Huffington Magazine Issue 3-4 | Page 7

HUFFINGTON 07.01-08.12 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR “The War Within” comes at a crucial time: with major combat operations in Iraq ended and scaling back in Afghanistan — not to mention the approaching spectacle of a presidential election — the ongoing struggles of America’s soldiers are something less than a national priority. Today’s wounded veterans re-enter a civilian society that is, as David puts it, “largely disconnected itself from military service and now, according to polls, tired of war.” That is why we are lucky to have David on the story. In this issue, he once again puts the spotlight on veterans, including Natasha Young, who found purpose and stability in the Marines after a troubled childhood, and served two tours in Iraq. There, she witnessed horrors that led to thoughts of suicide: roadside bomb blasts that killed and maimed her fellow Marines, and later, a job that required her to gather the belongings of fallen soldiers. And she is hardly alone. About 14 percent of post-9/11 veterans suffer from PTSD, serving out what one combat medic calls a “lifetime sentence.” More than anything else, the power of David’s writing lies in his ability to empathize as he delves into an important, if little-discussed, part of our country’s histo- 14% of post-9/11 veterans suffer from PTSD, serving out what one combat medic calls a “lifetime sentence.” ry. (His background as a Quaker and a conscientious objector is a quiet undercurrent in his work.) The British historian Simon Schama, also glancing back to the ancients, has noted that “the Greek word historia meant, and was used from the very beginning by Herodotus as, ‘inquiry.’” “The War Within” is the latest installment of David’s own inquiry into the costs of America’s wars, told in the voices of those who will continue to fight them for decades to come. I am so grateful that Huffington is showcasing his work, especially as we celebrate, and reflect on, the Fourth of July. ARIANNA