My friend Bob has convinced me that it’s time to bring home all
the troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. His argument is that it’s
morally unacceptable to ask the troops and their families to
sacrifice everything while most Americans are unwilling to
sacrifice anything in the same cause. I could not refute it and
I’ll add that it’s also morally unacceptable for our political
leaders to refuse to ask for sacrifices from their own
constituencies while some of the troops are on their third or
fourth tours.
My friend Bob has convinced me that it’s time to bring home all the troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. His argument is that it’s morally unacceptable to ask the troops and their families to sacrifice everything while most Americans are unwilling to sacrifice anything in the same cause. I could not refute it and I’ll add that it’s also morally unacceptable for our political leaders to refuse to ask for sacrifices from their own constituencies while some of the troops are on their third or fourth tours.
I’m not for peace. Our intractable enemies will continue to plot attacks using terror as their primary weapon. Giving them more breathing space will, undoubtedly, increase some risks even at home, but all Americans will then share those risks and that can be our sacrifice. We should continue to attack them from afar using technology, airpower and Special Forces much as we are doing in Pakistan. Increased “collateral damage” cannot be avoided, but we must keep them on the defensive.
Bob is one of a small circle of friends located all over the nation some of whom I have never met – yep, it’s the Internet. We started blogging years ago and we are not like-minded. In fact, we are combative. Arguments sometimes get out of hand, but we seem to come back for more. Sometimes we get down to serious discussions and, obviously, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are on the topic list. Bob’s argument was so compelling that I had to agree – we need to bring the troops home because the nation is unwilling to do its fair share.
I have dismissed many arguments against these wars as disingenuous, incorrect, politically motivated or sometimes merely silly, but not this one. Even the discussions about casualties, while usually sincere, are not well supported. One casualty is too many on a personal level, but the total casualty counts are relatively small. American deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan from all causes, not just combat, total less than 5,500 in nine years with an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 wounded. Last year alone traffic accidents killed almost 34,000 Americans and seriously injured more than 2 million, many of them in the same age group as our military service members.
The total fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 have been 0.002 percent of the population – one-twelfth the rate of the Korean War and one-sixteenth the rate of the Vietnam War. The real problem is that these burdens are repeatedly falling on the same part of the population while the rest of the nation just ignores the whole thing.
We have shown through our unwillingness to share the pain that we do not deserve the sacrifices made by this small group. The rest of us will not give up anything, not our monster trucks, our raises, or even our time to serve the nation.
Worse, we also refuse to give up petty bickering for personal gain. Ground Zero is a perfect example. The New York Post’s Steve Cuozzo called it, “a shambles of closed and dug-up streets and sidewalks, stalled ‘public’ construction works and security barricades.” The estimated completion of the first tower is now delayed to late 2013. Thirty-five years ago, it took only seven years to construct both towers. The public agencies, bureaucrats, unions and “private” entities – who really want public money to pay for everything – have all been lining their pockets and looking out for number one.
As with most Americans, they will do little in support beyond sending their good wishes to our fighting forces. It’s time to look after those who have earned the right to be number one.
Bring the troops home now.
Marty Richman is a Hollister resident.
