Fair warning: this is not about synchros.
OK, Bin Laden is dead. The alleged mastermind of 9-11, the reason we invaded Afghanistan, is now history, his body buried at sea. So why should we stay in Afghanistan?
Bush ordered the invasion of Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, about three weeks after 9-11. Now we’re in May 2011. Let’s call it ten years. On this website, the cost of war.com, it’s shocking to watch the numbers move so fast that if you blink, you miss a couple of million. So at 10:01 PM on May 4, 2011, the total cost of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was $1, 187, 686, 509, 309. The war in Iraq has cost: $788, 411,187,998, and the war in Afghanistan has cost $401,275,469,599. I imagine these figures have altered drastically by the time you click that link.
But as Nobel prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz explains in his 2008 book, The Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict, the figures don’t include the staggering price tag for caring for present and future health care costs for wounded veterans. Also, since the war has been funded mostly with borrowed money, the figures don’t include the exorbitant interest. In 2008, these figures upped the cost to $4.5 trillion and, if you toss in the cost of Afghanistan, it hit $7 trillion in 2008 estimates. On www.the costofwar.com, you find out what that’s costing in 2011.
And what about Libya? We’re supposedly there for humanitarian purposes, but we wouldn’t be there is Libya wasn’t supplier of oil – specifically, sweet crude.
So if that $3-7 trillion was used in other ways, what might it pay for?
- Universal health care for all Americans. This would be real health care, not the truncated bill that passed last year, which hands the insurance industry 40 million uninsured Americans who are now mandated to buy insurance. Think Medicare for all, but a vastly improved Medicare. In other words, remove profit from health care.
- Jobs. With unemployment still above 10% in some states, hovering at a national average close to 9 %, this is a no brainer.
- Improve infrastructure – you know, bridges, roads, the stuff over which we travel daily
- Alternative fuels. It has always puzzled me that Florida, particularly South Florida, where the sun shines most of the year, doesn’t have a more robust solar panel program. Oh, you see panels here, but they are outrageously expensive, and Florida Power and Light, the primary supplier of power in this area, has a powerful lobbying voice.
- A more robust Medicaid program for the poor and disadvantaged.
- More educational funding. In the Republican alternative universe, public schools should be private. Everyone should have to pay to educate their kids from kindergarten through 12th grade.
- College and graduate school grants. Many of our daughter’s friends are going to be graduating in debt to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. The job market sucks for these kids. So let’s say you’re at the low end of the debt scale – twenty or thirty grand in debt. How long is it going to take you to pay off that debt if you’re making forty grand a year?
- Help for the homeless. Most homeless shelters are run by churches and other private organizations. Why? Because the government doesn’t seem to care. Behind the gas station whee we buy our Cuban coffee a couple of times a week, there’s a homeless community of tents, chairs, pots and pans. While I’m inside buying the coffee, Rob walks our dog back there and the despair that permeates the air causes Noah to take off in the opposite direction. What will happen to these people during the hurricane season, when temps soar into the humid 90s, the mosquitoes move in, and the rain floods their little campsite?
And these items are just starting points.Opponents calls these programs socialist agendas. I don’t know how the word socialist ever entered the lexicon of helping out those in a given society who are too poor, sick, disenfranchised, or elderly to help themselves. But somewhere along the way, capitalism became a philosophy with a frozen heart, a fragmented soul.
Take a look at this site for a running tally on our national debt – much of which was accrued during the 8 years of the Bush administration.
The bottom line issue in all this is best expressed in a story. The day after the announcement of Bin Laden’s death, I was at the gym and ran into my neighbor. “Hey,” she said. “You didn’t come over to celebrate with us last night.”
“Megan broke her foot. I was on the other coast. What were you celebrating?”
“The death of Bin Laden.”
“He was assassinated,” I said. “That’s not something to celebrate.”
“He was responsible for the deaths of nearly three thousand Americans. He’s like Hitler, he should’ve been tortured.”
“No one should be tortured,” I reply.
“He should’ve been tortured,” she repeated.
This woman calls herself a Christian.
Frankly, I don’t get it. Yes, Bin Laden was a very bad guy. Yes, he was a terrorist. Yes, he changed the face of the American landscape for the worse and was responsible for the deaths of nearly 3,000 Americans. Because of him, torture became ok, labeled as something else, something more sanitized – enhanced interrogation. Because of him, we invaded two sovereign countries, sacrificed thousands of American soldiers, and thousands of Iraquis were killed. Because of him, we continue to glorify war, and the Pentagon budget is basically untouched in the Republican budget plan.
But there’s a fundamental perversion here of American ideals. It seems that we always need an enemy – the Japanese and the Germans in World War II, Russian during the cold war, now Al Qaeda. Who’s next? Aliens from the Pleiades? The despicable aliens from V?
Why can’t we function as a country, a nation, a people, without an enemy? Why are we the world cop? Why must we always be at war with someone? Well, yes, it’s profitable. War is big business. War wins contracts for American companies that develop stealth bombers, drones, exoskeletons. But we’ve got big problems at home. Let’s get out of the business of war and tend to our own people.
We call ourselves a Christian nation and seem to take tremendous pride in that term. But when did Christianity become synonymous with war and torture and assassination?
I, too, was turned off by the celebrations and cheers surrounding Bin Laden’s death. I can see feeling a sense of closure, but I don’t get the rest of it. For one thing, there are thousands of guys just like him ready to take his place, so what does it really accomplish? Does it stop terrorism? No. Does it bring back the people who died in 9-11? No. Does it refund all the money spent on the war and restore our troops lives and health? No.
Ditto, Lisa.
I’m on my way, dear cousin! And I remember those days when the huge Sunday dinner was kept on the table and the food was covered with a big clean cloth, waiting for suppertime and yet another feast not only of good food but good company and sharing the hours with friends and family. Things were so different then. My Dad made the best cherry-vanilla ice cream in a churn…the kind of churn that had to be surrounded with ice and salt and had a crank-handle! Nothing electric on it. Can’t help but wonder if we may be thrown back to some of those days in the very near future. It certainly wouldn’t be all bad, by any means. There were some wonderful afternoons spent with family and friends; no computers, IPods, color TVs, high tech games….these modern electronics that both serve us and separate us. The good ole days, yeah. On occasion, my heart yearns for that slower and simpler, kinder and more gentle life.
Doggone it now, cousin, you’ve done it for sure! Gotten me way off the track here talkin’ about that fried chicken and all that good stuff, and here you are way over there and here I am way over here! Can I have a carry-out bag, please? Just got home from being at the doc’s all day and find you cookin’ up a storm. My kitchen?
Not a thing! Aren’t you ashamed! Sorry, Guys, just trying to bring a little bit of levity into this heavy and oppressive but definitely much needed discussion of what the baddies are up to. it gets wore and worse. I hate watching the news!
well, the gang just left – but oh, no, cousin, dear! no paper bags! your plate is settin’ on the counter with a linen napkin over it and your sweet tea is in the fridge! so just come on over! [how in the world did we ever survive food poisoning with sunday lunch sitting out until dinner time way back when?]
and of TPTB, my hero james carville was sending notes over to the white house for everyone on twitter, so i sent “a few” – teeeheeeee………..
It’s good to remind us all of the toll of war and the cost of war. I’m struck by the concept of the war machine still pulling the country out of depression, recession, a slow economy. This has been the thinking since WWII jumpstarted the economy out of the Great Depression. I don’t see that happening now. The endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have drained us of our surpluses. And who is getting rich? Halliburton, The Carlyle Group and all those suppliers who over charge our government for arms, re-building, etc.
When Bush declared war on Iraq, I was terrified. I was also quite alone in protesting the entire concept. Most people I knew, of both political persuasions, were very much gung ho about getting Saddam & Bin Laden. My, at the time 91 year old WWII veteran father was not one of them. He cried on the phone. He was worried about his grandsons. Me too. They were 13 & 14. I envisioned this stretching on for years as did Viet Nam. I envisioned the draft returning. I honestly believe the government has avoided calling for a draft because it would probably cause the general populace to rise up and protest as we did in the Sixties and early Seventies. They do not want that so they leave the conscription process alone. If we really get out and protest to end the war, the government will have no choice but to do so and all the profiteering will end.
I celebrate Bin Laden’s death. Why? He wasn’t just a figurehead, he was the mastermind. He represents much of the reason we have our boys over there today. Can we not bring them home? What solid reasons will the government now present to prolong the fighting on two or even one front? It will be much harder to sustain and for that I am grateful.
You’re absolutely right about why the draft wasn’t brought back. It would end the wars on all three fronts. The Obama administration has already stated that Bib Laden’s death won’t change the Afghanistan policy. In the end, it all comes down to profit – for the very
companies you mentioned and all of their ilk.
ok, but think about this: what if “they” gave a war and no one went? think about it! what if! what if!
We used to say that about Vietnam.
I could identify with this post and the commenters. We had a wonderful weekend with dear friends and whenever we veered even slightly about what is happening in this country, one person made it very clear we weren’t talking about that! I do think we hide our heads in the sand, but mostly it’s because we feel powerless to stop our “economy of war.” It doesn’t seem to matter who we vote for – they all follow an invisible piper as soon as they hit office. We are doomed as a culture, a great nation following other great nations into decline. It is going to take something greater than just going to the polls to change the course we are on.
On the other hand, maybe this was always meant to be – the storm before the calm. The dark before the light…
It’s that one person I try to avoid. I agree about more than polls. A few years back, someone in a conversation insisted the US was still number 1 in the world. I looked at this guy and said, “You’re kidding, right?”
“We’ve got the most powerful military.”
So that’s the macho boy syndrome. Oh well.
Just to clarify…my interpretation of the words of Jesus in that teaching was His admontion condemning our acting in revenge against each other; that God will take care of things. And this teaching, coming from the Christ, is my support for being the pacifist that I have chosen to be.
well, you’ve certainly hit the real issues dead on here [pun intended] – i was so saddened and disgusted to see such responses globally to the killing of b/laden – it seems just a few hundred years has erased the memories of so many as to how this country as it is today was built – upon the murder/annihilation of an entire nation of people – the people who happened to have already been here when the glorified character of columbus arrived – the hundreds of thousands of another country who were captured and enslaved and kept enslaved to literally build this country by their blood sweat and tears – murder and pillage and murder and enslavement are all fine and good when the weapon is in the red white and blue hand – but – dare another country fight to protect their own borders – their families – sorry, i digress! and i did not intend to ramble so here – a great, timely post! bravo!!!
We love digressions!
well, you’re rollin’ in love today, then, cause i just had another digression – here in this southern louisiana city where the confederate rebel flags still flies outside the parish courthouse, nearly 150 years after the fighting of the civil war [and losing by the south], there is just now discussion as to whether or not this is such a great idea!
ok ok – i can “almost” promise this will be the last digression – but did you all see/hear the thing about the repugnant repubs approved a bill allowing concealed handgun license holders to carry weapons into public college buildings and classrooms – check it out here:
https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42964443/ns/us_news-life/t/texas-senate-oks-guns-college-classrooms/
Something else to be proud of. Boo, hiss.
Something we might consider…..I was born into a southern baptist family, and was raised accordingly. Many of my growing-up years were spent on Sundays listening to fire and brimstone preaching of hell and of a furious, punishing God. I would go home and hide in my dark closet, fearing that this God might find me and punish me for some unknown grievous sin. This places me in a position to have formed an individual, personal opinion for myself about the basis of Christianity. (And it is no more than that: just my personal opinion.) That basis, that foundation, I observed to be of a Father-God-Creator who (apparently) allowed His Son to have nails hammered through his hands and feet to a tree, a crown of sharp thorns placed on his head, ripping into the tender flesh of his brow, a soldier’s sword thrust deeply into his gut, and ultimately, slowly dying in inhuman torture and suffering and humiliation and degradation and violent bloodshed.
THIS is supposedly the “sacrifice” followers of this religious tradition base their faith upon and that they must accept if they are to be received into heaven. It is their creed. The figurehead, the image, of that Christian religion is in itself one of violence and hatred and suffering and torture. It hasn’t abated through the centuries. It is the archetype image of the Christian faith and system of beliefs. I know, because there was a time when I myself embraced the baptist faith, until I recognized that the God(s) I worship and trust are gods of love and peace and healing, not war and intolerance and killing. Ours is reputedly a Christian nation. The banner of Christians is the archetypal image of The Prince Of Peace whose blood was shed, (for us? for our sins? no one has ever been able to adequately explain that concept to me), in the most heinous kind of death two thousand years ago. It continues.
My comments are harsh. But…..the Christian faith is harsh. It is what they’ve been taught. In defense and support of war and capital punishment and other types of killings, many Christians have quoted to me a verse in the Bible where Jesus says to the Disciples, “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. But….these folks lift those words of the Master Jesus out of their context and leave off the most important part of his words.
He actually taught, according to Scripture, “IT HAS LONG BEEN SAID OF OLD, AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH. BUT VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, NAY. VENGEANCE IS MINE, SAYETH THE LORD MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN”. That verse in its entirety, for me, is all I need to hear.
You nail the things I have never understood about Christianity.
you know, i was there in that southern baptist church pew/closet right beside you, cousin! and i would have said all that you did in terms of the tenets of the religion called christianity, but i wouldn’t have been so kind – so i’ll just say: amen, sista’!!! now, let’s get out of that hellfire and brimstone closet and go home to sunday lunch of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and white gravy, green beans, yeast dinner rolls with a big jug of fresh lemonade and one of sweeeeet ice tea – and for dessert, triple layered chocolate cake [which we’ll have out on the screened-in front porch in the swing, of course!] 😉
Count me in!
Oh Trish I agree with your post. I got a lot of flack when I posted on FB that I was feeling sad when OBL was killed, all I could think of were the deaths, the stupidity of war, the lies from our government, and the wasted dollars.
My husband asked me why I was so down and I told him that I knew I was feeling the despair of lost souls. I’m not just a planetary empath.
It was interesting that here in NYC most people felt as I did and there were a lot of candle ceremonies.
War is such a waste, why can’t we all accept one another and stop hurting each other?
I wish there was an answer to that one, Vicki. I’m glad to know that people in NY held candle ceremonies. I was distressed that people in D.C., the night of the announcement, were celebrating what amounts to assassination.
Sad as it is…I really liked what you wrote here Trish. The country is in a sad state…and needs something powerful to turn things around. The hearts of so many are cold and bitter. It’s hard for me to be out there. My anger at what this country has turned into could eat me alive if I let it. I see many that choose to just stick their heads in the sand, and believe war is the answer…and I wonder what the hell they’re thinking. Positive thinking, visualization of a better world is just too far fetched for me. I like that you’re talking about the real reality of it. We all need to see the figures…the dollars and sense that make no sense…except to those that are using us for their own financial gains. Thanks for the reality check this morning. I’m so glad to see this post. Hoping it’s an eye opener.
Thanks! What prompted it, I think, was seeing some of the bush people on the news, talking about how torture worked. Then Rachel Maddow had the economist on her show and he put a price tag on this entire debacle. That did it for me. Three TRILLION.
I went to see “I Am” last night, Trish. It made me think about how I can help make the world a better place. It was tremendously uplifting and positive. And I do realize that the only real difference I can make in the world is within my own heart. What happened to bid Laden was considered payback for 9/11, but as we both know, Bush killed many more people than Al Qaida ever has.
But I do think Christianity has been aligned with hate and torture ever since the days of the Inquisition and the Crusades. Even so, I still call myself a Christian but I don’t align myself with any church. Christianity has given itself a bad name.
I’ll have to look up that movie. I sounds like something I should see, DJan. I think a lot of people who call themselves Christians aren’t aligned with any church.