IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM?

I went to visit my mother this past Veterans Day to thank her for all she did for me while she was alive.

After a short but very fulfilling visit, I slowly walked among the other graves to look at the memorial headstones honoring the Veterans buried around her, Veterans from many wars and conflicts.

After asking them to please take care of her until I get there and to save a place for me among their honored ranks, sad memories permeated my thoughts.

These were not the agonizing memories of the friends I lost in combat or the thousands of Veterans who have given their lives in "defense of our freedom," these thoughts concerned those Veterans who died -- who did not have to die.

To gain our independence from Great Britain, maintain our independence from same, protect innocent citizens from hostiles and brigands, to save the Union and abolish slavery, and to defeat tyrannical governments intent on world domination, were all great causes to sacrifice for and if necessary to die for.

To die for territorial expansion (the taking of land from other countries such as Mexico and the Native Americans), European national bickering which was the major cause in World War I, puppet governments such as South Korea and South Vietnam, tribal conflicts such as Kosovo, Boznia and Somalia, drug interdiction such as happened in Panama, the ouster of Dictators (and the world is full of them), and a wide plethora of other reasons that did not "threaten our freedom,' was completely unnecessary.

Our men and women in uniform are not expendable commodities to be used at the whim of the government in order to police the world or protect the property of foreign nationals or filthy rich corporations.

Our government has a moral obligation to protect its citizens and the inalienable rights of each of those citizens, including those in uniform. Consequently, the government should not place our armed forces in harms way for any unnecessary or unjust or superficial cause.

When I talk to a World War II Veteran they are firm (and justified) in their belief that what they fought for was to preserve American civilization and that those among them who died did so for a "just and noble cause."

When I talk with a fellow Vietnam Veteran the doubts are still there. They know they did their duty when their country called, but was that call a just one? Was it truly necessary? Was their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their dead comrades "in true defense of American freedom" or for some arbitrary reason?

Our government should send our brave men and women in uniform to war only when "American" freedom is truly threatened and for no other reason. And, if the cause is just, they should not be burdened with rules of engagement that protect the enemy and place them in unnecessary life-threatening danger.

The memories were bitter, but there were other sad memories there also. Memories of the anguished faces of scores of enemy soldiers fighting for their country's freedom (to them a just cause), whom I killed in the name of freedom.

Will they also be waiting for me when I move on?

If so, I hope to meet them as friends and ask for their forgiveness as I have forgiven them.