To the editor:
Thirteen years ago this week, a group of citizens gathered on the Aroostook River bridge in Presque Isle to protest the war in Afghanistan, and the commencement of the war in Iraq. We believed the new war was a colossal mistake, morally, politically, militarily and economically.
Over these 13 years, some of our regular protesters have died, some have moved away, some have gotten sick and recovered, some not. Yet we persist because these wars have not become “errors of the past,” but persistent elements of American life, although we often choose to ignore them. The wars have cost many thousands of lives, and have and will cost trillions of dollars. We will be paying debt service on the borrowed money used to wage the war for decades. We will be supporting [as we should] veterans disabled in the war for the rest of their lives. Yet we continue to send thousands of “advisers” to Iraq and Afghanistan, to say nothing of the contractors [or mercenaries] that are and will be funded by our taxes.
And we have not defeated our enemies, but rather made them stronger. The Middle East is a far less stable region than it was 13 years ago. Who had heard of our “new enemy” ISIS in 2003?
And now we are in an election year, with none of the candidates proposing a comprehensive view of the way forward. Oh, there is much bluster, some of it nearly insane. It is a frightening time.
Yet now is the time to stand up for peace. Demand a real peace plan from your candidates for president and Congress. Do it privately, or come join our public demonstration in favor of ending these wars and pursuing peace around the world.
We will continue to be on the bridge in Presque Isle every Sunday from noon to 1 p.m., regardless of conditions. As always.
