Global TB Epidemic
Dear Editor: Sitka’s history is intricately linked to the devastating infection tuberculosis. But did you know TB is now killing more people every year than even HIV/AIDS? According to new data from the World Health Organization, last year the disease claimed 1.5 million lives globally and the threat of drug resistance infection continues to grow.
In light of this alarming new data, Congress and the administration need to increase funding for global TB programs. Tuberculosis has no boundaries: it is not just a problem for developing countries, it is a GLOBAL HEALTH THREAT.
Unfortunately, the White House has yet to deliver on the promise it made earlier this year to deliver a national action plan on drug-resistant TB. If we are going to stop this epidemic, we need to act now.
Sitka RESULTS,
Elizabeth Mosher. Libby Stortz,
Brenda Campen,
Dr. Valerie Edwards,
Patty and Scott Harris,
Jody Smothers-Marcello,
Michele Friedman, Ryan Kauffman,
William Hunt, Nancy Knapp,
Jeff Pearson, Kari Sagel,
Cheryl and Dave Vastola,
Cynthia Dennis, Krisanne Rice
Global War on Terror
Dear Editor: Maybe – now that American boots are going to be on the ground in Syria, an American soldier has been killed in Iraq for the first time since 2011, and the Taliban are resurgent in Afghanistan – 14 years later, maybe it’s about time for the American people to at least begin to think about thinking about demanding an accounting from, if not our leaders, then at least from our would-be leaders (and those who own, operate, and handle them all). An accounting that is based upon answers to questions about the global war on terrorism: about its costs, about its benefits, about why it is being lost, and about what the definition of “winning” that war now is, or indeed ever was.
Because the simple fact of the matter is that, 14 years later, the GWOT is a yet another lost crusade; one that threatens to take this nation down, and a sizeable portion of the rest of the entire planet down with it.
Fourteen years later, the costs in American, Allied, Afghan, Iraqi, Kurd, Syrian, and indeed Levantine and Beyond blood and treasure have been immensely massive; and there is no end in sight. Fourteen years later, the costs in blood and treasure to those directly caught up in all this insanity, obscenity and inanity is beyond human measure, let alone comprehension; with no end in sight. Fourteen years later, the benefits accruing to those with privileged access to all that treasure continue to grow and grow; again, with no termination even imagined, let alone imminent. And 14 years later, this so-called “war” is – by any tactical, strategic, meta-strategic, diplomatic, political, economic (at least for most), sociological, moral and ethical, or any other criterion, measure, or standard – no closer to being “won” than it was when it was launched on Sept. 12, 2001, the day after “the new Pearl Harbor” of 9/11 that has served, and still serves quite admirably and effectively, to justify it all. Again, whatever “being won” means; or ever meant. Ever actually, ever really, ever meant.
We, the American people, have a choice. Either we can demand a reasoned, realistic, and detailed explanation from each, every, and all of those who would be our next president as to: exactly HOW it is that he or she is either going to first define “victory,” and then win the GWOT; either that, or else how she or he is going to acknowledge “defeat,” and then end the GWOT; or, failing all that, at least how they intend for us and our children, and all the world’s “collateral damage,” to pay for it.
If we, the American people, do not demand and get that, get those answers to those questions … then we will deserve exactly what we get in January of 2017 and beyond. Just like we didn’t demand answers and then got in the elections of 2002, -04, -06, -08, -10, -12 and -14. On a positive note, and if nothing else, based on what they tell us that they promise to do, we’ll at least probably have a pretty good idea of what isn’t going to happen.
And, in an open tweet to #The Hillary and #The Donald, especially… please: no “secret plans,” a là Nixon in 1968. thnx.
JG Moebus, Veterans Against War,
Sitka Platoon
