DEPARTMENTS
ANTI-WAR
DEATH PENALTY
ELECTIONS
ENVIRONMENT
GLBT ISSUES
HEMP
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
REVIEWS
|
Departments War Veterans for Peace President Mike Ferner responds to President Obama's rebranded occupation of Iraq First, there is no such thing as “non combat troops.” It is a contradiction in terms. It is internally inconsistent. It is illogical. It is simply not true. Ask any of the millions of men and women who went through basic training and they can tell you that every U.S. troop anywhere in the world was indoctrinated and trained in the basics of combat. While in Iraq, the transition from mechanics or communications back to combat-ready soldier takes but an order. “Non-combat troops” is simply the latest in a long line of military euphemisms meant to obscure painful reality. The second point can best be made by drafting a section of the President’s remarks for him. If Veterans For Peace were to do that it would read something like this. ------- “And now, fellow Americans, let us begin a new era of candor and honesty about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Specifically, I’m referring to the true costs of war – something that must be considered if we are to judge if continued war is worth it. You have seen that the cost to taxpayers of these wars has exceeded one trillion dollars, nearly all of which has been considered ‘off budget,’ appropriated by extraordinary or ‘supplemental’ spending bills. It may be hard to believe, but large though that figure may be, it is only the smaller portion of what we will spend in total. We are already investing unprecedented amounts in Veterans Administration staff and facilities to try and cope with the millions of men and women who have cycled through a war zone deployment – and of course many have been through multiple deployments. Our experience thus far tells us to expect literally hundreds of thousands of cases of PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries – injuries that are often difficult to diagnose at first and difficult to treat. These are, of course, in addition to the many thousands of visibly wounded who, at great expense, must go through rehabilitation and a lifetime of support in order to function to their fullest. Thousands more will require years, perhaps decades, of long-term care because their injuries have left them so broken they require round-the-clock attention. But since we are initiating an era of candor, we go farther – and by that I mean the cost to families, communities and society as a whole. Volumes have literally been written on this point, but let me leave you with a brief example you can easily expand for yourself. We have already heard of the abnormally high rate of suicides among returning veterans. The real number is undoubtedly higher since some will always remain a mystery. We’ve heard also of a growing tide of domestic violence that leaves families broken and terrorized. Beyond the draining medical, psychological and emotional costs to the individuals directly involved, imagine the cost to the communities where this occurs: whole battalions of police, fire, EMT, courts, probation officers, social workers and sadly, prison guards will be needed to deal with the true costs of war. It is uncomfortable to admit, but this is indeed one area of the economy I can guarantee will grow significantly. Then there is an exponentially greater cost borne by the people of Iraq and Afghanistan – greater in every way: emotionally, economically, in human suffering, in destroyed opportunities, in shattered lives and minds, in hearts that will remain forever broken. We can do precious little to repair much of that kind of damage. But I can tell you this, my fellow Americans, we must at least pay the bill to rebuild the roads, water and sewer plants, hospitals, schools and residences we have destroyed. It is not pleasant to describe such things and indeed, these costs will continue to weigh heavily on our nation well into our grandchildren’s generation. But we cannot pretend otherwise.” This is the message that should come from the White House tonight if truth were indeed the coin of the realm. We won’t hear it, but that will make it no less true. #### Ferner is also author of Inside the Red Zone: A Veteran For Peace Reports from Iraq,”(Praeger/Greenwood, 2006) |
|
Believe in violence and be saved Be the peace you want to see on Earth Whitewashing defeat: Obama's indecisiveness defines his presidency Pearl Harbor: A successful war lie A hollow bomber jacket WikiLeaks: Demystifying “Diplomacy” "Die for a Tie" -- How the Korean War began U.S. wars are bankrupting the world Peddling war to children Open letter to Congress on Veteran's Day 2010 One place to cut spending: Kidnapping and torture Deaths revealed by Wikileaks are tip of an iceberg Creating a new courage Then they came for me Poll: Most Americans Don't Want War with Iran The criminality of nuclear deterrence today: International law as anchoring ground The Nazi virus Farewell to arms: Jenny, Iraq and the next war Drone warfare on trial Petrodollar warfare: Dollars, euros and the upcoming Iranian oil bourse The book the Pentagon burned U.S. Vietnam Veteran returns to his war Obama-Men: Innocents Abroad; Politicos at Home Inspector General criticism doesn't faze FBI raids on midwestern anti-war activists The war is lost: Another perspective on the Afghanistan war Holy war The indefensible drones: A ground zero reflection Implications of a pointless war A speech for endless war Let's fact check the AP's fact checking on Obama's speech Veterans for Peace President Mike Ferner responds to President Obama's rebranded occupation of Iraq Peace movement pushes for end to war on Iraq Blackwater vs. Pinkwater: The wife of Erik Prince picks a fight with CODEPINK Last of the combat troops leaving Iraq? – Only in your dreams Gen. Petraeus goes to media war The next war State of denial: After the big Leak, spinning for war The crematorium of empires The war drones on The peace movement's progress Unanimous conformity in the Senate Senator Carl Levin Fiddling With War While Detroit Burns Obama Misses the Afghan Exit Ramp From great man to great screwup: Behind the McChrystal uproar Obama and Insubordination: Is He Truman or Mr. Milquetoast? The wonders of the American way of war The one thing we can agree on is peace Stopping Orwell's nightmare Fear, war, greed, disaster, and journalism The learning curve of peace Karazai’s Washington visit: the war awaiting Kandahar McChrystal: Beheadings of our allies simply to be expected Obama scraps Iraq withdrawal Dear Fiscal Conservative War Supporter Ending wars: The Flexible waiverable timetable approach I won't vote for you if you vote to escalate war You say you want a revolution... Globalization and the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq The world still can't wait, says activist against US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq Reflections on an anniversary Antiwar activity sees surge for 7th anniversary of Iraq War invasion Rachel Corrie: Justice delayed is justice denied War in a box Cost of war is budgetary "Elephant in the Room" War politics: numb and number Blocking war funding just got easier Don't call it a Read War Articles by Year: |
FREE PRESS EMAIL UPDATE
FOLLOW US ON
twitter
facebook
SEARCH THE FREEPRESS
1021 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43205 | 614.253.2571 | truth@freepress.org
All content © 1970-2012 The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer