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Foreign policy shouldn’t mean war

To the Journal editor:

How did we as a Nation become so shallow? Why would we willingly sacrifice yet another generation of service members to be physically and mentally maimed while protecting a pampered, dictatorial middle eastern kingdom? Is it simply so we can save a nickle or a dime at the gas pumps?

The U.S. is the world’s largest weapons exporter, a position it has held since the late 1990s. Our biggest customer is Saudi Arabia. The “deal-maker-in-chief” touts his latest $110 billion arms sale to this repressive regime as proof-positive of his genius.

And now, to block an expanded Russian arms deal to the Saudi’s, he offers to grease the skids even more by committing our military. Those of our families. The United Kingdom, France, Canada and Spain currently don’t feel any need to commit troops.

One wonders why the Saudi’s seem unable to resolve their own conflicts. After all, they have spent uncounted 100’s of billions worldwide while only engaging some rebels from Yemen. Much like those in our own government, they are eager to fight and stand their ground, to the very last drop of someone else’s blood.

Make no mistake about it. Iran is not some failed nationstate. For better or worse, they are a dominant force of Middle Eastern geopolitics. Clear, concise and direct statecraft by career foreign service officials should always be a better option than befuddled tweets and threatening taunts echoed by professional “yes” men who perpetually avoid military service.

Our service members are burdened enough. Our veterans still struggle in their daily lives. To use them as surrogates in another arms for-profit deal (or real-estate venture) must never be allowed.

JOHN HUNTER

Traverse City

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