If you wonder why some soldiers suffer post-traumatic stress, this first-hand testimony from a soldier who served in Iraq, and found himself unrecognizable after a while, may help. It seems to me that Petraeus' efforts have been admirable and the results beyond anything I imagined - or most predicted (including many Petraeus fans). At the same time, we need to look war in the face. It is an ugly, ugly thing.
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2008/05/the-reality-of-war/216069/
