BARF-GHANISTAN

I read an article in the Austin American Statesman this Sunday on Monica Velez, a 30 y.o. from Lubbock who recently moved to Austin and planned to run at the Washington D. C. Marathon in honor of her two brothers, both who died in the Middle East http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/10/25/1025sister.html . One brother died in Iraq. The other committed suicide while serving in Afghanistan, distraught over his brother’s death. It’s a sad story that got me thinking about how inept Washington politicians are when it comes to U.S. ideology regarding foreign policy matters. Before I get started, let me get this out of the way: I served 10 years in the military and I served during Desert Storm. That doesn’t make me an expert on all military matters, but it doesn’t make me a communist either, because I’m about to say something that some military people will find offensive:

We need to quit being the World’s policemen.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the budget for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq this year is listed at $864 billion http://ftp.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33110.pdf , yes, that‘s billion with a “B” and for what, to continue the never ending “War on terrorism”? Somewhere around the turn of the 20 century, the U.S. government decided it needed to stick its Democratic nose in other people’s business which is fine, until Americans pay for it with their lives because that’s when I have a problem with it. The following are the only real good reasons to declare war or take military action:

1. Another country invades our country or territories (WWII,)
2. One country invades another country with no legitimate provocation (WWI, Kuwait 1991)
3. Anytime a communist country invades another country or sets up a puppet regime, which is akin to invading another country (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan 1980)
4. Anytime another country insults your mother (just kidding)

That’s it. There are no there are no other reasons to risk the lives of your sons, daughters, wives or husbands who are bravely serving in our military. I believe in a strong military that should be available and ready for legitimate needs, not for politicians who think they are ever going to find Osama Bin Liden. Forget about him. That guy has entered into the mythical category of legends like the Loch Ness Monster and Big Foot. I’m sure one day we’ll see a grainy You Tube video of him walking through the California Redwood Forest or something like that.

Think of the billions of dollars we could be using elsewhere. Socialist President Obama could use some of those dollars to prop up his bogus health care reform program. I’d even rather see some of that money allocated to help fund social service programs, rather than fund a military action that is never going to end. In the history of the Middle East, please show me a time where the U.S. has come in or successfully propped up a democratic government? Not Iran pre-1978. Not Afghanistan 2001. In the meantime, I’ll continue to pray for the Marines and soldiers over there and also that our Washington leaders find their common sense soon.