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“War Does This to Your Mind”
Kabul-- Khamad Jan, age 22, remembers that, as a youngster, he was a good student who enjoyed studying. "Now, I can't seem to think," he said sadly, looking at the ground. There was a long pause. "War does this to your mind." 
He and his family fled their village when Taliban forces began to attack the area. Bamiyan Province is home to a great number of Hazara families, and Khamad Jan's is one of them. Traditionally, other Afghan ethnic groups have discriminated against Hazaras, regarding them as descendants of Mongolian tribes and therefore inferior.
During the Taliban attacks, Khamad Jan's father was captured and killed. As the eldest, Khamad Jan bore responsibility to help provide for his mother, two brothers and two sisters. But he struggled with debilitating depression, so much so that villagers, anxious to help, talked of exorcism. One day, he said he felt ready to give up on life. Fortunately, community members and his friends in a local youth group, the "Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers," have helped him come to terms with the pain he feels, assuring him that he can find a meaningful future.
Khamad Jan's village is a particularly hard place in which to build houses, roads or farms. He and his family own a small plot of land which produces potatoes and wheat. The family works hard, but they only grow enough to feed themselves for seven months of the year. For a few months of every year, they must depend heavily on bread and potatoes, a carbo-diet which leads to malnutrition. Like other women in the village, Khamad Jan's mother and sisters are chronically anemic, suffering from headaches and leg cramps.
Assisted by an interest-free loan from a private corporation called Zenda, Khamad Jan has taken the risk of starting a small business producing potato crisps.
Afghan potatoes are delicious, and Khamad Jan hopes that the quality of his crops will give him a slight competitive edge, but a popular brand from the farmer-subsidizing U.S. is flooding the market.
Previously, he had run a small potato crisp production operation in the Bamiyan bazaar, and even added sale of cookies and cakes, but the costs of rent, oil and fuel were prohibitive, and he couldn't make a profit.
The Zenda Corporation, at the urging of youth group coordinator Hakim, offered him a larger loan, but Khamad Jan felt intimidated by the financial risk of accepting it. To help him shoulder the fear of taking this loan, Hakim, a member of the Zenda group, converted the arrangement into a shareholder status.
Khamad Jan ran the business without a salary, and Zenda, as a shareholder, pumped in investment. Now, after two years, Khamad Jan has felt secure and confident enough to accept a direct loan from Zenda.
We met him at a site in a new settlement, on the outskirts of Bamiyan city, where he coordinates construction of a small facility to house the potato chip production line. Earlier, we had visited a shed that he rents to store his main pieces of equipment, a potato slicer and a bag sealer. When the new factory is completed, he'll move the equipment in and start production.
Maybe, just maybe, the family can break out of poverty. Khamad Jan says that they've needed help to do this, but he specifies that they need the help to reach them directly rather than through organizations that use resources for their own benefit. Earlier, his sisters were more assertive, telling us that much of the "help" they hear about on the radio goes to people who are corrupt and don't share it.
Khamad Jan's sisters and mother say that government officials aren't involved in their lives; in fact they never see or hear of any governance action beyond their own village council.
But they face severe problems which they wish the government could help them solve. For instance, electricity is available only two hours per day.
The roads are almost impassable, and it's difficult for the children to obtain an education.
In her 40 years of life, Khamad Jan's mother has experienced 30 years of war.
She remembers that when she was 10, fleeing the Soviet invasion, her whole village had to trek into the mountains through snow. "Some were on donkeys," she recalled, "and some were carried on the backs of others." Families on the run couldn't adequately assist all of their loved ones. Many people weakened in the journey, especially the very young and very old, and this led to calamitous falls from the mountain which she and her neighbors could only watch.
She fears yet another attack.
Neither she nor her daughters had ever heard of the 9/11 attack in the U.S. Nor were they aware that the U.S. had invaded their country in October of 2001.
"We are illiterate women," said one of her daughters, "but we want a chance to find good, dignified work so that we can take care of their families."
Above all, they want to live without the constant fear of war.
"The world says they are helping us," said a neighbor of Khamad Jan's, while we were visiting his mother and sisters. "How? By dropping bombs?"
"War destroys people," Khamad Jan concluded, after giving us a tour of the developing potato crisp production factory. Again, he stared at the ground as he thought about what he would say. "It destroys our livelihood. It damages our minds."
"All the players in this war have their own purposes for being here," he added, after a long pause. "There is absolutely no benefit to the people here from the wars that are being fought."
Hakim's hand was on Khamad Jan's shoulder as he translated this for us. Finally, Khamad Jan raised his eyes. We thanked him for speaking to us about his thoughts. And then he went back to work.
- Posted in
47 Comments so far
Show AllKATHY: You must get your inner strength from Spirit. Thank you for acting as Witness. The power of your presence extends hope to those on war's receiving end, that a peaceful world IS still possible. You are a remarkable soul.
Sioux Rose: I agree completely!
Kathy, thanks for everything you do on our behalf to offer an alternative to escalating violence, death and destruction perpetrated on so many peoples around the world by the Pentagon, MIC and the U.S. empire of illusion. You stand as a living example that peaceful resolutions are possible -- if only the war machine could be slowed and halted.
"if only the war machine could be slowed and halted."
It may be and may not be. Just the last two weeks alone, the job fairs in my area had more DOD related jobs. My younger neighbors had tough words to say about them but here's to sum it all up. The good news is that more of those jobs will require Top Secret Clearance or higher which may mean that fewer will get to work in DOD. The bad news is that since more jobs will likely go top secret and with more with polygraph testing, it will be harder for those working in DOD to think of giving any warning as to what's going on underway. I have every reason to suspect silent but horrendous disaster in Afghanistan on the horizon.
Siouxrose and Kay Johnson: Right on!!!!!
I am glad that I did not notice who wrote this article, as I was able to read it that way.
Kathy Kelly is such a saint that my eyes well with tears of joy whenever I think of her.
This has been an ongoing "problem" for me since I got to see her speak in person.
She is stronger than the entire US military combined.
She is more beautiful than any Hollywood starlet.
She is what I wish I could be.
I'm sorry, but I don't think it's fair to say she's MORE brave than the men & women willing to give their lives for hers & our freedom of speech.
Anti, you don't have a clue about Kathy Kelly, twice a nominee for the the Noble Peace Prize.
I didn't disrespect Ms Kelly. I didn't say she wasn't an outstanding lady.
I just said I don't think it's fair to say she's MORE brave. It's not easy to raise your right hand for people who curse your calling in life, who insult & criticize your every move & STILL be willing to give your life for them. All I'm saying is that takes an incredible amount of bravery & character, as well. And, not very many get very many accolades or appreciation for what they do.
anti: You said: "It's not easy to raise your right hand for people who curse your calling in life, who insult & criticize your every move" That's a lot of crap. It's like repeating the lie of the anti-war movement about spitting on returning Vietnam veterans. Your rhetoric is really anti-peace activism.
No, it's not crap.
How many people tout the, "I support the troops", yet, whenever they can, they say how they're all war-mongers, they're all baby-killers, they shouldn't have ever signed up, etc...
We would raise such a sh!t-storm if we were to dismiss a profession of calling (teaching, police, fire, local government, etc) as something equally disturbing & insulting.
And, rightfully so. Being a teacher IS a calling - a noble one.
So is being a soldier.
And, I'm Anti_Idiocy.
Otherwise, I'm pro. You're a peace activist, you're a military supporter, you're a supporter of the war effort, you're pro-life, you're pro-choice, etc...
Putting "anti" in front of something brings a negative connotation. You can be anti-life or pro-choice. Who wants to be anti- anything? And, it automatically puts a negative connotation, when it starts with "anti"
I'll be anti-idiocy, no problem. Idiocy being, "Listen to me! Now, shut the heck up! I don't hafta listen to you!" "My theory is right! Yours is wrong. Neither of us have proof, but I'm still right!" "It's all his fault. Even though he's been gone 3 decades, it's all his fault."
It's idiocy. If you want someone to listen, you have to listen. You don't have to agree. You don't hafta feel it's a valid point. But failure of everyone to listen just means nothing changes. Ever.
I'm gonna borrow the good Dr King.
If no one had listened to him, we may still have a horrendous & insulting tradition of our country, still alive today.
He brought about change because people listened. He listened and he was able to discuss & change minds.
We have to listen to each other. If we don't, there's no sense in even talking.
Huh?
Anti- MLK said that the U.S. was the greatest purveyor of violence in the world"
I know it looks like I am picking on you. What I am picking on is that your rhetoric is so common with so many Americans that support the military and the American Empire. I am sure you are a great guy and a wonderful teacher and I admire you for making education your career.
What I am really trying to say is that Americans are trapped within a culture of illusion. America is decoupling from reality. As a nation, we refuse to face the reality that the love of money and exaggerated individualism has destroyed the soul of America. This reality is shamefully hidden from public understanding. I am not lecturing you. Just think about it. I do not have all the answers.
And I agree. Life is not about certitudes. It is not about black or white. Life is all grey. The secret for a more mature humanity is seeking a higher social awareness and coming to spiritual discernment.
My point with MLK was that he changed minds because they listened to him as he spoke this CrAzY talk of equality & dreams...
Had everyone automatically dismissed him because he didn't share their beliefs? He might not have been successful.
I don't know that your hope & dream of spiritual discernment is a feasible reality, I'm afraid. I think your vision & goal is noble & beautiful, but a bit naive & unrealistic. You're saying those that have a love of business & individual rights all have to change to reach your goals...Not really fair - why don't YOU have to change?
Not saying one is better than the other. I'm just saying there are real people involved & not everyone has the same goals & mindset.
I flew in the US NAVY from 1969 to 1972. I joined after college. I did not want to go to SE Asia, because one would have to have been loony to have wanted to go to the blighted wars in that part of the war, but there was a draft. I flew the Atlantic. Anyone joining the military services today knows that he/she is going to the Middle East, possibly to fight. They will be fighting for the enrichment of the US oligarchy, not for the US public. They will be wasting their lives, lives of the nations they are fighting in, and assisting in the destruction of the US. Kelly is pointing out the brutality of war. I am simply pointing out the idiocy.
herdpoisoning: You match my inner most feelings.
When will the nitwits who run America realize that war is the last possible option, not the first. A damn idiot knows this.
Don't you know, Mookie? In Washington, D.C., war IS the only option.
That & political party deadline! It may be good for your state, but if a Republican is saying "Yes", the Democrat MUST say, "No" & vice-versa! (Both parties guilty!)
War is and has been wrong everytime. Those who make war are insane. We cannot continue to allow the insane, a tiny minority, to rule our world, the vast majority. We must continue to tell and show the warmakers that their way of being in the world is always wrong. The correct way is the peaceful, compassionate way.
It has been wrong nearly every time, yet has been with humankind as long as has civilization, perhaps longer. Very little of lasting significant betterment of the human condition has resulted, although technological advancement has been spurred. It's incredible how much human ingenuity has been spent devising new, even more effective ways of maiming and killing other human beings.
The reasons why this "has" to be done are always presented as compelling, this time. The kings and other leaders, last century, have started saying how much they are against war. I've seen a film clip of F.D.R. saying, "I've seen war, I know war, I hate war." He saw it as Secretary of the Navy, or something like that, during World War I. But historical evidence has shown that he wanted the U.S. in World War II on the British side and had to manipulate public opinion to get things going in that direction (I don't know if he knew the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor was going to happen; that conspiracy theory has been put out there by people who have done a lot more organized historical study than I have; me, I watch history channel a lot and read books sometimes).
When I was growing up and coming into young adulthood, we "had" to stop the advance of International Communism. Now it seems Islamic Terrorism has replaced International Communism in the hearts and minds of much of the opinionated public. The presentation is disturbingly familiar; in fact, the word "socialism" gets thrown into the mix although the radical Islamic countries and organizations are hardly socialistic -- even the one fully Communist nation, North Korea, uses hereditary primogeniture for filling its top spot, just like the European kingships of not-so-old.
The "tiny minority" who rule the world and make war will, seemingly, continue to do so. The real miracle of the 20th Century and the first decade of the 21st is that nuclear weapons weren't used. But the millennium is young.
I am a Vietnam-era veteran, although I spent my time "serving" my country in New Jersey, Alabama, and Atlanta Georgia. I was at the last place for two years and was able to see more than a few people go over, do their 12 months, and come back. I don't remember an instance of it making any one of them a better person.
I have no idea how to get the message through to the leaders of the world that "their way of being in the world is always wrong," but I hope people don't give up trying.
I believe we were suckered into this war just like we suckered Japan and others. Osama (or whomever) knew exactly what we'd do. Now we're screwed.
This nation is just wickedly evil.
"Peaceful, compassionate way"
What would have been the appropriate, peaceful, compassionate way to handle the Civil War?
What would have been the appropriate, peaceful, compassionate way to respond to the attack on Pearl Harbor?
What would have been the appropriate, peaceful, compassionate way to respond to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait?
What would have been the appropriate, peaceful, compassionate way to respond to 9/11?
1) Allow the South to secede. They would have come back eventually. And if not what is sacred about the USA? Who is to say we would not be better now without a perfect union?
2) Prevent it. The US knew it was coming. Look how well ignorance worked out for the MIC.
3) Mind our own business
4) Find out who did it and bring them to justice instead of starting a war.
1) Ah!! So, okay to continue with slavery. Nice!
2) Riiight
3) Ah! Okay for Saddam to invade whoever he wants. Coulda been the next Hitler!
4) Great
Ain't nuttin in life worth fightin for or dyin for to you, huh?
Hope ya never get put into a position to demonstrate your commitment.
So do I.
"Ain't nuttin in life worth fightin for or dyin for to you, huh?"
Yeah, I can think of one thing right now...
... and that would be??
!>>) Ah!! So, okay to continue with slavery. Nice!
The war was not fought to end slavery. Slavery was ended in Canada without a war some 60 years before it ended in the USA. If PEACEFUL means ended Slavery in Canada why could it not happen in the USA.
>>2) Riiight
The USA wanted a war with Japan. Pearl Harbor need never have happened. The USA announced it would no longer sell Oil to Japan then had the British Empire and the Dutch join in on an embargo of oil sales to Japan. When The British tried to embargo US ships selling goods to Napoleonic France, the US considered it an act of war in 1812.
Japan would not have attacked Pearl Harbor had the US not imposed the embargo.
3) Ah! Okay for Saddam to invade whoever he wants. Coulda been the next Hitler!
This childish retort used continously by the uninformed. Saddam as the next Hitler. I suggest you study your History. Germany was a major Industrial power and the most powerful country in all Europe. Saddam could not even take out Iran. Germanys army of 1939 could have taken out Iran.
Iraqs Ambassador met with his US Counterpart prior to Iraq Invading Kuwait to determine what the US reaction would be if Iraq attacked Kuwait. The US ambassador gave his blessing indicating the US held no position on the matter. Had the US ambassador not Given the green light, Saddam would never have attacked.
You perhaps are unaware that Kuwait was using Slant drilling to pump oil from Oil fields on the Iraqi side of the border. Iraq provided the evidence of such and demanded Kuwait stop. Kuwait refused. What do you think would happen to Cuba if they started pumping Oil out of US Waters in the Gulf?
4) Great
The Taliban Governmnet offered to arrest Osama Bin Laden and members of Al Qaeda and turn them over to a Third party nation if the USA provided proof that Osama Bin Laden was responsible for 9/11. Had the US provided that proof Osama bin Laden would be in custody today and the attack on Afghanistan did not have to happen.
The problem is the USA had NO proof and knew they could not provide that Proof and the FACT IS the Indian Press reported several MONTHS prior to the 9/11 attacks that the USA had infromed India it was going to Invade Afghanistan and replace its Government. The USA wanted its war.
The Civil war, The war on Japan, The war to evictg Iraq from Kuwait and the Invasion of Afghanistan need not have happened. All issues coudl of been resolved before they became conflicts.
The reason they were not resolved is because the United States of America actively seeks to create wars and start conflicts so as tyo eliminate rivals, gain control over a natiosn resources and spreadss its Military forces across the world. Soldiers that act on the behalf of such an entity or no more "Noble" then were the Soldiers of Hitlers SS.
They defend NOTHING but the right to make war on innocent people the world over and to steal their resources. I do not know why you feel this deserves any persons respect.
Thank you.
Some proposals for answers to you:
"What would have been the appropriate, peaceful, compassionate way to handle the Civil War?"
When the Southern congresmen walked out of Congress, the United States was legally dissolved, it took an illegal Executive Order from Lincoln to maintain the illusion of its continuation.
Lincoln's "Emancipation Proclamation" was a provocation at southern states, as it only freed slaves in the Southern states (i.e. Tennessee and parts of Virginia under Union control got to keep their slaves.
Without this executive order, the Civil War would not have taken place, and the United States as we know it would not exist, and no part of it would have had the possibility of becoming the destructive force it has been since.
Slavery would have ended before long anyway, as without the Northern industry to manufacture the weapons to keep the slaves at bay, and without the Northern complicity in returning the escaped slaves, it would not have been sustainable.
"What would have been the appropriate, peaceful, compassionate way to respond to the attack on Pearl Harbor?"
The US could have removed the Marines from Pearl Harbor when it learned of the attack, rather than choosing to sacrifice them as is well documented that they did. For that matter, without the influence of US financiers, the Axis powers would never have become a force to threaten much of anyone.
"What would have been the appropriate, peaceful, compassionate way to respond to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait?"
Let them. The majority of Kuwaitis welcomed Saddam Hussein as a liberator, as the Kuwaiti monarchy is well known to be a Western (British/US) puppet monarchy. For that matter, Kuwait, Iran, and Iraq are all British creations, specifically carved up upon the end of colonialism so as to keep them weak and controllable.
On the first day of the return of the Kuwaiti Monarchy, one of their first acts after being reinstalled was to execute someone for wearing a pro-Saddam T-Shirt.
I am not a proponent of Saddam Hussein, but the people of Kuwait (as opposed to the Monarchy) saw him as a better option than those the US went to war to reinstall.
"What would have been the appropriate, peaceful, compassionate way to respond to 9/11?"
First, investigate it.
Second, IF Bin Laden had anything to do with it, (which is doubtful to say the least) then addressing the causes that make Bin Laden successful in recruiting people to his cause would have pulled the rug out from under him with very little bloodshed (i.e. dismantling the bases in Saudi that most of the populace there see as sacreligious and pressuring Israel to abide by UNSC resolutions and International Law.
Of course, all the examples you cite are the direct result of previous atrocities caused by US policies (with help from Great Britain in many cases) that were neither Appropriate, Peaceful, or Kind in the first place, and thus would never have happened if those qualities were used from the outset rather than just as "reaction"
Anti: From my book, Capitalism, Democracy, and Emerging Christianity.
THOUGHTS ON 9-11
The perfect example of reacting to violence with violence was the second human tragedy of 9-11. The U.S. could have reacted differently. Our nation could have reacted as we have always done with crime in our neighborhoods; with patient and determined police action. We could have called upon the community of nations and Islam itself to seek justice through international police action.
But this is not an impractical fantasy that the war mongers wanted us to believe. In fact the true reality was that nearly the entire world was ready and willing to participate in such police action. But powerful forces in the U.S. Government had a hidden agenda and chose to wage two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These forces wanted to prove that the U.S. could unilaterally work its will in the world as it saw fit and they exploited the fears of terrorism to do so.
If I believed that's all there was to it, I might be inclined to believe you, but, there's so much more information in the hands of decision-makers than you or I could ever know. Information that strongly contributes to their decisions. Information they cannot compromise. Yet, with the limited information that CAN be released, they have to "sell" their decision...and when people begin outlandish conclusions that are completely irrelevant or off-the-mark? They cannot defend themselves.
I'm not calling you or your conclusions outlandish - my only point is that there is so much more out there than you know. And to draw alternate conclusions makes assumptions on information that may or may not be factual.
Huh?
So let me get this straight.
A President who openly lied about reasons for going to war in Iraq , one who claimed Iraq had a stockpile of WMDS and had ties to 9/11 and Al Qaeda and who warned of UAVS bombing US Cities with poisonous chemicals...had to do this to SELL The war because he and those others who make the decisions were privy to secrets that can only be HINTED at because that information so dangerous to the security of the United States of America...
I recall when I got my Sneaky snooper decoder ring from Grandpa Sneezby in grade 3 we play acted such scripts.
I grew up.
anti: I can't believe what you are saying. ..."but, there's so much more information in the hands of decision-makers than you or I could ever know. Information that strongly contributes to their decisions." I used to think that but after the past 30-40 years, I am no longer naive about American power.
Many of the investigative journalists of the alternate media know more than our politicians and military leaders. Our leaders all have huge egos, excessive amounts of testerone, and are "absolutely" corrupted by power. We are led by too many paranoia madmen like Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the late General Curtis Le May, all who could be brought up on charges of mass murder.
Our leaders, particularly military leaders, are confined within a box of institutional group think. They are incapable of self critique. They are paid well to be team players. They work in the interests of Wall Street and the military industrial complex. They do not work in the interests of the American ppeople.
Anti:You should read "The Limitsd of Power, the End of American Exceptionalism' by Andrew J. Bacevich and "Citizens of the Empire" by Robert Jensen. In Jensons book, he argues that as citizens of the American Empire, "we choose not to know".
Hey, anti-idiocy, not trying to pick on you either, but if you want to live up to your namesake, you should listen to what this guy's saying (Stephen, you're right on the mark).
In essence your point is, 'Our leaders know better than us, and if we don't understand their rationales for their actions, that's most likely just because they have access to information and knowledge too critical and sensitive for the public to ever be allowed access to.'
Well, if this is your position, not only is this plain idiocy, its also the road that leads to despotism. An informed citizenry is the true seed that grows into the tree of liberty. Our leaders might know some things we don't, but if they're repeatedly invoking 'security concerns' to protect 'state secrets' you know that something is amiss with our 'Liberal Democracy'.
—SS
"War is and has been wrong everytime." Not for the rich.
"Those who make war are insane." They're making a fortune off war.
"We cannot continue to allow the insane, a tiny minority, to rule our world, the vast majority." I have no earthly idea what we can do. I think we're past the point of no return.
Yeah, it sucks.
The bastards.
People who make war on the poor and defenseless of this world are psychopaths. It's useless to appeal to their conscience since they simply don't have one. I also applaud Kathy and others who do the same work who bear witness to the suffering greed and war produce. Global solidarity is the greatest movement the world has ever known. It's the only path,I believe to achieving world peace. Solidarity forever!
*giggle*
PLEASE know I don't mean this in an insulting way...
But, have you ever seen "Miss Congeniality"?!?
Ya remind me of all the girls who say, "World Peace" :-)
I hope that didn't offend you for me to say. If it did, I'm sorry.
"Global solidarity is the greatest movement the world has ever known."
I agree. But getting it together in the face of such opposition seems impossible.
Problem #1?
As long as people believe, with all their souls, that their faith is THE faith & they should spread the Word (Word being Koran, Bible, Torah, whatever) by any & all means necessary? And that those who do not share the Word are heathens that must be destroyed?
There will never be world peace, I'm afraid.
When we learn to accept those of faiths different from ours (even if that faith is no faith), world peace will begin to have a chance.
Hello we are the U.S. Government and we are here to bom----er I mean we are here to help you. Kathy Kelly, an oasis of sanity, in a vast desert of psychopathic, insanity!
"Traditionally, other Afghan ethnic groups have discriminated against Hazaras, regarding them as descendants of Mongolian tribes and therefore inferior."
OR, STATED GENERICALLY:
Traditionally, DOMINANT ethnic groups have discriminated against NON-DOMINANT groups, regarding them as descendants of 'insert pejorative remark here' tribes and THEREFORE inferior.
Humanity is very sick. According to the Hopi prophesies which have been all fullfilled but the last one, it's just about over for our greedy, war mongering, land grabbing stage.
Good.
Kathy Kelly is a beautiful, beautiful human being who has done an amazing job of humanizing the people of Afghanistan and their unimaginable suffering in this article. I am privileged to have met her last year at the annual School of the Americas rally.
Anti_Idiocy
Just wondering--have you ever considered the significance of that name you use? Idiocy seems to be the operative word.
Pardon moi...really was being funny & truly did NOT mean it as insulting.
I respected the feelings being expressed...which, essentially comes down to "world peace"...and whenever I think of the words, "world peace", I hear all the contestants saying it in my head.
Didn't realize that would make me an idiot.
Or, maybe it makes you not that much fun! :-) Hee-Hee!!
Thank you Kathy Kelly and your associates at "The Voices" for being such brave witnesses to the ravages of war, wars that are perpertrated by the American Empire. You bring the reality of war on innocent oppressed people and their communities. You express your witness with much love and compassion. Thank you.
"There is absolutely no benefit to the people here, from the wars that are being fought."
There is absolutely no benefit from war, period.
Those that derive "benefit" are sadistic. The insane argument that war preserves our peace and freedom infuriates me.
The only things that are being protected is a lifestyle of greed, wastefulness, abuse of the environment, and the god given right to attack all those that do not agree with us.