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Prior to 1947, the USA scaled way back the size of its army during peacetime. Reading the words of our founders makes it clear that they preferred people prepared to defend themselves over a professional army. How did we get so far from that vision?

The best explanations come from our former military leaders. The most highly decorated Marine of all time, Major General Smedley Butler, twice recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, wrote a simple book that is well worth reading. The title tells much. War is a Racket: the few prosper while the many pay. His analysis of the crime of war profiteering is very relevant today.

Our former President, General Dwight David Eisenhower, in his farewell address, warned us of the growing "Military-Industrial Complex." He warned that spending more money on the military meant taking it away from essential human services which could better preserve the peace.

Today we spend far more money on our military than any other nation on earth, more than all our potential enemies combined. Are all of our weapons of mass destruction and global military reach making us any safer, or are we recruiting more enemies by being the bully of the world?

All my life, I've been hearing about "those who died to make me free." Since my birth in 1955, millions have died in wars initiated by the United States. I fail to see how any of those deaths enhanced my freedom one iota. Which country ever threatened the USA? Not Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, nor Panama.

While somebody attacked us on 9-11, it was neither Afghanistan nor Iraq. Apparently the suicide bombers were Saudis, but we couldn't invade Saudi Arabia; they're our ally. And so are Pakistan and Israel, the only two countries in that region that actually have weapons of mass destruction. Pakistan, by the way, is also the home of Al Qaida.

Increasing the size of the US military now is like pouring gasoline on the fire. Not only do we need to downsize it considerably, we need a Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Complicity in War Profiteering. But that's only going to happen if we all demand it before we pay another cent in taxes. Are you with me?

Learn more about this author, Vernon Huffman.
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