The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have thus far produced 300,000 psychological casualties, 320,000 brain injury casualties, plus 35,000 (probably understated) officially reported “normal” casualties. This adds up to 655,000 US casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, an average of just under 101,000 Americans killed or wounded every year since the wars began. If the idea of 101,000 casualties for every extra year in Iraq and Afghanistan gets out and infects the voting public, imagine the effect on the currently torpid national debate over leaving in five years versus fifteen years!
that’s how it ends. it starts like this…
A friend of mine who’s a librarian was recently reviewing job applicants. Asked his qualifications in library skills, one man put “machine-gunner.” He was a vet who’d served in Falluja. The library is in a state school here in the US that, last fall, had 650 such vets enrolled. The young man got the job but soon became irked by what he saw as the trivial preoccupations of his colleagues. He applied for a job at a nearby police department. All over the country police departments are advertising for Iraq vets. Three-quarters of the way through the hiring process, the PD signaled to him that things looked good. Then, in rapid succession, three Iraq vets in the area were involved in lethal episodes: two murders and one suicide. The PD immediately called the young man in for a second psychological evaluation, then nixed him for the job. He’s 24. He can’t find anything satisfying to do and is thinking of re-enlisting. He’s against the war.
I see, so you are against a little sacrifice for the cause of the nation that gave birth to you?
The nation that provided for you when you could not provide for yourself?
The nation that protected you against your worst nightmares?
And gave you beautiful dreams?
As President McCain has said: Ask not what your country is doing for you, but how you can sacrifice your heart and soul for your nation.
what i’m saying is if you murder, do it randomly. don’t say it’s for good. show some courage.
I don’t think you really know what you are saaying - I think you oppose defending the Home Land from its enemies.
Only those who have no love for the Nation would suffer from “psychological” mumbo jumbo.
And yes it is time for a humanitarian invasion of Burma - It is our moral right, duty, and obligation to deliver aid to Burma, now, I say now!
And by means possible, whatever the cost may be, whatever the price may be. We are Americans, and we deliver humanity - by any means necessary. No matter the cost, no matter the price. I say Yes!
i oppose enemies, enemas, minimax, onomatopeiae, tomatillos, loma prieta, realtors, origami, entroscopy, enemies, —wait.
yes. well. what do they have we want, is the question.
When it comes to aid, America is a nation of self-less beings.
yes we all remember the strong stance laura took against pro-ethiopian somali pirates poaching aid from mogadishu, and our preventive strikes against that behavior
yes, that was one of those events when America truly shone and is the reason why America continues to inspire trillions all over.
trillions, as in, “your mouth says ‘no no no’ but your banks say ‘yes yes yes’”