America's War?

Before and after the omnibus war funding bill passed both houses of Congress, I expressed my frustration to many Democrats in Congress regarding their inevitable decision to back down again to Bush and his Republican allies. I did not ask them to cut off funding for the war. I only asked them not to succumb to Bush's veto threat -- that's all -- plain and simple. I didn't think it was a "tall order" being that Democrats threatened not to give Bush any war-funding if he did not accept a withdrawal date for our troops. Most Democrats replied to my request with the usual "we just don't have the votes" or "I can't cut off funding for the troops in harm's way." As if by standing up to Bush would somehow cause the troops to run out of food and bullets. My member of Congress sat down with me one-on-one for 40 minutes and listened to me vent. However, when it was over I left feeling just as unequipped to defend the Democrats' war funding votes as I did prior to the meeting. A couple weeks ago I received a letter from a Democratic Congressman advising me that this is "not George Bush's war" it is "America's War."

OK, fine. If that that is the case I will finally accept that we will be in Iraq at least until the next president is elected and takes office. But if the Congressman is right, and this is in fact America's War, does that mean that we will finally ask the American people as whole to share the sacrifice? Or will we simply just rely on volunteers to fight the war while politicians hide behind them for political cover?

I never advocated for a military draft because there are many people out there who don't agree with the war who would be forced against their will to go over and fight it. The Dick Cheneys of the world would get there 5 deferments, while the less fortunate young men and women of America would be pushed into the grinder.

Not give anyone a history lesson, but during World War II there was not a very high population of self-respecting males of military age who did not enlist for military service.

Even the women joined the war effort by working in the factories that produced the equipment necessary to fight the war. (Now women are giving their lives on the battlefield.)

Since I completed military service I have attended numerous town hall meetings, rallies, marches, and protests against the war in Iraq. I have been confronted entirely too often by pro-war counter-demonstrators who tell me to leave the country because they perceive me to be a traitor or a terrorist sympathizer. Eight out of ten times it is usually by people who have never been near the war in Iraq, but are more than capable of fighting over there -- and even though I fought the war they encourage and support they detest me because I have a difference of opinion.

If we have a military draft or a call to national service, I would bet everything I have that every single one of those cowards would be on my side of street calling for an end to the occupation of Iraq.

Now that it is finally been established that we have a bipartisan majority of Congress with a crystal clear intent to keep the U.S. military in Iraq, we need to come together as a nation and join the volunteers by putting our necks on the line as well.

(I can only assume that there is a bipartisan majority of Congress supporting a continuation of the war because of the number of blank checks they have written for it. Actions speak louder than words.)

It should start with President Bush abandoning his previous ideology that people should "go shopping" instead of serving their country -- our country. If that doesn't work Congress should immediately call Americans to action. I'm sure Congress could at least get this idea passed in the Senate, like they did with the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, that takes us a little closer into another war (with Iran). I'm sure a "non-binding sense of the Senate" calling on Americans to serve their country in some capacity should get the ball rolling. If that does not flood the Army and Marine Corps recruiting offices with volunteers to enlist my hope is that Congressman Rangel will reconsider his previous plan to initiate legislation for a military draft. Furthermore, I would expect that a new version of the military draft would not allow people to receive college deferments. It would ultimately be in the best interest of our country not to produce another generation of draft-dodgers, chicken-hawks, and war-mongers -- please see hyperlink.

If America, as a whole, is truly at war, we should all be sharing in the sacrifice -- because it appears to me right now that it is only our troops who are at war. If we as Americans are not willing to do our own individual share of the "grunt work," we should immediately end the war in Iraq, bring our troops home, and give that country back to it's people.

John Bruhns
Iraq Veteran

Comments

[francoise]

John,

Hello, John, and happy new year ! I sincerely wish for you to be happy, though you might have to wait another year, like I have, to feel less frustrated and helpless.

Thanks for this post. You're good at making us feel the truth and think a lot. You're a great pedagog. You'd be a wonderful teacher, John, you have a way to turn complexity into understandable and clear points. And you're a pragmatic who doesn't bullshit around with pseudo-philosophical lies.

America's War ? Considering that more than two thirds of Americans are against the war, perhaps the guy meant the war lead by the Americans to stop the Iraq war. That seems to be America's War against their deaf congressmen !

As for Bush bragging "Bring it on !" (and not being there when they did) then advising "go shopping"... This last advice might be less superficial than it sounds.
One who goes shopping becomes prisoner of his debt. One who owns money to the bank doesn't have time to take to the streets and protest. One who spends all one's money going shopping can't pay for the college of one's children, and the children become easier targets for the military recruiters.

Please, John, go on fighting your war with your words, writtings, actions. Those who mock you are despicable frauds. You make Americans proud to be Americans.

[SirReal1]

John,

Another excellent post! The frustration you express is shared, I'm sure, by many of us who have stood in harms way so that the Nation could prosper. I don't think any of us had this in mind as the definition of prosperity.

I'm as frustrated as you are by the "disconnect" that I see between the reality of our Service Members, and the day to day existence of the general civilian populace. I'm likewise enraged when confronted by the "military aged patriot" who feels his or her service is not required because he/she can better "serve" their country by getting their MBA, and voting for their candidate of choice who will continue to "support the troops" by insuring they continue to get bullets for their rifles.

But a draft? A call to service?

At a minimum, I would suggest that this action SHOULD NOT under any conditions be taken until this (mis)Administration is out of office. Providing this group of criminals with an unlimited number of personnel would be tantamount to giving them a green light on launching yet another mis-adventure into yet another Middle-Eastern (sovereign) Nation.

Should it come to pass that we end up with a (DLC) Democratic President, and a (DLC) Democratic Majority in the House and Senate, and STILL do not see the end in sight, THEN I would fully support a proposal to restore the Selective Service Act. No Deferrals, NO Exclusions.

Just not on Bush's watch.

[chirps]

But Americans ARE participating in the Iraq War, for it is they and their children and grandchildren who will be repaying the Chinese loans financing the war. Brilliant move, Bush, just freaking brilliant!

[theyak]

have you noticed how many young Republicans always respond to why they haven't volunteered for military service that they are "needed here at home to fight the culture war", safe and cozy in the world daddy's wallet provides them with? why is it that so many that have/will never serve are given credence in matters of war?

[Halsey]

I work with a young (32) man..who backs W's invasion...he is certainly young enough to go into the reserves...and, in all likelihood, be sent to Iraq...HA!..fat chance...as the author properly notes...rapid pro-war repubicans (of a certain financial class)..would never want their sons and daughters put in harms way...let the "lower" class right this "war" while the prove their patriotism by shoppping..

It's simple..but it's blatant honesty shouts out the differenc between FDR and GWB..

One told Americans to sacrifice..the other..to shop....um...see any disconnect here?

it'd be embarrassing were it not so tragic.

[Sundialsvc4]

Mr. Bruhns, I'm thankful for your service and glad that you're home alive and in one piece. You are, rather, the exception.

Giving these ruthless men access to "any male OR FEMALE between the age of 18 and FORTY-TWO," as the National Service Act of 2007 would proscribe (look it up for yourself at http://thomas.loc.gov) would be the worst thing imaginable. They would kill men and women by the tens of thousands and count the score in dollars.

There is only one thing that realistically can be done: to recognize that these are not the prerogatives of a duly-elected leader in the performance of the duties of the office, but a truly endless series of high crimes against the nation itself. These are not "poor, ill-advised decisions." These are criminal acts. Unfortunately for all of us, all three branches of our Government are rotten with them.

Unfortunately, when you are dealing with this kind of criminal, there's only one thing that you can do with them and that's the ol' "Hawaii Five-O" treatment: "bust 'em." The longer you wait to do it, the worse it gets.

[desmirl]

John,

Like you, I have been told by both senators and congresscritters that "America is at war with terror" although none of them know the Capital of Terror, the GNP of Terror, the major Airport of Terror, etc. We have a million and a half people in uniform. The 'terrorists' have a few thousand people (most of whom are not directly involved in anything other that ranting and speechifying), very loosely bonded, many with conflicting ideas and ideals, while the servants of the Military/Industrial Complex would have us believing that the struggle is the equivalent of WWII. We are being lied to by those who profit from a frightened populace being led around by the nose by liars and cheats. Make them tell the truth, John. You have found a platform from which to tell us all that the Emperor is nekkid as a jaybird.

Your friend,
Dennis Smirl

[Rule Of Law]

Universal National Service--Military or Social--for a period of two years, no deferments, no excuses. And for their sacrifice, the Government, us, pays for the first two years of college education for each and every one! Work for your country, get paid by your country, and then improve your country with the education you receive.

[littleblackcat]

By the way, if I don't post somewhere on Huffpost in the space of a week's time, someone check to see if the bush cabal have taken out a plump, angry, grandmotherly type somewhere in New England. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to be the victim of an "accident". Karen Silkwood's death was ruled "accidental" too, as have been any number of others.

[littleblackcat]

People have told me I'm a bit drastic. I have asked them how they felt about Mussollini's execution and others in the Third Reich. When their mouths hang open a moment, I ask them if they can honestly say there is a hell of a lot of difference between Poland-Germany 1939-1943 and the horror gwb has created in Iraq for the Iraqi people. george bush has the same kind of blood on his hands as Hitler ever did and worse. Our "volunteer military" has for the most part "volunteered" in an effort to gain the money for furthering their education, since the repukes have taken away easily available money for poorer kids to borrow so they could go to college. John Kerry hit it squarely on the nailhead and of course the cowpie repukes grabbed that by the throat and howled in mock anguish about how Kerry was "demeaning the soldiers and calling them stupid". That wasn't what was meant and again, anyone with a thinking brain knew it. Our military IS comprised of a painfully larger share of young folks who joined because there seemed no better way to gain the education they knew they needed and had no way to afford. Those fat sign-up checks looked like the way out and up to them. They didn't count on being under the thumb of a madman.

[littleblackcat]

All should remember John McCain's OWN WORDS OF NOT TOO LONG AGO...."We came to Washington to change Washington, and Washington changed us." John McCain is not the man he was 8 years ago, he has become "D.C. regular" and as such should receive NO support from anyone who has a thinking brain. Unending YEARS of war. I would have thought only the mind fried on coke and booze possessed by bushit could conceive of such a a wasteful horror. Everyone, get out and VOTE!!, contribute if you can, even if only a few dollars, talk to your friends. The repub party must be stopped, disbanded, and declared illegal, traitorous even. The bush administration needs to be brought before the World Court. Why that has not happened is beyond me. bush, cheney, rumsfeld, rove, bolton, wolfowicz, and many more should be tried and if found guilty, executed if that is what it takes to let the world know that the American people find the actions of this administration revolting.

[benjaminblue]

The reason it is "America's War" and not "Bush's War" is very simple.

Even someone as greedy as Mr. Bush cannot pocket all the money that can be siphoned from the war funding.

So other pseudo-American pseudo-patriots are lining their pockets as well.

However, the soldiers and their families are not among those who are reaping enormous profits.

The price they pay in loss of life and the emotional stress they incur are viewed as "justifiable" costs to America so that Mr. Bush and his corrupt cohorts can continue raping the country of its riches and its reputation.

[deminmo]

John,
What do you think of the comments by Bush, that if Israel is attacked, "we" will defend our
ally? Coupled with the threats about Bush going
to Israel, that is.

I predicted several months ago on this blog, that we would have forces in Iraq for at least
10 years. No one in Washington knows how to
get us out of Iraq, without causing a horrific
civil war. The Iraqi goverment doesn't appear to
have any reason to take over. The Iraqi troops
or I should say one member, has killed 2 American soldiers who were working with him. So
how trustworthy can they be? But I asked Speaker
Pelosi in an email why we didn't just let the
hired guns in Blackwater take over security, let
our soldiers start coming home. I haven't gotten
a reply. Why can't they? If Bush hired them, then let the Generals stay and keep watch over
them for the next ten years.
As for me fighting, I have never fired a gun,
but I could learn. I'd probably get myself shot
because arthritis makes me slow. But I would
certainly be willing to take my watch to let
someone who has been away for 3 tours, come home
to their families.
Honestly, I still think Bush will take us into
WW III before he leaves office.

[tompoe]

First things first, folks. Iraq occupation is not Iraq war. We are funding an occupation. The arrogance of the Bush Administration to label Iraq as a war is obscene. However, if calling the Iraq occupation a war will help convict our administration of war crimes, then I'll defer to those who choose to call the Iraq occupation a war. :)

[oldpotsmuggler]

I'm sixty years old. I couldn't get close to a war even if I wanted to, and I still will not accept any responsibility for the continuation of this travesty. Don't send me, don't send thee, and don't send those who we have already sent.

And let's reinstate the draft immediately so that we can turn down all of the belligerence that sadly passes for patriotism in the country today. I'll bet that young people will turn pacifistic quickly when it's their butts that get put on the line, but I'll bet that their parents will largely start taking these things far more seriously also.