As Americans get hyped up to put boots on the ground, in the pursuit of a war they cannot win, in those Middle East countries, I reflect on times passed through writings that I previously posted to different blogs I wrote on.
When do we recognize war and hate are not the answers? When do we understand that as many deaths and physical injuries that war causes, there are mental and emotional scars you can not see but are ever present in the hearts and minds of people who see things clearly, in the midst of battle.
The below I wrote in July of 2009. War had been raging for a while simply based on the strength of the mentality of terrorist (but who are the real terrorist) – here it is in twenty-fifteen and from those wars, what has been achieved – just something to think about as the rhetoric of hate and divisiveness creates the white noise of distraction.
Chaos and Confusion – Death Toll Rises
Forty-six (46) international troops have been killed in Afghanistan so far in July marking July as being the deadliest month on record in Afghanistan for international forces led by the U.S. Twenty-four (24) of these forty-six troops were Americans. According to the statistics gathered by the Associated Press (AP), this number matches the highest full month total of the eight year war that has been raging in the area – We are now eleven (11) days away from the end month – how many lives will be lost in these last eleven days of July?
The more U.S. intensification of the attacks against the Taliban, the more intense the Taliban attacks become with roadside bombings as well as suicide bombings. There are approximately 4,000 (of nearly 57,000 troops currently in Afghanistan) U.S. marines operating the largest offensive since 2001 in an attempt to break the stronghold of the Taliban in the Helmand Province while the Afghan government has supplied only about 650 soldiers and police to join the ongoing U.S. offensive.
President Obama has ordered an additional 21,000 troops to Afghanistan this year to curb the Taliban, whose threat includes nuclear-armed Pakistan and is hoping that a different situation will arise after the presidential elections in Afghanistan slated for August 20th which would allow for the pronouncement of an exit strategy with the Afghan government taking more responsibility for the country’s security.
Meanwhile, July is also experiencing some of the worst violence in Iraq since U.S. combat troops pulled back from urban areas at the end of June and the government in Iraq is setting up to further restrict the movement and activities of U.S. forces, which could potentially place troops in more danger. The new measures according to The Washington Post are “a reflection of the Iraqi leaders to show their citizens that they are now unequivocally in charge and their dependence on the U.S. military is minimal and waning.”
Americans have been caught off guard with these new restrictions on their activities and Maj. General Daniel P. Bolger suggests that “maybe something was lost in translation” while negotiating the terms of the U.S-Iraqi security agreement. You can read more about this disturbing turn of events at:
WashingtonPost
Along with these events in the Middle East comes Israel’s refusal to halt the housing project they have planned for the east bank which threatens the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel. This refusal is in stark contrast to the request made by the U.S. to halt settlement building which is, thereby, straining relationships between Israel and the Obama Administration.
Can the U.S. truly be effective in the Middle East? It would seem as though these countries thrive of chaos of any nature. Yet, can we afford not to be involved due to the nature of nuclear armament? Just what does the future hold for the Middle East and what will be their view of the United States when all is said and done? What has really been achieved with our involvement in these areas besides a growing abhorrence to not only our country but the Christian religion as well with the recent bombings of “Christian” churches in Baghdad? At what point do you step back and re-evaluate the mission?
FREE PFC. BOWE R. BERGDAHL – he was only following orders.
***************The below script taken from:***************
wikipedia.org
Last e-mail to parents
On June 27, 2009, Bergdahl sent an e-mail to his parents before he was captured:[1]:4
mom, dad
The future is too good to waste on lies. And life is way too short to care for the damnation of others, as well as to spend it helping fools with their ideas that are wrong. I have seen their ideas and I am ashamed to even be american. The horror of the self-righteous arrogance that they thrive in. It is all revolting. [...] [Three good sergeants had been forced to move to another company] [...] and one of the biggest shit bags is being put in charge of the team. [...] [My battalion commander was] a conceited old fool. [...] In the US army you are cut down for being honest... but if you are a conceited brown nosing shit bag you will be allowed to do what ever you want, and you will be handed your higher rank... The system is wrong. I am ashamed to be an american. And the title of US soldier is just the lie of fools. ... The US army is the biggest joke the world has to laugh at. It is the army of liars, backstabbers, fools, and bullies. The few good SGTs are getting out as soon as they can, [...] I am sorry for everything here. These people need help, yet what they get is the most conceited country in the world telling them that they are nothing and that they are stupid, that they have no idea how to live... We don't even care when we hear each other talk about running their children down in the dirt streets with our armored trucks... We make fun of them in front of their faces, and laugh at them for not understanding we are insulting them [...] I am sorry for everything. The horror that is america is disgusting. There are a few more boxes coming to you guys. Feel free to open them, and use them.[1]:4
Bob Bergdahl responded to his son's final message not long after he received it:
OBEY YOUR CONSCIENCE!
Dear Bowe, In matters of life and death, and especially at war, it is never safe to ignore ones' conscience. Ethics demands obedience to our conscience. It is best to also have a systematic oral defense of what our conscience demands. Stand with like minded men when possible. dad.[1]:4
Except for the insert from wikipedia, this article written by: Connie Jordan
July, 2009
Does time move us forward or just round and round?
Books by: Connie-Jordan
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