Comments on: Alyssa Peterson’s Suicide http://hungryblues.net/2006/11/18/alyssa-petersons-suicide/ Ben Greenberg's Weblog Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:30:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: bettyboop2009 http://hungryblues.net/2006/11/18/alyssa-petersons-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-109292 bettyboop2009 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:25:43 +0000 http://hungryblues.net/2006/11/18/alyssa-petersons-suicide/#comment-109292 As torture is against the law, and this is what Alyssa was witnessing on a continual scale, then obviously, if she said anything, she would be potentially endangering herself. This is obvious, and interesting that she was told to go look at a film on suicide. This is just too glib. Besides, most women would not kill themselves in the manner in which she did. I hardly think this is a suicide. As torture is against the law, and this is what Alyssa was witnessing on a continual scale, then obviously, if she said anything, she would be potentially endangering herself. This is obvious, and interesting that she was told to go look at a film on suicide. This is just too glib. Besides, most women would not kill themselves in the manner in which she did. I hardly think this is a suicide.

]]> By: Ken Larson http://hungryblues.net/2006/11/18/alyssa-petersons-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-7413 Ken Larson Sat, 18 Nov 2006 16:20:49 +0000 http://hungryblues.net/2006/11/18/alyssa-petersons-suicide/#comment-7413 You make many good points in your article. I would like to supplement them with some information, since I have suffered from PTSD and Depression as a result of war and have recently chronicled my experiences in a book. I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak. If you are interested in a view of the inside of the Pentagon procurement process from Vietnam to Iraq please check the posting at my blog entitled, “Odyssey of Armements” The Pentagon is a giant, incredibly complex establishment,budgeted in excess of $500B per year. The Rumsfelds, the Adminisitrations and the Congressmen come and go but the real machinery of policy and procurement keeps grinding away, presenting the politicos who arrive with detail and alternatives slanted to perpetuate itself. How can any newcomer, be he a President, a Congressman or even the Sec. Def. to be - Mr. Gates- understand such complexity, particulary if heretofore he has not had the clearance to get the full details? Answer- he can’t. Therefor he accepts the alternatives provided by the career establishment that never goes away and he hopes he makes the right choices. Or he is influenced by a lobbyist or two representing companies in his district or special interest groups. From a practical standpoint, policy and war decisions are made far below the levels of the talking heads who take the heat or the credit for the results. This situation is unfortunate but it is ablsolute fact. Take it from one who has been to war and worked in the establishment. This giant policy making and war machine will eventually come apart and have to be put back together to operate smaller, leaner and on less fuel. But that won’t happen unitil it hits a brick wall at high speed. We will then have to run a Volkswagon instead of a Caddy and get along somehow. We better start practicing now and get off our high horse. Our golden aura in the world is beginning to dull from arrogance. You make many good points in your article. I would like to supplement them with some information, since I have suffered from PTSD and Depression as a result of war and have recently chronicled my experiences in a book.

I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.

If you are interested in a view of the inside of the Pentagon procurement process from Vietnam to Iraq please check the posting at my blog entitled, “Odyssey of Armements”

The Pentagon is a giant, incredibly complex establishment,budgeted in excess of $500B per year. The Rumsfelds, the Adminisitrations and the Congressmen come and go but the real machinery of policy and procurement keeps grinding away, presenting the politicos who arrive with detail and alternatives slanted to perpetuate itself.

How can any newcomer, be he a President, a Congressman or even the Sec. Def. to be – Mr. Gates- understand such complexity, particulary if heretofore he has not had the clearance to get the full details?

Answer- he can’t. Therefor he accepts the alternatives provided by the career establishment that never goes away and he hopes he makes the right choices. Or he is influenced by a lobbyist or two representing companies in his district or special interest groups.

From a practical standpoint, policy and war decisions are made far below the levels of the talking heads who take the heat or the credit for the results.

This situation is unfortunate but it is ablsolute fact. Take it from one who has been to war and worked in the establishment.

This giant policy making and war machine will eventually come apart and have to be put back together to operate smaller, leaner and on less fuel. But that won’t happen unitil it hits a brick wall at high speed.

We will then have to run a Volkswagon instead of a Caddy and get along somehow. We better start practicing now and get off our high horse. Our golden aura in the world is beginning to dull from arrogance.

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