Politics and our Military

Many express their deep concern lately about our Army, Navy, & Marine troops being insufficient in numbers ~ and sometimes poorly supplied. An increasing related concern is the potential need for our military to be more active within the United States for emergency situations now being managed (?) by the several States, such as fires, natural disasters, and even border control.

For some reason, the concern stops there ... the thinking being that we have our hands full already trying to enlist individuals and maintaining our several wars around the world. The concern should not stop there ~~~~~ for some political reason, we maintain many, many highly trained military personnel around the world doing --- doing something for our nation that is not made clear by our leaders. Germany, Japan, and dozens of other countries have had the many benefits of greater or lesser numbers of United States service persons for many years. It would seem logical to draw heavily on these troops for service in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world where they are needed. Token numbers of troops could remain in present assignments.

After all, it is not likely that Germany, Japan, or a dozen other countries will attack us by land or sea and our "control" of our interests in these foreign countries will not be diminished given instant communications and attack capabilities we still possess.

A step of this kind may fill the gap ~ and postpone a military draft system that appears likely in the future.

"Lies My Teacher Told Me"

It's a paperback that is worth the reading ~ for anyone who has ever fallen asleep in history class. . . a detailed, carefully accurate examination by James W. Loewen. A New Press Issue dated 2005, updating earlier in depth studies.

Beginning with pre-Columbian American history and ranging over characters and events as diverse as Reconstruction, Helen Keller, the first Thanksgiving, and the My Lai massacre, the author supplies the conflict, suspense, unresolved drama, and connectioin with current-day issues missing from textbook accounts. (The promo above is accurate!)

As you begin reading, remember Johannes Rau's statement that
"Patriotism can flourish only where racism and nationalism are given no quarter. We should
never mistake patriotism for nationalism. A patriot is one who loves his homeland. A
nationalist is one who scorns the homelands of others ...."

Terror?

Is it really a war against Terror? That word is used to create fear ~ it is instead a result of someone or some groups doing something horrible, violent, or otherwise destructive. Should we not focus instead on specific individuals or groups that do these things and stop the fear game?

We've been told many times that terrorists are motivated by "evil". I read recently that this is not true because they are instead motivated - in the same way as the Christian murderers of abortion doctors ~ by what they believe righteous. They are faithfully pursuing what their religion tells them. That line of thought creates a new way to view the whole question. They are not psychotic, they are idealists who believe they are rational. It is not simply a warped personality, nor is it a possession by Satan. Instead they ~ and we ~ have been brought up from the cradle to have total and unquestioning faith. As Dawkins suggests, we/they believe their acts are good. These are extreme situations, of course. Or are they?

It is worth thinking about.

Military Policy: Volunteers, Mercenaries, etc.

I've tried to understand our current military policy in terms of management of volunteers, use of mercenaries ~ that is the true name and intent of that group ~ and the stated shortage of troops. It seems that with respect to volunteers, we are encouraging persons to enlist who would never be admitted in the past: former criminals, those with physical problems, those with mental problems and others. If those folks don't meet criteria set in the past, we are obviously seeking what we used to call cannon fodder. Even the extremely high bonus and cash awards do not seem to improve the quality of enlistees. We certainly can't blame persons failing to seek employment elsewhere, enlisting as a desperate attempt to survive in our present national situation.

Then there are the mercenaries, all highly paid, many quick to violence, most former military persons drawn by incomes not achieveable in the private sector. This group is basically operating independently of military or civilian control ~ contracted out much as our government has allowed our other corporations to manage their affairs and tax money apart from any regulatory control by government. It seems our government has been in the process for some time now to shift governmental functions to the private sector on the assumption that the jobs can be better achieved there. Think about it: has deregulation really helped our citizens? Or are we trusting our corporate structures too much, assuming they have no greed and are honest?

I believe we should think hard on all of this as we approach another national election. Many are beginning to believe that we need a draft. Yes, a draft that will mean even corporate executives, elected officials (etc) may find a son or daughter on the front lines. We do not need mercenaries with a solid standing military. We might find that our leaders may initiate fewer wars if their own people may be in uniform. Besides, if necessary to have more troops, they are findable.

At least it is worth while to think of these things instead of accepting direction from folks that obviously have little interest in change since as we are the rich get richer ....

Politics and Religion

With all of the pandering by both political parties to the 'religious right', I thought it would be appropriate to post the following quotation from the Congressional Record ~ a quote from Senator Barry Goldwater in 1981. It is like a breath of fresh air!

"There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A,B,C, and D. Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of conservatism" ...Congressional Record, 16 Sept. 1981)



Think about it ... few folks fight anymore about what they truly believe ...

Gestapo tactics

Here's something from the NY Times I thought interesting; " Our humanity has been compromised by those who use Gestapo tactics in our war. The longer we stand idly by while they do so, the more we resemble those 'good Germans' who professed ignorance of their own Gestapo. It's up to us to wake up our somnambulant Congress to challenge administratiion policy every day. Let the war's last supporters filibuster all night if they want to. There is nothing left to lose except whatever remains of our country's good name" ...

A Henry Kolm, an M.I.T. physicist whose interrogation of Rudolf Hess, Hitler's deputy, took place over a chessboard ... he said that "we got more information out of a German general with a game of chess or Ping Pong than they do today with their torture ..." Other examples were given from a elite group of two dozen World War II veterans who participated in a top secret operations to interrogate some 4,000 Nazi prisoners of war.

As a veteran of the Korean War, I incline to agree with these judgements & would appreciate comments from others.

The Cynic

Consider FDR's comment " a pox on both your houses " while involved in a serious management-labor fight. Relate that now to our Congress in Washington and our President in the White House. It fits. It is becoming very hard to avoid the thought that our Congress is made up of wimps more interested in re-election than public interest and our President who is rapidly destroying our country's economy, causing untold deaths in the Middle East and elsewhere, all for the sake of personal ego and oil, of course. Our careful avoidance of conservation of resourses as a nation only adds to the coming crisis. To think otherwise is being blind to reality. Our arrogance is known throughout the world and has turned most countries against us. Many wait for our fall.

How did this come about? It is an old methodology, one used very effectively by a gentleman named Paul Joseph Goebbels. Repeat lies again and again and again & a good percentage of our citizens will believe them.

I doubt that much will change and it is possible that we'll become a second or third-class nation, bankrupt and hated. It is not a future I wish for our children & grandchildren but as a very old member of the Ojibwa stated " ... I am sorry for you. You whites have only a short time on top of the world. Your greed is destroying you. Your arrogance will guarantee it ..."