US foreign policy still requires change

As a veteran of the anti-war movement, I have closely followed the tragic sequence of events resulting from the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Neither nation, I might add, was responsible for American deaths in the World Trade Center. Instead of properly investigating who was responsible for the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the neo-conservatives manipulated America into two horrendous wars (and continue to threaten more) that cost the lives of at least tens of thousands of civilians, as well as thousands of brave U.S. troops.

Yet, many college students and young people believe that the war doesn’t concern them, or erroneously believe that electing Barack Obama as president was the best way to end the war. People caught up in Obama-mania must be aware that he was another war candidate cloaked in idealistic rhetoric, which is evident in his recent escalation of the war in Afghanistan.

I cannot emphasize enough how these bogus wars have not only led to horrendous death and destruction, but have also drained our economy. Because of these foreign ventures, universities are losing money, and dreams of a higher education have been put on hold for many young people.  

The only way to bring about just changes in foreign policy is to make your voices heard in public, and in the future, only support candidates who promise to bring the troops home. On that note, I would like to invite every concerned student to an educational and uplifting anti-war march organized by Indiana University Students Against War at 4 p.m. on March 25 at the red clock near Ballantine Hall.

Nick Altieri
IU graduate student