Two contrasting opinion articles appeared in the Dec. 9 Columbian: “The secret of Ukraine aid” by Marc Thiessen, Washington Post; and “Congress must prevent Medicare cuts” by Mark Mantel, CEO of Vancouver Clinic.
Thiessen chides Congress for not quickly passing Biden’s $105 million request for military aid mostly for Ukraine and Israel. His weak justification is that “most money America spends on conflict stays in United States,” creating jobs for American workers. He leaves out that the additional weapons will mostly be financed by debt. Our 2023 deficit will be about $1.5 trillion financed by borrowing.
By contrast, Mark Mantel is alerting us that the coming Medicare cuts, in addition to cuts over the past several years, “will strain health care providers nationwide.” Yes, our economy struggles in many sectors other than making weapons.
In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against the establishment of a “military-industrial complex.” We have perpetuated war to enhance our weapons-making industries. From Vietnam to now Ukraine and Palestine/Israel, war is in, and diplomacy is out.
Our weapons make us complicit in the Gaza genocide and the destruction of Ukraine. Both conflicts can be resolved through a negotiated peace now. Our government stands in the way.
