Who would have thought? Admiral William "Fox" Fallon has resigned. See story from Times OnLine: Admiral Fallon Quits Over Iran Policy. Only a few days ago, Esquire magazine asked the question:
"As head of U.S. Central Command, Admiral William "Fox" Fallon is in charge of American military strategy for the most troubled parts of the world. Now, as the White House has been escalating the war of words with Iran, and seeming ever more determined to strike militarily before the end of this presidency, the admiral has urged restraint and diplomacy. Who will prevail, the president or the admiral?"
And now we have the answer ... the President is once again firm in his intent to escalate the possibility of another war -- this time with Iran.
What we worry about ... (1) Afghanistan needs more troops; (2) Iraq is a mess and we don't seem to be able to fix it, i.e., it is one thing to declare victory and another to have peace; (3) our military is stretched entirely too thin to support a third war.
What we worry about -- our shrinking middle class, the possibility of deeper recession, almost one-half billion dollars wasted in the Iraq war, the fact that our soldiers from rural America are dying (and being injured) at a 60% higher rate than the soldiers from urban America. What's fair about any of this?
We think the answer is nothing if fair, or right --just more proof that bad politics results in war.
Showing posts with label rural soldier death rate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rural soldier death rate. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Iraq -- Progress or Not?
This is to share with you two recent news stories that feature perspectives on the war. The first is "Surge to Nowhere" by Andrew J. Bacevich. He's got a new book coming out soon that will be called The Limits of Power.
Bacevich says, "As the fifth anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom nears, the fabulists are again trying to weave their own version of the war. The latest myth is that the "surge" is working."
Long story short, Bacevich makes it clear that once again, the President's press people are better at spinning tales about "winning" than they are about solving the Iraq situation. And the only real result of this surge is likely to be extending the war so that the next President can deal with it.
Since rural soldiers are dying at a 60% higher rate (Carsey Institute Study) than are soldiers who come from urban areas, we've got an especially high stake in this war ... so we urge you to read carefully about the surge.
On a more political note, see also "War, Meet the 2008 Campaign" by Michael R. Gordon. In short, we see Republicans in favor a long slog ... McCain even has said that slog might last as long as 50 years. In contract, we see Democrats promising carefully ... all with a goal of getting our men and women home while giving the Iraqi's responsibility for their country.
Meanwhile, the war is costing $1 billion a day ... yes -- one billion dollars per day! Meanwhile, our economy continues to become more troublesome.
Bacevich says, "As the fifth anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom nears, the fabulists are again trying to weave their own version of the war. The latest myth is that the "surge" is working."
Long story short, Bacevich makes it clear that once again, the President's press people are better at spinning tales about "winning" than they are about solving the Iraq situation. And the only real result of this surge is likely to be extending the war so that the next President can deal with it.
Since rural soldiers are dying at a 60% higher rate (Carsey Institute Study) than are soldiers who come from urban areas, we've got an especially high stake in this war ... so we urge you to read carefully about the surge.
On a more political note, see also "War, Meet the 2008 Campaign" by Michael R. Gordon. In short, we see Republicans in favor a long slog ... McCain even has said that slog might last as long as 50 years. In contract, we see Democrats promising carefully ... all with a goal of getting our men and women home while giving the Iraqi's responsibility for their country.
Meanwhile, the war is costing $1 billion a day ... yes -- one billion dollars per day! Meanwhile, our economy continues to become more troublesome.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
TIME TO SAY STOP!! Too Many Rural Americans Are Paying the Ultimate Sacrifice
Today -- Tuesday, July 17th, we ask you to join in saying "enough is enough." It is time for a new strategy ... time to say to the President STOP OBSTRUCTING an end to the Iraq war.
If you live in the Washington, DC region, we urge you to join us in a candlelight vigil.
Tell them rural Americans have already paid too high a price, with rural soldiers dying in Iraq and Afghanistan at a 60% higher rate than urban soldiers.
Why? According to the Carsey Institute's analysis of U.S. Department of Defense data, this higher rural death rate reflects the fact that rural areas have higher rates of military recruitment, and a lack of good rural employment and educational opportunities.
Vermont has the highest death rate in the country.
Tragic ... to say the least. You can find out about your state's soldiers, and more about how we are losing our rural soldiers at the following website: http://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/documents/RuralDead_fact_revised.pdf
If you live in the Washington, DC region, we urge you to join us in a candlelight vigil.
Tuesday, July 17th
8:30 PM
8:30 PM
(Across from the U.S. Capitol and next to the
General Senate #: 202-224-2131
Tell them rural Americans have already paid too high a price, with rural soldiers dying in Iraq and Afghanistan at a 60% higher rate than urban soldiers.
Why? According to the Carsey Institute's analysis of U.S. Department of Defense data, this higher rural death rate reflects the fact that rural areas have higher rates of military recruitment, and a lack of good rural employment and educational opportunities.
Vermont has the highest death rate in the country.
Tragic ... to say the least. You can find out about your state's soldiers, and more about how we are losing our rural soldiers at the following website: http://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/documents/RuralDead_fact_revised.pdf
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