Troops in Iraq Fight Fear — and Boredom

Life for U.S. troops in Iraq can be boring and commanders can sometimes seem petty.

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A U.S. military survey says morale among American troops in Afghanistan has dropped sharply because of increased fighting and multiple deployments.

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In a remote part of Helmand troops are dismayed by the ambivalence of locals and a sense that the Taliban can outlast them

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The 10th Mountain Division has been to Afghanistan four times since 2001 and twice to Iraq. It is common to meet senior NCOs and captains with three combat tours behind them, an experience unmatched by any generation of US soldiers since Vietnam.

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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.

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One of Polk County's largest employers says it has found a way to improve health care while saving money at the same time.

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Morale at the CIA is approaching 30-year lows, six insiders tell The Daily Beast's Gerald Posner, as spies perceive that Barack Obama and Director Leon Panetta are hanging them out to dry.

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Staff at a design and marketing company in Newcastle spent a day working together naked after being told it would improve their morale.

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In disparaging the CIA and accusing the agency of lying last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has become a "wrecking ball" to the morale of officers risking their lives in the field, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee said Tuesday.

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How Much Money Is Poor Morale Costing Your Company?

As a business owner I've had staff come and go over the years. Some have done extremely well and others not so well. During the time I was directly involved in running my business I found some weaknesses in myself that tremendously affected things that were going on.

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Music to Beat a Recession By, Courtesy of the Great Depression

While the Great Depression was hardly a feel-good decade, it did leave us a legacy of surprisingly upbeat songs.

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When It Comes to Fighting Recession, Ask "What Would Elvis Do (WWED)?"

This is the week of what would have been Elvis' 74th birthday if he were still around -- and according to some eyewitnesses, he may still prowl the places he loved best.

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Legislation that would restrict the sale of certain men's magazines on U.S. military bases around the world would be bad for morale, according to soldiers at Grafenwöhr.

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An Iraq Tale Vol 7: (M.W.R. Center and what we can do for fun. )

I am not one to use the MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation) Center. Here in our neck of Camp Liberty it is big tent ran by KBR. And for the most part sponsors certain activities to keep our minds off the bad things.

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An enlisted woman whose tour was about to come to an end told me her story. She was being sent home because a man was caught in her living quarters. She insisted the man was legitimately in her room and contended there was no violation of General Order No. 1.

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General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, has warned that his soldiers are "devalued, angry, and suffering from Iraq fatigue", that the army is undermanned, and that operations in Iraq and Afghanistan risk "mortgaging the goodwill of our people", it emerged yesterday.

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Editor's Note: The author of this article is a contractor who has lived and worked in Baghdad. His identity is known to Truthdig's editors, but he has written anonymously in order to offer an uncensored account.

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In the dining hall of a U.S. Army post south of Baghdad, President Bush was on the wide-screen TV, giving a speech about the war in Iraq. The soldiers didn't look up from their chicken and mashed potatoes.

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The Pentagon sharply rejected Monday a key general's assertion that a return to the military draft has always been "an option on the table" and should be considered.

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The pivotal moment came, he says, this February when soldiers killed a man setting a roadside bomb. When they searched the bomber's body, they found identification showing him to be a sergeant in the Iraqi Army.

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BAGHDAD — Staff Sgt. David Safstrom does not regret his previous tours in Iraq, not even a difficult second stint when two comrades were killed while trying to capture insurgents.

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It had a Canadian look to it but the red and white uniform worn by the visitor to Canadian troops at forward operating base Mas'um Ghar was definitely not regulation...However, the government-issued flak jacket worn underneath certainly was.

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Managers are busy people. Every day brings new challenges and not enough hours to accomplish what they need to do. But no matter how busy they are, the best make time for their people.

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A vast majority of workers say poor leadership trumps salary and workload as the main culprit behind low morale at the office.

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My work PC blows my home computer away. That bums me out more than anything. :)

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Earlier this year there was a town hall meeting on the Iraq war, sponsored by Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), with the participation of such antiwar organizations as CodePink and MoveOn.org. The event also featured Rep.

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