U.S. involvement must end

After the Sept. 11, 2011, attacks on our country, it was clearly the right thing to do after those harboring Bin Laden in Afghanistan. Although a declaration of war was not declared, Congress gave President Bush the “go ahead” with funding for the Afghanistan offensive. That was the beginning of the series of blunders which have occurred in that part of the world for the last 11 years. According to our Constitution, wars must be declared by Congress.

We are still “nation-building” in Afghanistan. We are building their schools, hospitals, roads, electrical grid and so forth while our infrastructure at home is falling apart and our annual deficits are a trillion dollars per year. Three years there to try to find Bin Laden would have been enough. Bombings and killings in Afghanistan continue unabated.

Then came the Iraq disaster. Yes, Saddam Hussein was a dictator. But it is not our business to take out every despot in the world. There are plenty out there including those ruling Sudan, Somalia, China and North Korea to name a few. But Bush did not ask for my advice, unfortunately. Bombings and killings continue in Iraq with no end in sight.

And the pattern continued with our government advocating the overthrow of Mubarak in Egypt and Kadaffi in Libya. In the Libyan debacle our military forces were used to dethrone Kadaffi even though he was considered by our government to be somewhat of an ally in recent years. How hopelessly naive were President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to think that everyday life in those countries would be better when given over to the “Arab spring” movement of the Muslim Brotherhood. And now Obama and Clinton act surprised when our consulate in Benghazi is attacked and four people are killed including our ambassador.

Much can be said of our meddling into Pakistani affairs. General Musharif again was the typical Middle East ruler. But do-gooders Bush and Condoleezza Rice somehow wanted “democracy” to flourish there, by trying to get Benizere Buotto elected president. She was assassinated and now our State Department is wringing it’s hands over instability in Pakistan. We give that country much financial aid every year and for some time they did not let our convoys through their country to supply our military in Afghanistan.

As a result of the tumult in that part of the world, Christians are now having a hard time surviving. The dictators that we have helped overthrow at least tolerated Christians to a certain degree. Now as a rule they are persecuted, forced to flee and emigrate, with homes and churches destroyed.

This country’s policy of never ending wars has lead to suicide rates among our armed forces personnel that are tragic. And since the first of this year around 45 of our armed services members have been killed by Afghan security, police or armed forces people. I have been and always will be an admirer and supporter of our military forces and an advocate for a strong Defense Department. But the question must also be asked: Why do we have tens of thousands of troops in Germany, Britain, South Korea and Japan along with other countries? Those countries can and should defend themselves. The needless military adventurism and nation-building must end.

Jerry Shuster

Gheen, MN