The holidays are upon us and a new year is coming fast. There will be good news and bad news coming our way.

Our armed forces will be leaving Iraq and returning home to family and loved ones: Good news.

Now for the reality of what to expect: The physically wounded will be dealt with, but many will be returning home without a clear future. The job market is not there. If all those returning are promised work, how many pink slips will be handed out to make room for them?

Then there are what I call the “walking time bombs” — those with underlying emotional wounds. Many won’t be able to handle life without their daily military routine. Instead, they might try drowning their problems with drugs and booze.

I sincerely hope the government provides those people with good psychological treatments before they harm themselves or those around them.

Those returning soldiers fought for our freedom. Now we must provide them good services so they can enjoy the freedom needed to release themselves from their nightmares of war.

Let us all hope for the best for our returning military personnel.

Rolande Caron, South Paris