A sad reminder, we are still at war
A local soldier was killed over the weekend in Afghanistan reminds us locally that the war in the Middle East still rages on
A U.S. Army spokesman at Fort Drum in Jefferson County announced Monday night that Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen, 29, of Rochester was killed in Wardak province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised-explosive device and small arms fire.
The theater of focus has shifted from Iraq to Afghanistan, but still, we’re fighting.
With the collapse of the US economy and the focus on health care reform, the war has fallen into the periphery of the American consciousness. War rallies draw minimal crowds and, in Rochester, we have lost our Anti-war storefront.
Eric Massa, in last week’s City interview was asked about Afghanistan:
CITY: August was the deadliest month yet in Afghanistan and military activities there are picking up. What are your thoughts on that war and how President Obama is handling it?
Massa: I do not believe that we will ever create a Jeffersonian democracy in Afghanistan, and I think that if that is our focus then we are sorely mistaken. One of my major worries is I have not heard a well-articulated strategy as to what our goals are. I said that about a previous administration and I make that statement now.
If I were to counsel the administration, and I have not been asked to do so, I would remind them that there has never been a successful military occupation of Afghanistan in the history of the world. Not Kublai Kahn coming from the east, the British from the west, the Soviets from the north, and now we are coming from the south, using communication and supply lines through Pakistan. More soldiers and more soldiers and more commitment do not mean success, because I have not heard anyone define what success will be.
Yeah, it’s that old definition thing again. What is our mission there, and when can we declare it accomplished? Do our soldiers even know what they’re fighting for?
Our thoughts are with Sgt. Allen’s family. His death, in service to his country, is the highest sacrifice asked of anyone. We honor him and his service.
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Massa should worry about our loss of a Jeffersonian Democracy here at home. He should be promoting real health care reform - competition and choice. Not limited faux-competition designed by the government to benefit the government.
Talk to Stephen Hawking. He is an example of how universal health care helps.
I think Mr Massa has a much better understanding of health care reform in his little finger than you do in that massive brain hiding under the baseball cap on backwards. I know, we should all honor the free market system. It works sooooooooo well!
And really, Mike WNT, I was trying to get away from the health care posts, and you just had to jump in and drag the discussion back there. Patience, Weedhopper, there will be more single payer posts where you can spew your vitriol about the government actually trying to make sure all of it’s people are covered.
Here, let me do it for you:
Government,Bad. Free Market,Good.
I will assume that you agree that Obama’s war-mongering ways have been a huge disappointment.
Although assuming is never a good idea, you have assumed correctly on this occassion.
I wonder during which part of Jefferson’s life Mike WNT would like Massa to emulate.
I’m sure he is is well aware that Jefferson made major changes and swings in his philosophy throughout his life. Mostly after he matured after realizing the result of the failures of his early thoughts. Many which he recanted. Let’s not forget Jefferson lost his immense wealth and died in debt. I’m not convinced America should strive to die in debt.
But facts always seem to get in the way of good old anarchist rantings…
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