Army suicides highest since early-80s

Based on the number of tours that some brigades have been on, this number is not surprisingly.  Nonetheless, it is unacceptable:

Army soldiers committed suicide last year at the highest rate in 26years, and more than a quarter did so while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan , according to a new military report.

The report, obtained by The Associated Press ahead of its scheduledrelease Thursday, found there were 99 confirmed suicides among activeduty soldiers during 2006, up from 88 the previous year and the highestnumber since the 102 suicides in 1991 at the time of the Persian Gulf War .

The suicide rate for the Army has fluctuated over the past 26 years,from last year's high of 17.3 per 100,000 to a low of 9.1 per 100,000in 2001.

Last year, "Iraq was the most common deployment location for both (suicides) and attempts," the report said.

The 99 suicides included 28 soldiers deployed to the two wars and 71who weren't. About twice as many women serving in Iraq and Afghanistancommitted suicide as did women not sent to war, the report said.

I'd say we've had about enough of this war.