Letter: The costs of war are all too high

Posted 2/1/19

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and war correspondent, David Wood, writes in his book, “ What Have We Done? The Moral Injury of Our Longest Wars ”: “When there is casual …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Letter: The costs of war are all too high

Posted

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and war correspondent, David Wood, writes in his book, “What Have We Done? The Moral Injury of Our Longest Wars”: “When there is casual talk in Washington about putting ‘boots on the ground,’ I want to bellow a furious correction: Americans on the ground! Let’s name it – humans! Our kids. I want us to be more careful with them. While we’re figuring out whether and how to end war, I want us to be more skeptical of lofty claims of what military force can achieve and more mindful of the costs that will be borne by the people we send to fight.”

We are calling upon our representatives in Congress to become original co-sponsors of legislation to be introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee that will repeal the 2001 and 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force Acts and reclaim Congress’ authority to seriously debate any act of war.

Following the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, Congress abdicated its Constitutional authority and responsibility to debate and declare war by passing the 2001 and 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force Act (AUMF). Without any debate in Congress during the past 17 years, U.S. presidents have used these two laws to engage in military action in at least 18 countries, not counting covert lethal operations.  

Clearly these 17 years have not brought us peace. The financial and real life costs of U.S. engagement in wars are enormous. (The Costs of War Project: https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/)

In fact, our country’s failed war policies have destabilized the Middle East, contributed to a massive refugee crisis and given rise to more terrorism. It is time we recognize that war is not the solution to all conflict. Instead we urge a foreign policy based on diplomacy, humanitarian aid and peace building and a budget that favors social uplift rather than investment in endless war.

We encourage other readers to write to our Congressional representatives urging them to become original co-sponsors of this important legislation.   

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words ring far too true: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”

Nancy Hood
Bristol

Ms. Hood is writing on behalf of East Bay Citizens for Peace.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.