Optimism Vs Reality

To the Editor:

In reply to “Nuggets of Wisdom” [by Brendan Duffy, Letter Hive, July 11, 2008] published last week.

While optimism should sometimes be encouraged, realism, practicality and rational thought are much more effective in dealing with reality.

Mr Duffy’s faith suggests $4.50 a gallon fuel will be offset by market pressure and good ole’ American ingenuity. Perhaps $4.50 a gallon is the price point at which emerging technologies for electric cars become feasible. Perhaps it is the price point at which our entire economy begins a painful transition to nonfossil fuels. Unfortunately our planning has been for the short run and our society has no idea what to do next. There is no “ready to go” alternate waiting in the wings, as there should be. We have known this day was coming for a long time.

The next “Nugget” is about how inexpensive the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are, both in dollars and lives. In dollars he says it’s inexpensive due to being part of a defense budget that is four percent of GDP. He says casualties are incredibly low.

The new CBO [Congressional Budget Office] report says that the wars could cost as much as $2.4 trillion. Last year CBO put the cost at $1.6 trillion. Much of this has been off budget supplements. As the man said, “ A billion here a billion there, pretty soon you’re talking about real money.”

Regarding the casualties. There have been over 4,000 American soldiers dead. There are well over 25,000 wounded. Many of the wounded survived due to improvements in battlefield medical treatment. Unfortunately, once they reached home the treatment they received is disgraceful. It is a source of national shame. There has been totally inadequate medical care in often filthy facilities. The government continues to do little for the young people sent (in our names) overseas, returned with shattered minds and bodies. There is no nugget of optimism here.

There has been no mention by Mr Duffy of the hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. I assume they are included in his “insignificant casualties.”

In ending his letter Mr Duffy is confident that the US will emerge victorious and that the US will remain in the Middle East for a longtime thereby ensuring stability.

Emerging victorious is in doubt. I bet most Americans will be satisfied if we can simply emerge.

Regarding Mr Duffy’s faith in Mideast stability through US presence; I bow to his more expert opinion. It is in perfect agreement with Cheney and Wolfowitz and the other geniuses that involved us in this glorious exercise in Democracy initially. Remember how optimistic they were at the beginning of this futile fiasco? It’s time for an end to optimism. Let’s deal with reality and practicality. Don’t tell me how wonderful everything will be. Let’s figure out what’s broken and fix it. One thing is certain. If you can’t see it’s broken, you are definitely part of the problem.

Robert Karnoff

66 Great Ring Road, Sandy Hook                                   July 16, 2008