Saturday, December 5, 2009

WAR...what is it good for? Absolutely nothing....say it again.....WAR

On Tuesday the Nobel Peace Prize President announced that 30,000 more troops would be sent to Afghanistan.

I'm wondering if the Nobel voters are considering the retraction of their prestigious award.

I realize that the current environment within the United States is pro-military. Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration but if the environment is not pro-military then at the very least it is military acceptance on a level that hasn't been seen since WWII.

A few things are responsible for this acceptance.

First and foremost of course is September 11, 2001

Second is the remembrance of how soldiers were treated when they came home from Viet-Nam.

Americans that protested the Viet-Nam fiasco also made it extremely hard on young men who were either drafted or felt compelled to be involved in one of the low points of American history.

The negative treatment of those troops coming home, and the attitude toward them afterwards
was purely unacceptable to the infamous silent majority....which now constitutes a very large portion of our population.

Somehow the anti-war movement of the late 60's and early 70's has simply faded into the background and while there are pockets of peaceniks here and there.....it really seems to be a movement that has diminished to a mere whisper.

SHHHHH! Someone might wake the consciousness of multiple generations that appear to sleeping under the umbrella of ???????

Is it patriotism?
Is it my way or the highway?
Is is fear?

Whatever it is IT has spread to the Nobel Peace Prize President and now 30,000 more troops will be affected.

Afghanistan has proved to be a problem throughout recorded history, dating back to Alexander the Great.

If our agenda is to wipe out poppy growth then I would say....go for it!
But that hasn't been mentioned so it must not be part of the plan.

If our agenda is to wipe out militant Islamic extremists then I say....good freakin luck with that plan. Our agenda would have to extend a lot further than Afghanistan.

Our agenda would have to extend into the very heart of radical Islamic belief.

That is a deep penetration and one that wouldn't be solved in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is not a version of Viet-Nam because I don't think we had drones in South-East Asia....and those little f..kers represent an entirely different mode of
operation.

Hopefully the drones will eliminate foot soldiers traveling into places of no-return.

I'm surprised that the magic word DOMINO hasn't entered the arena.

In this case it would be Islamic extremists as opposed to Viet-Nam and Communism.

The idea that there is a time table is also a difference maker. Of course when a politician promises something, history has shown that they can change their mind and because he is now listening to leaders of the military complex then anything is possible.

Listening to the military is necessary when one is involved in a war. I don't remember war being declared against Afghanistan and I don't think we've declared war on Pakistan....yet.

Listening to the military when one is trying to convert a nation from Warlord supremacy and religious fanatics is probably not a good idea.

Warlords, on the other hand, should be brought into the fold and paid to hunt down the Taliban and Al-Qaida

I don't think Warlords like the Taliban so we should utilize them at all cost.

I realize the problem might be in determining who is who and who might be supporting who but from what I've read Warlords don't like anybody who lives outside of their prescribed territory.

I do know one thing from a personal point of view.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE CONCEPT OF SOLVING PROBLEMS WITH PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY I ROLL

I FELT THAT WAY IN 1968 AND I FEEL THAT WAY TODAY

WAR is the ultimate expression of physical violence and I simply ask
WAR.....WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

SAY IT AGAIN

WAR
WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

Of course everybody who was there or studies history claims that WWII was absolutely necessary.

The 72 million people who died might have a different opinion but they are forever quiet.

72 Million!

WAR......what is it good for? Other then generating billions of dollars for munitions manufacturers....I have no idea.

The current conflicts that we are involved in don't appear to be helping the unemployment problems.

Go ahead and tell me to grow up and quit being so idealistic.

I simply say that a world where differences are solved by discussion and compromise is a better world than one where differences are solved by war and aggression.

Of course we've yet to have a world
with that form of behavior
but wishing and hoping and dreaming of the way it could be
or should be
is just
me

Don't mess with my dreams!


Michael Timothy McAlevey









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