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Stan on Iraq, Syria, and the dead rapists

I was not thrilled when America went to war in Iraq. I remember answering the question, “Don’t you feel sorry for those poor people over there?”

“Yes I do feel sorry for them,” I responded. “But I feel even more sorry for the families of our boys in the military coming home in body bags.”

One reader, with a daughter in the military, was extremely upset because I wrote “our boys.” She had a lot to say about me forgetting about our courageous women. I wrote a personal apology to her, and thanked her daughter for her service.

Today we are faced with more questions. Do we bomb Syria? Which side do we support after the bombing? What guarantee will we have that the bombing will not be followed up with boots on the ground? And the tearjerker of all — don’t you feel sorry for those children that were gassed?

Yes. Of course I feel sorry for them. But I feel even sorrier for the military men and women that will be returning without limbs and I feel mostly sorry for the families — parents, wives and children of those who will be returning to America in boxes.

We have spent a great deal of blood and money protecting the world. Now there are many who want us to spend what we don’t have to go to war to protect people that hate us, anyway. Let us spend a little more time thinking about protecting ourselves. Syria’s neighbors, Turkey, and the Arab League need to be involved here. The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are among the richest nations on the planet. Turkey, with its 400,000 troops, is one of the most powerful. Why are those leaders not concerned with the problems of their neighbors? If they are, they certainly aren’t showing it.

• • •

Ariel Castro is the bastard that kidnapped and raped three women and held them captive in his home for a decade. America woke up to the news one morning last week that this lowlife rat committed suicide in his prison cell…..and a loud cheer ascended all over this nation. Hooray!

At this moment the Ohio prison authorities are starting an investigation into his death. My question is “Who cares?”

Castro’s demise reminds me of that old joke. Say something good about him. He’s dead.

That’s good.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is demanding an investigation into his death as well as the question of other inmates getting the mental-health treatment they may need.

Christine Link is the executive director of the A.C.L.U. of Ohio. Upon hearing about Castro’s suicide, she said “As horrifying as Mr. Castro’s crimes may be, the state has a responsibility to ensure his safety from himself and others.”

I am StanGershbein@Bellsouth.net telling you that I have a lot of friends, including many attorneys, who refuse to donate to the A.C.L.U. Ms. Link has just given us one of their reasons why they won’t give a dime.

Read Stan Gershbein's column every Monday on BrooklynDaily.com.