TAKING THE PENTAGON TO TASK. The Pentagon today admittedtoday it's understaffed on doctors to treat mental illness. The House Veterans Affairs Committee has already begun the process of gathering expert evidence to support more funds designated for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses. The Pentagon's task force estimated as many as 40 percent of returning soldiers may suffer from some form of mental illness, and National Guard members are reporting higher levels of stress than other branches. The task force gave Defense Secretary Robert Gates a deadline six months from now to have a plan of action for dealing with soldiers with mental illness. Experts attribute this to the varying degrees of training among the armed forces. --Kay Steiger
