He is 18 years old, enlisted in the Army a couple of months ago and just finishing basic training. In 5 months he will be helping with the fuel supply (position unclear)in Afghanistan. He's 18 years old.
He was so happy when he enlisted, proudly wearing his ARMY shirt around everywhere. He was excited, anxious even, to begin basic training to because apart of something great.
It was not place to tell him my thoughts. That there was nothing to be excited about. In fact, my heart ached that this young man was totally unaware of the consequences of his actions. That he might one day be forced to fight and kill other men, not in defense, but for the profits of men he has never seen and whose power he will never know.
I've railed against the Afghanistan occupation for years now. First, when Bush invaded. Then, throughout the subsequent years. When Obama campaigned on fighting the "real" battle there I balked, then finally called his thinking misguided at best and bought out at worst.
But it was never personal. Now it is personal. Now it is my family that has a blood stake in the war. And you know what I am pissed about it.
I don't want my brother-in-law to fight these people's war. This is not America's war. The Taliban is not a threat, the poor tribal people that will die there have not attacked us and couldn't if they wanted too.
Instead, we voluntarily send our young people into harm's way when we should be protecting them from harm.
And you know what I fear? One day the title will be, "IGTNT: Bother-in-Law passed today" I fear that I may become very bitter at that point.
They are already taking his youth, his innocence...if they take his life as well I don't know what I will do.
Remember to fight against these wars please. Remember that the Wars affect jobs. It damages the economy. It creates terrorism. It infects our morality. It is immoral, unjust, and destroying this country. Fight. Please.