Seventeen years later, troops continue to be deployed to Afghanistan, in what’s now the longest war in America’s history.
“Every morning at 7’oclock, I have my staff contact the Defense Department. I want to know exactly how many men and women have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq … every single one of them leaves behind a whole community,” said former Vice President Joe Biden, prior to him presenting Mr. Bush with the medal.
In his remarks, Mr. Bush didn’t mention the war in Iraq or Afghanistan. Though, he did say that in the decade since leaving the White House, he has befriended many veterans, especially those who enlisted post 9/11.
A Marine Corp veteran named Shantel, who’s also affiliated with About Face, said it disturbed her that the second worst president in history was being honored.
“If George Bush can be awarded, so can our current president. He is responsible as much as the people in this tent for endless war,” she shouted moments before the ceremony began.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump in 2017 said his original instinct was to pull out of the war. However, he ultimately decided to pursue an open-ended military commitment to prevent the emergence of a vacuum for terrorist. In a 2017 exclusive interview with NBC News, Gen. John Nicholson, a four-star Army general, said the war in Afghanistan had been a stalemate, but that Mr. Trump’s new strategy, which included the deployment of new troops, has reversed a decline in the U.S position.
Mr. Kwebetchou was discharged in May after he refused orders to deploy. The Air Force veteran said after meeting folks in Europe, Libya and Afghanistan who were affected by the war, and learning of the military industrial complex, he couldn’t come back home and participate in a system that’s murdering people indiscriminately.
When asked of Mr. Bush’s legacy, Mr. Kwebetchou said: “it’s buried in the Middle East.”
Thanks for reading! Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® and I’m Drumming for Justice!™
Author’s bio: Christopher “Flood the Drummer®” Norris is an award-winning journalist, online content producer and professional drummer currently serving as the CEO of Techbook Online, a Philadelphia-based news and event company, and the host of the Drumming for Justice podcast. Subscribe here.
