Andy and Andrew Bacevich and Family

I posted about the sad loss of Andy Bacevich previously:here and here and I see the path opening wide for the never-ending followup on this young life lost in this illegal, illicit, immoral war.
His father, Andrew Bacevich, has not slowed his roll, a fact that I deeply admire. I am in awe of the strength and courage of this man, and wish I had known him to draw inspiration from when I needed him. But, it's working now, too. In fact, I may publicize his writings whenever I find them. Certainly he has been a vocal opponent to the militarization of America and who would know better than he, considering he has been in the machine himself?

I don't want his words to get lost in the sad death of his son because they are too monumental not to read OVER AND OVER again, until you have them half-committed to memory.

I don't want his son's life and the sad loss of same to be lost in the war-dissenter his father is.

Each a separate person. Andy Bacevich, Jr. was also writing that he did not believe the war was a good effort, shortly before he was killed

The father's words were just as weighty before. He is right about so much; seeing America through the clear eyes of someone who has been on both sides of the block (just like me)

Here is his article in the Washington Post. It's very important reading. I'll put some excerpts below, but the article is only a page and a half.


Excerpt: Among the many ways to answer that question, (see the article) mine was this one: As my son was doing his utmost to be a good soldier, I strove to be a good citizen. As a citizen, I have tried since Sept. 11, 2001, to promote a critical understanding of U.S. foreign policy

EXCERPT: Not for a second did I expect my own efforts to make a difference. But I did nurse the hope that my voice might combine with those of others -- teachers, writers, activists and ordinary folks -- to educate the public about the folly of the course on which the nation has embarked. I hoped that those efforts might produce a political climate conducive to change. I genuinely believed that if the people spoke, our leaders in Washington would listen and respond.

This, I can now see, was an illusion.

The people have spoken, and nothing of substance has changed. The November 2006 midterm elections signified an unambiguous repudiation of the policies that landed us in our present predicament. But half a year later, the war continues, with no end in sight. Indeed, by sending more troops to Iraq (and by extending the tours of those, like my son, who were already there), Bush has signaled his complete disregard for what was once quaintly referred to as "the will of the people."

EXCERPT: Money buys access and influence. Money greases the process that will yield us a new president in 2008. When it comes to Iraq, money ensures that the concerns of big business, big oil, bellicose evangelicals and Middle East allies gain a hearing. By comparison, the lives of U.S. soldiers figure as an afterthought.

>EXCERPT: Money maintains the Republican/Democratic duopoly of trivialized politics. It confines the debate over U.S. policy to well-hewn channels. It preserves intact the cliches of 1933-45 about isolationism, appeasement and the nation's call to "global leadership." It inhibits any serious accounting of exactly how much our misadventure in Iraq is costing. It ignores completely the question of who actually pays. It negates democracy, rendering free speech little more than a means of recording dissent.


His writing was always important; his books are important. His view couldn't be more sharpened.

Thank you, Mr. Bacevich. It never ceases to amaze me the voices that have risen up in defense of our country and our America and our American lives and others' around the worlds. You are a good and steadfast human being. Thank you for loving your fellow human beings and this country enough to speak up and speak out.

You are serving your country very well. Your son would remain proud of you. You are a fine soldier, a good American, a better Professor and a voice inside the establishment evoking irrefutable common sense.

The value of this is .... inestimable.


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