As everyone knows, those born to extreme privilege in America are never sent to harm’s way. ‘W” dad, arranged for him to serve in the National Guard in Alabama during the Vietnam War. Not long after he became president, it turned out that he hardly every showed up to duty! And “W” was the man who led America to not one, but two wars; bankrupted the country and the world in the process – and we really should not forget about the thousands of Americans that died, and the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Afghans that have died in the process.
Mitt Romney, is no different. While he was a student at Stanford University, mandatory draft for Vietnam kicked in. He quickly signed up for deferment and went on a Mormon mission to France to sit out the draft. And he did sit it out. He never served. He received four draft deferments, according to Selective Service records. Romney’s college deferments involved a 31-month stretch as a “minister of religion” in France, a classification for Mormon missionaries that the church at the time feared was being overused. The country was cutting troop levels by the time he became eligible for the draft, and his lottery number was not called. He has no idea what the horrors of war look like. No clue.
He talks a good game about recognizing the sacrifices of America’s military. But he has no idea what those sacrifices involve.
And by his own admission, if elected he plans to increase military expenditure by $2 Trillion. To put this in perspective, the U.S. right now, under Obama has brought down the defense budget from about $900 Billion to $600 Billion. Even at $600 Billion, America currently spends more on defense then the rest of the world combined. “W” brought up defense expenses from $200 Billion under Clinton, in his final year in office to $1 Trillion in 2001. What I am really saying, is that an increase of $2 Trillion is ‘code’ for war. Yes, war against Iran. Who else?
Romney has said this, and said it repeatedly – he said it during the debates. He will increase defense expenditure by $2 Trillion. No ifs, buts, or maybes.
And we all know that “Romney” has a special relationship with Bibi Netenyahu (Israel’s PM), who is on record for pushing the world (i.e. the U.S.) into war with Iran. Israel wants to defeat the Mullahs on the back of U.S. taxpayers and politicians that are somewhat casual and insulated from the realities of war.
Don’t get me wrong, I more than anyone else have been pushing for a transformation in Iran. 10 years ago, I advocated for war – it would have been the right move strategically for the U.S. and Iran would have, could have cleaned up for the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan …the whole region. Indeed, Iranians would have lined the streets with flowers. But, today, after two failed invasions …U.S. is retreating. Obama’s administration have shown the power of diplomacy and ‘leading from behind” – by liberating over 150 Million Arabs this past year for less than 1% of what “W” spent liberating 15 Million Iraqis. The Republicans just don’t know how to do this. All they want to do is spend money and provide single bid, single source military contracts for their buddies. Romney is the wrong man for our time.
