Astronauts and the troops in Iraq

Tonight as I was on the computer listening to CNN on the background, apparently as a prelude to the holiday season it must have been a very slow news week, nothing of real interest but repeated reruns headlines about Iraq are all going down to hell. One of the news that has been floating around the tube lately is probably about the recent massacre in Iraq, which involved several troops attempt to cover up on the civilian killings and rapes . Many Iraqi civilians were outrage by the fact that the American solders was killing pretty much a few family of women and children. Also they managed to plant a few AK-47 on the men killed to make them appear to be an opposing insurgents. Anyway I shall spare you all the details, if you really want to incite a debate feel free to check the news online or something and make sure carry a loud argument in a bar for extra effect of flying beer bottles later on.

However as the news was unfolding I was perplexed my the fact that many high ranking military personnel and the news reporters were pretend to be dismay by the fact the American troops would committed such a horrific act for no apparently reason. Well you dumb ass look at the condition those troops been in for the past three plus years you'll understand why would they pick up arms and start being very trigger happy. So I went on a small mission and done some research to make sense of all this cloud of doubts, I ran into an old article of Wired Magazines talking about the 2004 NASAs publication of Bioastronautics Critical Path Road Map, in English is basically about identifying behavioral problem astronaut will have on a long trip mission and believe it or not is frighteningly similar to the situation in Iraqi right now. Here a few big ones that can lead to insanity.

Sleep Deprivation

Astronauts: A Spaceships noise and bright light can play havoc with sleep, and the absence of regular interval daylight and darkness.

Troops: Noises and lights of on oncoming RPGs and bullets plus an interval encounter of IED can definitely keep troops up for long extended period

Results: Acute or chronic degradation of sleep quality can bring on dangerous behavior.

Cat Fights

Astronauts: Its not uncommon for crew members to hate each others guts. The lack of social novelty can magnify tensions among the crews

Troops: When the troops have been rob of social novelty and a civil society these can exponentially magnify to aggressive behaviors

Results: Any insignificant quirks like the way a person chews or flying RPGs can cause an impulse response.

Bad News

Astronauts: A grief-stricken crew member could imperil everyone on board. Ex, Cosmonaut in Russia can not receive the death of family news from the ground control until the return.

Troops: Bad news of lost comrades is norm as the stock tickers on DOW JONES index

Results: serious strain to the cohesion unit which can compromise the mission.

Psychotic Breaks

Astronauts: Loneliness, injury, and failure to complete a mission which can cause depression

Troops: Loneliness from family and constant enduring injury can definitely invite a homicidal behavior.

Results: For astronaut, they have a protocol to restrain and sedate the individual for the rest of the mission, as for the troops I wish they can get some sedatives during their mission.

Sex:

Astronauts: None

Troops: None

Results: you all know the effect of prolong amorous frustration.