"We don't understand," said a 40 ish German woman after reading the vigil sign, as she explained that people in Germany are puzzled as to why the U.S. is in all of its wars.
She and her 40 ish husband and their two children, a boy 10 and a girl 8 are from Stuttgart and are on a two week vacation visiting Los Angeles, Las Vegas and elsewhere. They like the U.S. very much, and as this couple joined John Fortier and me during last night's vigil, it was fun to see their children enjoy their rainbow colored ice cream cones of emerald green, aqua blue and rose pink ice cream
This woman expressed her belief that life is for living and to enjoy family and friends, and by implication, not to fight wars. She added that as of this year Germany no longer has a military draft. Young men can serve in the military or not as they choose.
As she made this point, it was a reminder that U.S. Defense Secretary Bob Gates in recent days has been critical of Germany but also critical of many other NATO nations that have refused to participate in the Libyan War, despite U.S. pressure to do so.
Meanwhile, not only is the U.S. led war in Libya not going well, but events are going badly in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Last Friday peaceful protesters in Baghdad were beaten by government supporters allegedly bussed in by the government, as the Iraqi military stood by.* This Iraqi government is kept in power by U.S. forces. While on Tuesday in Baquba, near Baghdad, it took U.S. and Iraq forces to end a three hour siege of government offices. Eight people were killed and 29 were injured.**
Also regarding Iraq, it was widely reported that another $6.6 billion in U.S. cash is missing. These were funds supposedly to be used for Iraq reconstruction in 2004 but no-one can account for the money.*** While regarding Afghanistan, yesterday CNN reported accusations that hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars were mis-spent or unaccounted for. While in Pakistan earlier this week, a Pakistani who reportedly helped the U.S. locate Osama bin Laden was arrested by Pakistan authorities, yet another sign of the U.S.'s Pakistan relationship deteriorating.
But at our Los Angeles area vigil, everything was peaceful as people waved or honked their horns in support. Regarding money, a 70 ish woman reached across her car seat trying to hand us a donation, which as always, we declined to accept. As these wars continue to fall apart and the U.S. economy continues its slow motion collapse, it is my fervent hope that the U.S. government will make peace overseas, bringing its soldiers home safely to their families and then focus its resources in rescuing America.
Dick
* "Pro-government demonstrators attack protesters in Baghdad," Los Angeles Times, 6/11/11 http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/11/world/la-fg-iraq-protests-20110611
** "Iraqi Forces End A Deadly Siege," The Wall Street Journal, 6-15-11 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303714704576385024210944518.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
*** "Auditor Disputes Report About $6.6 billion in Iraq Money Being Stolen," Fox News, 6/14/11 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/14/auditor-disputes-report-about-66-billion-in-iraq-money-being-stolen/
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