Pinprick
“It’s a consequence of the way we go to war these days. It doesn’t affect the general community, whether it’s York (Penn.) or Des Moines or anywhere else. It’s a volunteer Army, so there isn’t general sacrifice at a personal or economic level. There’s no rationing. We’re an affluent country. We can go fight two wars at the same time, and most people don’t even feel a pinprick. Frankly, I don’t think the average person thinks about these wars at all. They’re more concerned about what’s going on in ‘Lost’ or who’s winning ‘American Idol’ than what the country is doing overseas.”—Craig Trebilcock, lawyer and Army reservist who fought two tours in Iraq, March 2010, The Christian Science Monitor URL
Photo: Trebilcock holding flag aboard tank outside Basra, Iraq.
Courtesy of Craig Trebilcock and CSMonitor
Courtesy of Craig Trebilcock and CSMonitor
Factoids: The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have cost U.S. taxpayers about $910 billion and more than 5,400 U.S. dead; U.S. troops have been in iraq for seven years, and in Afghanistan since 2001—8.4 years—longer than any other American war. (Source: CSMonitor and Congressional Research Service, icasulaties.org)
Editor’s Note: What’s on “Jeopardy,” Alex?
Today’s Wish-I-Were-Here Photo: Moonrise
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Bud writes: Other than the factoid researcher forgetting that we were in Vietnam for about 12 years by my count (’62-’74), everything this guy says is 100% true and on point. We’re not being asked to sacrifice because then we might actually give a damn. I served from ’61-’65, and when I came home, everyone … EVERYONE was interested in what was going on because there was a draft and we were being taxed to pay for the war effort.
ReplyDeleteTed: re. Vietnam: My omission--the CSMonitor chart was based on active combat, years 1964-1973. I'm with you on the draft--which is ironic given my peacenik years. If all 18-y-o kids were drafted into national service--wartime or otherwise--they'd damn well pay more attention to government policy.
Bud: I remember the first Gulf War (remember that NBC reporter, I forget his name, Arthur Kent, maybe? The “Scud Stud?” That’s how we viewed that war … “Must See TV!” Little to no skin in the game for the American people. Make us fight? Make us pay? We might actually give a bleep about it. The older I get the more I fear for the republic.
Randy writes: I was in the Miami airport a year ago and waw a whole plane being loaded with fresh young fodder being sent to war. I was so angry I could hardly function for a while. It is Vietnam but nobody cares.
ReplyDeleteTed replies: Damn right. I know you'd disagree--and I can't believe this old peacenik is even thinking this--but I think mandatory national service for 19/20-y-o's --in wartime or not--would get people's attention.
Randy: It is the only justification I can think of for mandatory slavery in the armed forces.