to get back to their families,” said Captain Jeff Masengale, of the 10th Mountain Division’s 2-87 Infantry Battalion.

“They feel they are risking their lives for progress that’s hard to discern,” said Captain Sam Rico, of the Division’s 4-25 Field Artillery Battalion. “They are tired, strained, confused and just want to get through.” The chaplains said that they were speaking out because the men could not.

you have to wonder what they thought they were getting into when they signed on the dotted line.

Originally posted by KSPigpen
I'm sure depression is a normal occurrence for those with a mind to think.

Stop-Loss has almost changed the face of the 'volunteer' forces to those of slaves. You either fight, and hope that someday you come home, or you get disgraced, imprisoned, or dead.

The term 'volunteer' sort of loses it's meaning in today's military.

Originally posted by carewemust
reply to post by Sundancer

---

In the old WWII movies, the U.S. is always liberating one country or
another from the Nazi's. It seems that liberating other countries is
what we do in every war? If we can kill a few bad guys who want to
attack the United States while we're liberating people in other countries,
so much the better.