That Ain't Nothin'
Dannion's Monthly Rant
October, 2006


 

 Up until now, I have kept my feelings about the wars we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan pretty much to myself. My mother always said, “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.” And, quite frankly, I’ve had nothing good to say about war, not these or any other in recent history. However, my time of silence has come to an end as the result of talking with returning active duty personnel from every branch of the service. When you can see, through their eyes, what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, you realize that things are even crazier than you first anticipated. The suicide rate, along with the increase in PTSD and percussion brain trauma, is gradually climbing off the charts. My wife, Kathryn, always tells me that in order to affect a lasting change for peace, we as a people, must begin to ‘think war unthinkable’. As a former Marine, even I am beginning to think this is absolutely true.

One of the most ominous and bizarre events to take place in the last few months was the recent press conference between President Bush, the president of Pakistan (Pervez Musharraf) and the president of Afghanistan ( Hamid Karzai). In my opinion, the entire event appeared to be staged in order to convince the American people that all is going well between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Yet, in reality the coalition between the two countries is falling apart. And when a White House reporter threw some very pointed questions at the president of Pakistan, including one pertaining to a statement he’d made concerning a treaty signed with tribes along the Pakistani/Afghan border, Musharraf answered that he could not reply to these questions due to an agreement he had made with his book publisher. This so-called diplomatic meeting of the heads of state turned out to be no more than a whirlwind tour designed to promote Musharraf’s new book, 
In the Line of Fire. 

My conclusion is that Musharraf believes we are losing the wars, in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore, he wants it to be known that his government was threatened, by the Undersecretary of the State Department (Richard Armitage), that if he didn’t join the coalition he would be bombed back into the Stone Age! Having spent a lot of time in the Middle East, myself, I understand that this mean they believe the United States and the coalition have already lost the war on terror where American, British, NATO forces, Iraqi, Afghan and Pakistani people are dying everyday for no good reason. With that very real possibility firmly planted in our minds, we all must come to the realization that the present course of action needs to be reviewed and altered. Otherwise we are looking at the potential for an expanded Middle East war, which could result in catastrophic social, cultural and economic consequences destined to affect every country worldwide. 

Imagine 90% of the world’s heroine supply (cheaper than ever before) flowing straight into the arms of our children. Imagine the destabilization of Iran which could easily bring about the price of a barrel of oil climbing to $150 - $200 a barrel. Imagine the Israeli / Palestinian situation remaining unchecked while the damage takes its toll on the very backbone of our world’s oldest religions. All of these potentially disastrous situations could lead to the unraveling of the social fabric now securing the future of each one of us, our children and this great country. I hope all “this ain’t nothin’” but I sure got a feeling it is! Next month, join me again, and we will review it all and decide what to do next.

With purpose,

Dannion

Visit the That Ain't Nothin' Archives

Home :|: Biography :|: Brink's Giant Eagle :|: That Ain't Nothin' :|: Upcoming Event's & Tours
Readings :|: Mailing List & Newsletter :|: Links :|: Contacts

© 2006 Dannion Brinkley. All Rights Reserved.