Never Ending War Equals A Transfer of Wealth To Those Who Are Profiting From The War
Years of American occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan has resulted in the brutal destruction of homes, buildings, businesses and infrastructure and the killing of combatants but also the killing of many, many more innocents (who we call “collateral damage”).
Hundreds of billions of dollars have been borrowed that American citizens both present and future will be required to repay. Because of the large amounts of interest on this loan, the interest will never be paid off. This is a tremendous incentive for those who are receiving this interest to promote the continuation of the war.
Other beneficiaries of this money are private corporations who are profiting in no-bid contracts, raking in kingly riches beyond imagination while Americans work daily to provide the money to pay for these contracts.
These corporations and the banking industry who are experiencing greatly expanding profits (hundreds of billions) are using their wealth to petition congress and the military to continue this “war on terrorism” indefinitely. Congressional and military leaders who are successful in generating more contracts for these businesses and continuing the war effort are handsomely rewarded with stock and/or future positions in these same companies. Sometimes these positions are on the board of directors and the salaries are staggering. (One general was given a board seat and stock options worth $565 million.)
Large sums of money are channeled to support candidates for congressional office who will continue the war effort and more money is given to major PR firms to create the mental impression that “terrorism” is real, ongoing and an ever present threat to our society.
The result is that many Americans are profiting greatly from the inhumane suffering created against other humans around the globe. To support this, many more Americans are turning over their wealth to these fellow citizens who are engaged in "combating terrorism.”
In their fear of “terrorists” American citizens are pledging what remains of the economic wealth of their lives and the wealth of yet to be born Americans.
Americans are being asked and led to believe that the “terrorists” are idealists who have an agenda to kill all who are not like them. An idealist enemy is an enemy who cannot be negotiated with or reasoned with because they believe it is their duty to kill all who are not like them.
This is a war that cannot be won. Is there another way?
This an enemy who can never be defeated until every single one is hunted down and killed. That calls for never ending war waged with a never ending supply of money provided by existing and future American citizens attempting to establish security in their homeland. It is a philosophy of fear, death to the enemy and a pledge to devote our lives to providing the money that will support this philosophy of insanity while transferring our wealth to enrich corporations and financial interests that benefit from our fear.
Instead of spending our wealth to enrich our lives and the lives of others, we are using that great store of power to purchase a trillion dollar pit bull to defend us against a few "terrorists" who are scattered around the world.
Could we consider the possibility that there are countries and other humans outside our borders who are suffering as a result of American policy? Is it possible that some of these same individuals are reacting in ways to relieve themselves of this suffering? Could our great wealth be spent in ways that would help these peoples instead of increasing their suffering? Is it possible that we could have a relationship of cooperation with other parts of the world instead of a massive military presence that destroys innocent lives while pursuing those we consider a threat to us? ~Edward Long