Diplomacy not war

Editor:

The United States is over-investing in the military.

Our leaders now feel that every problem internationally should be met with force.

At the Republican Convention they were talking about choosing a war-time president. They have lost the ability, or will, to try diplomacy first.

One of the most important lessons to be learned in our present wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is that military success is not sufficient to win.

We need to become better friends with our allies and engage in diplomacy with our enemies.

Our Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, is calling for more resources for the State Department, “more than 1,000 American diplomatic positions are vacant.

The foreign service is short-staffed.

These positions could be filled for the cost of a single C-17 military cargo plane.” We have a bloated military budget.

Our first impulse should be a serious diplomatic effort, not the military option. Condoleezza Rice traveled to Georgia to deal with the Russian conflict and seemed to dictate terms for ending the war, while George Bush scolded China about human rights while visiting the Olympics.

We had better learn the art of diplomacy, and soon. Iran is growing restless.

When Barack Obama mentioned that he would talk to leaders of hostile countries early in his presidency, during the debates, he was severely criticized.

We need to bring back dignity and intelligence in our dealings with the rest of the world.

This is why so many countries want change in America and are excited by having Barack Obama as a presidential candidate.

They feel that he will bring diplomacy and civility to American’s dealings with the rest of the world. Shouldn’t we want this also?

WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER!

Mary Lou Laylin, Green Valley