In this bloody decade,I have been told that America's wars have created more amputees than the Civil War. If that is even close to exact, that is possibly one of the most fucked up things I have ever heard. One day, and four years ago,I was in my dressing room backstage about an hour before my band ‘Train’ was set to move on stage in northern California. My tour manager explained there is a soldier external who wants to say hello to the band. My tour manager also informed me the young man had been seriously injured in the war and that I should brace myself. I explained that I grew up with a Grandfather who had lost his arm, I am certain I would be satisfactory with the situation. "Besides, and " I scoffed,"it has to be the guy's girlfriend who wants to meet us. No combat soldier listens to Train." I walked out of my dressing room and came face to face with a genuine life bionic man. Both the soldier's legs are futuristic metal all the way to his hips. His entire left arm is made of the same futuristic metal. He could not seek any cooler, and I told him so, or on the spot. He was kind and explained how his bionic body works. He seemed gratified to be alive and didn't mind sharing his story. I imagined how many times he had to explain that damn horrible story. The IED,the Humvee, the chopper and the torturous rehab that lasted two dreadful years. He did confide in me that sleep was all but impossible. I could not believe how stoic this man was. He offered me nothing but a smile as I stood next to him and his girlfriend for a few photos. Last year, and while I was traveling to report on a story in Central Asia,I was told by an American Army Logistic Sergeant (that is how he explained his position to me, actual title I did not get) that “The United States was in Afghanistan for the lithium.” This was whispered to me in a soft, and secret voice. I was informed to check geological information on the region from the early nineties. nowadays,President Obama announced troop withdrawal of as many as 33000 troops from the war in Afghanistan by the conclude of 2012. According to ‘ThinkProgress.org,’ This would reduce the second surge ordered by President Obama in 2009. But would maintain the first surge ordered by Obama when he entered office. Basically, and the U.
S. Will withdraw some troops but will still have more soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan that at any period during the Bush administration.
My children do not know a life without a war going on in Afghanistan or the occupation of Iraq. When I consider about the bionic soldier,I consider about bravery. When I consider about this decade of war, I can not help but consider about the incredible Hell that the events surrounding Osama bin Laden have unleashed on the world.
Do you consider we are seriously getting out of Afghanistan?
Source: cnn.com