Country obsessed with military might
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Editor,
Consider this: Sen. Lindsay Graham, an influential voice on national security, said that one of the biggest blunders in U.S. history would be to lose Iraq by reducing our troop levels below what is needed. "To lose Iraq"? To whom? To the Iraqis? To another conquering nation? It's our biggest blunder? Why? Because of losing a dominating foothold in the Middle East with its oil? What is behind this obsession with troop levels and military might? I think Sen. Graham's remark speaks very clearly to the attitude and mind-set of many of our so-called 'leaders" who not only got us into the Iraq mess in the first place, but who press for more involvement. We obviously took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan, which allowed the Taliban to educate the young and therefore grow, arm, and regain local controls through terror. We obviously took our eye off the ball on dealing with Pakistan, a very key and vital player in this whole anti-terrorist movement. We obviously took our eye off the ball immediately after 9/11 by not taking advantage of the great outpouring of international support for developing international programs to root out and eliminate these most radical terrorist movements around the world. Attempting to tie military might to establishing peace and prosperity anywhere in this world is, in my opinion, taking our eye off the ball of having any hope of helping create "a world that works." Attacking the attackers with military machinery only creates deep and lasting anger and hate and further deepens the divides that already exist in this world so desperately in need of unity and union. This not only bankrupts the U.S. economically but reputation-wise and emotionally, as well.
Bob McClellan
Polson
