It Is Time to Set a New Course; A Policy of War Will Not Bring Peace
Seven years ago, in response to the September 11 tragedies, the United States government began a bombing campaign and eventual invasion of Afghanistan. Tonight on the anniversary of that bombing, Barrack Obama and John McCain will hold their second presidential debate to discuss their plans for our nation. How appropriate their discussion since our country's prosperity is directly tied to how one of them will handle our foreign policy. Unfortunately both candidates propose more war. War will not lead to peace and prosperity.
I was in New York City on September 11, 2001. I was horrified, angered and confused by the brutality and audacity of the attack. I knew there would be a military response. So I knelt and prayed that our nation's reaction would be thoughtful and provide leadership to the world through what promised to be the beginning of a dark time. I contemplated my response. If I had been still serving in the military the next step would have been clear. I would be mobilized and prepare for war. As a civilian the path was not so easily found. I took stock of my values and what I thought would be best for the nation. The following days provided a ray of hope as we in the region, the nation and the world mourned.
The hope was eclipsed. My government chose to use war as the primary policy direction. As I said, I expected military action. However, to what end? The current policy appears to be, engage the enemy until there is no longer opposition, or in a word “war.” War is not a sufficient policy to address the causes of the attack and will not bring peace. It will only bring more war. There is not a government to defeat or leader to topple. The faces of the opposition change and remain nameless with occasional exceptions like bin Laden. But without a doubt, even if bin Laden were captured today the occupiers and resisters would continue to fight.
Caught in the crossfire of U.S. waging war against a near endless supply of nameless and faceless opponents are civilians who wish to live their lives without fear. Civilians who if choosing between living in fear of U.S. air strikes and home invasions which to them seem to have no rhyme or reason, or in fear of the medieval thinking and actions of the Taliban, will pick the fear with a face they recognize and actions they can anticipate. The Associated Press quoted a recent United Nation's report stating that August had, “the highest number of civilian deaths to occur in a single month since the end of major hostilities and the ousting of the Taliban regime at the end of 2001." An August 22 air strike in Azizabad killed, according to Afghan and the UN officials, 90 people, most of whom were women and children. The Afghan government has decided to review its "status of forces" agreement with the U.S. and NATO and whether to demand an end to air strikes and other operations in Afghan villages. These developments and a July 2008 Rand Corporation report assessing the “War on Terror” as a failure clearly bear out that the U.S. insistence on war policy is in direct conflict with the supposed aim to win the “hearts and minds.”
The U.S. military is worn down and may soon break. Soldiers are on their 5th and 6th tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. Post Traumatic Stress plagues the ranks. With 134 deaths, 2008 is already the deadliest year for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, surpassing 117 deaths in 2007 the 2nd highest year. A surge or infusion of troops under any name will ensure more death on both sides and delay a political solution.
The U.S. cannot afford the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. The American people are burdened with a $9.85 trillion national debt, the war is expected to cost us $3 trillion or more and the economy is in crisis due to over speculation and excessive government pending. Much of that overspending is for war.
It is time the presidential candidates stop pandering to the fears of the American people and instead motivate us to take up the global challenges of the day; energy, climate change and nuclear proliferation.
The resources wasted in the failed policy of war are needed to help our economy at home as investments in technologies to address these global concerns. We must help bring stability to the world, not ratchet up the tensions. We can do it by believing in American ingenuity, optimism and ideals to overcome our problems instead of American bullets and bombs. Steer our nation from hate and war that produces torture, death, maimed bodies and scarred minds. Set our course towards a new American thinking where we work with other nations as equals to solve global problems.
Michael T. McPhearson
Veterans For Peace
Executive Director
Veterans For Peace calls for immediate withdraw all military and intelligence forces from Afghanistan and Pakistan. We call on the government of the United States to provide humanitarian aid directly to the people of Afghanistan, in non-coercive forms, to help the Afghan people rebuild their own nation and their lives in cooperation with other nations in the region; and to allow the people of Afghanistan to freely determine their own government without interference by the US. Veterans For Peace renounces the claim that the war in Afghanistan is somehow the “right” war and reaffirm our position that war must be abolished.
Read the full resolution.
Michael T. McPhearson is Executive Director of Veterans For Peace and Co-Chair of United For Peace and Justice. He was a field artillery officer in the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, also known as Gulf War I. Michael joined the Army Reserve 1981 as an enlisted soldier at the age of 17 and attended basic training the summer between his junior and senior high school years. He is a ROTC graduate of Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. His military career includes 6 years of reserve service and 5 years active duty service. He separated from active duty in 1992 as a Captain. He is the father of a son who has served one tour in Iraq and has since separated from the military.
UN Says Civilian Deaths in Afghan War Soaring; Up 40% so far in 2008
Rand Corporation says, War on Terror is a Failure
The Rand Corporation - How Terrorist Groups End