Editorial
Beware The Consequences of Pre-Emptive War
Last year more US troops died by suicide than died in combat in Afghanistan. More than 20 percent of military personnel deployed to combat will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some 32 percent of US soldiers reported depression after deployments. More than 20 percent of active-duty military are on potentially dangerous psychotropic drugs; many are on multiple types. Violent crime among active duty military members increased 31 percent between 2006-2011.
The statistics, compiled by the military last year, are as telling as they are disturbing. The Defense Department scrambles to implement new programs to better treat the symptoms. They implement new substance abuse and psychological counseling programs while they continue to prescribe more dangerous psychotropic drugs. Unfortunately, most often ignored are the real causes of these alarming statistics.
The sharp rise in military suicides, drug and alcohol abuse and domestic and other violence is the unintended consequence of a violent foreign policy − of an endless and indefinable "global war on terrorism."
Particularly in the past decade or so, we have lived in a society increasingly marked by belief in the use of force as a first and only option. We have seen wars of preemption and aggression, everywhere from Iraq to Pakistan to Libya, Yemen and elsewhere. We have seen an unprecedented increase in the use of drones to kill overseas, often resulting in civilian deaths, which we call "collateral damage." We have seen torture and assassination (even of American citizens) become official US policy. When asked by Senator Ron Wyden last week if the president has the right to assassinate American citizens on US soil, President Obama's nominee to head the CIA, John Brennan, could not even give a straight answer.
The warning that "he who lives by the sword dies by the sword" goes not only for individuals but for entire societies. It is a warning to all of us. A country or a society that lives with the violence of pre-emptive war in fact self-destructs.
Let us not forget that this endless war is brought to us primarily by the neo-conservatives who dominate foreign policy in both political parties and who never cease agitating for US military deployments overseas. Of course, with very few exceptions they have declined to serve in the military themselves. These endless wars would not be possible, we should also remember, without the Federal Reserve printing the money out of thin air to finance our overseas empire. We are speeding toward national bankruptcy while at the same time turning the rest of the world against us with our aggressive foreign policy. Does anyone really believe this will make us safer and more secure?
Many who claim to support the military look the other way when the service-members return home broken in mind and body after years of deployments abroad. I served five years as a US military doctor in the difficult 1960s and even then saw some of this first-hand. During the 1960s the consequence of an unwise prolonged war tragically resulted in violence in our streets, and even students being shot by our military at Kent State University.
The truth is, killing strangers in unconstitutional and senseless wars causes guilt to the participant no matter what kind of military indoctrination is attempted. Those afflicted may attempt to bury the pain in alcohol or drugs or other destructive behaviors but we see that only leads to more problems. It may not be popular to point this out but it goes against human nature to kill a fellow human being for retaliating against those who initiate a war of aggression on their soil.
Who cares most for those in military service, those who agitate for more of what is destroying their lives and weakening our national defense, or the many of us who are urging a foreign policy of non-intervention and peace? If we are to survive, we must beware the seen and unseen consequences of pre-emptive war.
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Posted by Patrick_Henry on 02/12/13 05:06 PM
I miss Congressman Paul already, I wish he was the POTUS right now. Up until the 2008 election I believed what the presstitutes said about him. I finally took the founders red pill and unplugged the matrix cable from the back of my head.I became something that our almighty federal overlords in mordor on the potomac river despise, an independent, critical thinker. I am now a recovering neo-con, it's been both a blessing and a curse at the same time. I hope he never stops fighting for liberty, may the Lord bless you and your family!
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Posted by Danny B on 02/12/13 12:09 AM
This is a note to all the military personnel who put their life on the line believing it was best for the country.
Thank you very much.
For all those who returned with trauma to the brain, there is a doctor in the Los Angeles area who has a 90% cure rate for TBI. He has fantastic cure rates. If you're tired of smoking pot until you're silly, you should check him out.
Click to view link
He has tried to disseminate his process/system to as many other doctors as possible.
You don't necessarily have to travel.
Dan
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Posted by seer on 02/11/13 04:35 PM
Obviously deployment after deployment has proven to be a poor strategy. Making all military personnel armed policemen is insane and then hiring private companies that milk the government by charging astronomical fees to do what the soldiers had been trained to do is insane. I know Ron spoke out about the war. His odds of the Repube branch of the Republicrat party nominating him were slim and none. So what is the answer? Drones and more Drones...
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Posted by Ol' Grey Ghost on 02/11/13 01:43 PM
As a hostage negotiator it was a duty of mine to try and talk people who were thinking of suicide into another option for dealing with the problem that seemed to be overwhelming them at the time. One such option for too much stress at their place of employment was to quit their jobs. Unfortunately, the military doesn't offer this option, or at least not without extracting as much blood, sweat, and tears from the troubled person as it can inflict in punishment to someone for not measuring up. And they wonder why there are so many suicides.
The U.S. government is a bully...
Click to view link
... to friend and foe alike...
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Posted by dave jr on 02/11/13 07:14 AM
Perhaps this would be a good subject for Joel Wade. What is depression, the unwillingness or inability to engage life? What are the coping mechanisms when facing ones mortality, the ultimate fear? Most importantly, what happens after being shaken to the core of existance? What happens, when examining ones core beliefs, that since earliest recollection, one has been lied to, ones entire life was built on a pack of lies and society at large will only accept you in supporting those lies...
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Posted by TerryWriterFromPortCredit on 02/11/13 06:25 AM
Amen to that, Mr. President!
(and please pardom my delete button not working)..
I truly (edit out - to) hope that the infinite ineffable and truly only power that be gets through to the misguided youth believing they are protecting their loved ones back home by engaging in evil warefare and come back home (edit out -uusing the concio and only power Gh) before the psychlogical trauma has set itself in too deeply.
In hopes the Stewart Rhode's-lead association of veterans have put into place a safety net for these men and women (edit out - an and womwn - but). To be sure their criminal handlers and "Pentagon Man" (s) will be sure not to have.
All the best to my brother and sister North Americans. Come home now! to your loved ones. They need you here in their arms - not over there serving other's intentions.
The Canadian Curator.
(tt
;handlr)
