War On-With Parades

(4 PM – promoted by TMC)

So we’ve recently passed another milestone in our perpetual War. Sunday December 28th 2014 marked the end of our combat mission in Afghanistan.

And we recently passed another set of new year’s parades Rose Bowl and Mummers etc. I’d ask the question “Who doesn’t love a parade?” but I get that there are plenty of people who have an aversion to parades in the same way some people are freaked out by clowns.

Anyhow, I thought it was as good a time as any to reflect on the time line of the country’s aversion to a ticker tape parade celebrating the end of longest running “combat operations” in our history.

Obviously, a ticker tape victory parade makes some people feel a little awkward. And it should. It highlights the fact that combat is NOT over. Military action should never have be used as a substitute for law enforcement action. Not to mention all the rest of the hypocrisy: the false pretenses, the unprosecuted torture war crimes, the illegal spying on and execution of American citizens. There’s plenty for the country to be outraged about. At the very least embarrassed.

A parade forces people to recon with what exactly we went to war for. Can you really declare victory against a tactic? What’s the difference between a War On something and a War With something? And when will we have that victory parade for the war on with drugs?
 

more War on with-

Obama announces end of Iraq war, troops to return home by year end

10/21/2011 ByBrian Montopoli, CBS News

President Obama announced Friday that the United States will withdraw nearly all troops from Iraq by the end of the year, effectively bringing the long and polarizing war in Iraq to an end.

“After nearly 9 years, America’s war in Iraq will be over,” said Mr. Obama.

He said the last American troops will depart the country by January 1 “with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing that the American people stand united in our support for our troops.”

“The transition in Afghanistan is moving forward, and our troops are finally coming home,” he added, saying in the White House briefing room that U.S. troops “will definitely be home for the holidays.” …

As Iraq War Troops Return, No Welcome-Home Parade Planned

12/27/2011 By BEN NUCKOLS and SAMANTHA GROSS, AP

WASHINGTON – Americans probably won’t be seeing a huge ticker-tape parade anytime soon for troops returning from Iraq, and it’s not clear if veterans of the nine-year campaign will ever enjoy the grand, flag-waving, red-white-and-blue homecoming that the nation’s fighting men and women received after World War II and the Gulf War.

With tens of thousands of U.S. troops still fighting a bloody war in Afghanistan, anything that looks like a big victory celebration could be seen as unseemly and premature, some say.

…

The last combat troops in Iraq pulled out more than a week ago. About 91,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are in Afghanistan, battling a stubborn Taliban insurgency and struggling to train Afghan forces so that they eventually can take over security.

…

The last combat troops in Iraq pulled out more than a week ago. About 91,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are in Afghanistan, battling a stubborn Taliban insurgency and struggling to train Afghan forces so that they eventually can take over security. …

EXCLUSIVE: Ticker tape parade for Iraq, Afghanistan war vets put on hold because of ISIS battle, says Chuck Schumer

11/11/2014 BY Jennifer Fermino, NY Daily News

Sen. Chuck Schumer, who in the spring called for a Canyon of Heroes parade in lower Manhattan to honor Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, now says the celebrations would be inappropriate because of the stepped-up U.S. role in Iraq and Syria to battle ISIS.

A parade “would only be appropriate and respectful to our heroes once combat operations abroad have ceased,” he said.

Back in April, Schumer (D-N.Y.) appeared at the statue of the Wall Street bull on lower Broadway with veterans to push for a parade. “Now is the time,” he said.

But in an interview shortly before Veterans Day, he stressed that he was still very much in favor of honoring the vets – just not now.

U.S.-led mission in Afghanistan ends combat role; thousands of foreign troops remain

12/29/2014 By Kay Johnson, Reuters

(Reuters) – The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan formally ended its combat mission on Sunday, more than 13 years after an international alliance ousted the Taliban government for sheltering the planners of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on American cities.

About 13,000 foreign troops, mostly Americans, will remain in the country under a new, two-year mission named “Resolute Support” that will continue the coalition’s training of Afghan security forces.

The Afghan army and police are struggling to fight against Taliban militants who this year killed record numbers of Afghans.

…

“Now, thanks to the extraordinary sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, our combat mission in Afghanistan is ending, and the longest war in American history is coming to a responsible conclusion,” President Barack Obama said in a statement.

If a parade makes political leaders uncomfortable, I say good. I love parades.