This Memorial Day we stop for a moment and remember those who have died serving our country and those who are presently serving. It is well we should.  Those unselfish souls sign their life over and commit to follow whatever orders might be given to protect our nation.  They willingly put themselves in life-threatening situations and sacrifice the luxury of watching their children grow. They deserve our love and support.

And do you know the absolute best way we can love and support our military?  Don’t elect a president who is hell bent on war.

The US is winding up for another national election and a particular group is winding up the war drums for Iran in the process.  It behooves us as voters to understand the  message we are receiving from politicians with regards to their foreign policy tactics – a voice that hawks war and pre-emptive military activity is a voice against our military and veterans.

An examination of recent news stories gives us an idea where candidates might stand on the issue:

• One candidate has seriously upset the Iran nuclear deal by demanding that Iran recognizes Israel as a state (the UN already recognizes this fact), a move guaranteed to stop the negotiations entirely. It is noteworthy that this specific candidate is wholly supported by casino magnate and FOX news owner Sheldon Adelson, who also owns a pro-west propaganda newspaper in Israel.  Israel cannot handle the idea of Iran with any nuclear capability, including energy, and has consistently lied about Iran’s nuclear progress for over a decade now.
• One candidate put gas on the fire this past Friday by making the blanket statement that “Iranians are liars” and would also forego any rightful jurisprudence for a suspect by simply “…calling a drone ….to kill you.”
• Another candidate would authorize “pre-emptive strikes to prevent what he says are certain future attacks on American soil (yet) offered no evidence for his claims.”
• Another possible candidate is observed as “Need(ing) more evidence for Climate Change Action than He Does to Start A War.”

We knew almost immediately after the invasion of Iraq that the stories of WMD’s were as fantastical as our childhood stories of a big bad wolf hiding in grandma’s clothes, in grandma’s bed.  We know now that sending our children, our fathers, and our brother’s and sisters to Iraq made a few Americans a lot of money.  Many of those same few Americans are repeating the same lies and beating the war drums for Iran.

Iran has the fourth largest oil reserves in the world.   Firms like Halliburton and Bechtel receive no-bid military contracts for operations in war zones – their stocks profit quite well as a result.  There is reason to pre-emptively strike Iran, but it has nothing to do with national security and everything to do with profit.

When we go to the polls this next election, we must realize that its not the person, its the platform we are voting for.   The absolute best way to thank our military and honor them is a vote for a platform that embraces restraint and has a history of keeping us out of war.   As citizens, we owe it to the men and women in the military to vote responsibly and informatively.

For those who died, for those who still serve, Thank You from this citizen.  I promise to vote wisely in your honor.

Yours, Frankie