NEWS > HEALTH > REPORT FINDS SMOKING LEADING CAUSE OF US MILITARY DEATHS

REPORT FINDS SMOKING LEADING CAUSE OF US MILITARY DEATHS

July 11 2009

Washington, D.C. – For decades the politics surrounding smoking have been volatile. As the dangers have become more and more apparent not only to science but also to businesses and governments the restrictions have become more all encompassing and
controversial. With smoking banned in virtually every public environment in the United States and taxes on purchases escalating exponentially, the war on smoking seems to have turned a corner with the opposition firmly in control of the situation.

Now the Pentagon is looking to enforce non-smoking legislation that the private sector has pioneered amongst the various branches of the armed forces. Health experts within the Pentagon are reportedly pressuring Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stamp out the use of cigarettes and other tobacco based products both on military property and in the field. The
recommendation comes as a result of extensive study showing that the leading cause of death amongst soldiers, much like it was in the private sector, was related the cigarette use. With one of the most storied institutions in the United States likely launching an assault on smoking it seems that war has turned for good, saving the lives of soldiers all across the world.

“Smoking has long been associated with the image of a tough, fearless warrior. These troops are essentially putting their lives at risk twice: once in service to their country and once in service to tobacco,” said Stuart Bondurant, chair of the report committee. “We acknowledge that tobacco use impairs the readiness of military personnel and results in enormous health and financial costs. Tobacco is a long term engagement - it kills slowly and insidiously.”

Pentagon officials believe that putting a stop to smoking is ‘achievable through the development of a comprehensive plan.’

“The long held belief has been that the principle cause of death for soldiers, especially those in conflict zones, is bullets and explosions. That of course has not been the case for a very long time. Military technology has improved so dramatically that deaths from combat are almost non-existent when you look at the scale from a relative standpoint. Smoking related illness has become the number one killer for military personnel in recent years, something this report highlights very clearly,” said a
Pentagon insider. “You have to remember that the majority of soldiers are not in conflict zones so their deaths are generally unrelated to gunfire. Yes there is the occasional accident or on-base shooting but the numbers associated with that are so low that they have little to no effect on the overall percentage. Soldiers go through a lot of physical exertion in harsh conditions and that opens them up to conditions like emphysema and even cancer.”

It has long been believed that conditions such as ‘Gulf War Syndrome’ and other similar conditions have been directly and indirectly caused by tobacco use. Pentagon officials have long denied that the use of chemicals and bio-toxins directly caused such ailments and now believe that tobacco products amplified the effects of the chemicals.

“People have a lot of misconceptions over how damaging something like a bullet or an
IED can be. Yes they tear tissue and bone but those things can be repaired through the marvels of modern science, something which as yet has not been able to overcome cancer and other diseases that result from smoking,” said Scrape TV Health analyst Rebecca Phelps. “The real danger of smoking is its insidious nature. It seems cool and it feels good so you just keep doing it without thinking of the consequences. Soldiers are very much aware of enemy fire and do whatever they can to avoid the danger that presents but they simply cannot do the same with cigarettes. I’m sure this will go a long way towards reducing the number of deaths across all branches of the armed forces.”

Reportedly insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan are stockpiling significant quantities of American cigarettes in anticipation of massive withdrawal symptoms.

Lauren Hebert, Health Correspondent

NEWS > HEALTH > REPORT FINDS SMOKING LEADING CAUSE OF US MILITARY DEATHS