Leslie M. Burger, a retired major general, in a Nov. 23 guest column “Overextended military needs reinforcements,” stated, “As a result of multiple deployments there have been many costly, unintended consequences to our service members and their families.” He lists many “casualties” but I’m disturbed that he deems the answer to be more enlistments.
It’s admitted that we have not adequately attended to the needs of our veterans and even those who serve now or their families. I’m deeply indebted to all military who have served this country, as have three of my own children. Need I remind Burger that ours is a voluntary military and he should not be surprised to learn that the service is less attractive to the young as they learn the realities of war. Maybe they will decide that war does not benefit anyone except the military industrial complex .
If we truly want peace we must see that war only propagates war; that the casualties of decades of extended fighting on foreign soil have ruined our nation. We are not providing proper education for our young; our borders are overrun by lawless refugees from bad governments; parents can’t feed their children; and the world is ruined by those who love war. Yet the general asks for more soldiers.
If Burger can’t see the “unintended consequences” he is very short-sighted.
Mary A. Gunther
Vancouver
