Historian, author, editor, educator Remy Benoit's ongoing weblog for Veterans, writers, students, others who believe in learning from and making history. Thousands of articles and posts and a free writing seminar, Using History for Healing and Writing.
—"The best works by living writers on the heart of New Orleans." Miz' Remy is the author of Annie.
10 most recent articles out of 4,823.
Commander in Chief | Bob Hebert: We Owe the Troops an Exit | Sometimes we just have to recognize the facts. | Endless War | Military suicides | Why is the world not helping Pakistan? | Senator Levin Raises Serious Questions | Uncertainties in War in Afghanistan | James and Jean Anton: Privatizing War | Jim Hightower: New Outages Keep Gushing from BP.
by Remy Benoit
President Obama was elected by the People as Commander in Chief. A war is not something to be managed, nor is it to go on forever.
Command is a lonely place, filled with hard decisions, but the fact is that in the case of war, especially with a Congress that seemingly is not overly concerned with exerting its own war making powers instead of turning things over, it is a command decision.
Managing a war is not like managing internal affairs, it is about the life, or death, of our soldiers, of the Afghan people. For neiher of those is endless war beneficial.
The Command was given to the President and it is up to him to take its reins, not the generals.
From Melvin A. Goodman at Truthout The Pentagon's Double Envelopment of President Barack Obama.
Please do keep in mind that it is not Obama who started two wars; nor is Obama responsible for starting the housing horror; nor is it Obama who was responsible for starting the overall economic mess. He is the one left holding the torn bag with our future leaking out of it.
Somehow here the old adage that The Truth Will Set You Free just might apply if the President spoke those truths and named the root causes that are choking our nation, whose interests life in perpetuating war.
It takes Command, tough, hard, lonely Command.
Just keep in mind that American ends in I CAN.
Certainly WE CAN if we look hard at facts and make decisions based on historical facts. Any war in Afghanistan is potentially an endless war. So it was for the British, so it was for the Soviets.
It is in our choices, and our standing behind the elected official, and even more importantly, the welfare of our soldiers.They need us, or haven't you noticed the increased casualty and suicide rates?
Thursday, September 2 2010 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
From Bob Hebert at the New York Times We Owe the Troops an Exit.
Tuesday, August 31 2010 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
From Leonard Pitts Jr. at the Miami Herald This is who "we" really is, Glenn.
From John Cory. at Reader Supported News The Great American Stupid.
Where are the real journalists, the real investigative reporters who should be standing up for their country? Must we have viciousness, incoherent babbling by someone who doesn't know one "ism" from another; from someone who absolutely shocks and awes by the degree of flagrant bending of reality? Didn't we learn enough from the Big Lie decades ago? Wake up, America, we are one, or we are none. Just that simple, just that American. Just say NO to flagrant violations of truth; to flagrant violations of law; to flagrant violations of responsibility.Monday, August 30 2010 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
From Col. Andrew Bacevich, U.S.Army Ret. at Tom Dispatch How Washington Rules.
From Alan Gilbert at Democratic Individuality Andrew Bacevich: COIN, the military-industrial complex, and where we are now.
Thursday, August 26 2010 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
From Barbara Barrett, McClatchy Newspapers at Truthout Task Force: Military Suicide Prevention Inadequate.
Thursday, August 26 2010 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
From Nita Bhalia, Reuters, at Yahoo News Why is the world not responding as Pakistan drowns?.
Sunday, August 22 2010 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
Indeed, he raises questions that should have been raised years ago. And someone should ask, why if we can afford to hire contractors for war, we can't seem to take care of our own Veterans?
From Anne Flaherty, AP, at Reader Supported News Senator Warns About 1B Dollar Deal for Blackwater.
And, there is the question of how, once you raise private armies you control them. Who decides where they are needed: them or us?
Down History Lane Blackwater Mercenaries Used in New Orleans. Isn't this National Guard work?
Wednesday, August 18 2010 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
From Dion Nissenbaum at McClatchy Press U.S. Soldiers' Mission Shows Afghan War's Uncertainties.
This war is expensive, not just in dollars but in lives, ours and theirs. There is a huge cultural gap, rugged terrain and climate, and the remaining underlying question of what exactly is the mission.
The concept of endless war is questionable. Who benefits from endless war except the outside private interests of private armies, of munitions makers?
Sunday, August 15 2010 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
From James and jean Anton at Reader Supported News Privatizing War.
Have we considered how dangerous private armies are?
And, are there any updates on these?
From 2006, Rachel L. Swarns, NY Times 2006 Haaliburton Subsidiary Gets Contract to Add Temporary Immigration Detention Centers.
Temporary is an open word. Back in the late 50's when I was in middle school, they added temporary portable classrooms to the old building. They are still there. If centers are there, for what can they be used?
Friday, August 13 2010 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
From Jim Hightower at Truthout New Outages Keep Gushing from BP.
This has been an extraordinarily hot summer. Lots of use of air conditioners. What will the winter bring?
We have this disaster in the Gulf.
Private armies are making millions.
Our Gulf is terribly polluted, as are our bayous and coastline. Many lives have been ruined.
Our soldiers are dying, are severely injured, have PTSD.
And yet where is the outcry for alternatives
Here is one Vetiver.
Here is another. Alternative Energy.
And if you are suffering from PTSD here is a good resource. PTSD Radio with Mike Orban.
Wednesday, August 11 2010 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
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Both Sides of the Wall: Reflections of the West Point Class of 1968 (Edited by Remy Benoit).
Read Jerry Wenstrom's review of Loving.
Rhea and Jordan Devereaux had it all: undying devotion, a tender love, and a grand passion. And then the Vietnam War separated them. Follow the course of their love across time and space. Journey with them through the steaming jungle; dance with the Mardi Gras revelers while revolution unseats Louis XVI and protestors on the Washington Mall scream, Hell, NO. We won't Go. Sail with Laffite's pirates into Devil's Isle and rejoice as an unconditional and timeless love emerges victorious.
Purchase a signed first edition of Loving for $20 including S&H:
