Hiding the suffering of the troops

Regarding the MHAT-IV report which showed so many mental issues suffered by the US troops in Iraq, it now comes out that the Army has been sitting on these explosive results since November.

The report was provided in November to Gen. George W. Casey Jr., then the senior American commander in Iraq.

Pentagon officials have not explained why the public release of the report was delayed, a move that kept the data out of the public debate as the Bush administration developed its plan to build up troops in Iraq and extend combat tours. Rear Adm. Richard R. Jeffries, a medical officer, told reporters on Friday that the timing was decided by civilian Pentagon officials.

Don't you think the argument over "the surge" would have been significantly different had the American people been made aware of the official Army assessment saying longer deployments/multiple deployments are causing a significant increase in PTSD and other mental issues?

How about the increase of deployment length to 15 months?

Let's remember that this six month delay has taken place almost exclusively under the "responsible" Sec Def Gates.

At what point does the Department of Defense separate its political and warmaking roles?