[Vision2020] Schieffer on Sharing the Sacrifice

[Tom Hansen]

>From Bob Schieffer's closing commentary on today's (April 15, 2007) "Face
the Nation" -

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Schieffer on Sharing the Sacrifice
By Bob Schieffer

Retired Air Force Lieutenant General Charles Roadman is part of a
distinguished panel of experts investigating the problems at Walter Reed
Hospital and what he said the other day caught my eye. 

One problem, he told The Washington Post, is that Iraq is producing so many
casualties. "The nation," he said, "needs to realize we are at war." 

As I read that I wondered, how many of us lead lives completely untouched by
this war? 

It is being fought by an all-volunteer force that accounts for less than
one-half of one percent of us. Nor do many of us feel the economic impact
since it is being fought mostly on borrowed money. 

If we closed our eyes to TV and newspapers, most of us could get through the
day without knowing there was a war. 

When I was a child, we all knew about World War II. It was fought by
draftees and everyone had a dad or an uncle or cousin or neighbor who was
gone to war. Food was rationed, taxes were high. Every day brought something
to remind us we were at war. 

These days some Americans may not even know anyone in the military, let
along have a connection. 

Our volunteer military is the best in the world, but again I wonder, should
democracies fight wars with an all-volunteer force? 

Should we EVER go to war unless all of us are willing to share the
sacrifice?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

***************************************************

"Seldom, if ever, has a war ended leaving the victors with such a sense of
uncertainty and fear -- with such a realization that the future is obscure
and that survival is not assured."

- Edward R. Murrow

***************************************************