We must separate “bad-mouthing our country” from justifiably criticizing and challenging the elected government. The Army is a tool of this government; Gen. David Petraeus giving Congress a report card on himself is simply the latest honorable servant laying his heavily ribboned reputation on another Bush administration hand grenade, in the spirit of Colin Powell.
Now, of course, the “mushroom clouds” and “world’s worst leader” rhetoric fall directly on Iran and what’s-his-name. Bombing Iran and its large Western-culture-embracing population would not only be insane, it would usher in a long era of absolute pandemonium and uncertainty — excellent conditions to rip off the frightened U.S. taxpayers once again.
Our military cannot solve political problems. Most Iraqis haven’t trusted Americans since President Reagan lavished support on Saddam Hussein for eight years and sold weapons to Iran during their bloody war.
James Madison said the United States would not “travel the world looking for monsters to destroy.” He never imagined our corporate-run government would prop up 1,500 fanatic jihadis in Iraq as a legitimate threat to “Western civilization” and our homeland in order to justify our military presence there.
No U.S. soldier’s life is worth record profits for U.S. oil companies.
Brian Girard Smith is a former Sparta, Wis., resident.
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