What does it mean that the last "combat troops" have now left Iraq?This seems to be getting fanfare with the President's Oval Office speech tonight. I don't ever remember hearing that distinction before. With combat troops gone, as the astute cspan caller asked, who will defend the 50,000 troops that remain?
The Economist magazine tells of the 2 million troops in Iraq since Day 1, out of which 4000+ have come back in body bags, and another 45,000 returned wounded. The reality of traumatic brain injury, which even has an acronym TBI, and PTSD which has become a household word. Which makes it 1 in 40 troops coming back wounded or dead.
Not nice to talk about that side but how many are congresspeople's sons or daughters? Given 435 Representatives and 100 Senators, if each one sent a family member the odds are that 13 of them would be impaired or killed in the war. Consequences for their policy actions.
What will the anti-Iraq group that stands vigil silently every Wednesday night in front of the Beaverton library do now? Perhaps take up Afghanistan as a cause.
Mr Obama gave a blip mention to the state of the US economy, the middle class. Is there still a middle class in this country? I feel like I abandoned that notion a long time ago - in the last recession. There will be more resources for our economy and education, he seemed to imply. Really?
No comments:
Post a Comment