Aerospace power for peace.

That was a recruiting billboard that I read in 1967 which maybe encouraged my enlistment in the Air Force, knowing that my health and age made me vulnerable to a draft by the Army or Marine Corps and possibly into a war that I did not feel any compulsion to sacrifice life and limb for.

But, the slogan still reflects my feelings toward our Armed Forces, which are mainly appreciative and good and always as a defensive force against invasion from another nation which attacks us by land, air, or sea.

The neocon think tanks have subverted our Armed Forces with the attitude of using them as a coercive force to intervene whenever and wherever it best benefits their goals. They seems to think that "Hey, we have the power, why not use it?" During the early parts of the 20th century, the majority of U.S. citizens were extremely reluctant to have our nation participate in foreign wars. Yet, those citizens weren't deluged with a constant barrage of media hounds from hell, steadily aiding and abetting the American Military Industrial Complex in its' drumbeat and wardances that suck us back into yet another conflict. The current debacle in Iraq is a prime example of a population confused and uncertain about the necessity for invading Iraq, but unwilling to strongly challenge our leaders or doubt our media pundits in the ramp-up for war.

In every major conflict that our Armed Forces have been committed since declarations of war against Germany, Japan, and the Axis nations in WWII, I would contest the misuse of our Armed Forces. We have sacrificed innocent lives for every rationale imaginable, except national defense. As a veteran, I will always respect our American Armed Forces as a strong advocate for Peace. I want our forces safe, healthy, and defending American states and territories. Let's not ever let the military industrialists and their media whores misuse our Armed Forces again in our lifetimes. If there is nothing else we can accomplish as a party and as a nation, I would like to see the United States of America viewed once again as a symbol and a beacon for Peace, a strong giant that walks softly but has little need to say the obvious, "Don't tread on me".