“The world is starving for American leadership. But America has an anti-war president.” ~
John Boehner at Capitol Hill press conference March 26, 2015
I would hope that most folk would find that statement by our
Speaker of the House very odd. He was trying to demean the president for being
an “anti-war” president. Shouldn’t all presidents be anti-war? Shouldn’t all
members of the government be anti-war representatives? Shouldn’t all members of
the armed forces be anti-war? Shouldn’t all citizens be anti-war? If we are not
I think we are in big trouble.
In fact, that is one of the most prominent problems we faced
in international relationships. A lot of countries see us as a nation that goes
to war all too easily. We are seen as a war mongering nations rightly or
wrongly.
We certainly spent enough on war issues. In 2012, according
to the War Resisiters League, we budgeted $673 for the military, then we added
$166 military expenses by other parts of the government. Added to this is about
$440 billion in interest on past military expenses. So, they come up with $1.3
trillion in military expense 50% of our general budget.
Recently I have heard more such statements by political
figures, which causes me worry. For example, Senator Rand Paul encourages his
colleagues to decrease spending (social services) but also advocates increased
military spending to the tune of $190 billion in the next two years (see his
amendment to the budget.) He is joined in this outlook with Senator Marco
Rubio, also seeking the presidency. He also wants to increase military
spending.
I would hope that most folk are anti-war.
= = =
"As far as I am concerned, war itself is immoral."
--U.S. WWII General Omar Bradley
"No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of
continual warfare. " --James Madison
"I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of
mankind." --Thomas Jefferson
"My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war,
banished from the earth." --George Washington
"There never was a good war or a bad peace."
--Benjamin Franklin
"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only
as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." --Dwight
D. Eisenhower
"War is the greatest plague that can affect humanity; it
destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is
preferable to it." --Martin Luther
"Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat,
for it is momentary." --The Mahatma Gandhi
