Does anyone care much anymore? About a war without end? A war that always needs just a little more time – and just a few billion dollars more?
Congressman Jim McGovern wrote a diary on Wednesday that received so little attention about the war that it deeply saddened me.
Are we so far down the rabbit hole that when a congressman comes here to diary about the war that we are just not interested in hearing about efforts to end this war, the voices who will speak up on congress?
Dragging this thing out for over another year (and more) is going to get a lot more good people killed. Not that anyone cares much anymore, kos posted in a diary in February.
If you want to write a lonely diary, well, the Afghanistan war topic will accomplish your goal. You will most likely receive few views, comments, recs or tips.
You can of course write about the latest utterance from the Romney campaign and gain great attention over that latest outrageous remark.
How about we talk about an outrageous war? Can you believe 11 years and counting?
Can you believe how few voices in congress have the courage to stand up?
How about we give our longest war the time and attention that this endless war deserves, to work towards a end goal, a timely exit, as promised?
Does anyone care much anymore?
Why don't we talk about what we can do to convince those in congress who never find a shortage of votes for the funding of this war some needed attention?
Why not actively support those in congress who are courageous enough to stand up and speak out!
As the congressman posted in his dairy:
15 members of Congress spoke for 90 minutes, on July 18th, on the FY 2013 Defense Appropriations Act in pursuit of one goal: End the war in Afghanistan. Bring our troops home.
McGovern says.....
Neither the Pentagon nor the Administration has publicly laid out post-2014 plans, but they are clearly leaving open the possibility of a significant military presence.
This is the reality we face as we open debate on this bill.
I’m not convinced that there is any light at the end of the tunnel.
I am not convinced that this war is coming to an end.
And I’m not convinced we’re anywhere close to an end. And it’s the fault of Congress. We approve the money – and we remain silent – year after year.
We need to stop. We aren’t supporting our troops. We’re committing them to suffer life-long trauma from too many deployments, for too long a time, over too many years.
For a war without end. For a war that always needs just a little more time – and just a few billion dollars more.
Enough is enough. I urge my colleagues to support amendments over the next 3 days to reduce the funding for this war, bring it to an end, and honor the sacrifice of our troops by bringing them and our tax dollars back home.
The 2013 "Defense" Appropriations Bill would spend $519 billion for the "non-war" Pentagon budget plus $88.4 billion more on the war in Afghanistan.
The bill would allocate 57% of all federal discretionary spending to the military, at a time when some want to cut spending on food stamps, claiming there is not enough money.