Never been addicted to anything actually. BTW I started smoking AFTER the Navy and smoked about 5 years. Drinking? Yea I did it. As a 16 year old I made my own wine too which was stronger than 3.2 beer. Never any hard core drugs though.
Like I said Rummy's military has issues he refuses to address. Rummy's first tenure as Sec of Defense was no different and I know because I was in service then. The chemical abuse and alcohol usage rates were likely much higher back then. I know the desertion and AWOL rates were.
The stress mentioned in that article is because of the PP Planning on the parts of these following men. GHW Bush SR, Sec of Def Cheney, Bill Clinton, Les Aspin, GW Bush and Rummy as well as the sitting CONGRESS during all these terms. It is the duty of congress to make provision for the military and to set the strength numbers. If I was headed for my third tour to Iraq I might drink also. This is typical spin the problem politics coming from the administration.
Or let's put it another way. I can go into a discussion board that has former shipmates. Everything gets talked about. Ports, favorite beer or mixed drink etc. The youngest in there now would be in their 30. the oldest some maybe in the early 80's. They survived. Even Plankowners from the mid 1960's have port parting stories as do the ones under Reagan and even Clinton up till decomm in 1996. Yea they post come to town and I'll but you a cold one.
But the fact you lump even smoking a blasted cigarette in with this doesn't do your argument any good. I stopped smoking them 20 years ago with no problem doing so but I like a cigar once in a blue moon just because. I can buy a pint of Jack Daniels and will have one drink straight and then forget it till next year. That report was just propaganda to explain away the woes and management abuses at the Pentagon and Department of Defense. They ain't seen nothing till they start seeing the SF's show stress from their over deployments. Who will they blame then? TV?
Drinking and smoking will be eliminated in all branches of the service, it's a threat to readiness.
The Pentagon and it's staff will still be around long after Rummy is gone from office.
So where's that reponse from the DoD?