Wars’ toll too high

In 2011 we will observe the eighth anniversary of U.S. troop deployment to wars in the Middle East, wars without strategic or humanitarian justification. The weapons of mass destruction excuse for this tragic adventure was rejected by most of our NATO military allies.

These wars have taken the lives of over 5,000 American troops, plus thousands or possibly even hundreds of thousands of physical and emotional injuries, and interrupted or destroyed civilian careers. The damage to the invaded countries, hundreds of thousands of lives of civilians and property destruction due to military and terrorist activities, is beyond measure.

The war has also been an important factor in disruption of our economy, adding a multitrillion-dollar contribution to our financial bubble and federal deficit.

If we need a New Year’s resolution, it could well be commitment to a rational and realistic use of the military in our foreign policy.

W. Robert Schwandt

Spokane Valley