|
War time and the way it is?
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 04 June 2008
|
Dean Joachim
Guest Columnist
I feel compelled to write on the recent cancellation and renewal of the Vets for Freedom presentation at Forest Lake High School. It did not occur to the opposition to blame veteran heroes from the war zone for anything.
Rather, it was a fear instilled in some parents and grandparents that their sons and daughters might be convinced that their enlistment was the patriotic thing to do. The obvious fact is that those serving today need to be relieved and not required to return again and again to a war zone.
The recruitment level is down and unless the 80,000 troops in Germany, 35,000 in Japan, 36,000 in Korea and many others elsewhere are used in Iraq (very doubtful), there will not be any relief in sight for those already in the war zone, unless a draft becomes a reality.
I attended high school in southern Minnesota during World War II. By the time our class was due to graduate nearly every male member was 18 and required to be registered for the draft.
Fortunately the war ended before the draft would change our lives. Still, barely five years later, the Korean conflict arose and you had a choice: Your earlier registration was still valid, so you could enlist or wait to be drafted. I chose to enlist; no regrets.
Using World War II standards, many of those serving today would be considered unacceptable to serve. The military would not take men or women that were parents to several young children, or well beyond the 35-year draft age limit. The present policy is very unfair to young families.
This war is also different in that all but two of the 9/11 attackers along with their still missing leader originated in Saudi Arabia. But we chose to invade Iraq and Afghanistan. Bad road maps, perhaps?
Even neighboring Russia couldn’t hack it in Afghanistan and they live next door. We are opposed by people that follow no rules or reasonable limits of warfare.
Think: If we had invaded Saudi Arabia instead, we’d be striking back at the home of our Wahhabi attackers. We’d be in control of the world’s major oil supply and Saudi Arabia would be paying us for the damage they did instead of us owing them over $2 trillion for oil.
Gas prices would be a small percentage of what they are today. But the action of our “dumb and dumber” administration sealed our future.
The major question left is when will all our troops be coming home?
If we follow the winning war pattern of still occupying Germany, Japan and Korea, then maybe sometime in the next 100 years. Or to put it another way, if you’re old enough to read this, then you likely won’t live that long.
Germany and Japan are in their 63rd year of occupation.
Our troops need to be relieved, but by whom? What’s your guess?
The 34th Division from the Midwest, originally Iowa National Guard, had the longest U.S. combat record in World War II. Now again, the 34th (the Red Bull) is being picked to set the new record for Iraq.
Strange.
Sadly, today this war seems to concern only those whose families or close friends are directly involved.
Has war become too common a part of American life? Or is that the way it is?
Writer Dean Joachim is resident of Columbus.
|
