Brain injuries in Iraq attack cast spotlight on invisible war wounds, despite being dismissed by Trump as mere 'headaches'

WASHINGTON – The spotlight on brain injuries suffered by American troops in Iraq in January is an example of America's episodic attention to this invisible war wound, which has affected hundreds of thousands over the past two decades but is not yet fully understood. Unlike physical wounds, such as burns or the loss of limbs, traumatic brain injuries aren't obvious and can take time to diagnose. The full impact -- physically and psychologically -- may not be evident for some time, as studies have shown links between TBI and mental health problems. They cannot be dismissed as mere "headaches" -- the word used by President Donald Trump as he said the injuries suffered by the troops in Iraq were not necessarily serious. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a veteran of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, told reporters Thursday that the number of service members diagnosed with TBI from the Jan. 8 Iranian missile attack in Iraq has now grown beyond the 50 reported earlier this week, although he provided no specific number.