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Beware The Consequences of Pre-Emptive War

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Published : February 13th, 2013
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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.

Data and Statistics for these countries : Afghanistan | Iraq | Pakistan | Yemen | All
Gold and Silver Prices for these countries : Afghanistan | Iraq | Pakistan | Yemen | All
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Congressman Ron Paul of Texas enjoys a national reputation as the premier advocate for liberty in politics today. Dr. Paul is the leading spokesman in Washington for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He is known among both his colleagues in Congress and his constituents for his consistent voting record in the House of Representatives: Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Dr. Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill.
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The philosophy of Ron Paul about foreign policy is just common sense. Come on, americans, how it's possible that you don't choose this person as president?
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This is why http://youtu.be/YvxNgdFeWqM and http://youtu.be/rNzwgrtdBo8
Jim C. LOVES Walmart do you see the connection?
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Ron Paul, more or less correct on economic issues, has become with his foreign policy pontifications a traitor to the nation. His recent tweet comment on the murder of Chris Kyle (that he who "lives by the sword, dies by the sword") confirms the suspicion. His son Rand, asked about his father's comment, did not defend it -- what can you do when your pop goes Benedict Arnold?

When nations such as Iran, avidly pursuing nuclear weapons, and North Korea, who already has them, repeatedly threaten us with destruction then pre-emptive action is the proper moral recourse. If a neighbor is in possession of a weapon and is threatening to kill your wife and kids, and if the police can't or won't take action, then one is within one's rights to take action and protect one's family.

Ron Paul is so blinded with hatred for the United States (for his repeated failures to win the Presidency?) that his brain has become warped. I thank whatever gods may be for his retirement from a position of power.



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Jim C. you sure have a demented view of the world and the way it runs. The ‘rogue states have every right to defend themselves and if this means developing nuclear capabilities then so be it. The United States has been meddling in other nations business for so many years it’s hard to find the point in time when this wasn’t common practice. You state “When nations such as Iran, avidly pursuing nuclear weapons, and North Korea, who already has them, repeatedly threaten us with destruction then pre-emptive action is the proper moral recourse.” Well then what is the proper moral recourse for the countries the US has been screwing over for decades? You spew a bunch of crap about the US using pre-emptive strikes, what makes it right for the US to screw over countries and then blow them away because the refuse to be pushed further? The United States today is the most corrupt state on the planet and is rightfully being targeted by those it has abused. Don’t like being a target, then stop making yourself one!

Seriously Jim, get a grip and stop watching MSNBC and the other crap media. Start looking at what’s really going on, then maybe just maybe, you’ll realise that the intent of these rogue states is to defend themselves, a moral and just cause.

It’s blatantly obvious to any reader that drops by here regularly that you have a major hate on for Ron Paul which is your right but get over this brain washing that the US is a victim and needs to defend itself. The US is the worst aggressor known to mankind.
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This is why http://youtu.be/YvxNgdFeWqM and http://youtu.be/rNzwgrtdBo8 Jim C. LOVES Walmart do you see the connection? Read more
prljr - 2/14/2013 at 7:19 PM GMT
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