A former Army captain, William Swenson, received this afternoon the Medal of Honor from Barrack Obama at the White House for his actions in 2009 in Afghanistan. While I completely disagree with any American troops being in Afghanistan, this presentation isn’t really about Swenson, but will be used by Obama and politicians to boost the image of a military that is waging wars of aggression against those who have never harmed or had even the capability to harm the U.S.
The article in the Washington Post describing the events that eventually led to Swenson’s receiving the Medal of Honor, concentrate on Swenson’s bravery in risking his life to save the lives of other American military personnel in a deadly battle. There is no sympathy for those Afghans considered “insurgents” who were fighting against and fending off the U.S. aggressor force. Much flowery praise is given due to a video of Swenson kissing the forehead of a fatally wounded comrade, and that piece of footage while moving, does not begin to describe the real horror felt by the innocent citizens of Afghanistan and those brainwashed U.S. soldiers used as fodder during this aggressive war.
I am not writing this to diminish any individual bravery exhibited by William Swenson, but to discuss the real and important issue of why Swenson and the other military members were put into harm’s way in Afghanistan in the first place, and did so voluntarily. No honor should be forthcoming for those who are acting on orders to maim and slaughter foreign citizens who never posed any threat to the U.S. Honor should be given instead to those who refuse to kill on orders without merit.
It is appropriate here to expose these ceremonies for what they truly are. Even though Swenson had no business being in Afghanistan in the first place, that does not diminish his act of courage when he risked his own life to help others. But his “superiors” (Army brass) were not interested in his act of bravery so much as in the political ramifications of his attitude. Swenson had the audacity to severely criticize his Army “superiors” for their complete failure to provide proper support during this battle. That criticism caused his nomination for the Medal of Honor to be delayed for years. In fact, it is a wonder that he received it at all considering that he did not bow down in the appropriate manner to those above him. It is only about protecting the image of those who prosecute war.
The soldier that Swenson kissed on the forehead as he was loaded on the Medivac helicopter died of his injuries a month later. That of course was a death that should never have happened. His widow was at the ceremony today, and while she must certainly have honest feelings of gratitude toward Swenson for his bravery in attempting to save her husband, she is still a widow and her children orphans because of another senseless death due to war prosecuted by politicians for the purpose of gaining power and money.
Swenson and his comrades would have been better served if they were never in Afghanistan helping to prosecute another U.S. war of aggression and occupation in the first place. And while he helped to save the lives of some of his own, he did not refuse to kill other innocents protecting their own homeland in Afghanistan. That is a fatal contradiction.
What a grand day it would be if all soldiers refused to kill on orders from the criminal warmongers residing in White House, in the halls of Congress and in the military, and returned home to live and work and take care of their families in a life filled with real production instead of pointless death!
Regardless of bravery, there is no such thing as honor in fighting wars of aggression for the imperial state of America. In fact, it is criminal in every aspect to knowingly fight unholy and unjust wars against any country! Hopefully, Swenson will publicly give up that medal and tell the truth about the real horrors and terror of U.S. foreign wars.