About Our Wars

We have two wars in progress now. In my life I have seen views about war change. Mind you I do not say evolve, just change.

I was kindergarten age when the Korean War began. I remember when my mother's cousin came to visit us. I don't remember what he looked like, I was only as tall as his knees. I remember he had a uniform on, though. His pants were tucked into his jump boots, and bloused. I can remember sensing an air of respect, too.

When I graduated high school the Viet Nam war and the draft were in full swing. I remember this time very well, because it had a lasting impact on my life. If you get drafted you will go to the jungle. If you go to the jungle, you will be at extreme risk.

Some of our young people went to Canada to escape the draft, and the jungle. I never judged them, not then, and not now. They made a difficult decision and lived by it. This was their right. The thing is, this is not the kind of military we need. We need a military that does not feel entitled to make up its own mind about its orders before following them. In short, we need the kind of military we have today. Still, some still don't get it.

Recently I read a news article about threats on the President's life. Many are received, all are examined, most are discarded, but a few are taken seriously. One such 'person of interest' was a young Marine. He felt authorized to kill the president because he had taken an oath to defend the country “against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” When I read this I thought, if I could have a talk with this kid, I could really straighten him out. Once, I took the same oath. Nowhere in the oath does it say, “in your opinion.” The kid just didn't get it.

Because of the moderation of our news sources, and because of the absence of a draft, many Americans do not grasp the reality of today's wars. I hear it costs a million dollars to field one man for a year. I hear a gallon of gasoline costs four hundred dollars, delivered. I hear a lot of talk about 'deficit spending' from so-called 'fiscal conservatives.' Very sadly, I hear little talk about the lives of our young men and women. We, as a nation, don't get it.

The Pentagon has spent billions on the development of a 'pain ray.' A pain ray? When I send our troops into combat, I don't want them to make the enemy say 'ouch' and run away. A bullet costs 25 cents. Can we wonder why our defense budget is six time higher than any other country on Earth, but in eight years, we still can't catch bin Laden? Obviously, our politicians don't get it.

This, these wars, are about human life. It has always been so. Nothing has changed. If you don't 'get it,' please try harder.