“Because we live in a democracy, we vote to put men and women in charge of governing our affairs, and those elected representatives send troops overseas.”

Unfortunately, too many of our elected representatives want the U.S. military to act as the world’s police force with little regard for the resulting misery experienced by soldiers and their family and friends. Perhaps the Department of Defense should be renamed the Department of Intervention. I wonder how many elected representatives are influenced by defense contractors’ lobbyists? We must provide our soldiers with the resources they need to ensure defense of our country and deter other nations from attacking us. We also must provide our soldiers with excellent post combat medical care (physical and psychological).

Why is it necessary for U.S. troops to be stationed in thriving South Korea to protect its people from third world North Korea? Why is the U.S. considering military meddling in the collapse of Venezuela’s socialist economy? Why is the U.S. attempting to establish democracy in the middle east populated with war lords and their “pawns” who have little or no concept of democracy?