Americans Sour on Endless War

[marmar]

from Consortium News:



Americans Sour on Endless War
September 25, 2012

The Right thinks it has a winning issue in mocking President Obama for “leading from behind” on international crises like last year’s uprising in Libya. But a new study finds Americans leery of more war, supportive of diplomacy and eager for less military spending, says Lawrence S. Wittner.

By Lawrence S. Wittner


In the midst of a nationwide election campaign in which many politicians trumpet their support for the buildup and deployment of U.S. military power around the world, the American public’s disagreement with such measures is quite remarkable. Indeed, many signs point to the fact that most Americans want to avoid new wars, reduce military spending, and support international cooperation.

The latest evidence along these lines is a nationwide opinion survey just released as a report (“Foreign Policy in the New Millennium”) by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Conducted in late May and early June 2012, the survey resulted in some striking findings.

One is that most Americans are quite disillusioned with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan during the past decade. Asked about these conflicts, 67 percent of respondents said they had not been worth fighting. Indeed, 69 percent said that, despite the war in Afghanistan, the United States was no safer from terrorism.

Naturally, these attitudes about military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan fed into opinions about future military involvement. Eighty-two percent of those surveyed favored bringing U.S. troops home from Afghanistan by 2014 or by an earlier date. Majorities also opposed maintaining long-term military bases in either country. And 71 percent agreed that “the experience of the Iraq war should make nations more cautious about using military force to deal with rogue states.” .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2012/09/25/americans-sour-on-endless-war/

[xchrom]

1. Du rec. Nt

[Solly Mack]

2. K&R

"...many signs point to the fact that most Americans want to avoid new wars..."

That's not exactly new. Even while some wave the flag and chant "USA!USA!", they still want to avoid the realities of what they're cheering for.


"Indeed, 69 percent said that, despite the war in Afghanistan, the United States was no safer from terrorism. "

And for some, it took years and years of death and destruction to reach that already obvious conclusion.

Yeah, I'm angry. Still.

[grilled onions]

3. The Cost Of War Is Horrific

It's easy to count of war in dollars not to mention that the war mongers are constantly thinking of new ways to spend money we don't have--new war toys,new chemicals that can destroy the human body,the land,animal and plant life. But it's the cost at home that you can see every day that really makes you against more war. A visit to any vet hospital,clinic will show that war for many will be something they have to deal with for the rest of their lives. It's the vets,their wives,husbands,kids. The damage done to body and spirit is something that cannot be solved by having more wars.
Secondly people in general are seeing that money that could be used for practical causes here at home are going elsewhere in their never ending quests for more wars for oil,territory,superiority over other countries.
Threats of granny getting evicted from the nursing home if they slash Medicaid,the young man in college who can't get a break with tuition,those who are one paycheck away from losing their homes,all of those who have no insurance at all--it's these people who are so tired of war and it's continual drain of financial resources to all the population (even more then47%) that makes them realize that we simply see little purpose of continual war.

[sad sally]

4. The future military methods - armed drones - are being foisted upon the world and are almost accepted

as normal by a large number of Americans and probably other civilized nations. This method is presented as a "clean" image. Only Bad People are targeted and by killing them and many times destroying their bodies, no messy captures, and all that entails - prisons, torture, judicial proceedings - is needed. Troops operating drones can be kept safe, even be in another country; arms manufacturers will still be needed to make bombs - viola! The future military.

A war-weary nation will accept the slow winding down destructive Enduring Freedom War for another two long years, and the "need" to drone any and every place in the world there are "enemies." Cost be damned - we must be kept safe from terrorists.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Hillary Clinton has been working tirelessly worldwide without fanfare. Kudos. nt