Oct. 21 marked the 11th anniversary of the passing of 1972 losing Democratic Party presidential candidate South Dakota Senator George McGovern. He was ahead of his time in his race against Republican President Richard Nixon. McGovern’s platform included ending the Vietnam War. It also called for spending the billions wasted on the war to rebuild America, along with saving lives by bringing the troops home.
McGovern was too proud to emphasis his military experience as a decorated World War II bomber pilot. Nixon attempted to portray him as soft on national defense.
Since 2001 we have spend almost $7 trillion between our involvement in various international nation-building adventures in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Ukraine wars. There was also the loss of 7,000 American military along with additional private military contractors employed to assist in the fighting. Thousands more suffer day to day with permanent physical injuries.
Was it worth spending the dollars and lives? What we have gotten in return?
Larry Penner
Great Neck