When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Thursday, February 27, 2003
Hm, I guess he's talking about WWI.
The US military has stayed put in Germany and Japan over half a century and has well-established communities there. We still have bases in Korea dating from the Korean conflict in the early 1950s. We still have forces in Panama. We still have military forces in Kuwait. We still have forces in Kosovo. We have four air bases in Afghanistan. We have, in fact over 400 air bases around the world (Including a goodly number here at home).
It's interesting to think about the massive employment of US citizens by the Department of Defense, either in the service or among the civilian support staff, which is legion. This is probably the biggest employment program anywhere in the world.
All the kinds of government services the GOP finds objectionable are in fact provided to people in the military and their families. Complete health care, housing, food, schools, tax-free goods (at the local PX). The pay a soldier receives is just about pure profit.
I don't object to them receiving this sort of benefit; such benefits ought to be available to any citizen who need them. If we were to cut our miltary in half, just think of the funds that would be available for programs that benefitted ALL citizens instead of just those doing the US dirty work around the globe.
These military people may in fact be doing a good job of keeping order here and there... Yet why whould we Americans foot the bioll for this so disproportionately? We have many people here who don't have good health care, housing, or food and yet we fund this massive military presence.
It's not right.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Go Army
We will remain in Iraq as long as necessary and not a day more. America has made and kept this kind of commitment before in the peace that followed a world war. After defeating enemies, we did not leave behind occupying armies, we left constitutions and parliament... --Pres. Bush, trying to sell his Iraq war: Transcript in the NY Times 2-27-03
Hm, I guess he's talking about WWI.
The US military has stayed put in Germany and Japan over half a century and has well-established communities there. We still have bases in Korea dating from the Korean conflict in the early 1950s. We still have forces in Panama. We still have military forces in Kuwait. We still have forces in Kosovo. We have four air bases in Afghanistan. We have, in fact over 400 air bases around the world (Including a goodly number here at home).
It's interesting to think about the massive employment of US citizens by the Department of Defense, either in the service or among the civilian support staff, which is legion. This is probably the biggest employment program anywhere in the world.
All the kinds of government services the GOP finds objectionable are in fact provided to people in the military and their families. Complete health care, housing, food, schools, tax-free goods (at the local PX). The pay a soldier receives is just about pure profit.
I don't object to them receiving this sort of benefit; such benefits ought to be available to any citizen who need them. If we were to cut our miltary in half, just think of the funds that would be available for programs that benefitted ALL citizens instead of just those doing the US dirty work around the globe.
These military people may in fact be doing a good job of keeping order here and there... Yet why whould we Americans foot the bioll for this so disproportionately? We have many people here who don't have good health care, housing, or food and yet we fund this massive military presence.
It's not right.
Palema
4:58 AM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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