Serving the Empire, Killing for Lies by Sheldon Richman

[bobbyw24]

We made it through another Memorial Day. Thankfully, most people think of it as just the start of summer. They don’t seem to use it as America’s political leaders have long wanted: as a day of reverence for America’s world domination.

In his radio address this past Saturday President Obama urged all Americans to “serve” the members of the armed forces “as well as they served us.” He called on us to remember the 5,400 Americans “who laid down their lives in defense of their fellow citizens” in Iraq and Afghanistan. He assured us that “the men and women serving this country around the world have the support they need to achieve their missions and come home safely” (emphasis added). He also praised every war in American history as a hallowed effort to protect the nation.

Once again an American president lies to sanctify war.

Some questions should be obvious: how exactly are the armed forces today serving us or the country? And what are those men and women of the military doing “around the world”? Why didn’t Obama mention the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Afghans, and Pakistanis killed by American forces in the latest operations?

Don’t say that American forces are protecting us. Those troops may be serving the government and the “private” component of the military-industrial complex, but that has nothing to do with average Americans, who would be far safer — not to mention richer — if the trillion dollars spent every year on military-related matters were simply left in the taxpayers’ pockets.

It is way past time that the American people started seeing through the nonsense. That isn’t rocket science. Consider recent events:

http://www.fff.org/comment/com1006b.asp

[Travlyr]

Sheldon Richman is spot on in this piece. Last century it is estimated that governments killed @ 260,000,000 people. How many more will have to die to achieve peace? We can do better in the 21st century. Going around the world killing people is barbaric yet extremely profitable for international bankers and the inside players, and very expensive for the rest of us. :mad:

End central banking along with fiat money and wars become much more difficult to finance. Then, and only then, will I willing give up some of my gold for defense.

[sevin]

He called on us to remember the 5,400 Americans “who laid down their lives in defense of their fellow citizens” in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In defense? If the U.S. had never sent troops over there but instead focused on protecting the borders, terrorists never would have managed to take out 5400 Americans.