War on Terrorism medals

Quoting Sen. Jeffords:

Because he objects to efforts to link the war in Iraq to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., was the sole dissenter on a vote urging President Bush give the War on Terrorism Medals to soldiers fighting in Iraq.

...Jeffords said the goals of Iraq were not related to the terrorism war and should not be linked to the Afghanistan and Philippines operations.

"Those who support giving this medal to our troops in Iraq are once again trying to make a connection between Sept. 11 and Iraq that simply does not exist. [Our troops] certainly deserve medals for their service, but I will not be a part of the White House campaign to redefine this war," Jeffords said in a statement."

I thank him for his dissenting vote, but I'm not sure whether he's making the point I'd want to make (maybe he is). War on Terrorism medals. War medals ought to be limited to actual conflicts with actual enemies. They keep blurring the picture. Terrorism is not something that armaments aim at. Armies are. There can be no such thing as a war on terror. They keep calling it that. So we can have perpetual war. In any country in the world whether that country declares war on us or not. Put billions and billions of taxpayer dollars into the war industry forever presumably.

Try not to forget Dwight Eisenhower's admonition:

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.