Beat Swords Into Plowshares.

The news and the media are preoccupied with the change in the power structure in Congress and what this means for President Obama, Democrats, Republicans and the Tea Party. Always they refer to a shopping list of issues that will be critical and that politicians will have to figure out by fighting, agreeing or compromising. Reduce the national debt, reduce expenditures and repeal the first step forward on healthcare we have had in years.

The mind-boggling thing about these media discussions is they never mention the fact that the United States is engaged in war. Do all the factions agree that continued war is good for the economy, good for you and good for me? That’s crazy! It’s also downright scary. A recent poll taken by the Washington Post indicates that more than 60% of Americans oppose our war in Afghanistan. That’s a majority of Americans. The so-called “draw down” of American troops that our President promised would start in July of 2011 has been postponed. There will not be a draw-down of any significance this year. The word now, is that we have a new policy.  A significant draw-down will not begin until the end of 2014.

I know, they keep saying progress is being made yet more Americans were killed in Afghanistan during 2010 than in any other year of this ridiculous nine year war. The figure I have seen is 496 casualties in 2010 which is one death every 18 hours throughout the year. Do we think that’s progress? So far for the war, 1357 have been killed along with the 4,427 killed in Iraq. That’s not counting the many thousands that have been wounded, maimed and traumatized who will never be able to lead a normal life again as long as they live. Because of this trauma and stress at least another 144 American military personnel have committed suicide in the last year. Think of the families and friends by these needless and horrible deaths.

Meanwhile the Afghan President is quoted as saying, “The war on terror is not here in our country, we are suffering the consequences.” He has made it clear he wants the Americans out of his country. Estimates range from 20,000 to 40,000 civilian Afghans, including woman and children are also casualties of the war. Many of them have been killed by our inaccurate bombings.

Why is the media nearly silent about this? Why is Congress so silent about the war? Why is there so little outrage? Where are the 63 percent of Americans who oppose the war? Why was there no discussion of where candidates stood on this during last fall’s campaigns? The Republicans and the Tea Party partiers say they want to reduce spending and the deficit. Stopping this war would be a great place to start.

It is mind-boggling how silent we are about this issue and simply let it grind on and on. It’s time we speak up. How about we take a look at adopting peacefulness as a national value and utilize as much diplomacy as we do war? How about expanding the Peace Corps?

Watch this blog for more regarding war and peace soon from my partner. She has strong feelings also.

Stan the Man