The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) is an excellent organization dedicated to requiring solid scientific process and proof regarding stated positions on science and health. On their website (www.acsh.org), they regularly post articles point out studies and individuals who violate the scienific process. Unfortunately, they recently fell short of their mark in a recent post.
In the “Policy and Ethics” section of their website, they posted an article (http://www.acsh.org/news/2017/04/24/west-point-future-health-veterans-seems-bright-11175) which praised a new Government/Academia partnership for strengthening Veteran’s programs and further US military involvement across the globe. I posted a comment on their website (see below) and sent them an email stating that the best way to help our veterans, and the rest of the people in the world, is to stop US military actions abroad. Preventive Medicine is far better than having to treat the sick and wounded.
—— COMMENT TO ACSH ARTICLE ——
This article, especially the introduction, reads like a blueprint for creating a military-academic axis for the purpose of supporting continued and increased US military action around the world. That is something that destroys the physical and mental health of our military and the lives of the People in the countries we invade, intervene, and attempt to save - the millions of dead, wounded, and displaced in the Mid-East are clear testament to failed US foreign policy.
I am what I call a member of the "Never-Ending-War Generation". Born immediately after WWII, I can never remember a time the US was not overtly or covertly involved somewhere around the World - Korea, Cold War (you know hide under your desk from the nuclear blast), Iran, Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos, Haiti, Nicaragua, Grenada, Panama, Iraq I, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq II, Yemen, Libya, Global War on Terror to name a few. Which of these was conducive to health and wellbeing of our military?
In 1990, the year the First Gulf War commenced, the US Government spent a total of $29 billion on Veteran's Affairs. Of that total, $12 billion went to Hospital and Medical care. In 2016, that figure was $165 billion for Veteran's Affairs and $58 billion for Hospital and Medical care.
What do these numbers say would be the greatest possible contribution to the health of our Veterans? Do we need to promote, as you stated, a greater "commitment to civil-military relations and a dedication to ... a broad and inclusive interpretation of national service" or should we stop using our military anywhere and everywhere - which path reduces the huge costs in lives and dollars - here and abroad?
I find the quote about the mission for the meeting poignant: “Coinciding with the 100th Anniversary of America’s entry into WWI, the Symposium seeks to expound upon the ongoing national dialogue surrounding such topics as civil-military relations, … domestic and international social policy; and the effectiveness and interoperability of our nation’s military in future conflicts ….. peacekeeping and regional security operations.”
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, I have stood on the ground surrounding the Ossuaire de Douaumont, the monument commemorating the Battle of Verdun during The Great War (WWI) – the war to end all wars. I have seen the acre upon acre of crosses of those who gave their lives there. And more saddening, I have looked through the glass windows of the Ossuary at the remains of the 130,000 soldiers who were unidentifiable – nothing but a few bone fragments found in the fields of Verdun after the war and sent to the Ossuary.
And here we are, 100 years later. What has changed? I suggest the greatest single act the doctors of the world can do for the health of the human race is “STOP SUPPORTING WAR”. Make ending the practice of Governments using force, violence, and coercion to achieve their ends the top priority of medicine. Over the last one hundred years how many tens of millions of lives would that have saved?