Topic: Presidential Campaign 2008
A Veteran's View on America As a veteran, I explain who I support for presidency and why.by The Rising Phoenix
(libertarian)
Monday, January 7, 2008
"All the States but our own are sensible that knowledge is power." -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Joseph C. Cabell, January 22, 1820
The state that America is in disgusts me. The average American--regardless of race or gender--will sit on their couch and listen to Sean Hannity or some other "new conservative" spout lies and spin the truth, believing everything that the television is saying. They sit in their comfortable chair listening to the same old stuff from the same old presidential candidates--terrorism, fear, less liberty, national security. I affectionately refer to these gullible average Americans as "sheep" because they will follow whoever speaks the best, or looks the best, or says the right catch phrases. What does it take to get people to realize that they are being controlled by the television set? What does it take for independent thinking Americans to rise up above the deception and see for themselves what the truth really is?
I’ll tell you what the truth is. The truth is that the American dollar is plummeting at an alarming rate. The truth is that every Republican presidential candidate, other than Ron Paul, has refused to end the war in Iraq, leaving on the table a possible strike on Iran. Senator McCain has even made statements about the war lasting for 100 years. The truth is that this is impossible without the draft.
I was in the Army for five years and got out in December 2006. While I was in, I was a Chaplain’s Assistant in the First Cavalry Division. Out of the thousands of soldiers that I talked to, I can count on my two hands the soldiers that were okay with going to Iraq. It had nothing to do with defending America or spreading democracy, it had to do with the money that they would make in Iraq. Now, with that being said, the Army is also finding it extremely difficult to re-enlist, let alone initially enlist, soldiers. The recruiters prey on young high school students who have no idea about the real situation in Iraq, nor the real dangers. They also prey on poor families that have no choice but to join the military or be out on the street. We have the decreasing dollar to thank for this, by the way. The bottom line is that if you vote for McCain, Romney, Huckabee, or Thompson, and you are between the ages of 18 to 36 (give or take a few years); you might as well pack your bags because you will be heading to Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran. I guarantee it.
Did you know that the military has built permanentbases in Iraq? Along with those bases, there is also a U.S. Embassy that is often compared to the size of the Vatican. When we first went into Iraq, Mr. Bush said that we were going to remove the WMDs, the regime, and enforce U.N. resolutions. Okay, four years later and Saddam is dead, there were no WMDs, the regime has collapsed, and we have no more need to be enforcing U.N. resolutions. So, I ask you, if our mission has been accomplished and we haven’t come home yet, how long will we be there? I’ll give you an idea. Look at Korea or Germany. The wars are long over and we still have military in those areas. Why? Imagine the money that could be saved by just bringing our forces home to American soil. Imagine how the economy would flourish and how much safer we really would be.
On the topic of national safety, let me make a few more points. As I mentioned, I was in the Army for five years. I was in the First Cavalry Division for one year prior to my honorable discharge. The soldiers of the 1st Cav Division were in Iraq from Mar 2004 to mid-year 2005. Then, in February 2006 (give or take) we were given orders that we would return to Iraq in October 2006. (Note that approximately a year separates the arrival home to the deployment in 2006.) Now, imagine for a moment being deployed to Iraq for 13 months (15 to 18 if you get extended which is more often than not), then returning home for about a year to a year and a half, and then returning to Iraq again for another 13 to 18 months. Keep in mind that while in Iraq your mind is constantly on overdrive. You have to watch all 360 degrees around you at all times, all day. At night, you rareley get any sleep because mortar fire and other activities. Imagine how draining and exhausting that this is. Then, you come home for a year, still exhausted because you know you will be returning again in a year. Now, on top of the mental exhaustion, over 50% of soldiers come back injured in some way. There are twisted ankles, broken legs/hips/arms, shin splints, damaged ear drums, etc. On top of this, there are a lot of soldiers that return with mental problems. So, what we are left with to protect America are beaten down, exhausted both mentally and physically, soldiers who have just returned from combat. Are you feeling safer yet? The only true option that we have--due to the collapsing economy and the fact that Iraq was wrong from the beginning--is to bring our troops home. Allow them to rest and gain their strength so that, if need be, they can protect America.
At this point in time, we are much more vulnerable to attack than before 9/11. Our military is spread extremely thin, and recruiting new soldiers is failing. Ron Paul's foreign policy is:
1. No nation building 2. No empire building 3. No policing the world
Think about it. If we were not spread so thin militarily, spending all of our money nation building and policing, we would have a much stronger economy. On the flip-side, if America continues down this road of nation building, supporting dictator governments with money, and policing, we are destined to fall as an empire. How do I know this? The answer is simple--History. At the time of Rome's collapse, the value of their currency was plummeting and they were enlarging the size of their government. They were policing the world with their military, as well. Rome fell because of economics, just as America will if nothing changes.
With all of that said, I endorse and support Ron Paul as the presidential candidate for 2008. As a veteran, the soldiers in Iraq are more to me than just a number or statistic. They are not fighting for our freedom in this pointless war. They are dying so that special interests in America can get richer, government can get more powerful, and "our" oil remains protected. I have said my peace. Thank you for reading and please save America by voting for Ron Paul in your state's primary elections.
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The views expressed in this
article are those of The Rising Phoenix only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. The Rising Phoenix is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
I just want to tell you that we need more people like that will stand up and tell the truth from the front lines, all we here is that these politicans say i sopke with the troops and they want to win this war. And all we really want is for our troops to come home and have a life with their family.
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