Heads Up, Politicians: Either a ‘Just War’ or Bring Our Soldiers Home

General Patton knew how to fight a war. Attack, kill the enemy and then leave. We don’t do that anymore. We go in, achieve military dominance, then occupy, try to pacify the locals, train them to protect themselves, then … well, then … oops! Damn. It didn’t work in Vietnam and it hasn’t worked in the Mideast.

In light of that, is it time to get our people out? Some argue that we must fight the terrorists over there so we don’t have to fight them over here. I’m not convinced. Should we let them come here? It would be cheaper and we’re already so far into debt. Let them buy their own plane ticket. Memo to the terrorists – come get some!

I ask again — Is it time to bring our soldiers home?

Today I took my seven-year-old son to watch the Memorial Day parade in our rural town. My son watched the fire trucks, old cars and tractors as they threw candy to the crowds. Then a group of wartime veterans marched slowly past. First came the WWII vets, old, and bent with age. The crowd silenced before erupting into applause. Then came vets from the Korea, Vietnam, and Gulf wars.

My son asked me why the soldiers were so old. I said, “Son, those are the men who fought to keep us free. Some of the soldiers died, and that’s why we’re here. It’s not to get free candy – it’s to honor those who have died for us.”

He understood that.

I no longer trust my government to pick which war is just and which is immoral. Let’s face it, we can’t even trust them to fairly levy our taxes. Politicians decide who fights and who dies, but they are no longer worthy of that task.

But one thing is clear to me: whether the war is just or whether it is for political and greedy gain, the men and women who fought and died must be honored. They did their duty. It’s the politicians who should be tarred and feathered, then run out of town on a rail.

Image: Soldiers, 2nd Dagger brigade of the US 1st Infantry Division, World War II; source: http://www.schweinfurt. army.mil/sites/HOLD-2ndBDE/2BDE Historic Pics/13.jpg; public domain