It is not going to end, for any of us. The war will escalate. Unrest is coming.

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18335026-soldiers-cryingIn today’s New York Times we read that a preliminary inquiry into the actions of Major Nidal Hasan alleged actions at Fort Hood were not linked to terrorist activities. The story is here.

Here is an excerpt from that article: "But the investigators, working with behavioral experts, suggested that he might have long suffered from emotional problems that were exacerbated by the tensions of his work with veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who returned home with serious psychiatric problems.

They said his counseling activities with the veterans appear to have further fueled his anger and hardened his increasingly militant views as he was seeming to move toward more extreme religious beliefs — all of which boiled over as he faced being shipped overseas, an assignment he bitterly opposed."

     

Here is a very informative article outlining the stresses on military psychologists and the pressures that their job brings to their personal life. That story is here.

Here is an article concerning the individual soldiers killed at Fort Hood.

Here is an article concerning President Obama’s attempts to console the nation as a result of the tragedy and he makes the point that the U.S. Armed Forces is diverse and strong.  Here is an excerpt from what he said.

“They are Americans of every race, faith and station,” he said. “They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers. They are descendants of immigrants, and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America. But what they share is a patriotism like no other. What they share is a commitment to country that has been tested and proved worthy. What they share is the same unflinching courage, unblinking compassion and uncommon camaraderie that the soldiers and civilians of Fort Hood showed America and showed the world."

I respectfully differ with the President on a key point. 

These soldiers are not, and have not been for many decades, ‘of every ….station’.  They are overwhelmingly lower class, working class, and lower middle class people dying and fighting for the aims of magnates and the super wealthy.  That is a fact that has been found over and over in various studies on the U.S. Armed Forces.

And therein lies the danger. 

Be aware of this Mr. President.  You mispoke.  These are kids in the Service because it offers employment in hard times.  Don’t delude yourself into thinking that they are sold on our overseas adventures.  They are not.  If you truly believe that they are representative of "every station" you have been deluded.

Here is an article about the 100 people on the planet serving life sentences without parole for crimes they committed as juveniles. Of those 100 people on Earth, 77 are incarcerated in Florida. Judges are balking at this "justice" all over the country. We really are a very, very conservative people. There is no doubt about that. The story is here.

Here is an article on the winding down of the President’s decision making process relative to Afghanistan war escalation. Apparently he is going to send more troops, that has been decided. It is now only a matter of deciding how many. That story is here.

Here is an excerpt from that article: "WASHINGTON — Advisers to President Obama are preparing three options for escalating the war effort in Afghanistan, all of them calling for more American troops, as he moves closer to a decision on the way forward in the eight-year-old war, officials said Saturday.

The options include Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s request for roughly another 40,000 troops; a middle scenario sending about 30,000 more troops; and a lower alternative involving 20,000 to 25,000 reinforcements, according to the officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Officials hope to present the options to Mr. Obama this week before he leaves on a trip to Asia.

While some civilian and military officials believe Mr. Obama is seeking a middle ground in the debate over Afghanistan, aides denied he has made any decision or is leaning toward any of the options. Still, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates appears to be supportive of the middle option, some officials said, and his view is thought to be pivotal because of Mr. Obama’s respect for him and his status as a holdover from a Republican administration."

We are really going to regret this escalation of this war. That is obvious to even a casual observor.

We have no business being there. This is to secure western Asia for our oil industry magnates and war industry captains and their commensurate plans of economic expansion. Americans will not long send their kids to die for the energy cartels and the munitions manufacturers.

Mr. President, this is a very big mistake sir. There will be civil unrest in this country over this decision. It is inevitable now. I am sorry that this is your decision. We will all pay for this.  

Working class kids will not die for oil and once they realize that they have been duped by patriotic talk and flag waving nonsense from a populist President that should have known better, there will be blood in the streets.

Yet there is other important news to ponder.

Here is an editorial exploring the need to use federal money to create jobs.

From today’s Washington Post here is the story of the ongoing investigation into Major Hasan. The story is here.

Here is an article outlining what journalists can find about the major’s personal life.

Here is an article written by a Muslim American soldier in Iraq with his family back home at Fort Hood. This is an eye opener.

Here is an article discussing increased security at mosques in the U.S. since the shooting at Fort Hood.

Apparently, from what I can gather from today’s news, we are on the verge of escalating our war in Afghanistan. May G*d help us all. This is a mistake.

An informed veteran is a comfort to his friends and a danger to his enemies. Get informed. Stay informed. It is the key to your meaningful role in participative government in this republic.

 

CWO3 Tom Barnes, USCG (Ret.)

 

 

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