"War is hell " ( Sherman), and the young men and women who bear the brunt of it....killed, maimed and scarred sacrificing, in order that a better world would emerge. That has not been the case and we go back to war under many guises and they are called upon to sacrifice again. There are wars that are waged for profit, be it resources/greed ( in Africa right now...the gold , diamond, oil etc) or land ( Palestine)or for some real or imagined wrong or slight ( the jihadis in Pakistan/ Afghanistan/ Yemen/ Somalia), or in order to gain " a better life" ( Columbia) or for revenge ( Bush's invasion of Afgahanistan and Iraq after 9/11). There are always "justifications", but too often they are merely excuses to cover up the real intention.
No one wins in a war. There may be temporary gains, but in the long run, everyone loses. Sun Tzu, noted that " to win without fighting is best" ( The Ar of War)...use negotiations/ diplomacy, economic means etc. but there is little support for this...Obama is trying with Iran, North Korea, but the "hawks" and their corporate buddies are out for blood. Money/ profits have to be made and the manufacturers of weapons are concerned for their "bottom line". Obama's deliberations ( like Carter's emphasis on human rights) are anathema to them. Rush to arms is their mantra and to hell with the consequences....death and destruction to fuel other wars and more profits for these "merchants of death". The world is fortunate that there is an American president who is not "gun happy". It would be easy for Obama to send more troops, to "nuke' Iran and North Korea and put missile shields in Eastern Europe, start a new cold war with Russia and China , and continue the useless Cuban policy, but his sober approach is what we need at this time and on this day, when we are honoring the millions, both military and civilians, who have been lost to the hopelessness of war.
It is not easy being a peacemaker, especially when you are faced with what Eisenhower called "the congressional, military- industrial complex". LEST WE FORGET, has become a shallow refrain, which we trot out every November 11, and then forget.
No one wins in a war. There may be temporary gains, but in the long run, everyone loses. Sun Tzu, noted that " to win without fighting is best" ( The Ar of War)...use negotiations/ diplomacy, economic means etc. but there is little support for this...Obama is trying with Iran, North Korea, but the "hawks" and their corporate buddies are out for blood. Money/ profits have to be made and the manufacturers of weapons are concerned for their "bottom line". Obama's deliberations ( like Carter's emphasis on human rights) are anathema to them. Rush to arms is their mantra and to hell with the consequences....death and destruction to fuel other wars and more profits for these "merchants of death". The world is fortunate that there is an American president who is not "gun happy". It would be easy for Obama to send more troops, to "nuke' Iran and North Korea and put missile shields in Eastern Europe, start a new cold war with Russia and China , and continue the useless Cuban policy, but his sober approach is what we need at this time and on this day, when we are honoring the millions, both military and civilians, who have been lost to the hopelessness of war.
It is not easy being a peacemaker, especially when you are faced with what Eisenhower called "the congressional, military- industrial complex". LEST WE FORGET, has become a shallow refrain, which we trot out every November 11, and then forget.
